What’s On London: Craft Central Winter Market Preview

Get the Christmas present shopping in early at Craft Central's Winter Market selling beautiful handmade wares

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This weekend over 50 talented craftspeople will gather at Craft Central’s new East London home, The Forge, to sell everything from handmade jewellery, prints, ceramics and home accessories. What better place to source the perfect stocking filler?

What?

Featuring work selected from Craft Central’s network of 700 design-makers, The Winter Market will be an opportunity for visitors to meet and shop directly from the creators of the products they buy, whilst also exploring the imaginatively converted 19th-century Victorian forge building in the process. There will also be various family craft workshops to keep everyone entertained, and a pop-up café to keep all thirsts quenched.

What’s On Offer?

Products on sale will range in price from £2.50 to £500, whilst notable makers include Frank Horn’s handcrafted leather accessories made in London using vegetable-tanned leather; Rachel Cox’s functional ceramic tableware created in a range of block colours; geometric, monochrome lino-cut prints by Charis Tsang; and knitted home accessories by Kate Jones, which she creates using natural fibres that are spun and dyed in the British Isles.

Craft Central is a registered charity that has been proudly supporting craftsmanship and craftspeople for 40 years, whilst encouraging the public to appreciate and invest in craft skills in doing so. The charity manages studios and provides business support to craftspeople through promotional activities, exhibitions and selling opportunities. Having recently moved to its new home at The Forge in the Isle of Dogs in September, Craft Central plan to bring design and creativity back to an area of traditional industry.

Free entry, no advance booking required

Craft Central at The Forge, Westferry Road 397-411, London E14 3AE

Visitor information: 020 7538 0819

When?

The market takes place this weekend only, so don’t miss out! Opening hours as below:

Friday, 24 November 5pm- 8pm (late opening event)

Saturday, 25 November 11am-6pm

Sunday, 26 November 11am-5pm

Selvedge Fair, Mary Ward House

If you can’t make it to the Craft Central market, head on down to the festive Selvedge Fair at Mary Ward House for yet more handcrafted Christmas present ideas. Selvedge will bring together 45 of the UK’s finest makers and merchants to sell everything from rare vintage fabrics, skilful haberdashery and handmade textile treasures.

The line-up of merchants include textile specialist Noel Chapman of Bleu Anglais, which sells original Chinese indigo paste-resist patterned cloth; Antonia Graham, founder of iconic interior and gift store, Graham & Green and Jenpatola, which sources vintage and new handmade textiles from India. December 2, 11–5pm, entry £5