Craft Focus - Oct/Nov (Issue 63)

To find out more visit about the show visit channel4.com/programmes/ craft-it-yourself shop bought one! There’s a charm and love to homemade items. Robin: People spend time rushing around, and our lives are more and more technologically driven, and things that require total undivided attention for long periods of time are few and far between. Craft can’t only teach people how to make great things, it’s lovely to feel absorbed – it’s almost meditative. It can be a great self- confidence booster, and also a way of earning money too, now made easier with online crafts marketplaces like Etsy and Folksy. Social media means people all over the world can share what they’ve made. There’s a huge resurgence in crafts at the moment, from high end companies like William and Son selling top-end luxury goods all of which are exquisitely handmade to the many craft fairs and new pop-up events taking place. I think it’s a great time to be a craftsperson, and there’s inspiration and opportunity everywhere. Clem: Absolutely, in a world where everything is going at a million miles an hour, and things are mass-produced, it’s wonderful to see something that someone has poured time, energy and love in to. Plus you get huge brownie points from your pals if you turn up with a homemade cake or present, it does somehow seem to mean more. Do you think it’s important to learn to make things yourself? Ant: I believe the skills required to make things stretch far beyond the task. It takes patience, creativity and vision, and it’s a great way to bring people together. Robin: If you ask a former DT teacher that question, the answer is going to be YES of course! It’s so important, not just for the skills to put up a shelf or hang a picture, but the joy of making things yourself is unparalleled. The skills that you learn include problem solving, critical thinking, spatial awareness, and are totally transferable to everyday life. And giving yourself the opportunity to feel the sense of accomplishment too. Clem: I think it’s really important, it’s fun too! In an increasingly digital world, there’s a certain romanticism about creating something with your own two hands – if you make it yourself it immediately becomes less disposable. It also enables you to share ideas and skills with other people, who love making things as much as you do. The craft world and its community is overwhelmingly positive, and there’s a warm, generous heart beating under all that crochet and felting! What trends have you seen for the home this year? Ant: According to Clem, I’m the worst person to talk about trends. At home, I’m currently building, and the one task I set the builder was to retain as many original features as possible. Original quirky features will always remain on trend. Robin: I’m not really too hot on trends either! Luckily, we have Clem for that. A lot of my customers have been asking for plain and understated furniture recently, lots of birch plywood for example as well as fusion pieces, mixing live edge timber with glass and polished metal. I really like a subtle nod to industrial design in the home, without going all-out and making it seem cold or harsh. Clem: I love the trend for having lots of plants, succulents and cacti about the house, it immediately brings a room to life. But you can also get the look using botanical or tropical prints on the walls or fabrics, and if, like me, you aren’t the most green-fingered, you can get some amazing faux flowers and plants. In the first episode of Craft it Yourself I made some lovely pressed leaves in glass frames, so simple but they look really pretty. In terms of other trends that you can crreate yourself – concrete is a good one, it looks really current but it’s surprisingly easy to make some of the smaller projects at home from planters, tea light holders, book ends. Oh and I’m a little bit obsessed with anything marble at the moment – particularly when paired with copper or bronze. What craft did you enjoy learning about the most on the show and why? Ant: Hands down I loved glass blowing! It was a hoot! It’s one of those items that can be taken for granted, as we own so much glass. It’s tricky but an achievable skill, and so rewarding to have something to use at the end! I can’t recommend it enough! Robin: I enjoyed all the crafts that I had a chance to try, but my stand-out favourite was jewellery making. I’d done a little bit in the past but had always wanted to make a ring so when I got the chance to do this I was over the moon. My mentor, Tom McEwan, is an absolute master as well as a really lovely guy, and I was really happy with the outcome, even if it wasn’t perfect but I guess that’s part of the joy of it all. Clem: That’s a tricky one! So many of the crafts that I learnt I totally fell in love with such as forging a knife was special with fire and hammers! Watercolour painting on cakes was really delicate and intricate. I’ve made and decorated a lot of cakes so adding another technique to my repertoire was great. And then there was giant knitting, which was amazing because of the scale of the thing! Plus it looked super impressive and really was not very tricky at all once you have the hang of it and it’s really relaxing and like knitting therapy! craft focus 89 focus on