A voice for craft

This week`s #craftfocus is bookbinding.

Bookbinding is the assembling and fixing of the loose leaves of a book between a cover, either by gluing or stitching.

Techniques have altered throughout the centuries. The differentiation in materials, binding technique and style of the book may help make it possible to trace the date and origin of the book. Perfect binding was introduced to bookbinding in 1931: a form of binding books with glue instead of sewing.

Cold glues were first used in perfect binding until a ‘hot-melt adhesive’ was used to bind books, making the binding last longer than cold glue binding.

Binding systems excelled after the Second World War. Spiral binding had been in evidence since the 1920s, but it was not until later that this technique became an important part of office stationary.

While bookbinding is currently listed as viable on our list of crafts, threats to the practice include a lack of training facilities in the UK and the pulling of bookbinding courses at universities and colleges.

Those students in the UK who wish to become professionals have to pursue their training through short courses. Apprenticeships, traineeships and internships are few and far between.

Images: @boundbyhand

#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #bookbinding

#membermoment #Repost @guernseywillowbaskets with @use.repost
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This week… meeting Their Majesties The King and Queen in Guernsey 🇬🇬

On Tuesday, my family and I had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Guernsey’s heritage and traditions, with a visit from Their Majesties The King and Queen.

My Dad @gaudionmax was super-proud that his family had been invited to demonstrate crab pot and fishing basket making for the King and Queen, and the opportunity to show how this endangered craft is being continued by his family.

The King spoke to each of us (and to Dad for quite a while!) about our local heritage and the craft of making willow crab pots and fishing baskets. He was very interested and he encouraged my family to continue making and keep this heritage craft going. He then addressed the nearby crowd asking if they all owned a Guernsey basket!

What a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the island’s unique traditions, with a visit from the King and Queen.

My niece, Phoebe, was also invited to present The Queen with a posy of @jamblinflowerfarm flowers and a Petit Ponier (made by me!).

@lasocieteg, @letricoteur guernsey jumpers (as modelled by Phoebe), @guernsey.ice_cream and @rocquettecider were amongst the other participants on The Crown Pier meeting Their Majesties. My brother @timgaudionartist also displayed one of his amazing local paintings.

It was really nice to hear The King mention that he is Patron of @heritagecrafts. His enthusiasm for our willow craft was evident. 🙌

#royalvisit #kingcharlesiii #queencamilla #guernsey #guernseywillowbaskets #heritagecrafts #royalfamily #kingandqueen

Our #mondaymaker Ali Holloway is a hand weaver with over 35 years of experience. She makes one off woven pieces for exhibition or for commission. These are often generated from walks through particular landscapes exploring the traces left by human habitation on a particular terrain and also reflecting on the relationship between her body and these landscapes. Using mainly plant dyed yarns and natural fibres she strives to make pieces that are always exploring the possibilities of the craft and at the same time honouring its history and long traditions.

Dying is integral to her process and as well as space dying the yarn she uses she also will submerge an entire cone of yarn in a dye bath so that as this yarn is woven the colour gradually leeches out. As well as making her own work Ali also teaches weaving classes from her studio, in schools and other community venues.

Ali’s profile can be found on our maker’s directory: https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/maker/ali-holloway/

#heritagecrafts #mondaymaker #craft #weaver #weaving

This week`s #craftfocus is button making.

Needlework techniques are the most common method for making this type of button. Threads are wrapped, wrapped and woven, or stitched to create the many varied designs. The yarn is repeatedly bound over a disc or a ring. The process follows casting, slicking, laying and rounding.

Button making is currently listed as viable on our list of crafts. However, threats to the longevity of the craft include a lack of awareness, market issues, a dilution of skills and no universal standard for button making.

#heritagecrafts #craftfocus #buttonmaking