With less than two weeks left to go, make sure to catch some of the exciting events taking place across Northern Ireland this August Craft Month before you miss out.
Celebrating the vibrant local craft scene, a wealth of exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops have been taking place across Northern Ireland giving people the chance to support local makers by buying products and learning more about their work.
With over 160 events on offer across the across the country this August, here is just a taste of some of the events still to take place.
August Craft Month County Antrim
Basketry Workshop with Welig Heritage Crafts
Location: The Braid, 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena
Date: Saturday, 26th of August 10am – 4pm
Price: £20
Mid Antrim Museum is hosting a full day basketry workshop with Welig Heritage Crafts where you will be given instruction by basket maker and countryside skills practitioner Clive Lyttle on making your own potato basket or woven willow using traditional crafting techniques.
All materials and tea and coffee will be provided but with only eight spaces available, contact the Braid museum on 028 2563 5077 to ensure you don’t miss out.
Colour from Nature – ecoprinting on Fabric workshop
Location: Maguigan suite, Whitehead Community Centre, 20 Balmoral Avenue, Whitehead, County Antrim
Date: Saturday, 26th of August 10am-5pm
Price: £100
Join Gabriella Weatherhead , local textile artist from Leaf Alkhemy. This full day workshop explores eco print patterning and colour work achieved with flowers, leaves, foraged finds and bio materials from the kitchen.
All materials will be provided but feel free to experiment with flowers and leaves from your own garden.
You learn how to extract dye pigments from plants and how to prepare fabric for dyeing clean, crisp plant images.
You will go home with a bundle of fabric samples that can be used in quilting, printing or collage work for that special project.
August Craft Month County Armagh
The Quilters Guild of Ireland Exhibition
Location: Millenium Court, 3-5 William Street, Portadown
Date: Weekdays 10am to 4pm until Thursday, 31st August
Price: Free
During the COVID-19 pandemic Quilters Guild of Ireland members encouraged friends and family to join them in the Irish government’s ‘Keep Well Campaign’ which focused on: keeping active; staying connected; switching off and being creative; eating well and managing your mood.
Hoping for enough ten-inch square blocks to make three or four quilts to raise money for Women’s Shelters. The response exceeded all expectations with blocks coming from every part of Ireland including the Aran Islands and the Blasket Islands.
The result was the creation of 22 quilts, with the theme of Home (houses, trees, paths and gardens) which are now on display in this exhibition.
Green woodwork and pole lathe turning demonstration
Location: Tannaghmore Gardens and Animal Farm, 100 Silverwood Road, Lurgan
Date: Saturday, 26th August 10am to 4pm
Price £5.60 per car
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the skills of the craftsman, in this case Stephen Ryan from Green Woodwork Ireland, producing his wares with the use of the shave horse and the pole lathe.
In this demonstration watch as children’s toys, spoons, bowls and furniture are all produced using traditional techniques dating back hundreds of years.
People of all ages will be captivated by the rhythm of the pole lathe, and a craft that has long since disappeared. Adults and children alike can enjoy Stephen’s work as he talks about the skills and history of this forgotten world.
August Craft Month County Down
Bags of Style workshop
Location: Ulster Folk Museum, 153 Bangor Road, Cultra, Holywood
Date: Saturday, 26th August
Price: £25 (booking required)
Join the Ulster Folk Museum’s textile creator, Valerie Wilson, for this one-day practical sewing workshop where you will create a bag using linen fabric and decorative trims.
Inspired by original textiles in the collection at the Ulster Folk Museum, this workshop focuses on creative ways to use small amounts of fabric and recycling remnants to make bags for every day sustainable use.
This workshop will involve both hand and machine stitching and is suitable for anyone aged 16+. Basic sewing skills would be an advantage but are not a requirement.
Dorset Button making with Wee Yarn Designs
Location: The Craft Room Craft Shop, 10 Castle Street, Comber
Date: Thursday, 31st August
Price: £35
Dorset Button making began in the 1600s and became a thriving cottage industry promoting independence and security for many women and their families. However, with the advent of the button making machine in 1851, the industry began to decline.
It is now considered a heritage craft and in this workshop textile designer Debbie McCann will guide participants through the history of Dorset buttons and show how they can be used for embellishment.
