A number of large Craft Marquees with a wide variety of crafts for sale and display, as well as a series of smaller marquees and areas where you can see craftsmen at work, demonstrating their skills with a variety of traditional working crafts.

For example:

Ian Freemantle Gallery

Ian Freemantle is an award-winning Wood Sculptor and artist based in Stony Stratford. His art can be seen at festivals across the UK. He has art installations around the country, including Centre Parcs, Rushmere Country Park, and Green Man Festival.

Ian Freemantle’s inspiration comes from his lifelong love of nature and the natural surroundings he grew up in. Even as a boy he would spend every waking hour in the woods and rolling hills of the Surrey countryside. It was inevitable that he would progress into countryside management, to forestry and arboriculture eventually finding the urge to start sculpting in 2002.

Ian’s work has a style of its own with a vein of mystical realm running through it. Using the natural contours and the strength of the grain he brings individuality to each and every sculpture that he produces. Now residing in the historical coaching town of Stony Stratford, famous for its festivals of music, poetry and the arts, Ian has enjoyed the title and recognition of ‘the Bard’ of the town in 2010.

Over the past 10 years Ian has enjoyed working for many everyday folk, Local authorities, schools and nursery’s and several music festivals including an open invitation to the exclusive Weird and Wonderful Wood festival in Suffolk.

His clients include the Royal Sandringham Estate, Centre Parcs and Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters. Ian is also famous for the Giant Bardic chair at Rushmere Country Park.

Kings Lynn Woodturners

A whole marquee of local woodturners, demonstrating their skills. You will be amazed at the quality and creativity of their work. Watch them in action and ask as many questions as you like: they are very happy to talk about their favourite hobby.

Bodging

A bodger is a skilled craftsman, who traditionally made chair legs and braces. The legs were turned on an early pole and string treadle powered lathe, the string is wound around the work piece which rotates backwards and forwards, allowing the bodger to cut or turn in one direction only. Their equipment was easy to set up and move around as they travelled from place to place. Nowadays, bodgers produce a wide range of items.

Broom Maker

Besom brooms are normally made from birch twigs and the handles from hazel rods.

They are favoured by some gardeners for specific jobs, sweeping leafs of patios, moss from timber decking or as the broom head wears down and becomes more stiff it can be used for clearing moss or worm casts from lawns or dog hair from rugs.

Many people like its natural charm and look well as an ornament in a conservatory or kitchen.

Coppice workers get busy around Halloween and will supply smaller brooms for children during this time.

Stokes of England

Visit the blacksmiths tent, bringing an insight into this fascinating and very traditional English craft. Stokes Blacksmiths are at all of our shows. It is a long standing family business, now run by Chris Stokes, who has been a blacksmith for over thirty years. He says he loves his work because of the creativity involved; the knowledge that he is leaving a legacy in his work that will last for many many years into the future and that fact that he never knows who his next customer will be. You can even have a go too! Make an original hook or keyring and get involved!

Textiles & Fabric Crafts

Rachel John

If you want to create something fast, jumbo knitting could be your answer. Rachel Johnson will be showing you how and selling you the knitting needles you need.

Stick Makers

Demonstrating the traditional art of walking stick making, choose a stick which really reflects your interests and personality. From animals to fish, traditional hooked ends and plenty more.