All items by Hyrstcraft

Practical items for the modern world, made with historically inspired materials and methods.

Hi! I'm Eleanor. I've always loved history, and I've always loved making things, and eventually I worked out how to bring them together. I use traditional tools and methods to make plastic-free, historically inspired items, ranging from modern slimline cardwallets to medieval belt pouches for use in reenactment and living history. Researching historical items and using methods passed down through the ages makes me feel connected to craftspeople from centuries gone by.

During my degree in Illustration & later my MA in Animation, I focused on making physical items which interacted with the real world, which gave me years of practical skills in design & manufacture. Despite moving on to work with leather and natural materials, I do still keep some handmade stop-motion puppet armatures in stock. These are made from steel, aluminium and a tiny amount of formable plastic. I know how expensive it is to be an animation student, and I feel strongly about keeping these available to budding animators!

I work out of the back bedroom of my house in the North West of England. I have two cats called Bernie & Ollie who are not helpful at all to the creative process but great entertainment.