There are several parts to my research - finding real active DIY makers in the UK; finding real and virtual DIY craft communities in the UK and working out why they're there and what makes them tick; looking to see what isn't happening in the UK that could be (ie examples in other countries that haven't reached us yet); and - possibly trickiest of all - trying to define what DIY craft is.

There are some academic musings on this subject. I don't want to rely solely on them, as I think one of the qualities of DIY crafts is that it is real, happening and can be relevant to anyone's life - regardless of their academic or educational background. So for that reason part of me is loathed to institutionalise it as an academic discipline - it feels like taking away part of what DIY crafts is about. However, this is a research project and so intellectual or academic perspectives are valid and important contributors to my exploration. They are also a particularly useful starting point in the 'what is DIY craft' conundrum.

So with that in mind, here are some critical analyses I've found on the subject so far. If you come across any more please please please let me know, I would be ever so grateful, thanks.

Jean Burgess
'defining' vernacular activity

Mike Press
DIY Craft
Crafters of the World Unite 
Fine Craft Debate 
Inclusive Definitions

Liz Donald
Why Define?

Phoebe Connelly
Of Crafts and Causes

Matt Watson & Elizabeth Shove
Doing it yourself? Products, competence and meaning in the practices of DIY

Dennis Stevens
Redefining Craft for the 21st Century
and again

To all those listed above if you come across this blog - firstly huge thanks for giving me something meaty to think about; secondly big apologies for the shameful unacademic referencing system! I hope you will forgive me but this is a blog - a working document as it were, not a paper for submission. If you would prefer a more formalised reference just let me know how you would like to be credited and I will happily do so.

Just a quick note to flag up the next Leeds Craft Mafia / Pretty Crafty Things event on Friday 2nd Feb, 12-4pm at Leeds Metropolitan University Student Union. More details here

Thanks to Leeds Craft mafia www.leedscraftmafia.com for kick-starting the search for UK DIY crafts.

They run an indie crafts market - see www.prettycraftythings.co.uk

And pointed me to an online forum www.craftermath.co.uk

The Glasgow community is represented by the girls from www.misofunky.com

Dundee University is currently planning the ambitious and exciting www.newcraftfuturevoices.com conference with a great discussion thread on the site

And Bristol is home to www.thingsfromhere.co.uk

London brings www.castoff.info and Crafts Night at www.nottinghillartsclub.com which is created by www.lumin.org

Obvious gaps in the North East, South East, East, Midlands... and sadly my home town of Manchester and the NW in general (but not for long if I've got anything to do with it). If you know of anything in those areas let me know.

Of course I should mention stitch n bitch which is doing an amazing job of spreading like wildfire across the country www.stitchnbitch.co.uk

It's a short list but hopefully growing. I'll do the US list another day - its much longer! And I might attempt a list of publications at some point too.

I'm starting researching DIY crafts in the UK. If you're into that sort of thing, or know any UK DIY craft groups or UK DIY crafters please let me know.

And if you've seen any definitions of what DIY crafts is, or musings on this, please do share... or just send me your own definitions.

One day all this will come together into an exhibition and events project to spread the word (it would have come sooner but a baby has appeared and shifted my timetable somewhat!)

I'll try and keep an update of my research on the blog, I have loads of links and things already but just no time to put them in any order so far.

This round of 'official' research lasts Jan-March 07 but my all round obsession with the subject never ends...