Chris joined Crafts alive in December. He is a skilled glass engraver.

TUDOR is a retired engineer and wood turner living in the Ammanford area. He works mainly in native hardwoods and when possible uses locally harvested timbers.

Tudor specialises in larger items such as wall hangings, platters and hollow vessels with some added carving or simple decoration to complement the natural beauty of the wood.

Natural features such as knots or shakes ( unavoidable on larger pieces) are sometimes enhanced rather than camouflaged. 

When he’s not actively turning Tudor can be found making various woodturning aids or gadgets  which assist with the sometimes complex geometric patterns produced. He has also built several woodturning lathes from scratch (a throwback from his engineering background). These are in current use in a somewhat overcrowded workshop!

Commissions undertaken.

Leatherwork

Penny started her career at reading College of Art & Design where she soon discovered she was most interested in the design and ‘hands on’ making of items. Ian worked in the leather industry making shoes and then furniture. They combined their skills, and when they moved to Wales in 1990, they started selling their creations.

Their creations are designed and made from the very highest quality, soft leather, making them very tactile. Once Penny has designed an item a pattern is made and Ian then cuts the leather by hand. Penny assembles each creation utilising the strongest nylon bonded thread.

Most of the leather is acquired as off-cuts for manufacturing companies. This helps not only to keep the cost at a minimum, which is reflected in our pricing, but it is also eco friendly.

Gwaith Lledr

Dechreuodd Penny ei yrfa yng Ngholeg Celf a Chrefft Reading lle darganfyddodd yn fuan fod ganddi fwy o ddiddordeb mewn cynllunio a gwneud pethau a’i dwylo. Roedd Ian yn gweithio yn y diwydiant lledr yn gwneud esgidiau ac yna dodrefn. Cyfunon nhw eu sgiliau, a phan symudon nhw i Gymru yn 1990, fe ddechreuon nhw werthu yr hyn a grewyd.

Website: www.leatherwise.net

email: ianthyer@hotmail.co.uk

Ieuan Roberts lives in Lampeter and is an accomplished woodworker. His lovespoons are astonishing works of art.   He has developed his own design of free moving interlocking hearts. 

The lovespoons all have links, balls in cage, hearts or similar and this requires the design to be drawn on paper in both plan and side aspects first. The design is then transferred to preferably defect free, straight grained seasoned hardwood which is then carefully cut out with the bandsaw before carving with various palm chisels and gouges. The spoon is then sanded down to 400 grit before finishing with danish oil and paste wax.

My Sticks are for use and it is hoped will become a friend for life. Embellishing and enhancing working sticks is an old tradition. Man has used sticks and staffs for protection and as a tool since the dawn of our history. So much so that they have become part of legend from wizard wands to druid staffs of office.

My sticks are classed as “Market Sticks” this is a practical stick made for work and regular use, but with a an element of decoration. “Show Sticks” are just for that purpose of demonstrating carving skills and are not intended for everyday use.

I look for woods that enable me to liberate the beauty of the grain and colour. Most of my wood is recycled or from substantial sources. Some hard woods are now endangered and I seek to recycle these woods to preserve their beauty for the future. The staffs are mostly Hazel, Birch and Holly. They are all air dried to harden for at least twelve months to insure strength and flexibility. The finished sticks are oiled and buffed to a shine not varnished. Varnish can crack after time and will allow water to penetrate the wood

I have a wide range of walking sticks on display in CRAFTS ALIVE together with a collection of wooden pendants on leather thongs.  

www.meadowcraftworkshop.co.uk

Viv is an artist who enjoys working in pen and ink as well as watercolour but she specialises in woodcuts and lino prints. Her main subjects are animals and birds although she enjoys landscapes as well.    

 CALLIGRAPHY

 Viv also does CALLIGRAPHY for special occasions - including poems, certificates, party and wedding invitations, maps, and place cards. 

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                                              http://vivkersey.wordpress.com/home/

 

Kate Glanville originally trained in fashion design at St. Martins College of Art, London.
After working as a textile designer she became interested in ceramics through her husband, potter, Duncan Ayscough.
She started by decorating his thrown vases and fruit bowls with the brightly coloured figurative designs she had been using in her textile designs, the pots were sold in many galleries and department stores both nationally and internationally.

 Since 1990 Kate has been producing tin glazed wall tiles and personalised hand painted commemorative plates using brightly coloured traditional glazes to create lively and original designs. Inspiration ranges from the countryside around her to the paintings of Matisse and Picasso. 

Kate works to commission and each piece is a one-off piece of art work individually designed for every customer.

Each plate is individually hand painted by ceramic artist Kate Glanville and can be
personalised to your specific requirements. Choose from one of the standard designs or let Kate Glanville create a unique, bespoke design to suit the recipient and the occasion.

www.kateglanville.com

Cara is a self-taught artist and lives in Ammanford. she loves to paint. Although the majority of her work tands towards the abstract she is also happy to do portraits and commissions. Her influences are Salvador Dali, Picasso and Georgia O'Keefe.  In 2011 Cara had a very popular and successful solo show at Oriel Lanlofft the Upstairs Gallery at Crafts Alive. She has a wide range of original paintings on display as well as a selection of prints and cards.