The bang behind a bangle

Christmas or your birthday is coming up (or both, as is the case for me), and you’re asked the dreaded question “what do you want?” It’s rare I ever have an answer to this, despite having 12 months to prepare! Unless I do have something specific in mind, I tend to start looking at things I can’t justify buying myself – jewellery, for instance.  

Despite knowing that made-by-hand is best for so many reasons, I must admit, sometimes I struggle to understand how independent makers justify their prices. I know that what I’m paying for is a reflection of expert knowledge and skill, the cost of materials, time, and most importantly, the personal touch.

I recently took part in a bangle making workshop led by Charlotte Duckworth of The Silver Duck here at New Brewery Arts. It goes without saying that it was an incredible experience and I've since told anyone that will listen to give it a go themselves. But the main thing I took away from the experience (apart from a gorgeous silver bracelet) – is my renewed appreciation for handmade jewellery (handmade anything, really). 

Detail of my handmade silver bracelet

As with anything, the first stage in the process was design. This alone can take time while you strike a compromise between the masterpiece in your mind’s eye and your capabilities. Once you’ve set a realistic goal, you then have to figure out how to achieve it. Bangle making requires a lot of hammering to achieve the desired shape and finish. With 8 of us each working on a project, it was several hours before my ears stopped ringing. Then there's sawing if you want to make charms, stamping if you want your metal engraved, soldering to close joins or affix details, followed by putting it in what appeared to be a crockpot containing a chemical solution to remove any residue, and finally, polishing. For anybody reading this, I want to assure you that I really did have fun and I’d jump at the chance to do it again. That being said, silversmithing requires a level of mental and physical energy that I wasn’t prepared for.  

II came away with a renewed sense of the enormous effort that goes in to crafting jewellery by hand. I may not make my own jewellery often, but I do now have an understanding of the practicalities of making a piece, and why charging for that hard-work, that skill, is a price I’m happy to pay.

Getting to grips with basketry

Susan Early in her studio

Our Kickstart placement Charis, was asked to choose a workshop she’d like to do. This blog post is her reflection on the workshop and the craft.

”Basketry is (can you guess?) the process of making baskets.  

It is an ancient craft, and one that has a history in most countries around the world. For centuries, people crafted baskets from strong, pliable native plants; bamboo, grasses and willow were common choices. The type of material then informed which techniques could be applied: looping, knotting, plaiting, coiling, weaving, twining or assembling. These vessels were a convenient way to contain, store and transport goods. Quicker and more reliable to make than clay pots, they were a household essential. 

The fact that we no longer need woven vessels does not detract from the joy of making and owning them. Basketry is a rewarding craft which engages the senses and connects you to the world and a rich heritage; or at least that’s how I felt. 

My willow basket

I recently tried willow weaving with Susan Early here at New Brewery Arts. Susan has been making baskets and sculptures for over 30 years. she is an enthusiastic and encouraging tutor, which is why we ask her back year after year.  

Needless to say, this was no exception; it was a fantastic day. After the initial under-the-breath counting of ‘over two under one, over two under one', I was able to succumb to the movement and allow my mind to wander. I transfixed by the colours; the reds, greens, purples and yellows. I got lost in the smell, reminiscent of picnics by the Sandwich Quay as a child. Unanticipated but very welcome was the almost immediate uplifting of my well-being. I’m someone who thrives on seeing results, and my basket came together quite quickly. Having achieved such a bygone skill made me feel oddly self-sufficient. I don’t imagine I’ll be making the switch from tote bags to willow baskets to do my shopping any time soon, but it’s nice to know I could. And it was freeing to think that I was creating something that wouldn’t become a drain on the planet – may help it, even. By the time my basket is old and broken, it can join the compost and feed back into the earth. 

Stories of homelessness

Today is World Homeless Day and at New Brewery Arts we believe that housing is a basic human right. Unfortunately it is not always treated as such. The problem with common misconceptions about what homelessness is and looks like, is that it generally places greater value on the economy than human life. Homelessness isn’t an economic problem. It is absolutely a social one. 

There’s a stigma around homelessness, a belief that it is the result of – to put it nicely – poorly prioritized life choices. The fact is, homelessness can be the result of many different factors: a decline in health, an unexpected bill, a death in the family, eviction because a landlord wants to sell; in these instances, homelessness looks like staying in temporary accommodation, booking a B&B or hostel or sofa-surfing. 

When COVID hit, there was a rise in homelessness. Lockdown measures to stop the spread of the virus, meant people didn’t have the option to sofa-surf with friends and family. Thankfully, a forward thinking, proactive solution quickly emerged: what if we open up the otherwise-closed hotels to people made homeless due to the pandemic?  

