Crafts Alive - Flowers and the Maker Collaboration - Cate Fox
During Crafts Alive eight Guild members are collaborating with local florists to create installations at Rodmarton Manor, reflecting the theme for this year's show, 'Flowers and the Maker'. Their displays recall the Flower Festival held at Rodmarton Manor in 1972.
Each collaboration celebrates the skills and creativity of the makers and florists. It showcases local and regional florists who practice sustainability at every stage of the process, a shared ethos of the Gloucestershire Guild.
Cate Fox is a textile artist creating detailed, considered embroidered pictures in the sampler tradition. Pictured is one of Cate's new pieces for Rodmarton. Called 'A page from the Gardening Book', it consists of hand embroidery on silk incorporating some surviving pages from an antique book, which was rescued from the bin, and salvaged fabrics and wire.
Cate is collaborating with florist Beth Bruce-Gardner, owner of Gloucestershire based Honeymoon Fern.
Taking colour inspiration from the splash of red in the curtains their three collaborative displays show different combinations of red, pink and orange. Cate has made a slipcover of fabric-covered card for each vase. The decoration of the slipcover is neutral in colour to empathise with the vivid shades of the flower arrangement by Beth and the decorative details are textured to add an extra dimension to the overall display. Shown against the dark background of the fireplace, they should really pop!
Beth's flowers are garden-grown or sourced from other local and British growers and has ethics and sustainability at the heart of her business, Honeymoon Fern, providing wedding and event flowers for local delivery.
Beth is running drop in workshops on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th September at Rodmarton, for people to join in making floral buttonholes and flower wands.
Find out more about Honeymoon Fern here
Crafts Alive is a five day festival of contemporary craft presented by the Gloucestershire Guild. Original work will be for sale, alongside guest exhibitors, demonstrations, workshops, talks and delicious locally made food and drink.
The festival runs from 10-14 September 2025 and tickets are available in advance or on the door. Read more here.