Origin - The London Craft Fair

Day two at Origin, and a closer look at the show, here's more images of makers whose work I enjoyed...

Nuntaka Nopkhun - seen here

SaPetra - seen here

Origin - The London Craft Show 2010

Seen here

I went to the opening of Origin at its new home in Spittalfields last night. The venue is fabulous, light and airy. At its previous home in the courtyard at Somerset House, the fair was spread over two weeks, in its new home - and in conjunction with London Design Week - it is being staged over a week. We caught up with lots of gallery friends and previous exhibitors...Tilla Waters, Justine Allison, Sara Moorhouse, Virginia Graham, Lowri Davies, Debbie Smyth...

We're visiting again today, but these are some of the makers which I enjoyed at the opening.

Andrea Walsh - seen here

Jeehyun Chung - seen here

Justine Allison - seen here

Debbie Smyth - seen here

Origin: The London Craft Show (part 2)

Grace Girvan - pebble brooch

On Tuesday morning we visited part 2 of Origin at Somerset House. It was the start of the week for the exhibitors so everyone was feeling chipper! I was very pleased to find some of my favourite jewellers there.

Grace Girvan - Pebble bangle

Scot, Grace Girvan showed her pebble and silver pieces, I believe the pebbles are from the Orkney's. I absolutely loved this piece which was also styled as a brooch. There is a pebble in each of the silver settings, on either face of the piece - as a brooch it is designed to have a secret stone which is worn next to the wearer's clothes. Grace was trained in Edinburgh, alongside so many of the very best jewellers currently working.

Beth Legg is another Edinburgh alumni, I had not seen her work in the flesh before and it was much finer and more beautiful than I had realised.

Beth Legg - Six Whins Neckpiece - seen here

We also enjoyed seeing Ruth Tomlinson's exquisite Encrustation and Hoard collections, delicate and weathered, as though recovered from a shipwreck or an archaeological dig.

Ruth Tomlinson - Encrustation collection - seen here

Basketry at Origin 2009

Lee Dalby - Bamboo walkway

Origin 2009 has featured contemporary basketry alongside the main craft fair. A series of interventions both inside and outside of the pavilion provided a showcase for makers working within the discipline and aimed to expand perceptions of the craft.

A workshop hosted by Hybrid Basketry was taking place within the show and allowed visitors to try their hand and contribute to a woven sculptural installation.

Hybrid Basketry workshop


Laura Ellen Bacon - installed on the external faces of the Origin pavilion

Origin: The London Craft Fair (part 1)

On Sunday afternoon, I went to week one of Origin at Somerset House - a showcase for exceptional contemporary craft organised by The Crafts Council. The fair runs over two weeks with a change over of makers on the middle Monday.

Helga Mogensen

My favourite maker of week one was Icelandic Jeweller, Helga Mogensen. These tiny chairs were placed on the floor of the stand against the back wall - very subtle and intriguing. Helga's jewellery is equally intriguing using found materials such as driftwood and panels of fish skin which has qualities very much like leather. Beautifully made and subtly conceived.

Helga Mogensen - Fire and Ice - seen here

I enjoyed seeing Naori Priestley's work again too. Naori had three pieces in Oriel Myrddin Gallery's Crafted - Contemporary Craft and Fine Art show earlier in the year. She had a few new pieces, witty and eccentric - I liked her embroidered shoe/socks - but alas I have no image!

Naori Priestley - Garda's Red Shoes - seen here

Oriel Myrddin Gallery will be a curating a show in spring 2010 which will include work from ceramic artist Mizuto Yamashita. Her charming, miniature scale townscapes and tiny ceramic buildings, cars and gardens are delicate and understated; reminiscent of invented childhood fantasy worlds.

Mizuyo Yamashita - seen here