Derbyshire Makes programme

PROGRAMME

POTTERY | WOODCRAFTS | ANIMATION | ENDANGERED SKILLS | TEXTILES | DIGITAL ART PRINT-MAKING | LOCAL HERITAGE | MAKERS’ MARKET | AND SO MUCH MORE!

Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 April 2025 10.00am - 4.00pm (Some times may vary)

derbyshiremakes.co.uk/swadlincote PEOPLE EXPRESS

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See the whatʼs on pages for more details…

Derbyshire Makes is a new, three-year programme of cultural activity across the county and Swadlincote is proud to be one of six local hubs to kick things off in year one!

Find us in Swad town centre venues from 10.00am - 4.00pm both days - so grab your friends, bring the family, and come get stuck in.

Courtyard

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Kiln

Clay coil kiln making Ⓦ B&SD College Clay Heads Display Patchwork of Possibilities Quilt Display

Guided Heritage Walk

Kiln

Beginners Weaving Workshop (book on)

10am - 12pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Glaze Room

Stop Motion Animation Ⓦ Interactive VR Ⓦ

Magic Attic

Letterpress Printing Ⓦ Vintage Posters Exhibition

Museum

From Earth to Art Exhibition

Glaze Room

Pot throwing Ⓦ Ceramics Workshop Ⓦ

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Magic Attic

10am - 1pm 10am - 1pm

Museum

Ceramic Exhibition

Make A Mini Collage Book Ⓦ Young Maker's Market Ⓦ

Treading Lightly - Shoemaking Ⓦ Everyone's A Maker Portraits Ⓦ Maker's Market Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition Watercolour Exhibition/Demo

Upstairs

Flower Bashing - Decorate A Tote Bag Ⓦ Plant-based String making Ⓦ

Downstairs

Wood Turning Demonstration Ceramic Display

Book Folding Hedgehogs Ⓦ Skeleton Life Drawing Ⓦ Treading Lightly - Shoemaking Ⓦ Make A Mini Book Of Tiny Poems Ⓦ Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition

The Makory

Library

Make A Shadow Box Papercrafts Ⓦ Derby Museum of Making Archive

Beginners Weaving Workshop (book on) 10am - 2pm Banner Making Workshop Ⓦ 10am - 2pm Loom Weaving Demo Ⓦ 10am - 2pm

Heritage Papercraft Activities Ⓦ Derby Museum of Making Archive

10am - 2.30pm 10am - 2.30pm

High Street

Pop Up Food Market Street Art Station Ⓦ

Paramount Car Display

Willow Weaving Ⓦ Pole Lathe Wood Turning Ⓦ Forest Craft Live Demos Forest Makers Market

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Derbyshire Makes was programmed

by People Express. Huge thanks to all of the venues, Makers and volunteers and to:

10am - 4pm

Forest Crafts

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

THANK YOU...

10am - 2.30pm 10am - 2.30pm

The Delph:

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Town Hall

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

The Makory

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

People Express:

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Town Hall

10am - 1pm 10am - 1pm

From Earth to Art Exhibition Patchwork of Possibilities Quilt Display B&SD College Clay Heads Display

10am - 4pm

The Hub

10am - 3pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Letterpress Printing Ⓦ Vintage Posters Exhibition

10am - 4pm

People Express

10am - 12pm

10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm 10am - 4pm

Derbyshire Makes FRIENDS

Music Making Workshop Ⓦ 1.30pm - 2.30pm Paper Plane Competition Ⓦ 12 noon Community Group Stands Meet & Mingle 10am - 4pm

South Derbyshire District Council Burton and South Derbyshire College The National Forest Swad Style Sharpeʼs Pottery Arts Derbyshire Derbyshire County Council Local Brewhouse Arts Centre Magic Attic Melbourne Festival Circularity

Special thanks to: Elaine Lim-Newton Peter Wood Julie Fern Mel Biggs Simon Wardle Rebecca King Julia Dowding and everyone else who has supported the Festival

Old Market Hall

Public Library

Town Hall

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The Delph

Visitor Information Centre Sunday

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Saturday

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Marvel at the Paramount car - once made right here in Swad! Learn about traditional and sustainable making at our Forest Makersʼ Market and discover how to get involved with creative groups in your area.

