The Exchange Diaries w/c 4th May 📔
This weekend, some of our team have been over at @fabulous.fifty.seven in collaboration with @suzannejamescaterers as part of @dulwichfestival@artistsopenhse , showcasing our handmade @tex.craft.erith items made in our workshops. The setup looks absolutely beautiful. 👏🏻 If you missed it, it's on again next weekend (16th-17th).
In the Garden Room, people are loving the children's craft kits available, and enjoying a slice of cake. And it's been wonderful to see families taking part in our nature trail and exploring the garden. 🐝
Speaking of the garden, the highlight this week has without a doubt been the Echium pininana in full flower. Common name Tower of Jewels (or Guernsey Rockets, where our gardener Selina is from) these plants are generally biennial. Forming a rosette of leaves in the first year and flowering in the second before setting seed and dying. They will seed around the garden so you’ll never be without them. We have a particularly impressive one by our front steps that’s worth checking out. We also have a much less common pink variety in the back garden. It is also worth noting that the Benton Iris’ have started flowering: pictured here is a new addition ‘Benton Lorna’ on the pine slope.
How has your week been?
#dulwichfestival #artistsopenhouses #SELondon @lovenorthcrossrd
Do you ever misplace your jewellery after removing it?
I think we all do now and again...
Keep your pieces in one of our beautiful, handmade ceramic dishes, which have been produced by the makers right here in our Ceramics Workshop.
Each item is unique, crafted with care, and so eye-catching you won’t be able to miss it.
They also make great tealight holders, or small bowls for dipping sauces, snacks, and any other small things you need to store.
View the collection in store from Thursday to Saturday, 10.30 am to 4 pm. #HandmadeCeramics #CeramicDishes #UniqueCeramics #HandcraftedBowls #ArtisanCeramics #Erith #Bexley
Meet the Daisy Plate. 🍽️
A handmade ceramic plate, available in two glazes: shiny white and matt ivory. These plates are made from speckled stoneware clay and fired at high temperatures to ensure they are food-safe. They have a diameter of 215mm and are available to buy individually or as a set of four.
These plates were made right here in the ceramics workshop by our talented volunteers, and the inspiration came from The Exchange’s garden.
Tap the link on our profile to find out more. #HandmadeCeramics #CeramicPlate #Stoneware #ArtisanMade
How stunning are these Manx Quilted Cushions? 🪡
Manx quilting is a tradition from the Isle of Man, which involves hand stitching, and a lot of love and care goes into each creation. The vibrant fabrics used are from Tanzania and were kindly donated by a local resident for use in the textile workshop.
These were made by Maker Kathy Hampson after sharing the skill with other makers at The Exchange and within the wider community. Each cushion is approximately 360 x 360mm.
See them up close from Thursday to Saturday, 10.30 am - 4 pm. #ManxQuilting #QuiltedCushions #HandStitched #TextileArt #ArtisanCrafts
We are excited to be working again with the very talented @merissahylton and our Ceramics Makers to make a new plant pot that will be made from coiled black clay . As well as developing coiling skills, Makers will learn how to burnish the clay so that it doesn't require glazing, and the design will incorporate a woven jute rim. Pics coming soon.
#CeramicsDesign #CeramicsCraft #HandcraftedHome #CommunityMakers #CraftedWithCare #LocalArtisans #UniqueCraft #SustainableDesign #DesignCollaboration
Order your Hemmings Tray now for £125.
Each one is a unique combination of rare timber, "Erith Gold" tiles, and handmade with love in our Community Workshops. These trays are made-to-order (lead time between 4 and 8 weeks), so we are now taking orders so that we can have these made and sent out to you in good time for the festive period (sorry! we did it.)
A little bit more information about the product:
These are being made in memory of local timber merchant, Richard Hemmings, who had a fascination for interesting timber and a penchant for collecting. After Richard passed away, his son Rob reached out to us and offered us Richard's collection of timber; we wanted to do something special with it, so approached designers @atelierthirtyfour who designed a stacking tray that could be made in our Timber Workshop with our Community Makers. The design was prototyped at our Here Comes the Sun festival in 2024, and then further developed, with support from Cory Environmental, to incorporate a variation of our "Erith Gold" tiles - glazed with a glaze created from the mud from the River Thames, developed in partnership with @natajkasprzycka .
