'A WONDERFUL DAY OUT - FOR ALL THE FAMILY'

PICNIC AREAS / FREE CAR PARKING / QUALITY REFRESHMENTS

WREST PARK CRAFT & DESIGN FESTIVAL

Wrest Park, Silsoe, Beds MK45 4HR

BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

27th, 28th & 29th AUGUST 2011

ON THE HUNTING PARTY LAWNS WITHIN THE GARDENS.

By kind permission of the English Heritage.

OVER 150 EXHIBITORS

Traditional classic skills & contemporary design-led crafts at one major event. Indulge yourself - or buy that special gift.

Browse & buy from a selection of glass, jewellery, art, leather, ceramics, wood, textiles, metal and more...

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN......

Miriam Rose of Romor Exhibitions - Invited Judge for Specialist Media Category at the Craft & Design Selected Awards 2011

Displays / Featured Exhibitors / Familiar Exhibitors / Demonstrations / Wooden Lovespoons / The Saxon Village / Pot Throwing / Food Village/ Croquet / Guilds / Music / About Wrest Park / How To Get There

If you wish to exhibit (a few spaces still available) please email details of your work to: exhibit@romorexhibitions.co.uk and attach images of your work in jpeg format.

All work must be made by the exhibiting crafts person.

Thank you.

ADMISSION: Adults £8.00, Senior Citizens £7.20. Children (5-15yrs) £4.80, Under 5's FREE.

These are the standard house & grounds admission prices which this weekend include the Craft & Design Festival. A 50% reduction on the full entrance fee for English Heritage Members is applicable. No totally free admissions for English Heritage members at this event.

50% reduction for English Heritage Members.

ADVANCE GROUP DISCOUNTS - 15% discount for groups of 11 or more. Coach parties welcome. For further details of group bookings tel: 01525 860000.

WIN FREE TICKETS - 10 pairs of tickets to give away. Send an email to: visit@romorexhibitions.co.uk - in the subject line type 'COMPETITION WP AUG'. Then in the body of the email enter your full name and address. Closing date for entries 21st August 2011. Please state if you do not wish to be kept informed of future Romor events. Thank you.

All tickets are available on the gate

(no prebooking necessary)

10.00am - 5.30pm each day

Dogs welcome on leads.

on display and for sale will include

Acrylics, Bird baths, Ceramics, Clocks, Coin miniatures, Collectors teddy bears, Contemporary jewellery, Cross-stitch, Cushions, Decoupage, Dichroic glass, Display cabinets, Earthenware, Fabric bags, Fashion accessories, Furniture, Glass & stainless steel sculptures, Gold & silver jewellery, Hand-woven garments, Ladies fashions, Lamps, Leaded mirrors, Leather, Oil paintings, Origami, Painted glass, Panels, Pastels, Pencil drawings & prints, Photography, Porcelain, Portraits, Pottery, Rocking horses, Silk laminates, Silk painting, Stained glass mosaics, Stoneware, Tables, Tableware, Textiles, Treen, Walking sticks, Wall hangings, Watercolours, Willow baskets, Windsor chairs, Wine cabinets, Wooden toys, Woodturning, Wrought iron and much more.