Ceramics Workshop Ⓦ Pot throwing Ⓦ

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People Express

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Sharpeʼs Pottery Museum

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Meet the makers at our bustling makersʼ markets, follow Swadʼs Reet Good Art Trail, drop in to one (or all!) of our free workshops, and admire the stunning community quilt, The Patchwork of Possibilities.

DROP-IN WORKSHOP Ⓦ

Sharpeʼs Museum

Courtyard

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Weʼre taking over Swadlincote town centre on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April with hands-on fun for all ages. Try your hand at pottery, graffiti, traditional woodcrafts, animation, printmaking and so much more!

Sharpeʼs Museum:

Sunday

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Welcome to Derbyshire Makes Swadlincote - an exciting new festival that celebrates making in all its wonderful, messy, creative, magical forms!

DROP-IN WORKSHOP Ⓦ

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Have you ever thrown a pot?

Made a collage on a bus?

Got your portrait taken, or printed a poster on a vintage letterpress? What about winning a paper plane contest or sketching a skeleton?

Saturday

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WELCOME

SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025

Information Point, First Aid & Lost Children Saturday - The Delph Sunday - Town Hall

AD

SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025

DERBYSHIRE MAKES - SWADLINCOTE | PAGE 3

WHAT’S ON! THINGS TO DO AND TRY… WORKSHOPS AND DEMOS

Coil Kiln Making with Sharpe’s Museum

Big Ideas, Tiny Poems

10.00am - 12.00pm | Saturday 26 Sharpe’s Museum Kiln Room

10.00am - 4.00pm | Sunday 27 The Town Hall

Be inspired by Sharpeʼs very own historic bottle kiln and make your own miniature version using ancient coil-building techniques.

Tiny books, big imagination! Join writer Attie Lime to craft your own mini book and learn how to write a small-but-mighty verse for inside. A brilliant, bite-sized creative challenge for all ages!

In this hands-on workshop, youʼll learn how potters of the past built kilns from the ground up - and create a mini clay kiln model to take home. A brilliant way to get stuck into Swadlincoteʼs rich ceramic heritage!

Drop-in Poetry Workshop with Attie Lime

Print Like the Past!

Drop-In Letterpress Printing Workshop with Chris from The Smallprint Company

10.00am - 1.00pm Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 Magic Attic Head to Magic Attic (inside Sharpe's Museum) to try your hand at traditional letterpress printing using a real vintage press.

Chris from Smallprint will be with us both Saturday and Sunday to showcase this amazing printing method that has been around for over 500 years—now, at the 2025 Derbyshire Makes Swadlincote festival, you can try it too!

Get inspired by Magic Attic's vintage poster exhibition, explore their local archive, and print your own Derbyshire Makes commemorative poster.

Come along and be part of printing history!

Mycelium Network Stop-Motion Animation Workshop

The Smallprint Company is a traditional letterpress and design studio in Derbyshire and is committed to maintaining the heritage craft of letterpress for future generations. The heritage print shop specialises in Wedding Stationery and teaching the craft of letterpress through their unique workshops.

Treading Lightly

Drop-In Interactive and Eco-Friendly Art Workshop with Sasha Archer

10.00am - 4.00pm Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 Town Hall Ever wondered how shoes are made? Fancy making your own art piece on a real shoemakerʼs last? For over ten years, Sasha worked as a footwear designer for the UK high street and as a shoemaker. She'll be sharing some info on shoemaking and the industry whilst you get to play with shoemaking lasts and recycled materials such as card and reclaimed fabric to make your own art piece. The focus will be on how we can reduce our carbon footprint through the choices we make whilst having some fun!

