programme
Open Studio: Buttress & Snatch
Free, drop-in
Come and look round our atelier and see how you can upcycle waste cotton shirts and textiles into useful and exciting new clothes. Buttress & Snatch are a community lingerie atelier.
This open studio is part of Buttress & Snatch’s Community Cotton Club, their Make it Happen grant project funded by Waltham Forest Council.
ABOUT BUTTRESS & SNATCH
Buttress & Snatch are a community lingerie atelier. They make lingerie, dresses and bridalwear using vintage, recycled and deadstock materials.
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TOUR: From Tree to Table with Grain
Free, booking required
Join us at our East London workshop for an exclusive look at how we journey from tree to table during the making of our American walnut Kielder range. We’ll be running tours at 11am and 2pm over the weekend to show the full process, from selection and preparation of timber, to the machine and hand finishing processes we use to create our timeless dining tables.
Our 30 minute tour will cover: selection and preparation of timber; machining prepared timber into components; hand processing of components; solid lipping of tabletops; selection, preparation and pressing of veneers; hand finishing of components.
Afterwards, you'll have the opportunity to get hands-on with our products, explore design for disassembly (which sets us apart from flat-pack) and get an early preview of our newest product drops.
We're proud to design and manufacture modern British furniture in Leyton and we look forward to welcoming you.
ABOUT GRAIN
We are Grain and we have been designing furniture since 2017. All of our furniture is designed and made under one roof in London. All of our materials are ethically sourced and our products made to order by our expert furniture makers. Our team has a wealth of experience designing and making furniture for high-end bespoke joinery projects where quality and craft are at the forefront of everything we design and make.
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Sunday Mending Club
Free, drop-in
Join the Monday Mending Club for a special weekend edition of their monthly mending social on the final day of Art Without Heroes: Mingei. The Walthamstow-based club aims to spread the joy of mending clothing and textile. It is run by artist, designer, maker and mender Mika Sembongi.
The mending club will meet in the Acanthus Room on the second floor of the building, food and drink can be brought up from the gallery café.
ABOUT WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY
William Morris Gallery is the only public gallery devoted to the designer, craftsman and radical socialist William Morris.
Housed in the Grade II listed building that was once Morris’s family home, the Gallery displays the world’s largest collection of his work, alongside contemporary exhibitions and an active events and learning programme.
Our purpose is to share the rich artistic and social legacy of one of Britain’s greatest designers. The Gallery is free and open to all.
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Walthamstow Women's FC kit upcycling workshop
Photograph by Terna Joga, courtesy of Nicole Chui.
Free, booking required
Join us for an innovative and inspiring workshop for the William Morris Design Line at the London Design Festival, hosted by Amy Powney, Creative Director of Mother of Pearl, featuring a unique collaboration to promote sustainable fashion, supported by iconic sportswear brand Umbro. Amy Powney will share insights into sustainable fashion practices, highlighting how deadstock materials can be creatively reused to reduce waste. Followed by a hands-on workshop with embroidery artist Nicole Chui, expressively customising pre-loved kits using freestyle hand embroidery techniques.
This special event, held at FOUNDRY Walthamstow, is dedicated to the launch of Walthamstow FC’s first women's football team and aims to blend the worlds of fashion and football in a creative, eco-friendly manner.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Introduction and Welcome:
The event kicks off with a warm welcome from the hosts, Wood Street Walls, followed by an introduction from Amy Powney, creative director of Mother of Pearl.
Learn about the mission and vision behind this collaboration, emphasizing the importance of sustainability in both fashion and sports.
Sustainable Fashion and Football:
Discover how the project has come together with Umbro’s support, to repurpose deadstock kits, transforming them into unique jerseys for the Walthamstow Football team.
Amy Powney will share insights into sustainable fashion practices, highlighting how deadstock materials can be creatively reused to reduce waste.
Customisation Workshop:
The main event is an interactive workshop where participants will take existing deadstock kits and customise them through embroidery and other creative techniques.
You will learn basic to advanced embroidery skills, making this workshop suitable for all skill levels.
Nicole will demonstrate various embroidery techniques, provide tips on creating unique designs, and guide you through the process of transforming a plain kit into a piece of wearable art.