A SELECTION OF THE EXHIBITORS YOU MAY RECOGNISE

1 Off Handbags, Alphabet Photography, Ann Benwell Stained Glass, Antique Teacup Candles, Artizyne, Bedfordshire Basket Makers, Bedfordshire Beekeepers Association, Bedfordshire Guild Of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers, Black & White Revival, Candace Gray Textile Accessories, Chic Throws, Click On Nature, Coin Creations, Cracking Creations, Crackpots, Created and Felted, Daisy Dumpling, David Ralston, Dawn Knights Fine Silver Crochet Jewellery, Designs In Glass, Designs On Leather, Designs On Silk, Designs On You, Diana Morrison Designs, Dragon Ceramics, Dragonet, Educational Activities, Elisabeth Bailey Earthenware, Eric Godward, Floral Art In Silk, Gillsew, Glass By Maxine, Glass On Glass, Goblins, Green Eye Glass, Greenwood Craftsman, Hedgerow Designs, Interlude Ceramics, Jane McCormick Ceramics, Jewellery That Works, JimMG, John Taylor Woodturner, Joia Glass, Jo Verity Designs, Judith Broadbent, Juko Designs, Julia Sterland, Just Soaps Of The Earth, Katharine*Aleks, Knotted Dragon, Lavan Designer Jewellery, Leighton Forge, Lisa Kinrade, Lojanga Design, Lorna Henderson, Marion Smith, Marjorie's Bears, Martin Harman, Merrywood, Miss Honeypie Glass, Mistress Metal, MJK Woodcrafts, Natural U, NG Jewellery, Nick Clarke Cabinet Maker & Designer, No Gnomes, Norman D Whiting, Old Hall Confectionery, Partners In Pewter, Penny Dudley, Pepperstock Archers, Perfect Pens, Peter Cosentino Ceramics, Piskeyled Ltd, Potteryman, Proops Brothers, Ralph Hentall Spoonmaker, Ravens Den Fine Foods, Replicafungi, Richard Evans Art & Design, Romany Crafts From The Hedgerow, Ruben Bears, Sandra Young Glass Sculpture, Sarah Ford Textile Designer, Sew Necessary, Sharon Baldry Glass Designs, Sheila Holness Designs, Shelley Faye Lazar, S I Barnes, Silvia's Jewellery, Sparkly Mary, Steve & Sandra Smith Ceramics, Sticks & Stones, Stitchy Woo Woo, Suzanne Gray Original Handpainted Glass, The Goat Company, The Leatherworker, The Moon Up Above, The Olive Stall, The Stubbington Workshop, This Would Look Good On Your Wall, Tricia Taylor Designs, Vitreus Art, Vivaldi Jewellery, Wheal Rose Windsors, Wheatley Wood Craft, White Horses, Wild Eye Photos, Woodnewton Pottery, Works In Material, Yuri McAlea Origami...................

NEW FOR 2011 - Supplies for craftmakers - to include Proops Brothers - jewellery and woodworking tools, Gillsew - printing blocks & threads for textile work and Artista Soft - modelling pastes.

Recent Industry Awards

Sarah Ford - Craft & Design Selected, Silver Award Textiles & Needlecrafts 2010

Miriam Rose - Craft & Design Selected- Invited Judge for Specialist Media Category 2011

NEW FOR 2011 AT THE WREST PARK CRAFT & DESIGN FESTIVAL

'SCULPTURE PARK' - An Exhibition of Sculpture.

Sculptures will be for sale - or commission a special piece.

Work on display will include sculptures by John Brown.

Exhibitor Comments

"You are absolutely one of the premier organisers in my book.  Thanks a million!"

"Thank you very much indeed for a wonderful weekend, it was a fantastic experience and I truly cannot wait for next year!"

"Wrest Park was a good show for me , always made more enjoyable by the venue and the type of person attracted to the event"

"We really enjoyed exhibiting at Wrest Park, it is without doubt the best organised show we have attended and you and your team made us very welcome"

"This was without doubt the best weekends trading I have had all year, not only that but the friendly atmosphere and ever helpful staff all went to make it a pleasure from start to finish"

"As predicted, Wrest Park is 'a builder' and gave us better returns than the previous year, so a good show for us. We noticed in particular the good quality of clientele for Bank Holiday Monday, so whatever you are doing, it is going in the right direction"

"We had a most enjoyable time albeit hectic at times with the enthusiasm of the public."

"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to you and your team. We were shocked and very pleasantly surprised by our popularity with the crowds - we had so many complimentary comments that we were quite staggared and very humbled. Wrest Park 2010 truly was a stand out show for us, so please sign us up for next year! It is a pleasure to part of this show"

"It was a wonderul show - I was delighted with both the standard of exhibits and my own visitor feedback - the experience was fantastic - I may even need more helpers next year!"

"Thank you once again for the invitation to exhibit at the 'nicest' and best organised show!"

"I thought it was a wonderful event and extremely well organised - we were overwhelmed by the people and could hardly cope"

"A really lovely show, well set out and with lots to interest everyone. Organisation as always was brilliant"

"Thanks so much for another lovely fair! I had a great weekend. It was lovely to be back again - this really is the most friendly and well organised show I've done"

"Once again, many thanks for all your hard work in putting together the Wrest Park Festival. We had a wonderful weekend and feeling quite sad that it has ended. The atmosphere in our marquee was lovely, possibly one of the best - we were incredibly busy! Thanks again and here's to next year."

