Craft Show wrap-up

Well, it sure was a market-stall endurance test - 5 days straight at the Stitches & Craft Show - and the overstimulation left me somewhat insomniatic by the end of it all. Seriously. It's days later and I still haven't been able to sleep through the night. So many new friends to meet, so much to do and see, so many new ideas crowding in my head.

So, how did it all look? Who were all these fantastic creative people you met? What did you get up to at the Show? What goodies did you buy for your stash? Well, let's see...

Firstly, this was our stand - the combined efforts of Shelbyville and Dudley Redhead.

 

Sharing a stall certainly has its benefits - we could help each other with the set-up and pack-down; one could watch the table while the other went a-wandering; and it's a nice shared experience between friends. It did get a bit squooshy in a 2m x 2m 'pen' with all our tubs and boxes of stuff surrounding us, but we survived. We're small.

Next door to us was twospoonfulsofsugar - a range of tactile, farmyard-inspired greeting cards. Gotta give credit to a Kiwi girl with the gaul to don a pair of hand-sewn woolly 'sheep pants' to promote her new sheep card. With tail and all. Go Sheryl!

And on the other side of us was Craft Schmaft - Claire's range of sock-animal DIY kits and patterns that were a big hit at the Show. How could you not adore those cute little baby owls made from baby socks? And a gorgeous display too - the tree centrepiece was a true stroke of genius.

 

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Photography was tricky because of the lighting, but these were some of the other stalls in our vicinity:

 
Rourke & Henry, Kenzie & Coco

 
Michelle over at Kids With Crayons; Pauline at Funky Friends Factory

 
Pippijoe; Surface Art alongside Sprout

 
The lovely Lisa (and fellow Brown Owl) and her stall The Red Thread (she's gonna tell me off for using the photo with her in it...!)

 
Juicy Roo and all those cute little Wonkies! Beautiful set-up too - the wonderfully-practical clothesline display was much admired.

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And it's always nice to see some overall shots of the area - here are just a couple of views of the Incubator section:

 
^ The section we were in the middle of.

 
^ And the reverse side of our section (this shot pre-opening), Mix Tape Zine and Dear Fii in the foreground.

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So yes, them's the photos of some of the gals and the Show itself, but what crafty things did I find and do while there? Welllll, I did have a go at making a Twirly Apron Skirty in a workshop by Louise from Made by Miffy:

 

I nearly got it finished - just the elastic insertion to go (might do that in situ with the niece, so that I can get the size exactly right for her). I just love the stripey apron piece, and just how sweet is that illustrated streetscape fabric..?

And then I figured I'd make a few more Twirly Apron Skirtys for my other younger nieces, and found these beautiful grey-blue fabrics at the Amitie stand, and thought I'd team them with one of the gorgeous Gocco-printed patches from The Red Thread (for the apron piece):

 

Imagine this skirt with the raindrops satin-stitched in the blue-grey thread, and the skirt itself top-stitched with bright red thread to compliment the blue and oatmeal colours. It'll be gorgeous! I'd wear it myself if I was still five.

I picked up a few other lovely fabrics to try out while I was at it (darn that Amitie stand!). Couldn't resist the fabric with the stripey-jumpered pig holding an umbrella, nor the patchwork-looking fabric. Seems to be a bit of a rain/umbrella theme in my Craft Show purchases... 

 

So these were a few of my coveted finds... fabrics, patches, stamp-pads, buttons, cardboard keys, and of course the Apron Skirtys which will be tying up my sewing machine for the next little while.

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P.S.  If you're one of the lovely people who picked up my card at the Show and this is your first visit to Shelbyville, then a big welcome to you! Feel free to have a look around my blog, and please leave a comment if you feel so inclined.

In the coming week I'll be listing more items in my Shelbyville online shop on MadeIt, including the new things that were on the stall like the Scrabble cufflinks, rings and mini-pendants.

Right, well, now it's back to the other day job, and a dire need to tidy up the studio...

Comments

[Kylie Hunt]

Wow! It all looks so fabulous. Loving that raindrop cloud in particular :) K

[justine]

hey michelle
short and sweet
just how i like it
take care and i'll see you soon
jusx

[Di Jones]

Hi Michelle,
Nice to meet you at the show on Friday. I too was at the Amitie stand for quite a while and bought some fab prints. Your stuff is lovely, I'll be sure to visit your madeit shop once it is updated. Great show update. Thanks
Di

[Claire - Craft Schmaft]

Glad I'm not the only one who still hasn't recovered from the show days later! It was an honour to be your neighbour for the show, Mr W is very impressed with his cufflinks. Love what you do, c.

[Sheryl Cole - Twospoonfulsofsugar]

Hey Michelle, Yes I too, am still recovering! What a fun 5 days though - was awesome to meet some like-minded fellow designers/crafters! Keep up the great work hun!

[Juicy Roo]

So great to meet you and see your lovely work - I so love my Laundromatic book! Great pics of the show!

[Juicy Roo]

Hi Michelle, thanks for your note and yes of course, use whatever pics you like! Today I hope to post my excitement about Laundromatic! xo