Hands-on Experience:
No prior experience is required to attend this workshop, but an interest in football and/or fashion is highly recommended.
All materials and tools will be provided, including a selection of deadstock kits from Umbro, embroidery threads, needles, and other embellishments.
Participants will have the opportunity to create their own customised jersey, which will be worn by the newly established women’s team.
Networking and Community Building:
Throughout the day, there will be opportunities to network with like-minded individuals, share ideas, and discuss the intersection of fashion, sports, and sustainability.
Engage in conversations with Amy Powney, Nicole Chui, and members of the Walthamstow Football team, and learn more about the formation of Walthamstow's first women's football team.
Closing Remarks and Group Photo:
The event will conclude with a group photo of all participants wearing their customised jerseys, followed by closing remarks from the hosts.
Additional Information:
● Refreshments and light snacks will be provided throughout the day.
● The venue, FOUNDRY, is easily accessible from Blackhorse Road station which is served by London Underground and Overground
● Tickets are limited, so early booking is recommended to secure your spot.
● All proceeds from the event will support the formation and development of Walthamstow's first women's football team.
How to Register:
● Visit the Wood Street Wall’s eventbrite site in the ‘Book Here’ link above
● Follow the event on social media for updates and sneak peeks of the deadstock kits and customisation ideas.
Contact Information:
● For any inquiries, please contact Wood Street Walls at info@woodstreetwalls.co.uk or call 07867 786688.
ABOUT WOOD STREET WALLS
Wood Street Walls is a creative arts organisation that works on global projects with world renowned street artists. We work to empower local communities and artists in public space. Together with its in-house team of artists and creative professionals, it curates walls and coordinates events and runs two artist workspaces in Walthamstow. Since its formation ten years ago, Wood Street Walls has helped facilitate and curate more than 100 murals in East London, using the power of art and creativity to highlight social issues and causes that affect London and the UK.
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www.instagram.com/woodstreetwalls
www.facebook.com/woodstreetwalls
ABOUT FOUNDRY WALTHAMSTOW
The FOUNDRY consists of three levels, the ground floor housing four wellness studios to service the needs of the community and two levels of workspace as well as a lounge that converts into Harry’s bar, offering cocktails with a terrace that has panoramic views of the Walthamstow Wetlands.
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www.instagram.com/foundryspace
www.instagram.com/harryswalthamstow
www.linkedin.com/company/foundryspace
ABOUT MOTHER OF PEARL
Mother of Pearl is a luxury sustainable womenswear brand based in London that celebrates individuality, authenticity and sustainability. We make fashion with wit, heart and conscience. Our sustainable clothing collections are created with natural organic fabrics, respect to animals and a transparent supply chain.
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www.instagram.com/motherofpearl
ABOUT NICOLE CHUI
Nicole Chui is a London based, Hong Kong-Malaysian embroidery artist whose work is messy, brash, and disruptive. Through every stitch, her work is driven by the desire to preserve & create memories, have fun, and disrupt perfection. It is important for her to unpick the unrealistic expectations of perfection society puts on women and carve space to “let us be". With every piece she continues to embrace imperfection in a fun and raw way, especially centring our true unhinged emotions.
She is currently exploring her identity in football and sports through her embroidery art practice. She co-founded the London based football club; Baesianz FC. A grassroots football community for women, trans, and non binary people of Asian heritage to play football in a safe space.
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10 Years of Making It Together: Blackhorse Workshop's Celebratory Weekend
Free, drop-in
Join us for an afternoon of celebration, on Sunday 22nd September between 12pm - 5pm, of 10 amazing years of design and creativity at Blackhorse Workshop (2014 –2024) . We'll be marking this making milestone since the workshop first opened its doors back in 2014 with a mix of fun, food, music, games and making foolery!
There will also be the final chance to catch the special Makers Showcase, exhibiting work of past and present users of the workshop by some of London’s most exciting designers.
Everyone welcome – bring your family, friends and neighbours!
ABOUT Blackhorse Workshop
Blackhorse Workshop is a social enterprise dedicated to making, offering easy access to a fully equipped wood and metal workshop that’s open to all.