Throughout lockdown, as part of the ‘Everybody In’ initiative, New Brewery Arts offered The Barrel Store to individuals and families negatively affected by the pandemic. By providing a temporary home, we could help alleviate some of the stress associated with becoming homeless. It was a creative solution – but temporary. 

Creative thinking is something we need if we hope to motivate substantial, long-term social change. Shoes Have Names, our upcoming exhibition for early 2022, was inspired by this very concern - thinking creatively to change perceptions of homelessness. Housing and homelessness charity Shelter joined forces with conceptual fashion designer Jo Cope to create Shoes Have Names as part of London Craft Week in October 2020 at their wonderful flagship Shelter Boutique shop in Coal Drops Yard.

Elisabeth Thorsen - Missie’s story
Shoes Have Names

Shoes Have Names features a collection of handmade artworks inspired by the personal experiences of real people facing homelessness. Ten international artists, shoemakers and designers were paired up with a person that Shelter has helped through its frontline services. From shoes made out of an old sofa, to the use of the latest CAD software and 3D printing, you can explore the project journey at the Shoes Have Names blog.

Opening on 29th January 2022 (save the date!) Shoes Have Names is another way for New Brewery Arts to prompt a shift in attitudes and effect positive social change.

Alongside the exhibition we’ll be working with those who have experienced homelessness and those who work with public services and charities to support their communities. If you want to get involved either as an organisation or somebody working with homelessness, or as somebody who works with a local charity shop, we’d love you to get in touch with our participation team to discuss how you can be involved with Shoes Have Names.

Stories of homelessness have never been told like this before.

The craft of modern calligraphy

One of the many perks of my job is that, from time to time, I get to attend a workshop and write about it. This month was Modern Calligraphy with Emma Barnes of Emerald Paper Design.

I love words. I love reading, writing, phonetics, stationery. Despite this affection, my own handwriting has always been, well, inconsistent at best. Maybe it’s to do with being left-handed, but I could never make my writing slant and loop in that old-fashioned sort of way. And on the rare occasion I did manage it, you can bet that it would smudge as I moved my hand across the page. So imagine how excited I was when given the opportunity to participate in a calligraphy workshop here at New Brewery Arts. 

I won’t give you a step-by-step breakdown of the session; you can find that out for yourself. But I will give you some of the reasons why I think you should consider calligraphy: 

1. It’s good for mental (and physical) health 
   Calligraphy requires concentration. All the time you are focusing on the pressure of the nib, the curve of a line, planning your next letter, you don’t have time to be thinking of anything else. You can’t pander to intrusive thoughts or check off all the things you need to do when you get home. And when your mind is settled, your body settles too: your breathing is deeper and slower, your heartrate drops (not dangerously so, don’t worry!) Personally, it’s the only time I’ve successfully practiced mindfulness.

2. A sense of connection 
   To me, a letter adorned with calligraphy would make me feel thought of and valued by the sender. It may be my fondness for written word, but I romanticise calligraphy. Writing beautifully used to be the standard. It demonstrated attention to detail, effort and care. 

3. A useful craft 
   All crafts are useful – no one is superior to another; they are all different and all have a unique appeal. But I can’t think of a craft with a more diverse application. You can use it to write letters to friends, decorate Christmas cards, for luggage labels (any kind of label/organisational system), home-made wedding invitations or place settings, to give your sketchbook a bit of extra flare.

4. It’s inclusive 
   I believe anyone can take part in, enjoy, and be successful at any craft. Yes, some people may have a natural talent, while others will have to put in more effort to achieve their goals. But everyone is capable. You might not agree, and perhaps it has stopped you giving craft a go. But let me assure you, anyone can take up modern calligraphy. Unlike traditional calligraphy where there are strict rules, uniformity is key and everything has to be just so, modern calligraphy celebrates individuality. Imperfections can be hidden and if you struggle with a particular letter, change it to suit your style – now you have a niche! You don’t even have to have good handwriting because it’s a completely different approach to writing. It’s also inexpensive. All you need is a pen/holder, nib, ink and bleed-proof paper; all of which can be purchased for under £20. So really, anyone can do it. 

The particular workshop I was on was perfect for beginners or those wanting to brush up their skills and ask questions. We progressed from tracing lines to writing whole words freehand in as little as two hours. Of course, as with any craft, it requires practise and refinement; we were by no means ready to start up a bespoke stationary business by the end of the session. But it is comparatively quick progress. Emma, our tutor, had planned the workshop perfectly, was knowledgeable and encouraging, and made it a wonderful experience. 

If I’ve inspired you to try your hand at calligraphy, look out for the next workshop. New Brewery Arts runs a varied programme throughout the year. See what’s coming up here: https://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/workshops