Heritage crafts

Over the last few days I have received some welcome news from the Heritage Craft Association HCA). I applied for a grant designed to help businesses like mine become more resilient. The grant I received will go towards some tools to make my Windsor chairmaking better and more efficient. I see the chair making side of what I do becoming the mainstay of my business over the coming years. I would like acknowledge the money for the grant was provided by the Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers. 

I also took part in the first Zoom meeting of The Midlands and Marches local HCA group. This was a great opportunity to meet a range of craftspeople, all of whom share a real passion for what they do and share a common belief in keeping traditional skills alive and relevant today.

One thing I learned at the meeting was the importance of having an "online presence". This is something I find quite difficult but I am more determined than ever to dedicate much needed time to this in the future.

Between now and Christmas I am working at full pelt. I have some cracking events lined up and it is great having the chance to meet people face to face again. I am retraining my legs in preparation for the pole lathe turned "snowman rush". This coupled with orders for products direct from the coppice mean lots of time spent on the tools and the place I cherish most!