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INSA @ Buxton School
Free, drop-in
A unique collaboration featuring artist INSA, Wood Street Walls, RAW Project, and Buxton School in Leytonstone. Watch as INSA creates a new animated mural on Buxton School's side. Experience the animated artwork with AR via INSA's app as this will be one of the largest piece’s of INSA’s ‘gif-iti” pieces London will have seen.
ABOUT WOOD STREET WALLS
Wood Street Walls is a creative arts organisation that works on global projects with world renowned street artists. We work to empower local communities and artists in public space. Together with its in-house team of artists and creative professionals, it curates walls and coordinates events and runs two artist workspaces in Walthamstow. Since its formation ten years ago, Wood Street Walls has helped facilitate and curate more than 100 murals in East London, using the power of art and creativity to highlight social issues and causes that affect London and the UK.
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Supported by:
TOUR: From Tree to Table with Grain
Free, booking required
Join us at our East London workshop for an exclusive look at how we journey from tree to table during the making of our American walnut Kielder range. We’ll be running tours at 11am and 2pm over the weekend to show the full process, from selection and preparation of timber, to the machine and hand finishing processes we use to create our timeless dining tables.
Our 30 minute tour will cover: selection and preparation of timber; machining prepared timber into components; hand processing of components; solid lipping of tabletops; selection, preparation and pressing of veneers; hand finishing of components.
Afterwards, you'll have the opportunity to get hands-on with our products, explore design for disassembly (which sets us apart from flat-pack) and get an early preview of our newest product drops.
We're proud to design and manufacture modern British furniture in Leyton and we look forward to welcoming you.
ABOUT GRAIN
We are Grain and we have been designing furniture since 2017. All of our furniture is designed and made under one roof in London. All of our materials are ethically sourced and our products made to order by our expert furniture makers. Our team has a wealth of experience designing and making furniture for high-end bespoke joinery projects where quality and craft are at the forefront of everything we design and make.
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Reservoirs of Replenishment: Creative Walk around Walthamstow MARSHES and Wetlands
Photograph by Helen Simms
£7 / £2 concessions / Free for refugees and asylum seekers. Booking required
Join ecology-tending artist and designer Alisa Ruzavina on a walking tour in the valleys of Europe’s largest urban wetlands and the surrounding territories. Partake in the imaginative exploration of the relationship between human history, urban wildlife and all the interspecies intermingling, resulting in the wildness and the man-made coming together on this unique site. Leave with a strengthened sense of empathy, solidarity and kinship with local plant and animal residents and visitors, and take home newfound reflections around the potentialities for human and more-than-human co-existence.
The walk will start at the sculpture at the corner of St James’ Park, South Access Road, E17 8AN and will take a route through the Argall Industrial Area, Walthamstow Marshes and Walthamstow Wetlands. It will finish at Engine House Cafe on Walthamstow Wetlands territory, 2 Forest Road, N17 9NH.
The route is approximately 2.5 miles so please wear appropriate footwear and clothing. There a benches to rest along the route.
ABOUT ALISA RUZAVINA
Alisa Ruzavina is a community & ecology-tending artist and facilitator.Her work focuses on creating conversations and collective experiences in the public realm that playfully explore alternative forms of knowledge, opening possibilities for sustainable place-based ways of relating, making and being that bring people closer in communion with the urban land, the civic commons and the diversity of intercultural and interspecies communities that can be found in the city. Her socially-engaged practice spans across public art, sculpture, installation, textiles, rituals, immersive and celebratory experiences, community and participatory art, walks and workshops.
Transform Wax Waste into Beauty: Beeswax Floral Centerpiece Workshop
£45. Booking required.
Join Lola Lely, founder of WAX Atelier, for a special London Design Festival workshop at their new Walthamstow workspace. Transform wax waste into a beautiful beeswax floral centerpiece in this 2 hour workshop.
Learn innovative techniques from Lola herself to create a stunning, one-of-a-kind floral centerpiece made from beeswax scraps. This hands-on workshop will equip you with the skills to craft a beautiful and sustainable statement piece for your home.
ABOUT WAX Atelier
WAX Atelier re-visits traditional making techniques for the modern era. From candle making to crafted objects, making becomes a tool to experience the interconnections between the natural world and material culture.
