'It adds a chill vibe to the festival,' The Green Crafts Village at All Together Now
Sign for The Green Crafts Village.
All Together Now is known for its colour, music and having something for everyone.
If you are looking for something cosy, chill and creative to do at the festival this weekend, why not pop down to The Green Crafts Village?
The village is open from 10am to 6pm each day, and stalls include wood crafts, jewellery making, pottery, and so much more.
The Waterford News and Star’s Shannon Sweeney took a stroll down to the village this Saturday and spoke to some of the amazing craftspeople running workshops and sharing their incredible skills.
Here is what just some of them told us about the Green Crafts Village.
Waterford-based Strong Roots Jewellery is run by Michelle Dunne.
Her silver ring workshops were a hit at this year’s festival, selling out all weekend.
“It was very popular this year, and people are loving it. It’s relaxing, it’s nice to come away from the madness, sit down and focus on one thing, getting lost in the flame and the torch.
“It’s a pleasure and I love it. I absolutely love it,” said Michelle.
Michelle’s silver ring workshop teaches people to form a ring, measure and solder.
Festival-goers also have the option of a smelted silver pendant.
“What’s most important is that people who would normally shy away from these kinds of crafts, we do a free hour in the morning, a demonstration, just to get people in and see that it is possible.
“Every subject is daunting until you are sitting down and making it, and the community as well, because crafting is a lonely business, and this is just lovely.
But one of the things she loves most about the village is that it is an opportunity for the crafting community to come together every year.
Michelle said that the festival crafts community inspire each other, and their children grow up together.
“You can feel the peace yourself when you come into it,” said Michelle.
Michelle is based in Kite Design Studios on Henrietta Street in Waterford City, along with the Irish Handmade Glass Company and Gene O’Shea Silver.
“The idea of the studios is that we have an open door, studios are at the back, and the shop is at the front. People can walk in through and see the hands behind the work, said Michelle.
Which is what attracted her to The Green Craft Village.
John Murray, who works at the stall with Michelle, said that they sold out of ATN appointments for the weekend on Friday.
And if you were lucky enough to catch an appointment, I’m sure you will agree that you came away with something special.
“It’s not just making something, it's learning something as well, said John.
Lieneke from In the Sticks helps festival-goers make insect hotels or “bug houses.” Lieneke makes the outer part of the hotel and collects materials for people to fill in.
“It is a combination of them making something practical for wildlife, but they can use their own creativity to fill it in and make it beautiful,” said Lieneke.
Insect Hotels are a good way to support biodiversity in your own garden.
Lieneke said they are a natural habitat for insects to thrive.
“It would be for solitary bugs, for ladybirds, for little bugs to give them a place to hibernate or where they can stay and feel safe," said Lieneke.
Lieneke said children and adults alike who are interested in making insect hotels.
But the magic is when they work together.
“They start to chat, it's relaxing, it’s almost therapeutic. It's just where people can wind down. Even if they are strangers, just sitting there, they start chatting with each other.
“It creates a very nice atmosphere while they are working away at it,” said Lieneke.
Éanna Mc Enally does wood-turning demos on his very specially restored lathe and teaches tree-ring print making.
The lathe he has with him at All Together Now is from the late 1800s, and Éanna has restored it so it is now functional.
“Everyone loves to see the lathe because it's such a rare thing to see.
“I have a few old tools on display here, too. Most belonged to my grandad and I’m still able to use them, which is great,” said Éanna.
Dublin-based Mark Flannery is teaching festival-goers to carve wood.
“You get people who have never held a chisel before, who don’t own a chisel, and I’ve had people say, 'I met you two years ago, and I bought a set of chisels,' and it's great.
“Or someone who wants to go on and become a future wood carver or even a carpenter, and just because they worked with wood here or metal or whatever it might be.
“You know you might have inspired someone along the line, you know,” said Mark.
The totem is the most popular design this weekend.
Mark gives you a cheat sheet, and you can carve away.
When we spoke to Mark, things had quietened down with the village closing for the evening.
But he said a lot of people have stopped by.
“It has been absolutely mental here today. It seems like everyone at the festival is into green crafts today.
Mark said this is his hobby and he loves showing to people at All Together Now because he enjoys the festival too.
“And we get to demo this, and it’s a bit of craic, and most of the banter is the people we talk to, the chats.
“It’s good fun,” said Mark.
Most of the people who have visited Mark’s festival workshop have been children, and he said that with those little crafters, he keeps a very close eye.
Some adults need help, too, which is okay, but Mark said some are very intrepid.
He showed us a leaf carved by someone who attended his workshop, and he said he was really impressed by the work.
“It adds a chill vibe to this area and the festival. Everyone comes into the craft village,” said Mark.