"Thank you for a lovely setting. We've done well & appreciate the good organisation"

"I would like to say how much we enjoy the shows organised by yourselves. We love the super setting and have thoroughly enjoyed the weekends. Your organisation of such large events is superb"

"Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to sell our crafts at Wrest Park. It proved to be our best weekend's trading ever! What a smashing show in every way!"

"I really enjoyed my first year at Wrest Park. I have to congratulate you on your professionalism and friendliness"

"Thank you for a lovely show at Wrest Park, the atmosphere was as usual brilliant"

"Many thanks for Wrest Park - we did enjoy it - lovely atmosphere, nice people - and a healthy profit!"

"We very much enjoy coming to Wrest Park. We have always found this event exceptionally well organised and friendly"

TRICIA TAYLOR / TRICIA TAYLOR DESIGNS

Mainly contemporary silver jewellery incorporating colour with stones & enamel - also screenprinted enamel panels. www.triciataylor.co.uk

ELAINE MASON / GLASS ON GLASS

Unique and vibrant kiln-formed glassware and lighting made with reclaimed glass - recycling at its best. www.glassonglass.co.uk

GERI WADDINGTON

Exquisitely detailed engravings on wood and resin, hand printed in limited editions.www.geriwaddington.com

PAUL & DIANE WEIR / BEDFORDSHIRE BASKET MAKERS

English willow baskets made to the highest standard by Paul Weir, a yeoman member of The Worshipful Company of Basketmakers - a mark of quality and excellence. Paul specialises in bespoke baskets and repairs.www.craftmaker.co.uk/paulanddianeweir

RALPH HENTALL

Historic and traditional wooden spoons. Ralph specialises in one off commissions for births, christenings and any special occassion anniverary spoons. Two day spoonmaking workshop courses for beginners. /ralphhentall.html

JOHN BROWN - SCULPTOR

John Brown creates contemporary sculptures in stone or in limited editions in bronze or bronze resin for the home, garden & workplace. Commissions are accepted. www.johnbrown-sculptor.co.uk

JAMES GILBERT / JIMMG

Original rural oil paintings of the East Anglia countryside and coastline.

JILL WILKINSON / VIVALDI JEWELLERY

Individually designed jewellery, handcrafted using only the finest semi precious stones and pearls enhanced with sterling silver or gold. Commissions welcome for that special occasion. www.vivaldijewellery.co.uk

DESIGNS IN GLASS / MARK & DEBBIE WARDER

Designer makers of functional and decorative kiln formed glass pieces, stained glass windows and mosaic mirrors. www.designs-in-glass.co.uk /designsinglass.html

BREN TILLEY / RUBEN BEARS

Handcrafted mohair collectors teddy bears designed and made in Bedfordshire./rubenbears.html

PAUL HORNBY / COIN CREATIONS

Handmade cut out and enamelled coin jewellery using genuine coins of the realm.www.coindesigny.co.uk

JANE McCORMICK CERAMICS / JANE & PETER McCORMICK

A unique range of hand decorated ceramics, inspired by English landscape scenes and the natural world. /janemccormick.html

DAVID BAKER / CLICK ON NATURE

Nature photographer specialising in original image crafts including quality handmade greeting cards, prints, canvasses, jigsaw puzzles, postcards, gift tags and much more.www.clickonnature.co.uk

LISA KINRADE

Vintage & contemporary style handmade, bespoke silk bags, wraps & hats for weddings & occasions. Everyday bags, carpet bags & accessories using high quality fabrics. Colour matching. Commissions welcome.

COLIN BELL

Handmade walking sticks. /colinbell.html

ROB BIBBY / WOODNEWTON POTTERY

Colourful, fully decorated, functional hand thrown pottery. Dinner sets, house plaques etc. /robbibby.html

The Guild Of Silk Painters www.silkpainters-guild.co.uk

The Guild of Silk Painters is a non-profit making organisation run by volunteers to promote the art of silk painting. We are based in Britain but have members from around the world. Enjoy viewing silk paintings by artists from Britain and abroad in our on-line galleries. Make contact with other textile artists who enjoy painting on silk. Share your ideas and enthusiasm for this wonderful art form. Increase your knowledge, be inspired and be part of our worldwide community of creative people. Visit our stand and 'have a go'.

