Craft Festival Cardiff
On a beautifully sunny Sunday in November I visited Craft Festival Cardiff with a friend. It was my first trip to one of their series of craft events, and I was suitably impressed! The venue was beautiful, super light and airy which made it a real pleasure to explore. It was all super professional too, with helpful maps to introduce you to each of the traders, and help you find your way around.
There was so much incredible craftsmanship on display, and each stand offered something different. I took a few pics of the ones that caught my eye, and also failed to take some pics of others that were equally brilliant. Seems to be a running theme…
Abi Higgins Ceramics
Incredible Raku Pots
Almost straight through the door was some incredible Raku ceramics from Abi Higgins. These pieces were so beautiful, I really don’t think my photos do them justice. The colours were so vibrant, yet had so much movement through them, I was sorely tempted to buy one of the first things I’d seen! But I held off as there was so much more to see.
Gorgeous patterns on these vases
Abi was super friendly and happily spoke to us about her work. She also runs workshops with Alison West Ceramics, although I’m pretty sure it takes an awful lot of work to get anywhere near the results she does.
Abbie won ‘Best New Business 2019’ and it’s no surprise from me. Her stall was so fun and vibrant, and her jewellery was so different from anything else I saw. I had a real hard time choosing my favourite piece from her brilliant collection.
Gorgeous, painterly colours in the enamel
Zsuzsi’s stall had so much going on, and so much to draw the eye. I loved her painterly use of colour within the enamelled jewellery she’d brought to showcase. I fell in love with one of her earrings, and had to buy it. It’s got a beautiful gradient from a stormy blue through to a pale wintery ice white, and is surrounded by 22ct gold. It reminds me a little of a fang or something, and I wear it often in one ear, with one of my own skull charms in the other.
Loved the textured surfaces of these unusual ceramics
The ceramic pieces by Melina Xenaki really stood out to me with their incredible textures. I was particularly charmed by her horse to the right of this picture.
Heather McDermott’s amazing jewellery is inspired by the sea around her home on the Isle of Skye. It’s inspired by abandoned fishing nets and buoys, and driftwood along the shore. She’s also super friendly, and let me try on a bunch of her pieces. They were so beautiful and clearly so much time and careful craft had gone into every piece.
Gorgeous subtle tones in this porcelain
I was often drawn more to the porcelain and ceramics when I was wandering around, and Rebecca Callis’s work really stood out to me. Her forms were so simple yet so elegant, and her glazes were beautifully subtle. I put some of her espresso cups down on my christmas list.