A voice for craft

Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Kylie McConnell @barnbarroch_organic, from Dumfries and Galloway, is an organic beef farmer seeking to create a circular ‘farm to fashion’ economy by using hides from her own cattle. Her bursary will fund a blend of leather skills courses and training, including time spent at @walsallleatherskillscentre and @armitageleather.

Kylie’s bursary is supported by @theleathersellers.

Kylie said: “I’m an organic beef farmer in south-west Scotland. My goal has been to utilise as much of our beautiful animals as possible to produce traceable leather products – from our farm to fashion. I want people to feel more connected to their leather goods. Thank you to Heritage Crafts and the Leathersellers’ Company for this training bursary. This will enable us to learn from the best and to create beautiful leather products from our own hides.”

Join us in conversation with bee skep maker @chrischarlespark, online on Wednesday 8 July 2026, 7pm (GMT+1)

Join us for a captivating evening with Chris Park, leading authority on bee skeps and traditional apiculture. A master craftsman, skep beekeeper and apitherapist (using bee products for health), Chris lives and breathes the ancient relationship between humans and honeybees.

For years, Chris has kept these vital skills alive, teaching skep-making for the British Beekeeping Association, the National Honey Show and heritage groups across the country. His work sits at the very heart of cultural preservation; with no full-time commercial skep makers left in the UK, the craft is listed on the Heritage Crafts Red List. Beyond the hive, Chris is a true polymath with a deep-rooted passion for ancient technologies, eco-building, folk music and traditional arts and crafts.

The evening also celebrates the launch of Chris’s highly anticipated new book, Bee-Skep Making: heritage, folklore and how to make and use your own skeps (published by @herbert.press). He will share insights from the book, diving into the step-by-step practicalities of working with straw and the folklore, superstitions and history that have surrounded the craft for centuries.

The session will take place on Zoom and attendees must register in advance via https://chrisparkinconversation.eventbrite.co.uk or the linktree in our bio. Attendees will also have the opportunity to submit questions in advance.

Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Steve Farrell, from Carmarthenshire, served for 22 years in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and has a background in bespoke furniture upholstery. His bursary will fund a part-time foundation course at the @walsallleatherskillscentre alongside essential tools, leather and travel costs, allowing him to master traditional leatherworking and sewing machine techniques.

Steve’s bursary is funded by the Royal British Legion.

Steve said: “Having this funding at 56 is a great opportunity. It will significantly fasttrack my leatherwork skills and give me the ability to start making higher quality leather products and incorporate a wider skillset of techniques taught at the Leather Skills Centre in Walsall.”

A huge thank you from everyone at @heritagecrafts for a wonderful @craftfestival

To our incredible demonstrates, holding the beacon for what you do, answering questions, showing your skill and raising awareness of our intangible heritage.

Thank you to our speakers for taking the time to share more about what your practice and why it matters.

Thank you to the team for being all hands on deck.

We had a blast, and captured some lovely stories that we can’t wait to share with you.

What was your favourite part of Craft Festival?

#craftfestival #heritagecraft #boveytracey

Over 20 posts we are profiling the recipients of our recent round of training bursaries.

Ame Stevens, from Bristol, has spent the last nine years working as a shipwright and joiner, primarily focused on the conservation and restoration of traditional fishing vessels. Their bursary will fund a nine-month training programme focused around instrument cases, including one-to-one tuition with @warriner.leather focusing on traditional tub making, short courses with @armitageleather in saddle stitching and bag design, and essential tools and materials.

Ame’s bursary is supported by @theleathersellers.

Ame said: “I am really excited to receive the training bursary, to both have the opportunity to receive some one-to-one tuition with skilled craftspeople, and invest in my tools as I develop my leatherworking practice.”

Congratulations to craft recipients in the King’s Birthday Honours, including:

• Dr Diana Springall MBE, for services to arts and crafts (pictured)
• Mark Boddington MBE @silverliningfurniture, for services to design and innovation in furniture making (pictured)
• Agnes McCullough MBE for services to the art of lacemaking and needlecraft in Northern Ireland
• Caterina Googhart MBE, for services to conservation and heritage crafts
• Cefyn Burgess BEM, for services to arts and crafts
• Sandra Choi OBE @jimmychoo, for services to fashion