Celebrating the best southwest craft and designer-makers
Friday 28th - Sunday 30th November 2025
Meet the Makers
Crux Craft Fair is an amazing chance to discover the craft and story behind the beautiful products you'll take home. Hear a little more from a selection of our designer-makers who will be joining us at Crux 2022 - and get ready to be inspired!
Jodie Crook-Giles Ceramics
Proud owner of (possibly) the World’s Smallest Pottery Shop, Jodie creates contemporary wheel-thrown ceramics in the MEGA Shed.
“Simplicity, quality, connection and beauty
to enrich your day. That’s my creative philosophy. I bring inspiration from the moors and river Dart where I swim every day into my work.
"The first thing I ever made
was a bowl, it was terrible. I gave it to my mum and she treasured it and always wanted me to do more pottery. When she died a few years ago, I used her inheritance to build my studio. Her short life reminds me to make the most of mine by doing things I love. I still have the bowl to remind me this is a practice, it's only by doing the work and endless repetition that you can improve your skill and make things that are worthy of firing.
"I’m always learning and improving
and that makes me happy. I’m excited to be bringing my dinner plate to Crux. It looks like the simplest thing, but getting it right is the most technical of challenges.
"During past craft fairs, I’ve met people who've visited the World's Smallest Pottery Shop, bought something, and given me feedback like: 'I use your mug every day and it's my favourite'. There’s no feeling like it!”
Sabine Schmidt Pottery
Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, Sabine creates pure tableware and clay art that celebrate the beauty of imperfection.
"I love working with hand, mind and intuition. Being part of an old craft tradition, almost as old as humankind. A craft that has barely changed over centuries and still leaves space to be adjusted to contemporary designs.
"My first wheel-thrown object was this rustic, wonky, innocent pot (image bottom left). There was no knowledge or control. I was just trying to keep the clay on the wheel head. However, this pot has been the guiding light throughout my journey with clay. Eight years later, I am still trying to recreate some of this innocent energy in every piece I make. If I could just keep one of my pots, this would be the one.
"I find
creativity, connectedness, simplicity, centredness, solitude, and joy
in observing the structures of nature. The Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi inspires much of my work, especially my Grey Coincidence and clay Art lines, whose one-of-a-kind pieces explore transience, imperfection, and impermanence through a total commitment to raw artistry.
"It’s wonderful and inspiring to meet other makers and to celebrate the making of unique handmade crafts together with visitors. The joy of meeting the people who give your work a new home. The space and service created by the Crux team is such a vivid space that welcomes people in a friendly, personal way – not to forget the great food being served."
Cadogan Cardigans
From her home studio in north-west Devon, Sophie finds inspiration for her handmade knitwear from her garden and surrounding countryside.
“Nature and the countryside feature frequently in my designs. Bees are very prominent in my needle-felted mittens and mufflers but flowers, toadstools, acorns and all sorts of other flora and fauna make their way into my designs. I find a real joy in clashing bright colours together in certain ways. This and the flowing, natural lines of my designs are also influenced by my love of nature.
"Growing up, my father gave me a sense of self-sufficiency and confidence doing DIY and other practical stuff. So I’ve always made clothes as far back as I can remember. From this background, I created Cadogan Cardigans. Although I still spend a lot of time doing DIY - and not just the small stuff either. I'm very proud of the fact that I reroofed a section of our house during lockdown. It just seemed a good use of my time.
"It's so nice to get back to craft shows since lockdown, especially Christmas at Crux - always such a wonderful and friendly fair. Working from home means I don't mix with other people very much and that's fine a lot of the time. But when I do a show, I really enjoy meeting old and new friends, catching up with other makers, being inspired by other people's creations and getting feedback on my own designs.

"Seeing my knitwear actually on people and all the different shapes, sizes, colours, hairstyles etc, really helps me see what I'm getting right and of course what I'm getting wrong. I can then go back to my home studio and consider how to improve the design. There’s a wren that often nests in the bush outside my window and I can often hear her singing while I knit."