Treading Lightly has been supported by a National Forest Arts Grant.

with Youth Landscapers

10.30am - 12.00pm & 1.30pm - 3.00pm at Sharpe’s Glaze Room | Saturday 26 Youth Landscapers Collective invite you to co-create an animation based on the connecting power of fungiʼs mycelium root networks in the forest. We'll be sharing this process behind our animations for ‘The Underneath,ʼ an immersive installation we produced in 2022 inspired by fungi and mycelium.

Kris, Alfie and Jeff will show you how we combine the lo-fi doodle with digital photography and editing software to imagine the networks of fungi that connect the natural world. Whether you join for five minutes or stay for the duration, come and enjoy a doodle, learn about the process of stop motion animation, and chat with us about fungi, nature and our creative process.

The animation created on the Saturday will be on display in the Glaze Room on Sunday 27 April.

Youth Landscapers Collective is a group of young people aged 13-23 from the National Forest area who explore and share the landscapeʼs industrial past and forest future through creative projects. We are a truly youth-led collective making collaborative projects in the heart of the National Forest. To find out more visit www.youthlandscapers.com

Weaving Demo with Elements by Jo

10.00am - 2.00pm | Saturday 26 at Swadlincote Library Watch the magic of weaving come to life with Jo Stevens (aka Elements by Jo) as she works on her beautiful Ashford loom.

Inspired by polaroid snaps she takes herself, Jo creates cosy ‘hugs in a rugʼ mini shawls filled with texture and story. Swing by to see the process in action - and maybe even have a go!

String Making

with Katherine Parrish

10:00am - 4:00pm | Sunday 27 Upstairs, People Express, Sharpe's Pottery Museum Katherine Parrish is part of Whistlewood Common a community owned woodland in Melbourne where they promote sustainable crafts and living. Katherine will be demonstrating how to make string out of natural fibres, particularly New Zealand Flax, which they grow in their forest garden. String can also be made from nettles, tree bark and brambles, in fact from most plants. Come and have ago at this ancient craft.

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SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025

Drop-In Collage Workshop

Dare to Dream Drop-in Banner Making Workshop

with Steph Coley

10.00am - 4.00pm | Saturday 26 The Collective Hub Get your glue sticks ready and your creativity flowing! Join local artist Steph Coley for a playful, hands-on collage workshop where youʼll create your very own mini concertina books perfect for pocket-sized masterpieces.

with Sue Reddish

10.00am - 2.00pm | Saturday 26 Swadlincote Library Inspired by Derbyshireʼs history of innovation, the Dare to Dream project invites everyone from across the county (and beyond) to create new flags embodying hope, aspiration and radical thinking.

Join artist Sue Reddish for a fun and creative drop in textiles workshop where we will create a collective banner looking at our hopes for the future in Swadlincote. Have a go at simple stitch and print techniques.

Drop-in, no booking required. All materials provided, but if you have any unwanted fabrics, then please bring them along.

Steph will guide you through experimenting with bold colours, textures, images, and text as you discover how everyday scraps can be transformed into something truly unique.

“Make and Take” Drop-In Ceramics Workshop with Elaine Lim-Newton

10.00am - 4.00pm | Saturday 26 Sharpe’s Museum Courtyard 10.00am - 4.00pm | Sunday 27 Sharpe’s Museum Glaze Room Get hands on with clay with ceramicist Elaine Lim-Newton!

Learn simple hand-building techniques and shape your own vases or trays, then decorate them using a brilliant mix of stamps, textures, and found objects.

Take your creations home to dry and paint - a perfect keepsake from your day at the festival. All ages welcome, no experience needed!

Elaine creates contemporary ceramic sculptures and homewares that are inspired by and combine her love for natural forms, contrasting architectural structures and her duel British and east Asian heritage.

Drop in any time throughout the day - no booking, no pressure, just good vibes and creative fun. Perfect for those who want a 5-minute activity or those who want to hyperfocus for a couple of hours.

Accessible and suitable for all ages and abilities.

