Workshop & Dinner at The New Craftsmen | Blogtour London

One of the main sponsors and co-organizers of our London Blogtour is at{mine}, an online community for home and design lovers, where members do the sharing. The site is currently in the Beta version and all members of our Blogtour team have early access to a website ahead of the general release to the public. If you are curious to discover, follow the link and ask for an invite to become a beta member as well! Meanwhile we will keep you updated when the new site goes live!

On Gerard’s, co organizer of this tour, zine Walnut Grey La Bergman co-founder of at{mine} says she thinks our blogtours are a wonderful real-life example of what is at the heart of the at{mine} experience “members connecting and engaging around a passion for interiors and sharing their story to inspire others”.

The new Craftsmen
We posted several pictures on social media already |#BloggersAtMine| of the events organised for us, and one I really enjoyed was a visit to The new craftsmen. The New Craftsmen works with a selection of Britain’s finest craft makers to showcase the materials, skills and craft products of the British Isles and represents a network of over 75 makers working in textiles, silverware, furniture, ceramics, jewellery, glassware and beyond.

The Mayfair shop we visited for a workshop & a delicious dinner with the owners and several designers showcase and sells a carefully selected range of products, limited editions and exclusive collaborations, which can also be purchased online.

Lola Lely
One of The New Craftsmen makers is Hanoi born and London based furniture and product designer Lola Lely who joined us this morning for a workshop.

I quite admired her Trestle table based on the iconic trestle used by a multitude of craft practices over the ages. “The table features a patchwork of coloured stains in indigo, dark grey, & black – in reference to denim work wear and the ‘boro’ indigo patchwork traditions of Japan. The stained & ebonised geometric forms give a sharp, asymmetric & distinctly modern edge to this utilitarian piece, which incorporates decorative features inspired by dovetail joints typical to traditional woodworking” |source: Lola Lely interview with Bungalow5 |

Workshop by Lola Lely
Lola Lely took us through the creative processes of dyeing and stitching and making our own placements for the evenings dinner.

Not an easy task for many of us who are more writers, stylists and photographers then crafters. It was great thought to work on something together and chat with Lola Lely and learn more about her work.

An inspiring dinner
Later that evening we had a delicious dinner and some great discussions and meetups with several designers, in the back of the store, a beautiful area with lots of plants and a table that had some great visible marks of having survived many creative meetings and dinners. Our placements fitted the scene very well!

Mindful Living – in collaboration with Gareth Neal

Taking a close look at how the objects we surround ourselves with can affect our mood &
well-being, from March 24 to April 18 2015 The New Craftsmen presents Mindful Living, in collaboration with furniture designer-maker Gareth Neal.

We have asked Gareth Neal to strip back his life to a pure set of objects that can fulfil his needs both mentally and physically.

– What would his living environment be?

– Which 10 pieces would he choose for his environment that enable his way of living?

– What meaning do these pieces – whether practical or emotional – have to him?

– How would this way of living – the environment and the pieces within it – make him feel?

Gareth’s Mindful Living interpretation consists of new work designed & made by Gareth as well as collaborations, & work selected from among the makers of The New Craftsmen. Highlights
include the new Brodgar cabinet made by Gareth in collaboration with Kevin Gauld; a new addition to our Brodgar series of furniture inspired by the traditional straw work of Orkney.

There will also be a new textile range from Emily Watts’s knitwear brand The Good Shepherd – which draws inspiration from the modern landscape of Shetland – as well as a collaboration with Billy Lloyd that sees the two designer-makers craft an all-purpose set of stackable ceramic vessels fit for cooking & communal eating.

The products will be housed in an architectural structure designed by Gareth in collaboration with ‘The Bothy Project’ – a network of small-scale, off-grid art residency spaces in distinct

London blog tour is sponsored by: at{mine}, B&O Play, Buster + Punch, Folklore, Nest.co.uk and Tiipoi. Photography © 1 Anna Gustafsson | 2-5-6-7-8 Desiree for Vosgesparis | 9 Linda Elmin for #BloggerstourLDN | 10-11 The new Craftsmen

Find all my blogs about London Blogtour under bloggerstourLDN or see all blogtours under blogtour

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Workshop & Dinner at The New Craftsmen | Blogtour London