Our Project
At this moment in time, the project is in its developmental phase. The immediate focus is a community weaving retreat, proposed for summer 2025, which will serve as a trial run for a much larger vision: the creation of Stiwdio Pawb, a permanent creative studio space for adults in North Wales. The retreat will be used to explore interest, test participation levels, and assess the viability of hosting future events at Bryntysilio, while also gauging whether the centre itself sees potential in investing in this kind of offer long term.
Stiwdio Pawb is the ultimate goal, my ambition is to develop this into a small creative business rooted in community, collaboration, and well-being. The retreat is the first tangible step toward this. It will bring together traditional Welsh craft practices, local experts, and creative adults in a relaxed, hands-on environment. It’s both a prototype for the kind of events I want to run in the studio, and a practical step toward building interest, partnerships, and visibility.
Key collaborations have already been established to support both the practical delivery of the retreat and the theoretical grounding of Stiwdio Pawb. Lynne, a local sheep farmer, will supply fleece and share knowledge of traditional wool processing. I’ll be working with Cathy Wright (Lazy Kate Textiles) to learn how to transform fleece into yarn and fabric, a skill I’ll develop further during my Major Project semester. Veronika Ondrujova of Recreational Wardrobe CIC is offering insight into sustainability, marketing, and community-focused programming. Bryntysilio Outdoor Centre, where the retreat will be hosted, has expressed interest in supporting more creative workshops in the future.
My role is to coordinate these elements, bringing together local specialists and resources to design and deliver a meaningful community experience.
Site visit to Kitty's Laundrette
I visited Kitty's Laundrette to learn about how they include the community into everything they do. I also learn about how they run as a flat organisation.
Attended 7th Wardrobe Talk
During the 7th Wardrobe Talk which Veronika hosted, she discussed fabric compositions and we had an open discussion about fast fashion. There was also a pop up clothes swap.
Visit to Ruthin Craft Center
I visited Ruthin Craft Center to see an exhibition by a Welsh designer, Bethan M Hughes. Her work is similar to mine in that she uses text to form her art pieces. I also had a look around their studio spaces.
Guest Speaker at 8th Wardrobe Talk
Myself and my fellow MA students hosted the 8th Wardrobe Talk. I discussed the positive impacts being creative has on your mental wellbeing and we had an open discussion about this.
Attended a craft workshop at Alltogether Otherwise
I attended a stitching circle at Alltogether Otherwise in NOMA. This not only gave me insight into how these workshops run but also gave me primary research in the form of a case study for my dissertation.
Site visit to Lazy Kate Textiles
Along with Veronika, I visited Cathy at Lazy Kate Textiles in Liverpool. During this visit she agreed to teach me how to weave from fleece to final product and the idea was born that we would hold a retreat together.
Research & Process
My research began by visiting existing creative hubs such as Ruthin Craft Centre, DoES Liverpool, Ty Pawb in Wrexham, and Alltogether Otherwise in Manchester (where I also took part in a craft workshop). Each of these places helped me identify gaps in provision for adults and sparked ideas for what I’d like to offer. Ruthin’s studios are inspiring but expensive; DoES Liverpool leans toward tech; Ty Pawb is great for families but lacks a dedicated adult space; and Alltogether Otherwise was especially influential, showing how creativity can be made freely accessible to adults in a welcoming and relaxed setting.
I also visited Kitty’s Laundrette in Liverpool to explore how flat organisational structures work in practice. Their values: employing locally, recognising strengths, and sharing leadership, resonated deeply with me and are something I’d like to carry through into how Stiwdio Pawb eventually operates.
Alongside research, I’ve begun practical experimentation. I created a woven piece using cyanotype-printed fabric, which I entered into my local Eisteddfod and was awarded third place. This small but meaningful success has helped me feel confident in reconnecting with traditional processes. I’ve also visited Trefriw Woollen Mill to understand more about traditional Welsh weaving techniques and processes.
Cyanotype Weave entry to Eisteddfod 2025
I created a cyanotype print using the text from the Welsh song Yma O Hyd. I then cut the prints into strips and weaved them together using a traditional weave pattern.
Click to see
Site visit to Trefriw Woolen Mills
I visited the Trefriw Woolen Mill to see a traditional Welsh tapestry weaving process in action
Stiwdio Vision
Stiwdio Pawb will be a creative space designed with well-being, sustainability, and inclusivity in mind. I imagine it as an open, light-filled, and plant-filled studio with a calm indoor/outdoor flow, welcoming, relaxing, and designed to encourage adults to reconnect with creativity. Branding-wise, I’ve started developing a mood board of ideas that reflect a fresh, contemporary but grounded aesthetic. The tone is friendly, unfussy, and inspired by nature and community.
Next steps include a planning meeting with Cathy and Veronika in May to shape the retreat structure. From there, I’ll confirm details with Bryntysilio and begin developing branding, pricing, and promotional content. I’ll also speak to Lynne about fleece quantities, so we can determine attendee numbers.
The retreat will help me test out logistics, partnerships, and appetite for creative workshops in the region. Longer-term, the aim is to use this momentum to establish Stiwdio Pawb as a permanent creative business, a community-focused space for adults in North Wales to reconnect with making and with each other.
