Day 19: Cool creatives @ Maker's Yard

On Saturday I visited Maker's Yard in Leicester, an amazing new venture supported by the city council.  Located in the oldest hosiery factory in the city (hosiery historically being the main industry in Leicester), the building has been beautifully and sympathetically renovated to house studio space for ten creative business.  From glass blowing to sewing to felting to screen printing, it's an incredible space that offers local artist and designer-makers a place to work, make and teach.

I enjoyed browsing the wares and picking up flyers for workshops; I took (and enjoyed) a sewing workshop run by Maker's Yard tenant Ruth Singer a couple of years ago, so top of my list now are the clothes upcycling sessions run by Re-fashioned and the felting workshops with Sushila Pillai.

My favourite stalls were those run by illustrator Will Wright, whose screen prints I loved, and Martha Ruth Harris, whose cute animal print totes, cushions and cards won my heart.  How adorable is the little robin Christmas decoration?!

 

 

It's an inspiring space to walk around, the old industrial heritage having been carefully preserved and restored in some places while being sympathetically updated in others, and the people taking part in the open day were a great example of how creative business are thriving in post-industrial cities.  I'd love to hear about similar spaces and studios around the UK; let me know if a place like Maker's Yard exists near you.  And if you're near Leicester, their next open studio event takes place on Saturday December 7th.