Herts &amp; Beds


<p>If you love to craft and discover gorgeous handmade objects for your home, to wear and to give as gifts, then you’ll want to check out the ultimate craft-lovers fair coming to Hatfield Park from <strong>Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 May</strong>, <a href="https://www.livingcrafts.co.uk/">Living Crafts</a>. Here&#8217;s why you should book!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/living-crafts-food-van-1000x1000.jpg" alt="people in the sunshine by a food and drink van" class="wp-image-77196" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/living-crafts-food-van-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/living-crafts-food-van-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/living-crafts-food-van-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/living-crafts-food-van-524x525.jpg 524w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/living-crafts-food-van-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/living-crafts-food-van-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/living-crafts-food-van.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Soaking up the atmosphere</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Shop from independent crafters </h2>



<p>Living Crafts is handmade heaven – a one-stop creative shop and fabulous fair that celebrates and showcases the amazing talent of acclaimed designer-makers from across the UK.&nbsp;You&#8217;ll have the chance to buy unique pieces for your home and garden, created using both innovative contemporary skills and traditional heritage crafting techniques. You can even commission a special personal piece at the show.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2073" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-crafts-Carl-Austin-Rocking-chair.jpg" alt="Wooden garden rocking chair by Carl Austin " class="wp-image-77190" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-crafts-Carl-Austin-Rocking-chair.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-crafts-Carl-Austin-Rocking-chair-579x800.jpg 579w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-crafts-Carl-Austin-Rocking-chair-724x1000.jpg 724w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-crafts-Carl-Austin-Rocking-chair-1111x1536.jpg 1111w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-crafts-Carl-Austin-Rocking-chair-1482x2048.jpg 1482w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-crafts-Carl-Austin-Rocking-chair-380x525.jpg 380w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Rocking Chair, Carl Austin</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Watch craftspeople at work </h2>



<p>Not only will you be able to buy from the talented artists and makers at Living Crafts, you&#8217;ll be able to see them in action &#8211; glassblowing, hand throwing in clay, stone carving, metalworking and more. Check out the Living History display where there’ll be demos of longbow making and leatherwork, enjoy meeting the makers and hearing their stories. Don’t miss the Masterclass Pavilion and watch experts in stonecarving, stained glass, ceramics and upholstery.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Ceramics-by-anja-living-crafts.jpg" alt="Ceramics by Anja living crafts" class="wp-image-83656" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Ceramics-by-anja-living-crafts.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Ceramics-by-anja-living-crafts-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Ceramics-by-anja-living-crafts-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Ceramics-by-anja-living-crafts-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ceramics by Anja</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Try a workshop</h2>



<p>And if you&#8217;re itching to have a go too, the good news is, you can! Just make sure you book one of the dozens of workshops on offer. Get stuck in and create your own masterpiece to take home with you, (and maybe even spark a new hobby!). There&#8217;s something for everyone from Raku firing, enamelling and spoon carving to clay sculpture, willow weaving, block printing and silversmithing. There are child-friendly workshops and activities too, so make it a whole family day out. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-Crafts-workshop-blockprinting-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Two women doing block printing at Living Crafts fair" class="wp-image-77192" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-Crafts-workshop-blockprinting-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-Crafts-workshop-blockprinting-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-Crafts-workshop-blockprinting-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-Crafts-workshop-blockprinting-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-Crafts-workshop-blockprinting-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-Crafts-workshop-blockprinting-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/Living-Crafts-workshop-blockprinting.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A block printing workshop</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-4-celebrate-50-years-of-living-crafts">4. Celebrate 50 years of Living Crafts </h2>



<p>To mark this anniversary milestone in style, there&#8217;ll be a &#8216;Fifty Fabulous Years&#8217; Special Showcase Pavilion and fabulous live music creating a vibrant seventies&#8217; festival atmosphere. Plus, for the first time you can get your hands on a four-day festival pass to make the absolute most of the show and the incredible range of British Crafts on offer. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/hippy-canva.jpg" alt="Hippies doing peace sign" class="wp-image-83657" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/hippy-canva.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/hippy-canva-800x533.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Explore the grounds</h2>



<p>Tickets to Living Crafts also include admission to the award-winning gardens surrounding the Jacobean Hatfield House. Take the free shuttle bus over to the West Gardens and enjoy a walk around the beautiful parkland &#8211; there&#8217;ll be hourly tours. Plus you can visit the Old Palace (once the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth I) for a small supplementary charge. Or, just pull up a picnic blanket and soak up the festival-style atmosphere over some tasty food from the artisan fayre in the Food and Drink Pavilion and live music. The choice is yours!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="583" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/Hatfield-Park-Living-Crafts.jpg" alt="Hatfield Park" class="wp-image-69949" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/Hatfield-Park-Living-Crafts.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/Hatfield-Park-Living-Crafts-800x466.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/herts/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/04/Hatfield-Park-Living-Crafts-900x525.jpg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hatfield Park</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-here-s-everything-you-need-to-know-about-going-to-living-crafts-nbsp">Here’s everything you need to know about going to Living Crafts:&nbsp;</h2>



<p><strong>Dates and location:</strong>&nbsp;10am – 5pm on Thursday 9 – Sunday 12 May  (10am &#8211; 5pm) 2024 at Hatfield Park, Hatfield, Herts AL5 5AB.</p>



<p><strong>Ticket prices:</strong> Advance tickets: £12 (adult), £10 (senior), £6 (child). On the day tickets: £14 (adult), £12 (senior), £8 (child). On the day four-day festival pass: £24 (adult), £20 (senior). <a href="https://www.livingcrafts.co.uk/lc/tickets" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Book here</a> or call 02392 863871. </p>



<p><strong>How to book a workshop</strong>: Some workshops are drop-in sessions on the day, while others can be pre-booked at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.livingcrafts.co.uk/lc/workshops">Living Crafts</a>.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Inside or outside and how do you get there?</strong></p>



<p>The event takes place in large pavilions on the show ground and there are plenty of places to sit and relax. Hatfield Park is a beautiful setting and easy to find. The event is fully signposted, or just pop AL5 5AB into your sat nav.&nbsp;</p>



<p><strong>Want to win one of 5 pairs of tickets to Living Crafts on a day of your choice? <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C6GnlbONeJQ/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Head to our Instagram to enter</a>!</strong></p>


5 reasons to book Living Crafts at Hatfield Park

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