Founded in 2017 by multidisciplinary designer Lola Lely, WAX Atelier handcrafts its products at its East London workshop. A team of skilled artisans, drawn from the local community, brings these creations to life.
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Ercol, Walthamstow and a family business
Tickets: £7.50 / £5 concessions
We are delighted to welcome Henry Tadros, Chairman of Ercol and great grandson of its founder Lucian Ercolani. Henry will speak about the brand’s relationship to Walthamstow and how a furniture company has continued to thrive for over 100 years.
Ercolani’s family emigrated to Walthamstow in the 1890s and Lucian studied furniture making at the Shoreditch Technical Institute before founding Ercol. Henry is the fourth-generation Chairman of this family business. Tadros will speak about running Ercol, a company still based in the UK and committed to skilled craftsmanship and sustainability principles.
With furniture design and manufacturing having something of a renaissance in the local area, this talk will address the challenges and opportunities for the continued production of high-quality furniture in Britain, how this links to the principles of both William Morris and the Gallery’s current exhibition Art Without Heroes: Mingei, and the factors that have contributed to this iconic company’s enduring success.
Hosted by Hadrian Garrard, Director of William Morris Gallery. The talk will be followed by a Q&A and a chance to see Art Without Heroes: Mingei on its closing weekend.
ABOUT WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY
William Morris Gallery is the only public gallery devoted to the designer, craftsman and radical socialist William Morris.
Housed in the Grade II listed building that was once Morris’s family home, the Gallery displays the world’s largest collection of his work, alongside contemporary exhibitions and an active events and learning programme.
Our purpose is to share the rich artistic and social legacy of one of Britain’s greatest designers. The Gallery is free and open to all.
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Garden Tour: Growing indigo and flax with Indigo Garden
Free. Arrive at 3:30pm, late arrivals will not be able to join due to locked access.
Together with textile designer First Principals we've been growing flax for the first time down at the Indigo Garden this year. Come and discover the harmonious pairing of indigo and linen and learn more about hand processed fibres and dye plants. We'll be demonstrating how to process flax and extract indigo from the leaves using the fresh leaf method. Get to know the different species and varieties we grow in the garden and spend time communing in nature with a cup of indigo tea!
About INdigo Garden
Indigo Garden London is a creative learning space that allows us to showcase the natural beauty of slow craft and bring the alchemic science of dyeing to life through communal art making. We grow a variety of indigo and other dye bearing plants as well as flax for making linen.
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ABOUT First Principals
First Principals started in Utrecht as a sustainable clothing project. Now based in London, we strive to operate as a vertically integrated clothing company. This means that our ultimate objective is to have complete control of the production chain, from the seed to garment. Our ideal company would grow natural fibres, harvest them, process them into yarn, weave (or knit) the yarn into fabric, and finally stitch the fabric into finished garments. We are aware that achieving this objective alone is a monumental task. For this reason, we are working with a number of collaborators and establishing a community of like-minded makers. By pulling together, and each providing expertise at different stages of the production chain, we are hopeful that we can produce clothing in a radically transparent and responsible manner.
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Tools of the Trade: Burnt Faith brandy masterclass and tasting
£20. Booking required.
If you want to make the best brandy then you’ll need the best team and equipment. Do we have both? Course we do, we have the best of the best.
Oliver Kitson our Master Distiller (previously Master Distiller for Sipsmith & Warners Gin) will be hosting the ultimate Brandy masterclass.
Learn how we make and produce brandy at the UK's first dedicated Brandy House on the only Charentais pot still in the UK whilst enjoying a tasting session within our distillery understanding the craftsmanship that goes into our Batch One blend.
ABOUT Burnt Faith
Burnt Faith's Brandy House is the first dedicated brandy distillery in the UK, on a mission to unlock the real potential of brandy. This mission began a few years back when we spent time in the Cognac region of France — we were taken both by the passion and the constraints of its traditional methods.
Some people import and relabel the brandies they love. Others create their own, unique blends. Those routes are all good with us, but we want to do more.
We’re taking things to the next level, distilling and blending our own brandies in the UK’s first legit brandy house.
Our home in Walthamstow now contains the knowledge, equipment and attitude needed to unlock the real potential of Brandy.