The International Feltmakers Association www.feltmakers.com

The international Feltmakers Association was formed to foster worldwide interest in felt, to promote members' work and keep members in contact with one another via a network of regional groups, exhibitions, talks & workshops and through our quarterly magazine 'Felt Matters'.

The British Sugarcraft Guild www.bsguk.org

Sugarcraft is the art of using icing and other medium to make decorations, mainly cake decorations. The British Sugarcraft Guild promotes this craft by sharing knowledge and improving standards.

A 'village' of producers of specialist food and drink products.

Casa de l'Oli - virgin olive oils including citrus, herbs, chilli, garlic, sundried tomato & basil. Giggly Pig Company - 45 varieties of sausages handmade from our own outdoor reared Saddleback pigs. Grasmere Farm Ltd - speciality sausages, dry-cured bacon, ham, pork pies, pates & red onion marmalade. Humbers Homemade - jams, chutneys & preserves from local produce. Kernow Kreperie - mouth watering crepes with wonderful fillings. Lymn Bank Farm - smoked & flavoured cheeses. M & M Personal Vintners - free wine tasting & home delivery service. Meah's - infusions of Indian flavours & spices. Mr Pitchfork's Pickles - delicious chutneys, jams & sauces all made with TLC. Natureworks / The Elderflower People - hand crafted sparkling & still elderflower presse. Ravens Den Fine Foods Ltd - handmade pies, sweet & savoury, local produce with no additives. Simmers Marketing - ginger drinks and dips. The Olive Stall - the finest olives, olive oils & anti-pasta of the Mediterranean. The Truckle Cheese Company - finest vintage cheddar cheese truckles & more.

Watch demonstrations of modern, traditional and rural craft skills:

Trug making, Wheelwrighting, Pole lathe turning, Hurdle making, Weaving, Antique rug restoration, Willow basket making, Bone & Antler working, Chairmaking, Rune carving, Lip working, Woodturning, Maille making, Walking Stick making, Ceramics, Silk painting, Jewellery making, Feltmaking, Spinning, Traditional spoon carving, Leather working, Watercolour painting, Wooden toy making and more.

WOODEN FLOWER MAKING FROM THE HEDGEROWS

Romany crafts from the hedgerows, handed down through the generations.

ARCHERY

Pepperstock Archers invite you to meet them and to try your hand at this ancient sport. Full tuition & safety equipment provided.

TRADITIONAL & HISTORICAL SPOONMAKING

An exhibition of wooden spoons and associated customs and ceremonies from around the world. Ralph will be demonstrating wooden spoon making throughout the day For more visit romorexhibitions.co.uk/ ralphhentall.html

CROQUET

Members of the Wrest Park Croquet Club will be playing matches each day between 2.00pm and 5.00pm plus the chance to 'have a go' yourself.

POT THROWING

The Beverley String Quartet - four professional musicians led by Ian Smith. The quartet will serenade you with a varied selection of music - relax and enjoy one of their musical interludes throughout the day including lunchtime at 12 noon.

Visitor Comments

"Wow, this is a craft show with a capital C"

"This was without doubt one of the best shows I have ever attended - we definitely plan to go again next year"

"Having visited Wrest Park for the second consecutive year, I would like to commend you again on the superb organisation to make this such a splendid day out, in an environment with such a wonderful (almost magical) and delightful ambience."

"May I express my thanks for Nicholas the Maille Maker, his presentation was well worth the cost of admission by itself"

"An excellent show - beautifully laid out and in a great venue. The standard of exhibitors work was refreshingly high"

"At last - a craft fair where we could meet the crafts people and talk to them about their craft and even learn a little bit from them."

"Good variety of crafts and wonderfully friendly staff & exhibitors - thank you for a great day out."

"Wonderful selection of crafts - well worth the journey from Manchester. The medieval workshops were excellent & a real focus of interest"

Bringing history to life, this educational group, formed in 1986, are fascinated with the craft skills, technologies and everyday lives of past peoples. From their traditional-style tents, in full authentic costumes they will present their skills.

