It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas shopping...

Save the date for Made in Clerkenwell: Winter Open Studios (22-25 Nov 2012), with 2 buildings and 100 designers it's the ultimate shopping treat!

Avoid the high street and opt for handmade at Made in Clerkenwell! Craft Central opens the doors to its two fascinating Victorian buildings - go ‘behind the scenes’ and meet over 100 designer makers in the studios where they work their magic. Pop in for an hour or spend a whole day browsing fashion, jewellery and accessories, ceramics, printmaking and products for the home, as well as bespoke commissions. Find more information and plan your visit here.

The British Museum discover Haidee Drew at CC

Having discovered the work of Craft Central designer maker Haidee Drew at Made in Clerkenwell: Summer Open Studios (May 2012), the British Museum are now stocking her clocks in their shop.

Come and meet Haidee and see her clocks (just part of her broad range of handcrafted interior accessories) at One Day Designers Sale: Interior Products at Craft Central on Monday 17 Sept 2012.

Craft Central Gets Hitched pops up at Zoe Lem's Vintage Wedding Fair

Following the success of our handmade wedding fair in 2011 and 2012, Craft Central Gets Hitched is due to 'pop up' at Zoe Lem's Vintage Wedding Fair in Clerkenwell on 28 Oct 2012.

We are busy planning Craft Central Gets Hitched 2013 - dates are set for 21-24 March and more details will be coming soon! Why not join our mailing list to be kept in the loop?

For now, come and find us at Zoe Lem's Vintage Wedding Fair! We have teamed up with celebrity stylist, Zoe Lem, to bring you a selection of Craft Central designers making 'all things wedding' at her vintage show. Following the roaring success of the April event, Zoe Lem’s Vintage Wedding Fair returns with ‘new collaborations, even more exhibitors, experiences and workshops’… that’s where we come in!

A big Thank You!

With our One Day Designers Sale: Interior Products just around the corner, we would like to extend our thanks to our wonderful sponsors and media partners for their generous support:

Exclusive Ceramic Review subscription offer as part of the One day Designers Sale. Subscribe before 24 September to receive TWO FREE ISSUES. Quote code CC0912. See Editors notes for more details.

                                               

Satisfy your crafty urges with CIY... Stitch droppers welcome!

Our jam packed programme of  CIY: Craft It Yourself  making workshops is not to be missed at the bargain price of only £19.99 per session (including materials, wine and expert tuition!). Cushion making and knitting still to come this Summer... find out more and book online now. Don't be shy!

Why not try knitting with Anna Sabin on 26 Sept (6-8pm)? Stitch droppers welcome! Book now!

Meet Benson & Boulton to get strategic about your business planning!

We've teamed up with Benson & Boulton to bring you a new Strategic Business Planning workshop on 20 Sept at Craft Central (cost only £6). Find out more and book online here

When setting up and running a small business it is very easy to get bogged down in the day to day tasks without focusing on where you really want and need your business to go. Successful entrepreneurs with award winning businesses in New York & London,  Belle Benson and Esther Boulton will guide you through steps to write a simple business plan and set achievable goals to take your business where you want it to go.

Protect your designs! We team up with Own-It to offer IP advice for makers

We've teamed up with Own-It to bring our designer makers expert Intellectual Property advice.

Find out more and book online for group workshop 'Intellectual Property: How to protect and make money from your designs' on Thursday 16 August. Here, Silvia Baumgart of Own-It will de-mystify issues surrounding IP including; copyright, design right, trade marks, protecting yourself when selling your work, using your reputation to grow your business  handling infringements of copyright... and much more. You can't afford to miss it!

London Design Festival Q&A - pick the brains of the LDF team!

We're delighted to welcome Festival Manager Siobhan Henderson and Partner Coordinator Joanna Cramoisan to Craft Central on Monday 6 July at 6pm. This Q&A session will be a great opportunity to meet the London Design Festival team and discover tips and tricks from the inside!

Get involved! Whether you are already planning an event to promote your business or just starting to think about it, the LDF team will help you make the most of being part of the Festival. This will include tips and tricks on marketing ideas and services, accessing new audiences, developing your LDF profile, how to showcase your talent, exchanging ideas and developing business contacts, launching new products, entertaining clients, having fun and being part of London’s creative buzz... and much more!