We make brandy without boundaries.
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TOUR: From Tree to Table with Grain
Free, booking required
Join us at our East London workshop for an exclusive look at how we journey from tree to table during the making of our American walnut Kielder range. We’ll be running tours at 11am and 2pm over the weekend to show the full process, from selection and preparation of timber, to the machine and hand finishing processes we use to create our timeless dining tables.
Our 30 minute tour will cover: selection and preparation of timber; machining prepared timber into components; hand processing of components; solid lipping of tabletops; selection, preparation and pressing of veneers; hand finishing of components.
Afterwards, you'll have the opportunity to get hands-on with our products, explore design for disassembly (which sets us apart from flat-pack) and get an early preview of our newest product drops.
We're proud to design and manufacture modern British furniture in Leyton and we look forward to welcoming you.
ABOUT GRAIN
We are Grain and we have been designing furniture since 2017. All of our furniture is designed and made under one roof in London. All of our materials are ethically sourced and our products made to order by our expert furniture makers. Our team has a wealth of experience designing and making furniture for high-end bespoke joinery projects where quality and craft are at the forefront of everything we design and make.
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Bamboo Bicycle Club: Build with bamboo workshop
£30, booking required
Join Founder James Marr for a unique workshop during London Design Festival and learn the art of building with bamboo! This workshop will cover key techniques and the material properties of bamboo.
The class will offer an in-depth look into Bamboo Bicycle Club and its global projects. You'll gain insights into bamboo as a material, its properties, and how to effectively incorporate it into your designs.
In the second part of the workshop, you'll get hands-on experience building and creating everyday objects with bamboo. Our ethos is to encourage hands-on interaction with materials, enabling participants to understand their properties and workability, which can be incorporated into future practices.
Take advantage of this opportunity to explore the versatility of bamboo and enhance your design skills with practical knowledge and experience!
Try your hand at the bamboo-building techniques that underpin the Bamboo Bicycle Club’s ethos. These workshop sessions will give you a taste of working and designing with bamboo material. The team will demonstrate unique bamboo building techniques, and guide and support you to build your first bamboo product successfully.
You will build confidence in working with bamboo as a versatile material; gaining skills in sizing, sanding, and shaping.
ABOUT Bamboo Bicycle Club
Bamboo Bicycle Club empower people to build their own bikes. Founded in London, they've grown into a global community that champions innovative and sustainable cycling.
We selected bamboo for bike construction because it's accessible and suitable. Like timber, bamboo is readily available and easy to craft with simple tools, making it perfect for quick, DIY bike building. It absorbs road vibrations better than other materials, offers excellent strength, and has a natural aerodynamic shape. Additionally, bamboo captures CO2 as it grows, storing carbon as you ride.
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Tools of the Trade: Nirvana Brewery
Free. Drop-in between 13.00 - 18.00
Guided tour at 14.00, booking required
Join us for an alcohol-free beer tasting and brewery tour! Nirvana Brewery will be opening its doors to offer the chance to sample our delicious and varied range of non-alcoholic beers. From craft lagers and hoppy pale ales, to wheat beers and dark and rich stouts, all of Nirvana’s beers are delightfully alcohol-free.
Our shutter will be open all afternoon for you to pop in and join us for a beer. Our brewer James will lead a brewery-tour session at 2pm giving the low-down on the magic behind alcohol-free brewing, followed by a guided tasting with a selection of four great Nirvana beers.
ABOUT Nirvana Brewery
Nirvana Brewery are an independent alcohol-free brewery, brewing a range of craft beers all under 0.5% ABV.
Website:
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www.instagram.com/nirvanabeerco
Meet the designers: The Black Horse
Free, arrive at 1pm
Join us at for an exclusive architect and designer led tour of The Black Horse Bar & Pizzeria. Hear directly from the architect and interior designer from Pencil & Brick and Flamingo & Oak about their inspiration and creative process behind designing this award-nominated venue. Discover the design elements that make The Black Horse unique and gain insights into their work. Don't miss this unique opportunity!
