Well it’s all going on up north. We really are spoilt for choice. This weekend you can shop for crafts and gifts, as well as vintage clothing from 1920 to 1989. Head over to Emmanuel Hall, Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury Village.
What: Didsbury Vintage and Craft Fair
When: Saturday 31 October 2009
Where: Emmanuel Hall, Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury Village M20 6TR (behind Didsbury Library)
More Info: www.kennedyandmccall.com
Call for applications: 2009 BUST Christmas Craftacular at York Hall, Bethnal Green, London. December 12.
The BUST Craftacular returns to deck York Hall with boughs of holly for an extra-special seasonal shopping bonanza featuring the hottest craft talent alongside DJs, drinks and dancing.
From 12pm until 7pm, shoppers can browse hundreds of the best in handmade gifts and essential accessories - from handbags and homewares to jewellery, clothing and cards - then sit down to tea and cake or prop up the bar before learning some DIY skills.
Following the success of the August event, which Time Out London called ‘the summer’s biggest craft event’, BUST Magazine will be hand-picking over 55 of the most unique and talented crafters to attend.
Click here for more information about the BUST London Christmas Craftacular.
A vendor table costs £70. The deadline for Applications is November 6, 2009.
From Spinning Fields to Salford, Manchester shoppers are spoilt for choice when it comes to Christmas shopping. On 26th November the makers at Islington Mill will throw open its doors and tempt you with a choice of ceramics, furniture, jewellery, accessories, art, printmaking and photography. Their annual Christmas Craft Fair will run from 5 ’til 9 and you’re all invited.
As well as shopping for contemporary crafts you can enjoy festive food and drink, while being serenaded with live seasonal music.
What: Islington Mill Contemporary Christmas Craft Fair
When: 26th November 2009, 5 – 9 pm
Where: Islington Mill, James Street, Salford, M3 5HW
More Info: www.islingtonmill.com
The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair has changed. And how! It’s now located in Hardman Boulevard, Spinningfields and its new swanky surroundings suit it well. We went along to last night’s launch and were greeted with wine, music and 140 talented designer-makers. I could have spent a fortune. (And probably will when I go back over the weekend without my husband.) But one thing that hasn’t changed is the quality of work on display. Once again the panel of craft experts has come up trumps, with a selection of some of the most innovative and influential makers from around the UK.
As far as I’m aware this is only event of its kind in the north of England, where stallholders can showcase their work, talk to trade and sell directly to the public. If you do nothing else this weekend, go along to Spinningfields. And take a big shopping bag.
For more information on the event and exhibitors check out the Great Northern website at www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk.
Pictures:
Hope and Benson (pic 1, top left and pic 3)
www.hopeandbenson.com
Ingrid Wagner Big Knitting - Rug & Art Creation (pic 1, top right, pics 4 and 5)
www.ingridwagner.com
Hannah Nunn (pic1, bottom left)
www.radiancelighting.co.uk
Sarah Ellenbogen (pic 1, bottom right)
www.ticktockceramicclocks.com
Ruth Green (pic 2)
www.ruthgreendesign.com
Event Details:
Friday 23rd October 11.00am - 8.30pm
Saturday 24th October 10.00am - 6.00pm
Sunday 25th October - 10.00am - 5.00pm
Entrance Fee:
£5 on the door (£4 concessions)
Directions:
Hardman Boulevard, Manchester, M3 3AQ
(Head past Carluccio’s Restaurant and towards the River Irwell)
November 14th and 15th from 10am to 5pm - Free Entry
Coventry Transport Museum is very proud to host the 2nd Christmas Craft fair.
We have a wide range of local handmade items on show in a welcoming festive atmosphere, including portrait artists, jewellery, cards and cakes and much more.
Buying from local artists and crafts people has significantly less impact on the environment than the mass produced imported goods we often see for sale. So what better reason could you want to purchase some beautiful unique gifts or treat yourself?
We also have various workshops and demos to get your creative juices flowing.
Some comments from last year’s happy stall holders and customers:
“The craft fair had a lovely atmosphere.”
“Great selection of stalls.”
“It was very well organised and very professional.”
“We will be back next year, lovely event.”
