Makers of East London (Hoxton Mini Press)

In 2015, Katie Treggiden was commissioned by Hoxton Mini Press to write a book about the maker movement in the East of London. The result is a beautiful hardback publication with photography by Charlotte Schreiber, a foreword by the Crafts Council‘s creative director Annie Warburton, a 2,000 word introduction providing historical context and thoughts on the future, and 27 first person accounts of making in the capital. The book was well reviewed by publications including Elle Decoration, Crafts Magazine, The Evening Standard and The Observer, while Nigel Slater described it as ‘heartwarming,’ but the best feedback of all has been this: ‘I was working every hour of the day in a crazy stressful job, all the while dreaming of a simpler life, when I read your book, which finally tipped me over the edge. Within a couple of months my wife and I had both quit our jobs and, with new-born babe in hand, we left Hackney for the middle of nowhere, where we eventually set up our own brand, Feldspar. I now spend most days in what is essentially a garden shed, radio on, just making things and being eternally grateful for what has been the decision of a lifetime. So I just wanted to say thank you.’ – Jeremy Brown, Feldspar.