Drop-in Paracord Bracelet Making

with Simeon Kai

10.00am - 4.00pm Saturday 26 The Collective Hub Simeon says ‘Life for me is about thinking outside the box, and making the most of what we have. Learning skills is super important and I love all things nature and special interests and want to help you experience them too!ʼ Find out more about this multi-talented young Maker, guardian of trees and forest volunteer, from his carved animal head walking sticks to his good-vibe blessed firewood bundles with ancient tree knowledge.

Simeon will be showing and making paracord bracelets, and you can make one too!

Tapestry Workshop with Abigail Wastie

10.00am - 11.45am & 12.15pm - 2.00pm at Swadlincote Library | Saturday 26 10.00am - 12.00pm & 1.00pm - 3.00pm at Sharpe’s Museum Kiln | Sunday 27 Booking required... see www.derbyshiremakes.co.uk Join Textile Artist Abigail Wastie to learn the basics of Tapestry Weaving, a relaxing ancient craft that utilises design, pattern, and texture.

During this drop-in two-hour workshop Abigail will show you how to weave a letter shape, which will become a piece in a larger collaborative tapestry weaving about the Swadlincote Minors Canary Birds.

“We shall be weaving with remnant British rug wool and all tools made from Derbyshire wood, all equipment is provided so just bring yourselves. This is a family friendly workshop, anyone of any age is welcome, no previous experience necessaryˮ.

Abigail Wastie is a sustainable textile activist based in Derby with extensive experience in ethical fashion and textile development. Join Abigail to learn the basics of tapestry weaving, a relaxing ancient craft that utilises design, pattern, and texture.

Part of Derbyshire Makes countywide project - Dare to Dream. www.abigailwastie.co.uk

The Makory

Free Drop-In Papercraft Workshops Onboard with Jenny Stevenson Hop on the Makory Bus! Our huge, branded bus rolls into town to host Swad-born artist, Jenny, who will be delivering a series of workshops inspired by our local heritage across the two-day festival.

Folded Paper Building

10.00am - 2.30pm | Saturday 26 High Street

by Delph Dentists new premises In this hands-on drop-in workshop, create a folded paper building inspired by the areaʼs potteries, collieries, and pipeworks.

Make an Industrial Shadow Box

10.00am - 4.00 pm | Sunday 27 next to The Delph Create a layered industrial scene inside a shadow box, inspired by Swadlincoteʼs rich heritage of coal mining, pottery and pipeworks.

The Makory is a mobile activity space from Derby Museums.

SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025

Book Folded Hedgehog Drop-in Book Folding Workshop with Alyson Horton

10.00am - 4.00pm | Sunday 27 The Town Hall Turn old books into something totally new! Learn the art of book folding with Alyson and create your very own paper hedgehog to take home. Choose from three fun styles - itʼs crafty, creative, and helps keep books out of landfill. Win-win!

DERBYSHIRE MAKES - SWADLINCOTE | PAGE 5

Have a go at throwing a pot with Derek Harbinson from The Great Pottery Throwdown

10.00am - 4.00pm | Saturday 26 Sharpe’s Museum Courtyard 10.00am - 4.00pm | Sunday 27 Sharpe’s Museum Glaze Room Ever wanted to have a go on a potters wheel? Nowʼs your chance! Join Derek for live demos of throwing bowls, vases and more - and then have a go yourself.

No need to book, just drop by and have a go. A real hands-on highlight of the weekend!

Derek Harbinson is a Derbyshire-based ceramicist who was a contestant on season 6 of The Great Pottery Throwdown. The vast majority of Derekʼs work is thrown on the wheel, either as single pieces such as bowls or vases, or as multiple pieces that are then assembled. He takes inspiration from a 1970s childhood, imagined civilisations and space travel, all bound up with mid-century style and often some fun.

Flower Bashing (Tataki-zomé) Workshop with Philippa Day

10:00am - 4:00pm | Sunday 27 Upstairs, People Express, Sharpe's Pottery Museum Decorate a mini tote bag!