ABOUT THE BLACK HORSE
Located in the heart of Blackhorse Road, The Black Horse is a stylish neighbourhood bar serving seasonal cocktails, local craft beer and authentic Italian stone-baked pizzas from their in-house pizzeria, Dodici Pizze.
The Black Horse & Dodici Pizze boast an industrial interior adorned with terracotta and blue hues, paying homage to nearby denim and bus factories in the area. Noteworthy elements include a custom terrazzo bar and an original street art mural, lending a chic and refined atmosphere that earned the venue a nomination in the British Interior Design Awards 2023.
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Art Without Heroes: Mingei - Family Day
Free, drop-in
Participate in family-friendly workshops inspired by Mingei, exploring the beauty of handcrafted everyday objects. Learn the traditional art of textile weaving and create your own fabric using simple cardboard looms. These free, drop-in sessions are open to all.
About WILLIAM MORRIS GALLERY
William Morris Gallery is the only public gallery devoted to the designer, craftsman and radical socialist William Morris.
Housed in the Grade II listed building that was once Morris’s family home, the Gallery displays the world’s largest collection of his work, alongside contemporary exhibitions and an active events and learning programme.
Our purpose is to share the rich artistic and social legacy of one of Britain’s greatest designers. The Gallery is free and open to all.
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Tour: A short history of Armstrong Audio
Free, arrive at 12pm
Take a tour of Armstrong Audio with engineers and owners, T & Shalma. Learn about its rich history dating back to 1932 when the company was established as 'Armstrong Wireless & Television Ltd.' and began manufacturing public address systems, radios and televisions for public use in WWII.
Since a shift in the market in the 1980s, Armstrong Audio has been repairing Hi-Fi equipment and has developed a reputation as a leading audio repair specialist in the UK with unrivalled knowledge and expertise.
ABOUT ARMSTRONG AUDIO
Armstrong Audio is a leading specialist with 40 years' experience in home, high-end and professional audio equipment repairs. Established in 1932 the company was originally called 'Armstrong Wireless & Television Ltd.'. Based in Camden, London, the company began by manufacturing public address systems, radios and televisions for public use in WWII. The advent of the home high fidelity market in the 1950s saw the company successfully diversify and manufacture "The High Fidelity Sound" range of home radios, amplifiers and receivers through to the late 1970s. Combining good performance and stylish looks, the 600 Series amplifier attracted an avid fan base with members still bringing them back for a service to this day.
The 1980s saw consumers shift towards the growing overseas audio market. This led the company to move away from manufacturing and into the service and repair side of the industry. From here and relocating to Walthamstow, London, Armstrong Audio developed its reputation as a leading audio repair specialist with unrivalled knowledge and expertise.
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Open Studio: Turning Earth
Free, drop-in
For this weekend, Turning Earth Leyton will open its doors to the public and show them around the studio. Come to see our members making their own pieces on the wheel and find out how a pottery studio is managed.
ABOUT Turning Earth Leyton
Turning Earth Leyton is a centre for ceramics located in an old hardware factory. The centre includes a large open-plan membership studio where part-time professional makers, serious hobbyists and beginners work together in a community environment, with the benefit of shared facilities. The space also includes two classrooms for ceramics courses for those new to the craft, where multiple courses a week are taught by professional artists.
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Open Studio: Discover 35 years of patination with Capisco
Photograph by Miles Reilly
Free, drop-in
Join us and learn more about the ancient art of patination. Our master patination technicians will be on hand to guide you through some of our flagship projects and demonstrate some classic patination techniques. Our sample archive will be available to view featuring over 35 years of archived works as well as a curated gallery of patination orientated projects by current and former staff.
ABOUT Capisco
Founded by sculptor Andy Elton in 1989, Capisco work at the juncture of Fine Art and Construction - seamlessly fusing artisanal ideas and processes into an industrial scale. Their hand-applied finishes maintain the integrity of Capisco’s fine-arts heritage. From large-scale architectural facades to smaller artworks we provide a bespoke service tailored to every individual client. Our highly experienced team of colour technicians are committed to providing exceptional craftsmanship, innovative solutions, and personalised service all delivered completely by hand.
