If you’re anything like me, you’ll be itching for a bit more colour and vibrancy in your life after the dreary lockdowns. While I liked that I got more time to try new things (like polymer clay and weaving), I missed being able to get out and about. And if you’re in the same boat, then get excited because we’ll be able to fuse those two things together with the much-anticipated return of Make & Mend Festival on September 12th!
What could be better than spending your day indulging in craft workshops, learning about positivity and wellbeing, browsing exhibitions, and doing a spot of shopping? Not a lot! So if that sounds like your kind of thing, you’re going to be head over heels for Make & Mend. But if you haven’t heard of it before and need some more details, let me tell you everything you need to know before booking your tickets.
About Make & Mend Festival
Before we dive into the specifics of the 2021 elements of the festival, let me just give you a little bit of background. Rachel and Lyndsey, two friends from our very own Stockton-on-Tees, launched the Make & Mend Company after finding strength and happiness during periods of challenging mental health and high pressured careers through crafting. They wanted to share the incredible healing powers of making and mending, and so, the company and its festival was born!
And what makes this even more amazing is that we have this right on our doorstep, so if you’ve been looking for a way to ease any stress or anxiety, or simply just shake off your working week a bit, this festival could be just what you need. After popping up at Preston Park in 2019 and taking a little break during the pandemic in 2020, you’ll be able to visit Make & Mend at Ormesby Hall for 2021, making it ideal for Teessiders and beyond!
When and where is Make & Mend Festival 2021?
Get your diaries out and take note! This year’s Make & Mend Festival will be held on Sunday 12th September 2021 from 10AM to 5PM at the beautiful Ormesby Hall. The event will be running all day, and you can purchase a half day (gives you access to one 1 hour workshop) or full day (gives you access to one 2 hour or two 1 hour workshops) tickets now. If you get to the festival and decide you want to add another workshop to your day, you absolutely can! It’s £10 for an extra 1 hour class and £18 for another 2 hour class, and you’ll get to take home something completely handmade by you.
Home to the Pennyman family, Ormesby Hall, garden and parkland is a green oasis in the heart of industrial Middlesbrough. This classic Georgian mansion is surrounded by 240 acres of parkland and farmland, which offer year round seasonal walks with a colourful Victorian formal garden accompanying the mansion. With your Make & Mend ticket, you have exclusive access to the building, so why not explore a little while you’re there?
What can you expect from Make & Mend Festival 2021?
As gutted as I was the Make & Mend didn’t make an appearance in 2020, it’s meant that 2021 is seeing it come back better than ever. The beauty of this festival is that it’s designed to help you unwind in a way that you’re comfortable and confident with, but of course, the main focus is crafting, so you can expect lots of crafting workshops to get involved with. I’m talking about macrame, lino cutting, embroidery, watercolour, calligraphy, and so many more. You can choose something totally new or something you’re experienced in, and really enjoy the process of making something to take home.
If the hands on approach isn’t your thing, then why not check out some of the demos instead? You’ll find these dotted all around Ormesby Hall and you can settle down to watch some marbling, letterpressing or rug making, and pick up a few tips and tricks. You’ll also be able to find some yoga sessions out in the grounds, so if you fancy doing some stretches and tuning in to your body, make sure you wear some comfortable clothing and come with an open mind.
Alongside the demos and yoga, there will be amazing exhibitions to see, including The Friendship Project by Erin Fong which will feature bold words and colours, and stunning dried flower embroidery from Olga Prinku. You’ll get the opportunity to chat to artists or drop into the Hello Hooray crafty social, where you can make a pin cushion and/or bring along your own unfinished projects to work on. It’s ideal if you love a natter while you work on your WIP!
Everyone loves to shop, right? And if you want to pick up a new craft kit or a handmade gift for a friend or family member (or yourself!), you’ll find a range of vendors in the marketplace. There’ll be something for everyone and I’m really looking forward to finding out who’s making an appearance!
Of course, with the restrictions easing only recently, it’s understandable that not everyone will feel comfortable about coming to a festival. But there’s no need to worry because there are also tickets available for the online festival too, so no one has to miss out. With one of these £15 tickets, you will have access to a full week of virtual activities, including live Zoom workshops, pre-recorded activities, patterns and makes to download, and a virtual marketplace! It’s a great alternative if you’re not ready to join in with large groups just yet.
Why am I going to Make & Mend Festival?
I love crafting so so much, which is something that my mum has instilled in both me and my sister. She’s always had some sort of project on the go and has always loved being creative, so growing up in that environment has definitely rubbed off on me. My only problem when it comes to crafting is that I’m a bit fickle and I really like to try lots of different things, rather than just sticking to one discipline. However, I feel like that is the true spirit of Make & Mend, and I’ll be going to try some new craft workshops.
I’m going to be giving lino cutting a try, which is something that I’ve always admired but never done myself. I love the way that you can produce something so detailed and create a stamp that lasts forever, so I was really excited when I saw that it was on the workshop line up. I’ll also be giving macrame a go, and that’s something I’ve dabbled in a tiny bit, but I really want to dive into it a bit more. It just looks like such a fun craft!
I’m also planning on going along because I’ve learned a lot about my mental wellbeing over the course of the pandemic and I know now that I need to spend time with people doing things that I enjoy to feel relaxed and happy. So I’ll be going along with my mum and sister for a girly day out, and it’ll be so beneficial for my mind. I know a lot of people have struggled mentally with all of the lockdowns and news over the past 18 months, so a festival like this could be ideal.
This is always such an exciting event for the area and I’m so pleased that it’s making a return. I know that I felt a massive gap in my summer plans when it didn’t happen last year, so I’m definitely looking forward to getting my craft on again next month.
If you want to buy tickets to Make & Mend Festival 2021, you can find them on the website, along with the online festival tickets. While there’s plenty going on in person, the online festival has a truly fantastic lineup for the week, so it’s perfect if you live further afield, if you’re an avid creative with a disability, or if you have a long term illness but still want a slice of the festival fun at your own pace. If you need more information or have any questions, you might be able to find what you’re looking for in the FAQs.
Are you excited for Make & Mend Festival to make a comeback? Which workshops have caught your eye?
This post is sponsored in collaboration with Make & Mend Company