Featured: The Craft Guerilla

We spoke to artist Deborah Daniel of the Craft Guerilla to find out a little bit more about this fabulous east London based collective who are always hard at work for the crafting cause.

So tell us who/what is the Craft Guerrilla?

The Craft Guerrilla is a collective set up by working designer makers for other professionals in the field. It was started in early 2008 and by the summer Louise Batten and Lisa Margreet had joined as core members. Between us we host craft markets, diy craft nights and have also hosted swishing events and a craftea party! Basically we try to bring everyone together to share the platform, our web traffic and to network. We’re really proud of the fact that our events have served as a meeting place for like minded people and also to share skills as well as teach various craft disciplines to each other and the public.

Tell us a little bit about the core values and ideals at the heart of the Craft Guerrilla.

It’s getting easier but it’s still really hard to sell hand made products in this country. Unfortunately there’s a bit of a stigma attached to CRAFT. It’s not all about macaroni, glue sticks and card!

Our main aim was to dispel this myth but to also provide an alternative to shoppers. Mass produced items are pretty negative in many aspects but we’re also aware that creating another form of consumerism, be it through craft, isn’t that great either and that’s why we share our skills to empower people to be a bit more self sufficient and appreciative of how much work goes into an item. Also it’s pretty much about providing a community where creatives can work and play together. I guess the principals are basic socialism and communism but with a main difference being that though we are all provided with an equal platform it’s up to each individual to take the opportunities and make what they wish from them. This way you take what you want and need rather then what you’re allowed. It’s all very friendly though…when I say “take” it’s more on the principle that it’s there for people but it’s up to each individual to put in the hard work! And we do incentivize people to take a proactive role to better the whole collective.

We have heard talk of some Craft Guerrilla sister armies – what’s that all about? Are you planning to overthrow the world?

LOL, crafting over the world! Now that would be good but no. It’s about networking and sharing those opportunities even further and casting the net wider. Our number four army will be starting up later this month.

Can anyone set up a sister army? How would one go about fighting for the cause?

We do stipulate a few ground rules like needing at least 3 people to set up a Craft Guerrilla and that they should all be masters and dabblers in many craft disciplines. The best thing to do is contact us before you start setting one up. We’ll be on hand to offer invaluable advice and to link everyone up to each other and to the “mother ship”.

What kind of activities are the Craft Guerrilla involved in? Anything exciting coming up we should know about?

We’re always looking for new events. We do lots of our own events and we’ve done a few in galleries and museums. At the moment we have a few very exciting but top secret projects in the pipeline which will be revealed soon. In September we’ll be hosting a multi spectacular craft event for the E17 Art Trail…lets just say it’s going to be lots of fun…jive & swing dance lessons, a live rockabilly band, lots of crafting, karaoke and a little bit of burlesque too! It’s our homage to the “Buena Vista Social Club”…hence “The Craftivista Social Club” which will be held in a local social club! Also we’re hosting a space in the Little London Fields festival, Indie Tracks Festival, a Christmas Craft weekender at the William Morris Gallery and hosting a special area at the The Knitting & Stitching shows in London, Harrogate and possibly Dublin. It’s a lot to do and we get offers all the time. Unfortunately sometimes we have to say no. Maybe we could try mixing genetics and craft. I could do with a few clones!

Image credits: All images courtesy of Craft Guerilla. © All rights reserved

Tags: craft guerilla, Featured