Anyone who's been to Electric Picnic knows that the music is only a part of the fun. A very large part, yes, but there's a lot more going on around the festival site.
That includes the Greencrafts Village, which is usually found tucked away near the food truck section, not far from the main stage, sheltered by a cove of trees. You'll normally find all sorts of weird and wonderful natural smells emanating from the area, so let your nose guide you if you need a breather from the Picnic pace.
This year, there are numerous craft workshops on offer in the area, which "celebrates and teaches the ancient techniques and crafts of our wilder forefathers." The area is open from 2pm to 6pm on Friday, and 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Some of the workshops on offer this year include:
WILLOW & FIBRE
Thatching (introduction): Munster Thatching
Hemp rope making: Heritage Crafts Alive
Willow sculptural animals, garden obelisks & woven baskets: Saille Baskets
Woven willow fruit & pooken baskets: Willow Basketry
Wattle & daub mini cottage (introduction): Newgrange Willow design
WOOD WORKING
Wooden carved plates & St Bridget crosses: Lawless Furniture
Carved wooden totems: Irish Wood & Clay
Green chair making (introduction): Green Leaf Furniture
STONE WORK
Slate mirror frames: Slate Craft
Slate carved wall hangings & coasters: Tom Pollard stonemason
METAL SMITHING
Blacksmithing hooks & bottle openers: David Lyons
Copper smithed leaves: Mark Wilson
Charcoal steel forged hooks, toasting forks & pokers: Kate the Blacksmith
Sculptural forms & silver jewellery using ancient metal folding techniques: Foldforming Fun
Sheet bronze cold forming & silver soldering: Divert Design
POTTERY
Potters kick wheel & raku wood kiln: Mud Workshops
TEXTILES
Woven St Bridgit Cross & God’s Eye: Stitchlily
Leather shoulder bags, belts & key-rings: The Craft Tangle
Leather belts & ogham key fobs: Celtic shoes
Rag rugs (introduction): Rags to Bitches
Knitting hats, bags, scarves & headbands: Knitting Ninjas
Dream catchers: Crystal Echoes
Weaving using tapestry frame/table looms: Grennan Mill Craft School
Bags & belts made using crochet & macrame: Lost & Found
Felt making juggling balls & decorative animals: Emma’s Feltworks
JEWELLERY MAKING
Copper pendants : Creative Copper
Silver & copper earrings, pendant & rings: Forgotten Silver
Blacksmith forged jewellery: 9 Ironscraft
Necklace, bracelets, head-bands & belts using braiding, crochet & macrame: Lost & Found
Fabric head-dress & flower broaches: Rags to Bitches
Slate carved pendants: Slate Craft
Leather wristbands & hair-slides: The Craft Tangle
Leather celtic knot work bracelets: Celtic Shoes
Up-cycled plastic broaches & hair clips: Knitting Ninjas
Rings & bangles using bronze & cutlery: Divert Design
Head garlands & love knots using willow: Newgrange Willow Design
COSMETICS
Organic soap making: Candella
You can book the workshop with each individual stall on the day. See greencrafts.ie for more.