Niamh Geraghty-Morris Art
Often found walking her dog along the river Teign, Niamh’s work is a contemplation on ecology and our relationship with our environment.
"My work is a response to my surroundings - Dartmoor, the edges of the River Teign, Devon hedgerows, my overgrown garden, an endless list. I work by sketching, photographing and collecting small reminders of my walks so that when I’m back in my studio I can recreate the landscape in my work.
"My studio is a lovely room in my house that gets the late morning/early afternoon sun and overlooks the very wild garden. As it has the original sash windows with very thin Victorian glass I can hear the birds as if I’m outside and on blustery days hear the sea.
"Crux is a time to share stories, connect with artists and craftspeople and art and craft lovers and be part of a community. Crux is a real celebration of craft, the rich experience of shopping small, being surrounded by gorgeous things, eating wonderful food, having a beautiful day out and finding gifts made with love for people you love.
"I have always worked with my hands, from as young as I can remember, as a child making my own clothes for me and my dolls, painting wooden beads using the tiniest brushes, covering anything and everything with glitter. I just adore craft and am so lucky to spend my days doing what I love…"
Julia Crimmen Ceramics
After her little ceramic rabbits were spotted by the owner of a gallery, Julia got her first commission - and 12 years later she’s never looked back!
"My garden studio is a beautiful bright space. There’s nowhere better to sit with the radio on working at the table. I have a beautiful wooden dresser which once lived in my Granny’s kitchen, along with the kitchen scales I use for weighing my clay. I’d love her to see how I’m using it now. I think of her often when I’m working.
"The very first thing I made and sold were some little rabbits. I made some for my daughters at Easter about 12 years ago. A friend who runs a local gallery saw them and offered to sell them in her shop. Julia Crimmen Ceramics just expanded from there!
"I really enjoy taking part in craft fairs
and meeting old friends and new to talk all things craft. It’s opened up such a lovely friendly community to me. I was made so welcome at Crux last year, I can’t wait to join you all again.
"I can’t imagine not making.
The great thing about pottery is that
it’s so varied. There’s never a chance to be bored. The time flies by when I’m making and before I know it, the day has gone! Even when I go away on holiday, after a few days my hands feel a bit twitchy and I can’t wait to get home and in the shed again! It’s a bit of an addiction."
Amanda Critchlow
From her light-filled garden studio, Amanda makes useful and beautiful items that bring pleasure and connection to people.
"I’m inspired by the colour combinations, shapes and patterns in many things around me; naturally occurring or impromptu juxtapositions. I look, take a mental note, digest, assimilate and then create.
"One of the first things I can remember making was a bag I embroidered at junior school. It has a daisy I was so proud of, and other flowers, in the centre and concentric patterns surrounding it. I still have it tucked away somewhere. And I am still making bags.
"Creating with my hands the things I have imagined in my head and felt in my heart, brings me so much joy. I believe that creativity nurtures the soul and that has to be a good thing! I love all the pieces I make and know that they will become somebody’s favourite in the future.
"I love the direct contact with people at craft fairs. I am able to see their
reactions to the things I have made and share techniques or inspiration. Crux is very close to my heart because I have been involved with it since it started over 25 years ago. It is always a pleasure when people return each year and will often pull out a purse or show me a bag they bought from me a year or two, or more, ago and tell me how much they love it"
Penny Little Ceramics
Creating light-filled ceramics with head, heart and hands, Penny combines the fine qualities of porcelain with the joyful reflection and glamour of gold and platinum.
"I am inspired by natural forms, especially the sea. I love asymmetry. I like to give the clay an opportunity to show me what it wants to say. I enjoy the way a shape can create something hard to capture such as a splash or a wave.