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Tools of the Trade: Devil’s Botany Distillery
Free, drop-in
Enter the world of the curious with a special meet the maker open day at the UK's first ever Absinthe Distillery. Learn about the origins and rituals of this once illicit liquor from distiller and co-founder Rhys Everett. There will be free samples of Absinthe and Gin as well as a cocktail to try!
ABOUT Devil’s Botany
Devil’s Botany Distillery was founded by award-winning bar owners and two of the UK’s leading absinthe experts. Our award-winning range was handcrafted to highlight absinthe's versatility in cocktails. We are proudly the first dedicated absinthe distillery in the UK.
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Tools of the Trade: Dee’s Basement
Free, drop-in
Watch a demonstration of Dee from Dee's Basement decorating cakes and have the opportunity to decorate your own cupcake with a variety of toppings.
ABOUT Dee’s Basement
Dee's Basement is a confectionery studio founded by Dee Omole in 2017 based in East London. They specialise in unique, nostalgic style cakes and postal desserts available across the UK. Dee has loved baking from a young age, developing a major sweet tooth as a little girl when she would practice baking with her mother and then honing that passion by creating sugary concoctions for friend’s and family member’s birthdays as she got older.
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Type Walking Tour with Studio Anna
£5 / concessions available. Booking required
Join Walthamstow-based graphic designer Anna Robinette a walking tour that explores the typography found in hidden corners of Argall Industrial Area in Lea Bridge. Discover what lettering can tell us about the industrial past and the creative future of what the area holds.
Tools of the Trade: Climpson & Sons Roastery Tours
Free, booking required
Step inside the Climpson's Coffee Roastery and see the inner workings of where your favourite coffee gets sourced and roasted. A selection of coffee beverages and beans will be available to buy.
Please note Open House Festival bookings open on 21 August 2024.
ABOUT Climpson & Sons
Climpson & Sons are pioneers in the evolving London specialty coffee scene. Our ambition is to continue sourcing, roasting and crafting the finest coffees from the heart of East London. Our range of espressos, blends and single origin beans reflect what we do: a boundless exploration into the possibilities of flavour.
Website:
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www.instagram.com/climpsonandsons
Workshop: Seasonal Colour Making
£20, booking required
Workshop: Seasonal Colour Making - extending the possibilities of plant-based, natural, and locally foraged colours
Join us for an informative and hands-on workshop by Hannah Elisabeth Jones and Laura Perryman. Learn to gather, transform and responsibly make natural colours from local and seasonal plants by respecting natural marshland and hedgerow rhythms. Deep dive into the fascinating world of natural dyes, inks, and regenerative practices for an afternoon of learning alongside plants. Come away with a fascinating palette of colour swatches on various materials.
ABOUT Colour of Saying
Colour of Saying is a London based design studio dedicated to empowering designers and manufacturers to harness colour and materials as agents of change. Founded by Laura Perryman, CMF designer, forecaster and author of The Colour Bible, Colour of Saying collaborates with creatives internationally to champion the intentional use of colour for human and ecological good.
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ABOUT Switchboard Studios
Switchboard Studios creative workspace consisting of 26 Studios and an event space. It is managed by Waltham Forest Council. Waltham Forest Council took over management in 2020. Its 26 studios range in size from 14 to 35 square metres. Each provides a dedicated workspace for SME creative business. Switchboard Studio is home to fine artists, record labels and digital creatives such as audio designers, graphics studios and videographers.
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TOUR: From Tree to Table with Grain
Free, booking required
Join us at our East London workshop for an exclusive look at how we journey from tree to table during the making of our American walnut Kielder range. We’ll be running tours at 11am and 2pm over the weekend to show the full process, from selection and preparation of timber, to the machine and hand finishing processes we use to create our timeless dining tables.
Our 30 minute tour will cover: selection and preparation of timber; machining prepared timber into components; hand processing of components; solid lipping of tabletops; selection, preparation and pressing of veneers; hand finishing of components.
Afterwards, you'll have the opportunity to get hands-on with our products, explore design for disassembly (which sets us apart from flat-pack) and get an early preview of our newest product drops.
We're proud to design and manufacture modern British furniture in Leyton and we look forward to welcoming you.
