There’s so much happening over the festive season - markets, craft fairs, exhibitions - that I decided to add them into one big post. Here goes:

Figuratively Speaking

What: An exhibition to explore the figure through stitch and contemporary embroidery.
When: 7th November to 24th December 2009
Where: The Edge Gallery, Lancaster
More Info: http://theedgegallery.wordpress.com

We Make Christmas

What: This December the team behind the hugely successful ‘We Make’ designer craft shows will offer Christmas shoppers the chance to wrap up all their Christmas shopping in the serene surroundings of charming Chelsea Town Hall
When: Saturday 5th December 2009 / 11am to 5pm
Where: Chelsea Town Hall, Kings Road, London (nearest tube Sloane Square)
More Info: www.wemakelondon.blogspot.com

Tea Cosy Too

What: Tea Cosy Too, an alternative art, craft and design fair, is the perfect opportunity to purchase a variety of original Christmas presents with stalls exhibiting jewellery, textiles, ceramics, illustration, printmaking and many more.
When: Saturday 5 December 10am - 6pm and Sunday 6 December 10am - 5pm
Where: The Academy (In the old Pier unit), Belmont Street, Aberdeen

Didsbury Charity Craft Market

What: A wide selection of arts and crafts including jewellery, pottery, glassware, cards, accessories and Christmas decorations. Not to mention homemade cakes, mince pies and festive refreshments. All profits go to Dignity, facilitating development projects and alleviating poverty in rural Zambia.
When: Saturday 5 December 2009
Where: Ivy Manchester, 97 Barlow Moor Rd, Didsbury M20 2GP
More Info: www.dignityonline.org.uk

Magpie Christmas Market

What: Magpie Market is the first event for Magpie, a fledgling creative enterprise based in Edinburgh. Providing an alternative to dreary Christmas shopping, Magpie Market will give you the chance to pick up some imaginative and unique handmade and vintage products straight from one of the 20+ exhibitors. With everything from cards to ceramics and plush squids to knitted jewellery there is bound to be something for everyone!
Where: Magpie Market, The LOT, 4-6 Grassmarket, Edinburgh, EH1 2JU
When: Sunday 6th December / 12pm – 6pm
More Info: www.magpiemarket.blogspot.com

Northumbria Festive Gift Fair

What: This is the ideal place to find that special something that you won’t find on the high street where the items on offer are lovingly handmade by local designer-makers and artists as well as vintage traders. The fair will be home to 30+ sellers offering a fantastic selection of items such as jewellery, fashion, art, books, photography and homewares. Entry is free and all are welcome.
When: Friday 11th December / 11am – 6pm
Where: Domain Hall, 2nd floor Northumbria Students Union, 2 Sandyford Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8SB
More Info: starandshadowmarket [at] googlemail [dot] com

Bust Magazine Christmas Craftacular

What: On December 12 you can shop, craft and make merry in Bethnal Green’s historic York Hall, when New York-based women’s pop-culture magazine BUST hosts its popular shopping bonanza in London for the third time. Featuring the nation’s hottest craft talent, such as Tatty Devine and Lady Luck Rules OK, alongside sellers from Spain and beyond, it promises to be the best Craftacular yet!
When: Saturday December 12th from 12 – 7pm
Where: York Hall, 5-15 Old Ford Road, London E2 (Near Bethnal Green Tube)
More Info: www.bust.com/craftacular/About-London.html

Manchester Craft Mafia Market

What: Taking place in the grand surroundings of the Whitworth Art Gallery, stall holders will dazzle with a range of wall art, beauty products, jewellery, soft toys, knitting, crochet, ceramics, cards, decorations, fashion and accessories.
When: Sat 12 Dec (10 ’til 5) and Sunday 13 Dec (12 ’til 4)
Where: Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER UK
More Info: www.manchestercraftmafia.com

Museum and gallery shops are a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. I don’t mind the museum chocolate and kitsch pencils and toys. I’m happy to skip over those to get to the good stuff, to the trade mags and independent zines, the books and even the stationery when it’s not emblazoned with the name of the gallery or museum.

Of course some do it better than others and Urbis is definitely one of better ones. As well as the books and merchandise tailored towards current exhibitions and their staple local history, Factory Records and the Hacienda wares, they also support local creatives.

Look out for Deborah Zeldin-O’Neill’s wearable and funky contemporary jewellery, made from rubber, silver, pearls and chandelier jewels. Or Linzi Ramsden’s sculptural vessels, tiles and wall pieces. Linzi grows, dries and presses flowers and other vegetation into the clay to create botanical reliefs. She also uses embroidery techniques to create textures in her work. And Francesca Salvini, one of my favourite bag designers, who combines locally sourced Lancashire tweeds with fashion fabrics from Liberty to create functional bags, wallets and purses.