"The first thing I ever made was like a little broken eggshell. I made it in stoneware and I remember thinking that above all I wanted to get it as thin as possible - a hard thing to do with that particular clay. It was a thin fragile broken bowl and I knew I wanted to fill it with light so I put some gold leaf inside but it didn’t give me the effect I was looking for. I soon began working in porcelain and then I discovered lustre. After a great deal of experimentation to get the lustre to go off properly in the ancient kiln someone very kindly gave me - I never looked back.
"I started out making little bowls and I still love to make them. I particularly love my Duo - a combination of two bowls, one lined in gold and one in
platinum. They sit inside each other like a sculpture and create the most wonderful shadows and reflections. They really are two in one as they can be paired like this or enjoyed separately.
"I feel privileged to be a maker.
I love the connection and joy that handmade crafts bring to all of us. There is a moment when someone picks up a piece of my work and puts into in their palm, in the same place that I made it in mine, that, just for a second, my hand goes into their hand and we are connected through creativity and touch. This makes my heart sing."
Making Space To Make
Creating long-lasting products using time-honoured skills, Jenny loves using a traditional craft to connect with our cultural heritage.
"I find inspiration in
the textures and colours of the willows
themselves, their natural environment, the seasons and many things in between. After moving to Devon 18 years ago, I found willow growing in my garden. I was fascinated by it’s flexibility and set about playing and learning.
"My aim has always been to
use natural and sustainable materials
to create beautiful, long-lasting products. I have a wonderful cabin in my garden for weaving on wet or cold days but more often than not I work outdoors in the garden.
"I’m generally
fascinated by the cultural differences
in how baskets are made and used. Getting the chance to chat ‘willow’ with interested visitors is one of the best parts of taking part in craft events. I often hear stories of baskets that have been passed along a family line and love hearing how they connect generations and carry memories.
"I’m excited to share my Zarzo baskets and asymmetrical baskets, both
tread a lovely line between sculptural yet functional
and are a joy to make. Working with willow offers endless possibilities to combine traditional techniques with contemporary applications. I love playing a part in ensuring this wonderful and sustainable craft remains an exciting part of our cultural heritage."
ELFN
Taking inspiration from the small details found in wild places, Sophie seeks to connect back to ancient ways to create beauty in the modern world.
"I love felt-making. The ancient, magical process
of combining wool and plant fibres, through a process of water, friction and shrinking, to create their own textile has always held a thrilling sense of mystery to me. I also love using a technique that I know has been used by generations for hundreds of years to create fabric.
"I apprenticed and learnt to make felt in Switzerland
with felt maker Sophie Prieur. Learning my trade creating pieces for Couture Italian designers - bags and textiles for Fendi, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace and others. At the time, I was a painter making textural abstract art and so I made and exhibited a collection of my paintings out of felt. From there, I moved on to making wearable art and clothing in a drive to make art that was more practical!
"I’m usually inspired by a wild walk
that I have taken on a beach, looking at a winter sea and stormy sky or in the woods and the textures of a rock. The
shawls that I create emulate these unique patterns, each simple piece is like a painting with fibres.
"I love meeting people who have
a genuine interest in the handmade process
and appreciate the craft behind the things they buy. I also love meeting makers of other crafts - having developed a bit of an obsession with handmade bowls!"
Penny Carter Glass
Exploring bright, transparent and opaque colour combinations, Penny uses traditional bead making techniques with a twist.
"My inspirations are always changing. I’m currently exploring the colourful curvy Gaudi architecture and the wonderful cacti of Barcelona. I also love the reflections of opaque boats on moving water, both transparent colours and opaque interplaying.
"I’m very lucky that my workshop is a stone's throw away from the Yealm Estuary. It used to be a forge and has beautiful stone walls and a northern light. Visits are very welcome on weekdays.
"Back in the 80s, I
went to Plymouth Art College to do glass blowing. The first piece I made was a very wonky perfume bottle. Funnily enough, I’ve made a few very quirky perfume bottles with very Gaudi-esque stoppers for Crux this year, so it feels like I’ve come full circle.
