Craftspeople are the original upcyclers. The Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft exhibition held at Tent London showed off contemporary craft skill and the artisans’ expertise for transforming humble materials into nature-inspired masterpieces. From stunning life-like animals made from textiles to wood lasercut and steambent into new unexpected forms, keep reading for some of our favorites from the London Design Festival.


Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft, Etsy UK, Tent London, London Design Festival, London Design Festival 2015, Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus, Gladys Paulus, Spoons by The Silver Duck, Emily Jo Gibbs, Door to the Woods, Bailey Tomlin, Ikuko Iwamoto

Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus

No animals were harmed in the making of Gladys Paulus’ super-realistic creature heads – they’re made from felt! Paulus handcrafts the masks for theatrical productions, photo shoots, and videos. She makes them out of felt, a naturally strong, breathable, and water-repellant material, and cuts discreet eye-holes to allow actors to peer through the mask.

Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft, Etsy UK, Tent London, London Design Festival, London Design Festival 2015, Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus, Gladys Paulus, Spoons by The Silver Duck, Emily Jo Gibbs, Door to the Woods, Bailey Tomlin, Ikuko Iwamoto

Spoons by The Silver Duck

The handles of these silver spoons by The Silver Duck may look like controversial ivory, but they’re actually carved from the wood of local holly trees native to England.

Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft, Etsy UK, Tent London, London Design Festival, London Design Festival 2015, Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus, Gladys Paulus, Spoons by The Silver Duck, Emily Jo Gibbs, Door to the Woods, Bailey Tomlin, Ikuko Iwamoto

Still Life by Emily Jo Gibbs

London-based Emily Jo Gibbs sketches nature with stitches, using delicate hand-embroidery on layers of linen and organza.

Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft, Etsy UK, Tent London, London Design Festival, London Design Festival 2015, Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus, Gladys Paulus, Spoons by The Silver Duck, Emily Jo Gibbs, Door to the Woods, Bailey Tomlin, Ikuko Iwamoto

Japanese Clouds Lamp by Door to the Woods

The Japanese clouds table lamp by Door to the Woods is lasercut from FSC-certified birch plywood and produced in Wales.

Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft, Etsy UK, Tent London, London Design Festival, London Design Festival 2015, Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus, Gladys Paulus, Spoons by The Silver Duck, Emily Jo Gibbs, Door to the Woods, Bailey Tomlin, Ikuko Iwamoto

Dragonflies by Bailey Tomlin

London-based Bailey Tomlin’s incredibly detailed and realistic insects are made from textiles. These dragonflies and flies are crafted from silk, feathers and vintage threads.

Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft, Etsy UK, Tent London, London Design Festival, London Design Festival 2015, Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus, Gladys Paulus, Spoons by The Silver Duck, Emily Jo Gibbs, Door to the Woods, Bailey Tomlin, Ikuko Iwamoto

Stag Beetle Pin by Bailey Tomlin

Designer Bridget Bailey of London-based studio Bailey Tomlin transformed silk and metallic fiber into this stag beetle pin.

Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft, Etsy UK, Tent London, London Design Festival, London Design Festival 2015, Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus, Gladys Paulus, Spoons by The Silver Duck, Emily Jo Gibbs, Door to the Woods, Bailey Tomlin, Ikuko Iwamoto

Steam-Bent Baskets by Jane Crisp

Jane Crisp’s sculptural baskets showcase the textural qualities of natural materials, like steam-bent ash and handmade copper connectors, inspired by traditional boat-building fixings.

Etsy UK's Four Corners of Craft, Etsy UK, Tent London, London Design Festival, London Design Festival 2015, Animal Heads by Gladys Paulus, Gladys Paulus, Spoons by The Silver Duck, Emily Jo Gibbs, Door to the Woods, Bailey Tomlin, Ikuko Iwamoto

Biomorphic Ceramics by Ikuko Iwamoto

Ikuko Iwamoto’s weirdly wonderful ceramics are inspired by the natural world, like undersea creatures and microscopic organisms.

+ Etsy UK’s Four Corners of Craft

+ London Design Festival coverage on Inhabitat

Photos © Charlene Lam for Inhabitat