Tataki-zomé is also known as 'flower pounding' or 'plant bashing. ' This process uses plants to create a print onto material like fabric or thick paper. It has been used by artists from Japan for many years and is now something that artists around the world have explored in their own ways.

Join artist Philippa Day and discover how to use natural dyes to decorate a mini tote bag.

Skeleton Life Drawing Drop-in Drawing Workshop with Steph Coley (and Helen Skeleton)

10.00am - 4.00pm | Sunday 27 The Town Hall Meet Helen Skeleton… Get up close and personal with a life-size human skeleton. Professional portrait artist Steph leads a fun and relaxed drawing session. Try out different materials and see where your creativity takes you!

The Earth Our Wealth

Clay Heads by Burton and South Derbyshire College Level 2 Art and Design, Level 3 3D and Mixed Media, and Recreational Ceramics students

10.00am - 4.00pm | Fri 25 - Sun 27 Sharpe’s Museum Kiln This installation piece celebrates both the community and history of Swadlincote and surrounding areas. Each individual ceramic bust has been created by students at Burton and South Derbyshire College following a workshop run by William Moorley. The students span from the Level 2 in Art and Design, Level 3 3D and mixed media courses to the Recreational Ceramics course for mature learners. “From the Earth our Wealthˮ the motto associated with South Derbyshire and in particular Swadlincote is at the heart of this piece. Initially the use of clay as a homage to the main historical and current industries within South Derbyshire from Cornish ware to, sanitary ware, clay

Street Art Station

Drop-in Spray Paint Art Workshop with Tom from OptionOne Ages 8+ (with a special station for little artists too!)

10.00am - 2.30pm | Saturday 26 High Street (Church Street End) Unleash your inner street artist with Tom from OptionOne! Grab a can and have a go at creating your own spray paint masterpiece to take home - all paints and safety gear are provided.

For younger creatives, thereʼs a Posca Pen Station specially set up for ages 5-7.

Big, bold, and bursting with colour - get ready to make your mark!

pipes, and ceramic construction materials. The ceramic busts are to celebrate the diverse community, which is South Derbyshire, each piece has been individually sculpted.

VR Demonstration with John Whall

10.00am - 4.00pm | Saturday 26 Sharpe’s Museum Glaze Room Is it possible to take a walk in the forest without ever leaving your living room? Derbyshire based multi-award-winning immersive artist John Whall demonstrates how VR (Virtual Reality) can be used to showcase Derbyshireʼs natural environments and the objects crafted from the materials sourced in the region.

Experience a peaceful digital representation of Derbyshireʼs woodland spaces while discovering the story of an object made from it.

This presentation is a starting point for a larger experience celebrating Derbyshireʼs craft heritage and the artist welcomes conversation about the craft stories yet to be told in VR. John is a Digital Participation Artist, Curator and Producer using digital tools and materials to creatively engage audiences through collaborative and co-creative processes, with a focus on creating together. www.johnwhall.art

Did you know?

In response to the 1784 Brick Tax, Joseph Wilkes of Overseal, Derbyshire, invented Gob Bricks-larger than standard bricks to reduce costs and speed up construction. This clever design helped builders use fewer bricks and pay less tax, making them popular during the Industrial Revolution!

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SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025

THINGS TO LOOK AT AND EXPLORE… DISPLAYS AND TOURS

Magic Attic Vintage Poster Display

10.00am - 1.00pm | Sat 26 & Sun 27 Magic Attic A Place for Serious Research or Gentle Reminiscence The Magic Attic is a large, local history archive, run by dedicated volunteers and located in Sharpe's Pottery Museum. This fantastic collection contains newspapers, photographs, maps, artefacts and family history information for South Derbyshire and surrounding areas.

