40 Objects for 40 Years: A Craftspace Quilt Series by Stewart Francis Easton.
The quilts are on display at Midlands Arts Centre 14 February – 12 April 2026.
We will be telling the stories of the 40 objects over our 40th year, from March 2026.
Learn more about the story behind each object here and on social media.
To celebrate Craftspace’s 40th Anniversary, we commissioned visual story-teller Stewart Francis Easton to create a quilt series. The 40 objects depicted across the four quilts each play a vital part in telling our story of championing the power of craft to change lives and communities.
In this work, Stewart has combined traditional craft skills with digital media to highlight the forward-thinking nature of Craftspace. The quilts also celebrate our roots in traditional and historical making in the Midlands.
Clasped Hands (2016) – Shane Waltener
Safe Key (c. 1850) – E. Cotterill & Co.
Tea4Change teabag (2014) – Mahnaz
Hand-carved spoon – A Craftspace member of staff
We can’t stop the waves tile (2013) – Craft in Mind participant
The Custard Factory
Claire’s Coming Out Dress (2000) – Grayson Perry
Praxinoscope (2016) – Melanie Tomlinson and Maker-Centric participants
Shelanu’s Kiln
Swallow Brooch from Shelanu’s Migrating Birds jewellery range
4600 Gifts workshop set-up (2021-22)
Rangoli (2002-3) – Ranbir Kaur
Silver Rings (2019) – Participants from Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid
Potters’ wheel
Blessed Sculpture (2017) – Xavier White
Marching Ant Automata – Rachel Higgins
Torcher Chamber Arkestra (2016) – Carrie Fertig
Courage Medal (2020) – Alinah Azadeh
Gazebo
The Craftspace Library
Sod Off Badge (2004) – Somiya
Head Pots (2005) – Jon Williams
Yoruba Textiles: West African Cloth Culture touring exhibition (1992)
The Visitation (c.1986) – Michael Lord
Yarning podcast (2022-23) – Sara Fowles
The Flood (1988) – Ronald Pennell
Bella Julia (1996) – Karina Thompson
Bike-powered sewing machine (2012) – Harriet Riddell
Radical Craft: Alternative Ways of Making touring exhibition (2016-17), logo by Hyperkit
The BIG Calculator
Comments box (2016) – Juneau Projects, in response to Joanna Simpson’s Gum Nut Folk
Dr.h.c. Deirdre Figueiredo, MBE on the Fourth Plinth, London (2009)
Curious About Craft Bus (2010-11)
Biscuit tin
Mug (of tea) – James & Tilla Waters
Stewart Francis Easton making the quilts.
Find out more about Stewart Francis Easton
Stewart Francis Easton is an artist working in fibre, sculpture and paint. His work breaks the traditional boundaries of craft fusing together hand embroidery, sonic art, music and meditation. He uses bold colours, repetition and geometric abstract motifs and is inspired by folklore, folk art and counter cultures.
Stewart, who is originally from Coventry but now based in London, has worked with us a few times over the years and we were really excited to commission him to create a new artwork for our 40th anniversary.
Stewart has worked with Craftspace over many years:
“I feel that I am part of Craftspace’s story after successfully working with them on projects. The first being ‘Making Moves’ and the second ‘Gathering’. Craftspace has supported me from the beginning of my career through to the mid stage. I have garnered a wealth of experience since the early days of Making Moves and have successfully worked on projects both nationally and Internationally. Craftspace was one of the first organisations to support me and it helped propel me forward, I would like this opportunity to give something back.”
You can find out more about his work on Instagram @stewarteaston and on his website.