Craft Map

This week’s #craftfocus is stone carving.

Stone carving is an ancient practice involving the carving of figures, patterns, ornaments, lettering and more into stone.

First, a suitable stone is selected (such as marble, limestone or granite) and it is gradually shaped, beginning with knocking off large, unwanted sections (known as ‘roughing out’). Next, finer detailing, smoothing and polishing is carried out.

Tools used include mallets and hammers, a variety of chisels (point, claw and flat) for cutting and shaping the stone, and files and abrasives for finishing.

Stone carving is classified as viable on our Craft Inventory, however, threats to its viability include a lack of training options. While there are numerous qualifications in stonemasonry, there are few qualifications specifically for stone carving.

Demand is often reliant on heritage projects and large-scale public or private conservation work; when this is lacking, the market for stone carvers significantly reduces. Competition from modern technology can also limit work.

Images: Lily Marsh @lilymarshsculptor & Rob Lenihan @roblenihan.art

#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #stonecarving

Over 36 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Zakara Akhonzada modamender, from London, has made clothes for friends and family for many years and is striving to become a skilled tailor in a number of styles including traditional Afghan attire. Her bursary will fund her place on the pattern cutting, waistcoat making and tailoring courses at @fashionenterltd.

Zakara’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation.

Zakara said: “I am truly grateful for this funding. It gives me the chance to create beautiful designs and become the professional, high-quality fashion designer I’ve always dreamed of being.”

At our recent Heritage Crafts Awards Winners’ Reception at @wentworth_woodhouse, bursary recipient Aminat Seriki @s.i.l.e.nt.t gave this wonderful speech about the difference her bursary had made.

“Whilst at university, I realised that I wanted to be a craftsperson through the emphasis I placed on textile materiality and craftsmanship in my design projects. Although my passion for machine knitting wasn’t directly connected to my Fashion Design with Marketing degree at Central Saint Martins, I discovered that I enjoyed the endless possibilities knitwear offered and the technical problem solving involved. I found real satisfaction in working from scratch with yarn rather than starting with woven fabric.

“One of my biggest obstacles was the financial barrier as the cost of specialist training and equipment made it difficult to progress. I had reached the limits of what I could achieve through self-directed learning from online forums and YouTube. I was no longer progressing due to gaps in my technical knowledge and lack of confidence to develop my ideas into fully realised garments.

“Receiving the bursary has truly changed the course of my knitwear journey. It has provided me with the one-on-one guidance I have long needed. It gave me time to immerse myself fully in experimentation and to learn from my mistakes. It opened doors to new training such as knitwear programming that I wouldn’t have had access to and introduced me to a community of machine knitters who have supported my development. More than anything, it showed me that others believe in my craft and my potential, and that has meant more than I can say.”

Aminat’s bursary was funded by the Capri Holdings Foundation for the Advancement of Diversity in Fashion.

This week’s #mondaymaker is Kate Doig @firewolfglass, a stained glass artist.

Kate creates painted glass art pieces as well as taking occasional commissions. She also repairs and restores old leaded panels, and offers a full re-leading service from her studio in Somerset. Kate began studying the basics of leaded stained glass alongside metal work and forging in 2000. She refined her glass studies at the Bristol School of Art in 2004, learning the art of glass fusing, silk screening, acid etching, sandblasting and various techniques using glass paints and stains.

Kate now enjoys teaching the craft and has been running regular workshops from her studio in Somerset, as well as occasionally teaching in external venues, for the last fifteen years.

View Kate’s full profile on our maker’s directory: https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/maker/katedoig/

#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #stainedglass

Over 36 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Molly Richards @mol.bags, from Leeds, is a self-taught bag maker who uses reclaimed materials. Her bursary will fund a tailored training programme in London, including a masterclass and one-to-one sessions at @the_london_leather_workshop, to help her develop her skills in leathercraft, design and business.

Molly’s bursary is supported by Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie.

Molly said: “Receiving this training bursary from Heritage Crafts means I can take an exciting step with my bag-making practice into learning a new material and way of working!”

Over 36 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Erik Warner, from Birmingham, has done various short courses in tailoring. As well as a couture collection focusing on sustainability, he would also like to act as a role model and inspiration for young people. His bursary will fund one-to-one training with tailor @jojoremeny.

Erik’s bursary is supported by the Capri Holdings Foundation for the Advancement of Diversity in Fashion

Erik said: “Receiving the Heritage Crafts bursary will not only galvanise and broaden my skills in traditional tailoring and fashion but give me the confidence to pursue my ambitions and goals. At the same time, it will allow me to explore sustainable practices that honour both craft and conscience…..rooted in heritage, avant-garde creativity and responsibility.”