Demonstrating how to make a simple cross wheel button and then guide the participants in the creation of a brooch, necklace, set of buttons or unique artwork to take home.
August Craft Month County Fermanagh
Buttermarket self-guided tour
Location: The Buttermarket, Down Street, Enniskillen
Date: Throughout August
Price: Free
Located in the heart of Enniskillen, the Buttermarket consists of early 19th century buildings which have benn beautifully restored and house diverse crafts such as pottery, handmade jewellery, textiles and more.
Visitors will enjoy a pleasant and relaxing day out walking around the 16 studios, galleries and shops on offer. Refreshments can be found at the Coffee Shop of the Buttermarket Courtyard where beautiful craft products such as pottery by Ann McNulty or jewellery by Angela Kelly can also be purchased.
Good morning Belleek – Guided tour/Morning coffee
Location: 3 Main Street, Belleek.
Date: Monday to Friday throughout August
Price: £12 per person
A 30-minute guided tour will provide full access to the manufacturing and creative process that goes into the construction of Belleek fine china.
Your dedicated guide will walk you through the factory as craftspeople demonstrate moulding, flowering, painting and basket weaving techniques.
Visitor participation is encouraged throughout the tour and when it’s over, enjoy tea/coffee and freshly baked scones in the Belleek restaurant, overlooking the banks of Lough Erne as part of your experience.
August Craft Month County Londonderry
Causeway Speciality Market
Location: Coleraine Town Hall, 35 The Diamond, Coleraine
Date: Saturday, 26 August
Price: Free
With 50 stalls located around Coleraine’s sandstone townhall, the Causeway Speciality Market provides a wide range of high quality, locally produced arts, crafts and gourmet food products.
For over 16 years this event has been attracting a large number of visitors to Coleraine with shoppers able to find a unique gift or prefect treat for themselves amongst a superb selection of quality crafts including handmade jewellery, textile crafts, ceramics, painted glassware, polished wood-turned products and more.
Gourmet food products are also on offer with a range of cheese, artisan breads and multiple flavours of cookies, muffins, fudges and tray-bakes all created by the stallholders themselves.
Hearts of Craft at Number 19 Craft and Design
Location: Number 19 Craft and Design, The Craft Village, Shipquay Street, Derry
Date: Wednesday, 30th August 9:30am to 11:30am
Price: Free
The final workshop in the Hearts of Craft series is led by designer Maureen McGhee, a master metal worker who will introduce you to copper repousse.
During this two-hour class, participants will make a small design inspired by Maureen’s collection of cards and accessories.
While the event is free booking is required and can be done by emailing [email protected]
August Craft Month County Tyrone
Mother Earth exhibition
Location: Strule Arts Centre, Townhall Square, Omagh
Date: Monday – Saturday 9:30am to 5pm until Saturday, 2nd September
Price: Free
Come along to Strule Arts Centre for Mother Earth – an exhibition about the earth, made from earth.
This exhibition is a visual delight in ceramics highlighting issues around climate change, earth problems, earth’s beauty, spirituality and motherhood.
An enchanting thought provoking and contrasting exhibition full of a variety of skills yet all made from clay. From the sculptural to the functional and the folly.
Paint your own mug workshop
Location: Glenpark Estate, 150 Glen Park Road, Omagh
Date: Thursday 24th of August 7pm to 9pm.
Price: £30
Join Tyrone based ceramic artists Rachel Leary in a creative workshop where you will paint and glaze your own mug.
Within the idyllic surrounding of Glenpark Estate, Rachel will provide you with the tools and inspiration needed to paint a mug with ceramic underglazes and make it watertight by using a transparent glaze.
Tea or coffee will be provided on arrival and your finished mug will be taken to Rachel’s studio where it will be glaze fired and ready for collection/delivery within two weeks.
August Craft Month is delivered by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Craft NI in partnership with Design & Crafts Council Ireland.
For more information, and to see the list of events taking place across the island visit www.augustcraftmonth.org. Share your own adventures by tagging @craft.ni, @augustcraftmonth23 and use the hashtags #augustcraftmonth2023 and #makeseekbuy