The Saxon Village people may vary at this event

Peter the Lantern Maker - lighten your life - there were two main types of lantern, those with windows and those with a pattern of punched holes (thousand eye lanterns). The word lantern may have come from the two main materials used in its construction, that is latten (thin brass sheet) and horn for the windows.

Nicholas the Riveted Maille Maker - a link with the past and another and another! Made from drawn iron wire, shaped into rings and linked together to form mail, a very ancient form of body armour, though still in use in Tudor times.

Runar the Woodsman & Rune Carver - oak and ash, futhark and futhork - runes are an ancient and magical form of lettering that was originally designed, not to be written but to be carved into wood. Runar is deep in the knowledge of wood and rune lore.

Brother Stephen the Calligrapher - parchment oak galls and quills - Tytyvyllus willing - the scrivener, well practised in the skills, sits in his tent busy writing out important ducuments, charters and perhaps poems. Now and again he stops to cut a new quill. He is in need of a new apprentice and will have an eye for a likely person to try their hand with a quill.

Master Colin the Pewterer - holiday souvenirs (Holy-day souvenirs) - skillfully cutting his stone moulds. Using a small brazier, he melts and pours metal into stone and cuttle fish moulds to produce examples of pilgrim badges, livery badges, belt hangers, buckles and pins. His wife offers his wares for sale to the public.

Alys the Green Woman - worts & banes - herbs in medieval times had many uses - flavouring food, medicine, keeping away vermin, cleaning of clothes - the list is endless. Individuals either treated themselves with family recipes, visited travelling bonesetters and herb women or were helped by those in religious orders. Apothecaries purchased herbs and roots collected by wandering 'green men and women'.

Costume Maker - kirtles, liripipes, daggs & partlets- a display of hand sewn costumes from the Saxons & Vikings to the Early Tudors. Did they have pockets? Did they have underwear? How were clothes made? Who did the cutting & how were the customers measured?

Shoe & Leather Bottle Maker - Medieval England was famous for the making of leather. Every town had a variety of leather craftsmen. Shoe makers were only allowed to use certain kinds of leather. They produced such items as latchet poulaines, mules and slashed shoes. The leather bottle maker supplied costrols, bombards, blackjacks and many other kinds of leather containers. As these items do not break when dropped they were much used by pilgrims, soldiers and sailors and other travellers.

Narrow Ware Weaving - belts, garters, fillets and fripperies - the making of bands using different techniques, tablet weaving, finger looping, lucette and ridged heddle weaving. Tablet weaving is a craft that has been known since about 400 years B.C. so spans the ages. Narrow wares were used for, amongst other things, belts, garters, fillets, edging costume, point laces, purse strings and seal ribbons. Braids were woven in wool, linen, silk and sometimes a combination of all three.

Horn, Bone & Antler Working - what top do with leftovers - waste not want not. Some of the earliest materials used by man and fashioned into items such as farming tools, weapons, cosmetic instruments, gaming pieces, clothing fasteners, combs, spectacle frames - the list is almost endless!

Playing Card Making - make a 'snap' decision - developing from hand-made one off packs in the 14th century, only for the very rich, to block printed mass produced packs from the 15th century onwards. German and French packs were imported into England. The English makers forged and sold French 'Rouen' style packs to avoid paing the heavy import duty.

Explore the myths and truths of life in Medieval England with these colourful characters.

Report from Local News TV from Bedfordshire

The appearance of this large eighteenth century French-style mansion surprises and delights visitors. It was designed by its’ owner, Earl de Grey and built 1834-1839 on the site of an earlier mansion belonging to the family. Its’ creation prompted the development of formal gardens near the house. The surrounding woodland garden had been developed over several previous generations. Three distinct gardening styles can be seen: the mysterious but inviting early eighteenth century woodland garden either side of the Long Water, the natural style garden made popular by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown and the more formal flower gardens in the French-style. The many attractions of Wrest Park provide hours of pleasure and interest for all the family. See the 18th century Bowling Green house with its’ stucco decoration, the rustic bath house with pebble pavement and knucklebone floor, the Chinese bridge, a pagan altar, lakes, rivers, lawns...... There is no end to the pleasures of Wrest Park.

Wrest Park is situated midway between Bedford and Luton, on the A6.

Home / Exhibitor contact / Visitor contact / Top of Page

ROMOR EXHIBITIONS LIMITED, 2011