Woodturning Demo

with Alan Smith and Peter Torrell

10:00am - 4:00pm | Sunday 27 Downstairs, People Express, Sharpe's Pottery Museum Alan has been turning for over 20 years, and was a founder member of Derwent Woodturning Club, where he was the Chairperson for 22 years! A keen spindle turner, Alanʼs turning ‘heroesʼ are Chris Stott, who is the inspiration for many boxes that he makes, and the late Ray Key, both excellent box makers.

Studio Skellett Exhibition 10.00am - 4.00pm | Sat 26 &Sun 27 Town Hall

Visitors and enquiries from outside the region and from abroad are also given every assistance and are equally welcome. They work in close association with the libraries of Swadlincote and Burton on Trent and with most of the local history groups Magic Attic is offering guided tours over the Festival – please check with them for the times!

Studio Skellett specialises in figurative sculptures and mixed media art. Their work has been developed with a keen focus on blending emotion, form, and storytelling, specifically topics such as chronic health conditions, such as Fibromyalgia. Both Paul and Jason Skellett are long-time sufferers of this condition.

Studio Skellett is based at Rosliston Forestry Centre.

Derwent Woodturning Club meet on the first and third Wednesday at Sharpeʼs Pottery Museum in Swadlincote. Explore this wonderful craft, with a history stretching back thousands of years, suggesting its practice in ancient Egypt and other ancient civilisations.

The Paramount Car

10:00am - 4:00pm | Saturday 26 The Delph, Swadlincote Town Centre This car is a bit of a local celebrity, believed to be the only surviving Derbyshire Paramount. Created for the American luxury car market in the 1950s, it was originally built in premises on Swadlincote High Street. It has a 1500cc Triumph engine and is a testimony to the vision of two men (Sam Underwood and Bill Hudson), and the skills of a small workforce, who hand-made the chassis, the wooden frame and rather striking aluminium body.

Kindly on show thanks to The Great British Car Journey Museum in Belper. Image courtesy of Magic Attic.

From Earth to Art Exhibition Tuesday - Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm Wednesday 16 April and throughout the summer Sharpe’s Museum

From slip-casting to wheel turning, ‘From Earth to Artʼ will celebrate a cornerstone of South Derbyshireʼs industry: pottery.

Taking you on a journey through pottery creation, this brand-new exhibition at Sharpeʼs Pottery Museum will explore how show-stopping pieces of art can be created from the very earth beneath our feet.

Patchwork of Possibilities 10.00am - 5.00pm | Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 Sharpe’s Museum Kiln

95 mini fabric banners - each the size of a historic Gob Brick - come together in this stunning community quilt celebrating creativity, unity, and local heritage.

Inspired by Joseph Wilkesʼ revolutionary brick design, the quilt honours how craftsmanship has helped build our community, one patch (or brick!) at a time.

Created by schools, groups, and individuals across South Derbyshire, each patch shares a personal hope or dream for the future - stitched together by Church Gresley Sewing Group into a vibrant example of craftivism.

Come and find your patches within the quilt or just take a moment to appreciate the voices of our local community.

Swad’s Reet Good Art Trail Thursday 20 March - Sunday 27 April Various High Street Venues

Swadʼs ‘Reet Goodʼ art trail features original artwork by our local community, inspired by local words, phrases, and our unique Swad dialect.

Follow the trail and unscramble the letters hidden near each piece of artwork. Windows.

Pick up a map from the Visitor Information Centre, Sharpeʼs Pottery Museum or the Library or visit www.swadlincotefestivalofwords.co.uk/swad-art-trail Submit your entry to one of the above venues by 27th April 2025 to be entered into a prize draw* *Every completed entry will receive a free bag of “tuesˮ (sweets) and every correctly completed entry will be entered into a prize draw to win a £25 WH Smith voucher. The draw will take place on Monday 28 April 2025.

Winners will be notified by email or text. There is no cash alternative.

Visit www. swadlincotefestivalofwords.co.uk for full terms and conditions.

SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025

DERBYSHIRE MAKES - SWADLINCOTE | PAGE 7

The Oddstuff

Guided Heritage Walk with Hazel McDowell

Fibro Friends Community Exhibition

10.00am - 4.00pm | Sat 26 and Sun 27 Town Hall As part of the festivalʼs development, Derbyshire Makes commissioned Studio Skellett to set up accessible, fun and welcoming clay workshops for people in the community living with Fibromyalgia. Many of the participants have never used clay before and were amazed at the artwork they created! See their collected works in this unique exhibition.

If you live with Fibromyalgia and would like to know about future creative opportunities, please get in touch with People Express and/or Studio Skellett.

10.00am - 12.00pm | Sunday 27 Meet at Sharpe’s Museum Courtyard

Ukrainian Community Pottery Exhibition

10.00am - 4.00pm | Sat 26 and Sun 27 Downstairs, People Express In partnership with Sharpeʼs Pottery, Derbyshire Makes commissioned Elaine Lim-Newton to run hands-on clay workshops that incorporated the Museumʼs amazing traditional slip moulds. The sessions offered families, who are part of the Repton Ukrainian Network, an opportunity to explore local history and make and decorate ceramic artwork.

On this 3-mile leisurely walk with Hazel youʼll discover the businesses and individuals who used their ingenuity, creativity, and inventiveness to produce a wealth of products which helped this town play a significant role in the Industrial Revolution.

Learn about the impact of historic makers Edmund Sharpe, Richard Holden, Sir Nigel Gresley, Helen Allingham, Paramount Cars, Thomas Wragg, Benjamin Outram, William Ault, and Sabineʼs Engineers… and if youʼre lucky Hazel may entertain you with a song or two!

Please allow between 1.5 and 2 hours and while the route is accessible this activity may not be suitable for people with low mobility.

THINGS TO BROWSE OR BUY… MARKETS AND SHOPPING Pop-Up Food Corner 10.00am - 2.30pm | Saturday 26 High Street Grab a coffee from the Dream Vintage Horsebox Cafe, a cake from Summerhouse Bakery, pickles and jams from Apple Paddocks and cheese from The Great British Box.

Forest Makers’ Market with Live Demos and Willow Weaving Workshops

Makers’ Alley

10.00am – 4.00pm | Saturday 26 The Town Hall Take a wander down the ‘pop-upʼ Makersʼ Alley where you will find…June Grundy from Bluerose Crafts with a huge range of arts and crafts, created from ‘all things recycledʼ. Meet Carly Beavis from Oh I Crochet with her lovely collection of handmade gifts and Susan-Ann Tomlin from Little Mouse in the Woods selling natural, bespoke, handmade artisan gifts, kind to the environment and kind to skin.

Why not treat yourself!

10:00am - 4:00pm | Saturday 26 The Delph, Swadlincote Town Centre

Step into the world of woodcrafts at our Forest Makersʼ Market - a handpicked celebration of craft inspired by the beauty, materials, and spirit of the National Forest.

Curated by Peter Wood, world champion pole lathe turner and founder of Greenwood Days, this unique market brings together a talented group of makers who live, work, or create in and around the forest.

• Watch live craft demos • Meet the makers and explore their wares • Join a drop-in willow weaving workshop • Try your hand at pedal-powered wood-turning on a traditional pole lathe • See a spoon carver in action

Featured makers include:

Peter Wood (Greenwood Days) - greenwood crafts & pole lathe turning Maggie Cooper - renowned basketmaker using local materials Katherine Brunt (Teasel Tales) - willow weaving with a story Caleb Kilpatrick - traditional spoon carving Darren Abell - coppice worker and woodsman of the National Forest Mick Waldrum (Rowan Woodland Products) - sustainable timber & sawmilling.

Whether you're curious about traditional woodland crafts, keen to get hands-on, or simply want to browse beautiful handmade pieces, this is a rare chance to experience the craftsmanship and heritage rooted in our local landscape.

Maker in Residence – Louise Mary Designs

Louise Mary is an Artist Silversmith & Jeweller, her studio is located in Sharpe's Pottery Museum here in Swadlincote. She creates contemporary nature-inspired designs handcrafted using traditional techniques. She also runs a range of workshops, including her award-winning Make Your Own Wedding Rings workshops.