ABOUT GRAIN
We are Grain and we have been designing furniture since 2017. All of our furniture is designed and made under one roof in London. All of our materials are ethically sourced and our products made to order by our expert furniture makers. Our team has a wealth of experience designing and making furniture for high-end bespoke joinery projects where quality and craft are at the forefront of everything we design and make.
Follow us:
Transform Wax Waste into Beauty: Beeswax Floral Centerpiece Workshop
£45. Booking required.
Join Lola Lely, founder of WAX Atelier, for a special London Design Festival workshop at their new Walthamstow workspace. Transform wax waste into a beautiful beeswax floral centerpiece in this 2 hour workshop.
Learn innovative techniques from Lola herself to create a stunning, one-of-a-kind floral centerpiece made from beeswax scraps. This hands-on workshop will equip you with the skills to craft a beautiful and sustainable statement piece for your home.
ABOUT WAX Atelier
WAX Atelier re-visits traditional making techniques for the modern era. From candle making to crafted objects, making becomes a tool to experience the interconnections between the natural world and material culture.
Founded in 2017 by multidisciplinary designer Lola Lely, WAX Atelier handcrafts its products at its East London workshop. A team of skilled artisans, drawn from the local community, brings these creations to life.
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Public Knowledge bookshop: DESIGN READING LIST
Free, drop-in
Public Knowledge Books have made a selection of Design related publications which will be on sale throughout the William Morris Design Line. Come in, meet the team and find out more about this recently opened bookshop.
ABOUT PUBLIC KnOWLEDGE BOOKS
We are a bookshop championing underground culture, under-represented and minority voices.
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www.instagram.com/public_knowledge_books
Open Factory: Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
Free, tours will take place every 30 minutes, please arrive on the hour or at half past.
A factory tour with Blackhorse Lane Ateliers, London’s only craft jeans maker. Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour where you will get to see the factory in operation. Find out about the equipment, tools and materials we work with and meet some of our team.
ABOUT BLACKHORSE LANE ATELIERS
At our London atelier, we craft and offer ready-to-wear denim jeans, emphasising sustainability, community, and unparalleled quality. Established in April 2016, Blackhorse Lane Ateliers draws from our founder Bilgehan “Han” Ates’ 25 years of expertise in the textile industry.
We manufacture our own ready-to-wear line of denim and non-denim garments. We specialise in jeans and offer multiple fits from modern slim to vintage wide, in multiple denim fabrics from reputable mills across Europe and Japan.
Based within a tastefully renovated 1920s factory building in Walthamstow, the brand combines the production of jeans with the establishment of a modern methodology for a community of makers – Think Global, Act Local.
Our company stands for three key things:
Quality
Community
Eco-consciousness
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www.instagram.com/blackhorselane
Bamboo Bicycle Club: Build with bamboo workshop
£30, booking required
Join Founder James Marr for a unique workshop during London Design Festival and learn the art of building with bamboo! This workshop will cover key techniques and the material properties of bamboo.
The class will offer an in-depth look into Bamboo Bicycle Club and its global projects. You'll gain insights into bamboo as a material, its properties, and how to effectively incorporate it into your designs.
In the second part of the workshop, you'll get hands-on experience building and creating everyday objects with bamboo. Our ethos is to encourage hands-on interaction with materials, enabling participants to understand their properties and workability, which can be incorporated into future practices.
Take advantage of this opportunity to explore the versatility of bamboo and enhance your design skills with practical knowledge and experience!
Try your hand at the bamboo-building techniques that underpin the Bamboo Bicycle Club’s ethos. These workshop sessions will give you a taste of working and designing with bamboo material. The team will demonstrate unique bamboo building techniques, and guide and support you to build your first bamboo product successfully.
You will build confidence in working with bamboo as a versatile material; gaining skills in sizing, sanding, and shaping.
ABOUT Bamboo Bicycle Club
Bamboo Bicycle Club empower people to build their own bikes. Founded in London, they've grown into a global community that champions innovative and sustainable cycling.
We selected bamboo for bike construction because it's accessible and suitable. Like timber, bamboo is readily available and easy to craft with simple tools, making it perfect for quick, DIY bike building. It absorbs road vibrations better than other materials, offers excellent strength, and has a natural aerodynamic shape. Additionally, bamboo captures CO2 as it grows, storing carbon as you ride.
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