For more information and opening times go to www.urbis.org.uk.

Last night saw the launch of Cube Store and was the start of an interesting collaboration between Nissan and Colette, Paris. You wouldn’t automatically associate the two, a Japanese car manufacturer and renowned Parisian boutique but the Cube is fast becoming a style icon. It was built to invite debate and non-conformity and the organisers of the event are hoping for the same.

The Cube Store is an exhibition, a shop and a conceptual space in which a number of designers and creatives will gather over the next few weeks to speak on a variety of subjects. Keep up with the latest news by following Cube Store on Twitter.

Colette, Paris has become synonymous with bringing unique items from key designers together in one space. Just in time for Christmas shopping, Colette has handpicked 60 unique interior decorating pieces and kitsch Japanese inspired gadgets to feature in her first ever London based store. Prices will range from £5 to £4000.

What: Cube Store
Where: Boilerhouse, The Old Truman Brewery, London, E1 6QL
When: Official launch Thursday 26th November, closed Mondays Tuesdays and public holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day)
Opening hours: 12pm-7pm
Website: www.cubelist.co.uk
Follow: www.twitter.com/NissanCubeUk

If I had three wishes one of them would be to have more time. More time to read, more time to spend with family, more time to get out of the office and do things. Working in digital many people use electronic diaries to plan their time. I don’t. I still find it quicker and easier to use a paper diary. And it’s so much nicer. At this time of year I love buying my new diary and writing in all the birthdays and events for the forthcoming year. Is that just me? I also, on occasion, have been known to leave myself notes. ‘This time last year I was . . . . ‘ Think that one’s definitely just me.

If you’re planning ahead for next year, take a look at these lovely diaries. They’re called ‘Agendas’ and are created by Veekee. They’ve got vintage scarf spines, placeholder ribbons, three different silk-screened pockets, calendars and some fun stickers. Everything is originally illustrated, from covers to pages to pocket designs. How cool are they? Buy from www.veekee780.etsy.com. Now you don’t get that in a Google calendar.

Competition: win a Miniature Leather Journal by Susan Green Books

The theme of this competition is twofold. Combining Susan Green’s love of nature and her small but perfectly formed miniature journals, she is inviting you to write her a poem. A Haiku in fact. The theme must be ’smallness’ and in true Haiku tradition must also evoke the natural world.

The winner will be presented with one of Susan’s beautiful miniature leather journals.

For more information visit www.susangreenbooks.com.

The closing date is 28th November.

Psst. If you need a reminder about how to write a Haiku, visit the British Haiku Society website.

It’s nearly Christmas and Santa’s Elves have got crafty! Head on down to Clutter City for a twinkly, festive market with stalls, live music, warm, spicy cider and take-out food. There will be 30 stalls of clothes, jewellery, badges, textiles, paper goods, prints, paintings, comics and vintage accessories. And all of this will be accompanied by music, festive visuals, face painting and hula hooping.

When: Saturday 28 November - Yes, this Saturday!
What Time: 10 ’til 4
Where: Norwich Arts Centre
More Info: www.cluttercity.norwichartscentre.org.uk

The Manchester Craft Mafia Market is back. And it’s gone all Christmassy. Taking place in the grand surroundings of the Whitworth Art Gallery, stall holders will dazzle with a range of wall art, beauty products, jewellery, soft toys, knitting, crochet, ceramics, cards, decorations, fashion and accessories.

The market takes place over 2 days from Saturday 12th to Sunday 13th December, giving you ample time to fit everything in.

What: Manchester Craft Mafia Christmas Market
When: Sat 12 Dec (10 ’til 5) and Sunday 13 Dec (12 ’til 4)
Where: Whitworth Art Gallery, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER UK
More Info: www.manchestercraftmafia.com

All of the above are available to buy from Makers Online, a new portal championing designer / makers. There are no joining or listing fees; a small commission is taken on each purchase. Therefore, you don’t start paying until you make a sale.

Products are displayed prominently rather then being buried under several layers of navigation and there is a link to each maker on the home page of the site. Shoppers can find what they’re looking for quickly and with minimum fuss and there’s free shipping throughout the UK.

For further information go to www.makers-online.co.uk.

Pics (clockwise from top left):

Blue Vintage Ceramic Brooch by ItsAlchemy

Little Turtle Cushion by Simon Seabright

Betty Purse by Nicola De Cruz

Mine Stacking Rings by Kalicat