You can book onto her brilliant making workshops over May and June for Silver Earrings, Silver Rings and Silver Bangles and Bracelets (costs apply). www.louisemarydeisgns.co.uk

PAGE 8 | DERBYSHIRE MAKES - SWADLINCOTE

SATURDAY 26 & SUNDAY 27 APRIL 2025

THINGS TO GET INVOLVED WITH… EVENTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE

Open Day at CircularityHUB

10:00am-4:00pm | Sunday 27 CircularityHUB, DE11 7JB Discover what Circularity is all about at this fun, family-friendly open day. Meet volunteers and explore an exciting mix of regular community activities including Warhammer Alliance, Menʼs Shed, Knit & Natter, and CircularityGROW. Plus, donʼt miss Coco Creations - a brilliant local maker creating custom handmade gifts perfect for any occasion. Thereʼs something for everyone, so come along and get involved!

Craft Swapping and Sunflowers with Swad In Bloom

10.00am – 4.00pm | Saturday 26 The Delph Swad in Bloom is a not-for-profit community group dedicated to the enhancement of Swadlincote Town Centre through horticultural, environmental and creative activities involving the wider community. Drop in and learn about their huge range of projects and volunteering opportunities.

Explore Swad in Bloomʼs Craft Swap Table - pick up materials for your next Making adventure or ‘Makeʼ a donation yourself, and donʼt forget to take home a sunflower to grow!

Everyone’s A Maker Portraits!

Get Your Portrait Taken by Photography Students from Burton and South Derbyshire College

10.00am - 4.00pm | Saturday 26 Town Hall Everyone's a maker at heart-whether it's a full-time passion or a part-time pursuit. This is your chance to have your portrait taken by a student photographer as part of a workshop celebrating the makers of Swadlincote. You'll be helping budding photographers hone their craft while showcasing the creative spirit that resides within us all. Come along and be part of this inspiring project!

Keep an eye out for more details on when and where these special portraits will be on display later in the year!

Plant Sale with Circularity.org

Saturday 26 April The Delph, Swadlincote Pop by The Delph to meet Hannah and Rob, trustees of Circularity.org, at their fundraising plant sale and info stall. Learn more about their mission to grow a more connected, compassionate community by shifting mindsets from "Me to We." Pick up a plant, start a conversation, and discover how you can get involved in this local community hub!

Acts of Crochet Kindness

Derbyshire Makes Friends

Find the hidden gifts...

Swadlincote Library Crochet Club have decided to share their love of crochet by starting a new project "Acts of Crochet Kindness". They will be leaving small, crocheted gifts in the Library and in Sharpeʼs Museum, to bring a smile to those who find them and share some joy.

Any items found are free for you to keep!

(Please note, for decotration only - not a toy).

Swadlincote Library Crochet Club are a group of yarn enthusiasts of all abilities who meet every fortnight for yarn fun and chatter. They meet every other Thursday, 1pm-3pm, at Swad Library.

Paper Plane Competition

12.00pm | Saturday 26 Derbyshire Makes Friends Marquee, The Delph Everyone can be a maker! Bring your best paper plane or come and make one - paper and instructions provided. The winning paper plane will be the one that flies the farthest!

Thank you for joining us at Derbyshire Makes Swadlincote.

We hope you have an amazing experience! www.derbyshiremakes.co.uk

10.00am - 4.00pm | Saturday 26 The Delph Come and meet members from local Swadlincote community groups. Swadlincote Aspergers Society (SAS), who have been working with the fabulous Hubbub Theatre on puppet making and the wonderful OPUS, who run dementia friendly music workshops.

If you would like to know more about these groups, please contact People Express

Derbyshire Makes aims to be inclusive and accessible to everyone. For any queries about this event, including accessibility, please contact People Express at: julie.batten@people-express.org.uk