Crafts Alive at Rodmarton Manor - Flowers and the Maker
The Gloucestershire Guild presents the fourth Crafts Alive 5-day festival, ‘Flowers and the Maker’ from 10 - 14 September 2025.
The festival takes its inspiration from the discovery of a recording of a radio interview with Mary Biddulph about a flower festival which was held at Rodmarton Manor to raise funds for the village church.
Eight makers and four florists have joined together to create collaborative displays. Flowers and foliage are combined with basketry, ceramics, jewellery and textiles in a unique way for the 2025 festival. The Chapel will be adorned with a floral installation by Bex Partridge, working mainly with dried flowers, her installations offer a chance to consider nature’s seasonal changes.
Emma Thistlethwaite uses floristry to design installation pieces, for Rodmarton she’s creating a floral tapestry wall piece inspired by the designs of William Morris. A site-specific exhibition of work by 17 artists from Victoria Works Studios, a creative hub in the village of Chalford, a few miles from Rodmarton, will be showing in one of the attic bedrooms.
With privileged access the Guild will be showing outstanding contemporary crafts by 47 makers working in calligraphy, ceramics, glass, furniture, jewellery, mosaic, leatherwork, textiles and fashion, especially made for, and inspired by the house and its floral surroundings.
In the gardens, there is work by guest exhibitors, Dan Rawlings, Ellie Drake - Lee, Judith Hobbs, and a site-specific installation in the summerhouse by Corinne Hockley and Davy & Kristy McGuire.
Original work will be for sale. Each day there are demonstrations, workshops, talks and delicious locally made food and drink.
Alt Image Text: Crafts Alive at Rodmarton Manor
Image Credit: Gloucestershire Guild
Crafts Alive is a project borne out of a passionate belief in demonstrating the huge social value of the Arts & Crafts and in creating something well made, with access to all.
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