Cost £6. Find out more and book online here

Get making this Summer!

Our jam packed programme of CIY making workshops is not to be missed at the bargain price of only £19.99 per session (including materials, wine and expert tuition!)

Anyone can take part in craft and design with our enjoyable CIY: Craft It Yourself workshops. Learn from a pro and get making… No experience required! Whether you’re already an expert, or fancy trying something new, come and satisfy your crafty urges.

Have a go at millinery, making a cushion or knitting this Summer... available to book online now. Don't be shy! Get started next week with CIY: Hat Party on Monday 30 July (6-8pm). Book now!

Rained off the roof, but the party carried on indoors!

With the weather far from 'summery' on 18 July, the annual Network 'Summer' Roof Party was moved indoors at St John's Square. This was my fifth annual party and I have only experienced one on the roof so far (fingers crossed for a sunny 2013!). Since we are used to being rained off, we had organised a pop up exhibition in our ground floor gallery as a consolation for missing out on the city views! - Best in Show from Made in Clerkenwell: Summer Open Studios 2012.

Network designer makers, sector colleagues and craft enthusiasts caught up over a glass of fizz, delicious food from Workshop and music from DJs The Wedding Smashers.

Thank you Workshop!

A big thank you to our wonderful neighbours, Workshop (Clerkenwell Road EC1) for catering our Network Summer Roof Party. Although the rainy weather was not 'roof friendly' and we missed out on the city views, our guests were consoled by delicious canapés. The chorizo scotch eggs were to die for!

Save the Date! We're gearing up for the London Design Festival with the One Day Designers Sale: Interior Products on 17 Sept 2012

Treat your home! Distinctive contemporary craft for the home at discount prices...

The One Day Designers Sale is back… but think bigger, better and bolder for London Design Festival 2012. For one day only (Monday 17 Sept 2012), find distinctive contemporary craft for the home by over 30 UK designers cherry picked to help spruce up your pad!

Delve through the tempting interior products on sale, including:  Design K’s  vibrant furniture; Charlene Mullen’s unmistakable cushions; IKUKO Iwamoto’s intricate ceramics; Loughlion Design’s ingenious kitchen solutions; and Kate Clarke’s colourful homeware to brighten any kitchen. Celebrate London and bring the city indoors with London Kills Me’s distinctive prints and Michelle Mason’s famous cushions.

Lighten up with HAM’s quirky ‘hammade’ printed products; Sarah Bonallo’s inventive upholstery; Namiko Murakoshi’s adorable Hairy Babes ceramics; Haidee Drew’s playful interior products; and bring a smile to breakfast time with Takae Mizutani’s My Egg & Soldiers tableware.

As well as sneak previews of exciting new work, snap up bargains from previous collections.  Make the most of the extraordinary discounts on offer (with selected items up to 50% off retail prices) and make your house the envy of the street!

This exceptional shopping treat is topped off by meeting the maker in person – come and meet… Alice Bree, Alison Brent, DesignK, Charlene Mullen, Chris Edwards, Daniel Spring, Deryn Relph, Gina Pierce Design, Haidée Drew, Helen Foot Design, Henna Craft, IKUKO Iwamoto Ceramics, Jane Sleator Ceramics, Janet Stahelin Edmondson Ceramics, Jayna’s Designs, Scamp Baby Gifts, HAM, kate clarke London, The Intricate Project, Linda Gifford, Lok Ming Fung Ceramics, RALLI Design, martin horgan, Suitcase Susie, Michelle Mason, Namiko Murakoshi, Nancy Straughan Printed Textiles, LondonKillsMe, Loughlion Design, Chairs By Sarah Bonallo, Stewart Martin Johnson, Takae Mizutani, Tina Vlassopulos, and Tracey Bush.

All the information you need to plan your visit can be found on our Events Calendar
Date: Mon 17 September 2012, 12noon to 7pm
Venue: Craft Central, 33-35 St John’s Square. Admission Free
Read the press release
Download your invitation