2024: What a year it has been!

2024 has been a fantastic year at Ed’s Workshop. We haven’t written many blog posts as behind the scenes we have been busy with many exciting projects – so here’s a recap of some of our 2024 highlights.

New staff

This time last year Cath and Kim were delighted to welcome Jed, Jo and Danny as workshop supervisors. Jed, an independent metalsmith and former D&T teacher, has encouraged a creative flair in our makers and helped invaluably with design work. Jo, a local artist, woodworker and former D&T teacher, has particularly helped our makers produce high quality products with her artistic background and attention to detail. Danny, a pewter expert, has brought his many years of experience as a pewter tutor at Freeman College. Danny’s knowledge has enabled us to successfully manufacture with pewter, something our makers had been looking forward to for a long time!

In Spring we were joined by Chukwudi, Andy and Rae who work with some of our makers on a 1-1 basis providing expertise in CNC, woodwork and textiles respectively. All our new staff have been instrumental in broadening our combined skills and knowledge, enriching the support we can provide to our makers. Thank you all!

Things we’ve made

Many varied and exciting products have been made in our workshop this year. Our makers have worked with wood, pewter, textiles, resin, lasers, CNC machines, pyrographed and made jewellery! Alongside the opportunity to practice new skills, our makers have fulfilled a variety of customer orders. These range from personalised items such as a laptop bag, a beer caddy, and a wooden name jigsaw to bulk orders of Christmas decorations and engraved oak place cards for wedding guests.

Open days

This year we have seen around fifty people come through our doors on open days, and students from Freeman College come to the workshop for curated taster sessions. Those who attended had the opportunity to pour pewter, use the scroll saws and chat to our makers. These days have been an opportunity to network with our community and we have been hugely encouraged by the continued support of those around us.

Craft fairs

2024 marked the third year of our makers selling their products at Christmas craft fairs around Sheffield. The opportunity for our makers to sell their products is more than financial. It has shown our makers that their skills and products have value, fostering confidence in their abilities as skilled craftspeople. We are continually grateful to all those who have bought products or come by to say hello.

Our makers

The biggest highlight of the year is, of course, working with our wonderful makers. Ed’s Workshop is now made up of a vibrant community of seven craftspeople at different stages of their making journeys. We are fortunate that our makers are enthusiastic and generous in encouraging one another. They consistently endorse the kind and tolerant environment we are proud to have at Ed’s Workshop. We have enjoyed celebrating personal successes over the year and working with our makers to develop their exciting, and sometimes rather unconventional ideas. What a great year to be at Ed’s Workshop!