WYTHNOS PEDWAR DEG WYTH - week fourty eight

21/07/25

This week I went on a self-directed research trip through West and South Wales, combining creative exploration with camping and nature. It began on Tuesday with a 3 hour drive to the National Wool Museum and let me tell you, it was well worth it! I was amazed it was free to enter (and park), especially considering how well laid out and rich in history it was. I was in my element.

One of the highlights was chatting with a woman outside who was spinning yarn, she told us about the Giant Knitted Cardigan community project in Cardigan, which her mum had contributed to. Inside, we explored the old looms and machinery, and I particularly enjoyed the small textile exhibition, it really got my mind buzzing with ideas for what I could produce in the future, especially after I learn to weave.

Next, we visited the Hiut Denim Company in Cardigan. I’d emailed ahead about a factory tour but hadn’t received a clear answer, so I took a chance and popped in, and I’m so glad I did! I met Callie, a product designer who was kind enough to give me a full tour of the factory. We chatted about my MA project, and she generously gave me a big bag of denim scraps to experiment with. She even said I could email if I needed more. Her warmth and openness left me feeling genuinely inspired. Afterwards, we found the giant cardigan in the town, wandered the shops, grabbed some lunch, and headed to our campsite for the night.

The next morning, we visited Melin Tregwynt, which I was really looking forward to. But to be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed, especially after the richness of the Wool Museum. It was mainly one room with newer looms that didn’t require manual operation. It was still valuable to see, but I realised how spoilt I’d been with previous experiences at Melin Trefriw.

Of course, in between all of this, we enjoyed some stunning walks, beaches, and sweet treats, including pizza by the campfire and hot chocolate with marshmallows! I loved being able to blend camping and creativity, it really brought all my passions together. I even made time to paint a few more watercolour moons and created cyanotype prints on the last of my treated fabric.

On the final morning, we were heading to St Fagans for the Makers Market when I spotted a sign for a Weaving Centre. Naturally, we had to stop. It didn’t open until 10am, so we strolled along the shore and waited. Inside was a quirky little shop run by a lovely woman who sold me a weaving starter kit, an A5 loom, a cardboard loom, and some wool. She also invited me to contribute to a community weaving piece, where each visitor adds a row and writes in a book to share their story. I adored this idea and would love to adapt something similar in Stiwdio Bach. We chatted over a pot of tea and freshly baked Welshcakes, it was one of those simple, special moments.

Then it was off to St Fagans, which absolutely exceeded my expectations. I went mainly to see the Makers Market but ended up exploring so much more. The exhibitions on Wales’ past, present, and future, its language, culture, and diversity were incredibly moving. I especially loved the immersive historical buildings and, of course, the weaving shed. That’s where I met Dewi, who was spinning wool on a giant machine and kindly shared advice about joining spinning guilds for local mentorship. He even gave me a piece of freshly carded fleece to practice with.

The Makers Market itself was beautiful, so many Welsh crafts and textiles, from photography to blankets and embroidered tees. I even had a go on a pottery wheel using air-dry clay, something I’ve wanted to try for ages but hadn’t due to the cost. It was such a joy, and since then, I’ve bought some clay to experiment with hand-building techniques at home.

We ended the trip with a tired but content 3-hour drive back home. I felt completely inspired, excited, and yes, bloody knackered!

Throughout the week, I felt deeply grateful for the opportunity to explore, for the generosity of the people I met, and for how this trip combined all the things I love: creativity, nature, heritage, and community. Meeting people like Callie and Dewi reminded me how kind and supportive the creative world can be.

I was energised by the hands-on experiences of weaving, painting, clay and felt drained only when I had to sit behind the computer working with AI prompts for the Stiwdio Bach visuals. While I love what AI can generate, it’s just not a creative process that brings me joy.

I also felt a little unsure about whether I had done enough in terms of a final project outcome. I don’t have one perfect “thing” to show for it, but I need to keep assuring myself that that’s OK. This experience is the work, the learning, the connections, the making and that feels far more important.

This trip confirmed that I’m a hands-on creative person. I thrive when I’m physically making, moving, and connecting with people. That’s something I need to remember when thinking about the future of Stiwdio Bach. I don’t want to be the person behind a computer all day; I want to be involved in the doing, not just the planning.

The weaving centre’s community project and Dewi’s advice also helped me think more practically about building creative community, simple things like shared projects, storytelling, and finding mentors. These are all things I can bring into Stiwdio Bach.

On the flip side, I’ve recognised that digital tools like AI have their place, but they drain my energy. This is a good reminder that I may need to collaborate with someone more tech-savvy when it comes to managing digital platforms for my studio.

This week’s experiences link beautifully to the core themes of my MA: Welsh heritage, creative well-being, and community engagement. It’s deepened my appreciation for traditional crafts, and it’s reinforced my desire to make those skills more accessible locally.

It also ties into my research and future goals around developing Stiwdio Bach as a CIC, rooted in local creative opportunities. The conversations, spaces, and even the little surprises (like the weaving project or the pottery wheel) have shown me just how powerful simple, hands-on engagement can be and how important it is to make space for that in community settings.

Action Plan (for Final Week of the Course)

• Finish the Stiwdio Bach strand

• Finalise the Funding Application Template

• Finalise Business Proposal

• Complete Semester One Portfolio - Decide whether to design a garment based on my trip (if I have time) or let the research trip be the output. Trust that what I’ve done is enough – even if it’s not perfectly polished.