Turning Earth!

When I heard that Turning Earth were opening up a second studio a 15 minute brisk walk from my house... to say that my heart stopped for a beat or two wouldn't be an exaggeration! This weekend saw the grand opening with a two day market featuring over 60 artists who operate from the studios. 
Nestled in an industrial complex on Argall avenue just between The Marshes and Leabridge Road Over ground Station this cute brick built set of units houses not only Turning Earth but a host of other small design businesses and including LightHus which some of you might recognise from the Saint James Street end of Walthamstow Market.

I must confess that with so many beautiful things on sale that I had my eyes on the end of sticks!
I found an array of amazing pieces from pretty and dainty cake like vases to wild and colourful spiky pots which wouldn't look out of place in Salvador Dali's home!
So here are a few favourites designers who's work I fell in love with on the day... all though there were so many more ceramic pieces I could have easily given a home to. Click on the links under the images to visit individual websites and on the photos for larger images...

 *From left to right: Azem Willam Ceramics // Natascha Madeiski

 * Ceramicist and illustrator Noa Weintraub

 *From left to right: AR Ceramics // Lily Pearmain Ceramics

The light and airy warehouse studio is not just beautiful but I can imagine it must also be an inspiring place to work in.
Membership fees are on a monthly basis and allow makers a weekly 15 hour working time, plus a shelf, glaze room and use of kiln as well as expert lead technical staff.

Having studied ceramics and have had previously worked in a tile studio in London the draw to this place is immense!
Yes it's been a while since I've thrown anything onto a wheel and all though I did specialise in traditional Portuguese tile painting throwing was always something which had proven to be a skill  I've always wanted to improve!
And to be honest after almost 26 years I can bet that my skills are going to need a lot of honing! BUT with the arrival of Turning Earth I'm hoping to change all that!
If you'd like to learn more about membership, location etc please visit the Turning Earth web site:
www.e10.turningearth.uk

VOTE for us!!!

As part of the local community Craft Guerrilla are proud to be nominated again for a LOVE YOUR BOROUGH AWARD! Each year the council of Waltham Forest awards groups,individuals and collectives like us for facilitating some form of service to the wider local community.

This year we've been nominated under the ARTS AWARDS.
Our events have both worked as a spring board for local designer makers enabling many to start up their own creative businesses and collaborations with other artists.
Craft Guerrilla have also worked hard to promote the area and it's designers through national and international media from Japan to Australia, online publications, blogs, an exhibition in the CRAFT Werk 2.0 in the Jönköping museum Sweden, reputable international craft communities like Etsy and even BBC2's News Night therefore launching Walthamstow as a place to visit for contemporary, high quality art & craft.

In 2010 we were lucky enough to be invited by the Knitting and Stitching shows to exhibit a few designers in London,Harrogate and Dublin. In the spirit of fairness we opened it up as a competition. The criteria was simple: applicants had to make their wares and were serious about transforming their hobby into a real business.
We've had a few success stories and we're stoked to have shared this unmissable chance with our fellow creatives!
We're really proud of the work we do with designers and most of all we believe in sharing opportunities. It's always been about facilitating, joining forces, strength in numbers and making HAND MADE something regarded with esteem, taken seriously as an art form and treated as a premium product.

Our D.I.Y. Craft Nights have also proven to be an important monthly event in people's diary. We get all sorts, all ages, from all over London and from all walks of life but many of our participants especially local elderly and people with mental health problems these events have proven to be an important life line and a way back into the community. We love spreading the crafty word and if it works like a tonic then we're happy we could provide the crafty medicine!

As a self funded,grass roots collective we're usually operating on a shoe string budget but thanks to our PR machine we've been able to successfully acheive funding from people like ETSY and CraftNation.com both high profile Craft names.It's an endless job but we feel it's something worth pursuing!

If you think we're deserved of an award then please vote for us!
It takes less then 5 minutes! Please visit:
https://www1.walthamforest.gov.uk/webforms/loveyourborough/
*please note that you don't need to be a local resident just provide the information requested including your address.

The deadline is the 31st of January so please,please,please vote for CRAFT GUERRILLA!!!

VOTE here or visit: https://www1.walthamforest.gov.uk/webforms/loveyourborough/
Please fill out your details and the Craft Guerrilla Details are as follows and the vote should be under the category "ARTS AWARD":
*INFORMATION REMOVED*
CLOSING DATE JANUARY 2011

and please feel free to give your own reason for nominating us!!!
Thank you!!!