Thursday 31 May 2012

We're all set for London Jewellery Week 2012!

Our Network of makers is brimming with big name jewellery designers, which makes London Jewellery Week our time to shine! This year we have 2 collective exhibitions - 14 Carat in the Showcase (St John's Square) and  JeDeCo’s Summer in the City comes to the Corner Shop (Clerkenwell Green). London Jewellery Week is a busy time but it's definitely worthwhile adding us to your itinerary (11-17 June 2012)!


After a successful debut in 2011, 14 contemporary designer brands return to the Craft Central Showcase (St John's Square) for LJW 2012. Describing themselves as an 'international eclectic group, based in and around London' the collective are gearing up to present 'an imaginative, wide-ranging collection of contemporary wearable designs to suit all styles and budgets'. Sounds good to us!

The 14 Carat designers are: Amanda Li Hope, Amy Keeper, Angela Fung, DeAnna Kiernan, Emma Turpin, Karen Morrison, Katerina Damilos, Maria Helena Spector, MIRPURI, MODICA Jewellery, nancy rose, Oxx Jewellery, Poly Philippou, Yuki Takahasi. Find out more here!



The London based collective of jewellery designers, JeDeCo bring Summer in the City to our Corner Shop. Describing themselves as 'one of London’s most innovative groups of jewellery designers', their pop-up exhibition aims to 'evoke the heat, shade, colour and vibrancy of summer life in London.' Fingers crossed the weather will live up to the high standards of the jewellery on display!

The Summer in the City designers are: Cara Tonkin, Carol Zilla, Catherine Marché, Doreth Jones, Emma Ashworth, Jewellery by Emma Rose, Jessica Neil, Quarter Angel, Kareece Peters, Nicola Cursley-Bond, Designed by Bond, Rosemary Lucas, Siân Bostwick, Stephanie Bates, Valeria Calvo, Trisori. Find out more here !

All jewellery at both shows will be for sale and the participating designers will be available to discuss their work and private commissions - a great opportunity to meet the maker! Opening times for both shows can be found on our Events Calendar .

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Cut in Clerkenwell - hand engraving at Craft Central


We are excited to welcome the  Association of Hand Engravers to Craft Central for Cut in Clerkenwell: Exhibition of Contemporary Hand Engraving and Drop-in Workshops (3-14 July 2012). Come and meet leading hand engravers and see how they work using different techniques to embellish and create finely crafted objects of many kinds, jewellery and works of art.

The exhibition will include fascinating examples of hand engraving recently produced by over 20 hand engravers who work in many different styles. Free public drop-in workshops and workshops for school groups, college students and wheelchair users will provide the chance to try out the tools and techniques for yourself.

This exhibition is the first part of a six month research and oral history project to record and archive The Tradition of 20th Century Hand Engraving.  The archive will be housed in the Guildhall Library and The Clockmakers’ Museum and be the first public archive documenting hand engravers and their craft.  The project is organised by the Association of Hand Engravers of Great Britain and supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, Ernest Cook Trust, The Clockmakers’ Museum and Educational Trust and The Goldsmiths’ Company.

All the information you need to come along can be found on our online events calendar.

Contact: office@griselda.freeserve.co.uk / 0750 0462910.

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Craft Central ceramicist sells out at Tate Britain


Craft Central Network member and ceramic artist, Sandy Segal, has made a range of slab pots to coincide with the Picasso and Modern British Art Exhibition at the Tate Britain.

Having discovered Sandy via the Craft Central website, the Tate Britain buyer felt her work 'would tie in well with the Picasso paintings.' The original commission of 20 pots (exhibited February 2012) sold out fast, leading to Tate Britain ordering 60 more!

Working from her her purpose-built studio in her Clerkenwell loft apartment, Sandy hand builds all of her pots and decorates with glazes and slips which she makes herself. She says that she 'loves clay as a material and tries to retain that earthy quality in her work.'

Check out her work at the Tate Britain until the exhibition ends on the 15 July 2012. 

Saturday 26 May 2012

'Must have' craft and design at Made in Clerkenwell!

Photography by David Ho















All products available at Made in Clerkenwell: Summer Open Studios - we're open until Sunday!

Open studios event in full swing!












Made in Clerkenwell is well and truly open for business! Enjoy a stroll round our 2 Victorian buildings brimming with craft and design studios - we have 100 designer makers waiting to meet you. It's a perfect weekend to visit Clerkenwell! Whilst you're in our neck of the woods, take a breather and soak up the sun in the lovely St John's Square or Clerkenwell Green.

Keep those energy levels up for optimum craft appreciation! We’ve lined up a selection of mouth watering treats during Made in Clerkenwell, to help you make the most of a nice long wander around our wonderful studios. Refuel with refreshments from Chop’s Cakes and our food market in St John’s Square, including food and cocktails from Wedding Trikes & Cocktail CampersPom Pom Takoyaki and Don Arancini.

If you can't make it today, we will miss you but never fear... the show is open until Sunday. Opening times here 

Jubilee jewels!


Crowns galore! Heather Stowell and Frilly by Lily are celebrating early with special jubilee jewellery. Available to buy at Made in Clerkenwell: Summer Open Studios at Craft Central this weekend.

Makers in Residence - Craft Central CEO takes a turn in the window!


Our window display in St John’s Square has been transformed into an active workspace in partnership with Creative Clerkenwell during Clerkenwell Design Week and Made in ClerkenwellCraft Central designer makers have taken up residence, creating a diverse range of craft and design before your very eyes!

Craft Central CEO Jonathan Lloyd Platt took his turn in our 'live' studio window display this afternoon, making lino cut jubilee cards to be sold through the Craft Central recycles project. Our Makers in Residence are working away in St John's Square until Sunday 27 May... come and spy on them!

Friday 25 May 2012

More from the Made in Clerkenwell launch night...

Photography by David Ho















Made in Clerkenwell - Launched!






Made in Clerkenwell launched last night and the atmosphere was buzzing! A combination of Clerkenwell Design Week, the heat wave, Vinoteca wine, music from DJs The Wedding Smashers, Chop's Cakes' mini cupcakes AND, not forgetting, exceptional craft and design by 100 designer makers across our 2 Victorian buildings in the heart of Clerkenwell lead to a very successful evening. Roll on the rest of the weekend - we're open until Sunday, so pop in and see us!