Each tray is completely unique. Get yours now. Link in bio or search for the below.
/products/erith-gold-lined-hemmings-tray
#craft #reuse #sustainabledesign #designers #reclaim #handmadehomewares #reclaimedtimber #supportlocalmakers #craftmanship
Made from sample pieces created by new weavers in our textile workshop, these colourful pot covers are full of charm and that new learner energy. The bases are made from coiled rope wrapped with waste fabric. These items too will be making an appearance @solocraftfair@leadenhallmarket .
#PlantPots #CraftMarketLondon #LeadenhallMarket #ArtisanTextiles #SustainableHome
May we introduce you to "The Hemmings Tray".
This product is being made in memory of local timber merchant, Richard Hemmings, who had a fascination for interesting timber and a penchant for collecting. After Richard passed away, his son Rob reached out to us and offered us Richard's collection of timber; we wanted to do something special with it, so approached designers @atelierthirtyfour who designed a stacking tray that could be made in our Timber Workshop with our Community Makers. The design was prototyped at our Here Comes the Sun festival in 2024, and then further developed, with support from Cory Environmental, to incorporate a variation of our "Erith Gold" tiles (developed in partnership with @natajkasprzycka ). Each tray is completely unique.
These trays will be making their debut @solocraftfair@leadenhallmarket from September, but you can also contact us directly to purchase or visit The Garden Room a little later in the year.
#TimberCraft #HandmadeCraft #HandmadeTray
We are currently getting ready for @solocraftfair@leadenhallmarket market where some of our products will be on show and for sale from September! These gorgeous napkins will be making an appearance: They are designed by one of our Textile Makers, Carole, who took inspiration from the old library's stained glass window and used an embroidery technique called 'blackwork' to create a design that is the same, and beautifully neat, on both sides of the fabric. The set of two is neatly tied together with a crochet tie, using the same colourful linen yarn that we use to weave our window blinds.
If you can't make it down to Leadenhall, then there are already a couple of these napkin sets for sale in the Garden Room. Or, we can make to order! Just send us a message and we will be in touch.
#HandEmbroideryWork #NapkinArt #TheExchangeErith #TextileCraft
A seat for everyone at The Exchange...
The Timber Makers have been producing more chairs for The Exchange building, used daily in our "Town Square" for public events and activities. This includes chairs that have been kindly sponsored by some very generous local residents, gifts to new spouses and in memory of loved ones.
If you are interested in sponsoring a chair, and recognising someone you love or care about, you can. You will also be supporting ongoing community activities and craft workshops at The Exchange. DM @tex.makers for details.
Photos by @cmphotovideo
#craft #sponsorship #philanthropy #timber #woodwork #design #erith #bexley #london
Currently exclusive to The Garden Room, our Textile Makers have been producing these lovely little "Sew Tidies". Inspired by our sewn window blinds, produced for Erith's old library, these are made from the same sustainable linen, and are the perfect way to store all those craft tools. You won't be able see them, but underneath the hand-stitched binding are the initials of the Maker who made it.
Pop into The Garden Room to pick yours for just £24.
Photos by @cmphotovideo
#craft #embroidery #textiles #community #erith #bexley #london
A massive thank you to all the incredible Makers who came to The Exchange to learn skills and give back last year. The money raised will go towards delivery of our wider community events programme and maintenance of our beautiful historic building over the next 12 months.
If you are interested in supporting this work, you can Become a Maker too. To find out more, get in touch with us or attend a Become a Maker session. The next dates for these are Thursday 28 August and Wednesday 24 September, both starting at 3pm and lasting an hour.
Please note, that although these opportunities are open to all, we do have to ensure safety within our workshops, so if you require additional support, please get in touch with us in advance so we can advise on the most appropriate opportunities.
#communitypower #community #events #people #craft #crafting #erith #bexley #london
