Excitingly I decided to visit the Wirksworth Art Trail and the Wardlow Mires Pottery festival on the same weekend to meet two of the makers I have been talking with, Rachel Evans of Wheatcroft Willow and Rowena Hamilton, ceramicist. 
It was a gloriously chilly day with on and off showers but Wirksworth still held its beauty and the trail was wonderfully curated and managed. I started off by visiting the mightily talented Rachel and getting to physically handle and see the glorious basketry she makes was a joy. They are even better in real life. I wanted one of each for my own home, and definitely wanted to stock as many lines as possible in SHIREFOLK. 
As luck would have it, the stand next to Rachel was the wonderful Harriet Eccleston. I hadn't come across Harriet on my journey to find suppliers yet but was immediately struck by the quality of garments in front of me, made by Harriet herself I quickly learnt, and the history and story behind her brand. I'll write more in depth about this another time, but Harriet was inspired by her ancestors who were tailors in Sheffield. She makes and creates with ethically sourced cotton, in Sheffield. I was in love.
So in one foul swoop that was two makers found and I felt inspired and rejuvinated.
Having already had a lovely zoom meeting with Elyn from Slow Progress Studio in Sheffield, whose quilting work I was already determined to stock, I could see the world of SHIREFOLK beginning to form.
The rest of the day was spent discovering wonderful makers, introducing SHIREFOLK and buying things for myself!
Everyone should go and see the art trail next year. What a joy.
After a nice glass of red in a local pub I made my way to Wardlow Mires Pottery festival. I have never seen so many beautifully made pieces under one roof! or... tent in this instance!
it was awash with talent from across the country showing thier makes. But there, nestled in amongst it all, was Rowena with her gorgeous pices with their basket imprinting which is what I fell immediately in love with. The history behind the technique, the texture and the colours. Simply divine.
What a glorious day.
And at the end of it, I felt that I had found the first four wonderful makers for SHIREFOLK that created the initial world perfectly and beautifully.
