Bovey Tracey Craft Festival - What an amazing show

Hello.
Rather embarrassingly I had never visited the Bovey Tracey Craft Festival in Devon, what a mistake! This is by far the best Craft show I have been too. Not only the are the exhibitors of the highest standard, there was also something for everyone, a free Children’s activity tent (The Craft Lab) a tent especially for Teens, with a printing workshop (The Den) an even a old fashioned Punch & Judy show.

I had been asked by Somerset Art Works around six months ago if I would be on a committee to get SAW to the Bovey Tracey Craft Festival, we had a couple of meetings but it was the Somerset Art Works staff that made this happen, especially Carol Carey who is just generally amazing.

It is Somerset Art Works Silver Anniversary and Carol asked if I would donate a small piece of my work which would be raffled alongside five other Somerset Art Works members work at the end of this years Somerset Art Weeks. My contribution was a small bouquet of silver crochet roses, I had fun making the roses all different shapes and sizes and for once did’’t need to write a pattern.

Eternally Yours ~ Jan Ollis

The six pieces of work, all on the theme ‘Silver’ worked so well together in their little domes. I was honoured to be included in this quality display. - Credits are Jess palmer - Quicksilver, Me, Liz Clay - Floral Corsage, Rebecca Bruton - Cut your cloth accordingly, Lucy Large - Troglodytidae, Ria Burns - Silver Linings.

“Silver” ~ Credits are Jess palmer - Quicksilver, Me, Liz Clay - Floral Corsage, Rebecca Bruton - Cut your cloth accordingly, Lucy Large - Troglodytidae, Ria Burns - Silver Linings.

In the afternoon I gave a crochet demonstration and made some small silver roses, it was great chatting to people and showing them more of my techniques.

But back to the main event - The Exhibitors, there were so many makers whose work I loved and here are just a few - Claire Read (www.littleburrowdesigns.co.uk) makes the most exquisite ‘Storybox’ assemblages, I so wanted to buy one but unfortunately the one’s I wanted had all sold, never mind I am now following her on Instagram to see what she makes in the future.

Little Burrow Designs

I also hanker after a textile Bull’s head by ‘Fauxidermy’ The work that goes into each piece is astonishing, then there are lampshades……Oh my I need something from both ‘Janie Knitted Textiles’ and ‘Stuart Lamble Designs’ Many years ago I exhibited at ‘Launchpad’ and Janie was on a stand near to me, it was great to catch up with her and to hear what she has been up to in the last 10 years. Stuart Lamble’s work is mind blowing and his stand was a master class in how to display work.

I was so busy looking around the exhibitor stands that I missed a film in the Vintage mobile Cinema on Marna Lunt.

Marna Lunt

So I hot footed it over to Marna’s stand and who should have been there but instead the lovely Lauren Aston was watching her stall. We had a great chat whilst I admired Marna’s exquisite work.

Lauren Aston

Next I headed to The Heritage Craft Association tent, this contained crafts that are endangered ‘Red List crafts) and was rather surprised to be offered the chance to gild letters on glass by David Smith, it was very satifying to add the gold leaf to a piece of work that will be raffled and also great to chat to Davids daughter 'Hannah, who is carrying on the Letter Gilding tradiotion with Laurens’s Letters .
It was also fun to see Nick Hand (letterpress compositor) on his printing press bike, what a great idea.

Nick Hand

This is a day that will stay in my mind (and heart) for a while, it has enthused and energised me and I can’t wait to go again next year.

Jan