Juliette Orton

I keep meaning to write about my fabulous trip to the NCCD but life has been so hectic recently it's rather thrown me off my usual routine but here goes at last! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the NCCD, it is the largest venue in England entirely dedicated to the exhibition, celebration, support and promotion of national and international contemporary craft and design. Unfortunately for me it is nearly a 2 1/2 hours drive away in Sleaford, (Notts/Lincs area) so I can't take full advantage of their amazing programme of talks and exhibitions but it is an absolute gem and so wonderful that such a space exists in this current climate of cuts in all things creative. On the ground floor is a super shop/cafe area which has constantly changing stock of contemporary craft and design pieces to fall in love with and current publications in all things creative which are lovely to browse and/or purchase! I asked if it would be alright for me to take some photos fo...

I've just had the pleasure of teaching a weekend course at Missenden Abbey called 'Discover your Inner Artist' and judging from the wonderful work my students produced, I would have to say that they all definitely succeeded in finding theirs! This is the first time that I have taught at Missenden and it was an absolute delight I have to say, it was very well organised and both the food and location were a real bonus. There were 9 ladies in my group and after some brief introductions they got straight to work on the Friday evening with some printing.   On the Saturday, there was some designing and wirework development. Once everyone had been introduced to the tools and equipment they did some experimentation, refining their skills as they went. It was amazing to see how much they improved in the space of a few hours....... ........but not quite as amazing as all those ladies working in one room without talking (for some of the time anyway!), the...

I had no idea what was behind the doors of the Wellcome Collection in NW1 and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, it's fantastic! The WC explores the connections between medicine, life and art in the past, present and future. Established under Sir Henry Wellcome's will in 1936, it echos his passion for medicine and displays many pieces from his collection of over a million objects. As you walk into the main entrance you are greeted by Anthony Gormley's cast iron figure hanging upside down which is certainly eye-catching and very appropriate given the Collection's link to the human body. There are usually several exhibitions on at any given time including a cross-section of Henry Wellcome's extraordinary collection of objects. I was quite fascinated by the exhibition titled 'The Body' which examines new techniques and ways of looking at out internal biological structures and functions. This glass sculpture by Luke Jerram represents the swin...

I'm always excited to go to design/craft/fairs/shows/exhibitions and seek both inspiration and  confirmation of current trends and interest within the design world. So off I went to MADE LONDON – Bloomsbury which is a new spring craft and design fair showing over 100 designer makers in a really unusual and wonderful building. The brochure states that  'This is a stripped back, pared down, table top selling event, enabling the quality and diversity of the designer / makers’ work to be simply and honestly showcased in a beautiful and characterful setting' and it is exactly that. I was fascinated to learn that the building itself (Mary Ward House) is a grade one listed arts and craft ‘settlement’ (where rich Edwardians went to live with London’s poor to provide legal advice, education classes, and opportunities for arts and physical fitness). The artists work was displayed in a number of stunning rooms including the old gymnasium, theatre, drawing room, library,...