Here are some of our makers’ websites:
Ella Louise Designs - www.ellalouisdesigns.com (top left)
Corinna Reynolds - http://corinna2.etsy.com (top right)
Hole Button Jewellery - www.hole-buttonjewellery.co.uk (above)
For further information please visit www.transport-museum.co.uk.
Time for a another ‘Day in the Life of’. This time we follow Chrissie King - milliner, mother, wife, shop owner and champion juggler.
Getting Up
My day starts when my 3 year old shouts, “Mummy I want you”. Normally this is around 7am. Breakfast is sat at the kitchen table with Daddy. Then it’s dog walking and getting organised for starting work. Thank God for Ceebeebies! Currently ‘Timmy Time’ saves the day or Morning!
My Commute
I have one flight of stairs from bedroom to kitchen and another fight of stairs from kitchen to shop. Yes I live above the shop which is great while Alice is little but I am never away from work and you will find me regularly ON DUTY at the sewing machine at 1am. Catching up.
Work is very busy. My shop can be quiet or really busy and you never know what it will be like from day to day. I am open Tues to Sunday so there’s never a dull moment.
I have a constant stream of bespoke orders so clients bring in many types of outfits for functions, all needing me to make something fabulous for their head.
The shop needs plenty of varied pieces and I also stock a nice sprinkling of accessories, so I am always searching for wonderful fabrics to get my scissors in to.
I have had my share of celebs through the door and hats etc. are taken all over the place. One off to Buckingham Palace tomorrow.
This week I have a new stockist in another part of Yorkshire at a lovely boutique so that’s great news.
And of course not forgetting blogging, Tweeting and Etysing!
Lunch
Lunch is now about 12 as my munchkin is off to nursery at 1. Prior to this it would’ve been anytime.
Hebden has some great cafes but alas I don’t get to have lunch unless it’s a delivery.
Being a Mummy
At 5 I lock up and then it’s being a mummy until about 8pm when peace reins and I get back to work, like writing this guest blog. But hey a busy life is a good life as they say.
It’s great to be self employed and I wouldn’t change it but sometimes I do feel as though I’m the juggler who has thrown all the balls in the air and caught none of them. Keep Practising Chrissie!!
Check out Chrissie’s website at www.hattherapy.co.uk, read her blog at www.thelittlehatshop.blogspot.com and shop at www.hattherapy.etsy.com.
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Thank you Chrissie.
If you’re an independent designer / maker / crafter or work within the creative sector and would like to write a ‘Day in the Life of’ article for us, please get in touch at info [at] indiequater [dot] com.
A rather exciting opportunity landed on my desk this afternoon. Two Four Broadcast are in production for a really exciting new BBC1 series. The premise of the series is that a team of top entrepreneurs will give twelve small businesses or individuals the advice and support they need to get their products onto high street shelves. It is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who has a unique product but perhaps has not the necessary resources to turn it into ‘the next big thing’.
The categories they are looking to showcase are home & garden, children & toys, accessories and food & drink. The individuals who are chosen to be on the show will have a brilliant opportunity to take their product from a small scale business to the mass market across the nation.
If this sounds like you, Two Four Broadcast would love to hear your story. Get in touch at newbrands@twofour.co.uk or on 0207 438 1865.
Well, I promised you a bath full of marshmallows and here it is. It’s housed in Plaisir, a wonderful shop specialising in handmade items and based in Biggar in the Scottish Borders. They sell fresh, colourful homewares, jewellery, fashion and gifts, selecting items that are beautiful, useful and have that indefinable quality of having been loved by the person who made them.
Husband and wife team Clare and Anthony run the shop together. They’re both actors and so try to bring a bit of theatre into the shopping experience. Clare explains, “One big hit has been our freestanding bath. For our opening, we wanted a way to display pillowcases that suggested softness, comfort and luxury, so we found an old cast-iron bath, fixed it up, covered the outside in fabric and filled it with twenty giant bags of marshmallows.”
Plaisir has only been open for six weeks but the shop is already a hit with customers. It isn’t difficult to see why.
If you can’t make it to Biggar, check out their website at www.plaisirshop.co.uk.
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