"I’m also looking forward to bringing
the 'spot the difference' earrings. They are made in pairs but are not the same… By reversing the colour the earrings appear quite different and yet a pair. I really enjoy helping people choose the right piece for them, colour changes so much from person to person."
Another Shed Production
Without machines or power tools of any kind, Jane creates handmade, practical products that take you on a journey.
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"Living on the coast, our world
revolves around the sea for pleasure, work and well-being. I love incorporating materials in my work that spark conversation. For example, my belts have a huge backstory. From diving for the shipwreck metal to forging the buckles, hand crafting the leather and finally fitting to its new owner. They’re without a doubt my fave!
"My forge is in my garden and
I recently upgraded from the shed to the luxury of a converted garage for my leatherwork. Ultimately, it’s just me in the forge with a few, traditional tools. Unique products, traditional skills and unusual materials make products that take you on a journey.
"I’m looking forward to being back at Crux,
this will be my fourth time exhibiting. It just has the best vibe. The visitors are seeking high-quality and unusual work, and want to spend time talking about the stories behind the product. It’s also lovely to catch up with fellow makers."
Beverly Beeland
Inspired by the natural world, Beverly’s crafts hand built ceramics and carved wood sculptures from her garden studio workshop.
"I like making things that are
good to hold, look at and have in your home. Like many makers, I am inspired by the natural world around me but also by the materials themselves and what I can do with them. I just love making things and can't imagine not being able to do that.
"I have always loved making and building things
(Lego and train sets stand out in my mind). I often got craft sets for Christmas and very early I knew I wanted to go to art school. I did a one year foundation course to start with and that was the beginning of my designer-maker journey.
"Crux is my favourite craft fair to take part in. It's not too big like many fairs can be and the timing is perfect. Meeting the visitors and returning customers is always great and I know a lot of the other stall holders so it's good to see them and any new work they have to show.
"I’m looking forward to
bringing my carved oak hares
to Crux. They hang on the wall and always catch people’s eye. This year, I’m also bringing a new range of ceramics so it will be a whole new look."
The Dartmoor Soap Co.
Sophie started The Dartmoor Soap Company after failing to find a soap that soothed her baby son’s eczema.
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“The first thing I made was a simple, unscented soap.
It was made with natural ingredients and local beeswax. No parabens. No palm oil. No SLS. And that was the start of my business. My son was my original inspiration but he continues to be an inspiration - I’ve recently expanded my novelty range to feature our family favourites: Shaun the Sheep and Bertie the Bee.
"My range of natural soaps and skincare now includes things for adults too. As we approach Christmas, one of my favourites is the natural reed diffusers. This year, I’m so excited to share our new ones - Ginger Spice, Cinnamon & Apple
and my personal favourite, Magnolia.
"I love exhibiting at Crux. There’s nothing like
connecting one-to-one with your customers. There’s also the comradery between exhibitors. Working alone in your studio can be quite isolating so it’s lovely to be able to get together with like-minded creative influences and catch up on the highs and
lows of the year.
"Every single stall at Crux is bound to be amazing. One of the best things about the whole weekend is that you can complete your Christmas shopping list for the entire family in just 3 days!"
The Kitchen Table
The Crux Cafe will once again be run by The Kitchen Table serving local, ethical, seasonal and creative food.
"The Kitchen Table was founded on
a love of food, a passion for the environment and a desire to be part of a local economy
that supported other small businesses. We’ve been running the Crux Cafe since 2017 and it’s always delightful.
"We love that it's a vegetarian cafe and
that we can make food that people love. So many customers comment on the variety of choices for vegan and gluten-free options - that brings me joy! I love chatting with customers and seeing their lovely purchases :) It's also so different from what we normally do - this is a fab chance for us to make everything we want to make!
"I love hearing the feedback from customers and the
opportunity to showcase our beautiful baking and creative, seasonal flavours. Look out for the cakes this year. Alice, my main cake baker loves making a huge variety of choices including dairy free, gluten-free & vegan options.
"We can all achieve great things when we collaborate creatively and that’s why we love being part of such a fab event."