All in a spin...

Last weekend we went on our annual outing to the Creative Crafts Show (herein referred to as CCS) at Malvern Three Counties Showground (you can read about previous years excursions here)

This year was a little different because (a) I had very little money to spend and (b) I had Roo with me.
I won't lie, I didn't enjoy the experience nearly as much having to keep a constant eye on a curious six year old rather than immersing myself in glorious crafty stuff - although the sheer joy on his face when he showed me the stamps and ink pads he had bought with his Christmas money kind of made up for that! - but I still managed to come away with a new nugget of knowledge, some beautiful yarn and lots of inspiration.

The Creative Crafts Show 2013

Last week was our annual visit to the Three Counties Showground at Malvern for the Creative Crafts and Stitch Show. It's become a regular outing for us girls and this year we were joined by my Other Half's brother's girlfriend, Rosie, too. I've written about how much we love these shows before so today I will let the pictures do most of the talking :-)

A beautiful quilted 'Welcome' wall hanging by Sew Enchanting. We all loved this and the fab padded Christmas Trees that were on display to!

So much fabric, so little time... choosing fat quarters at the Stitch Witch's stall. We always spend way too much here. I got some adorable teeny weeny buttons to add to my stash!

Beautiful hand spun yarns ready to knit into something gorgeous. 

Strings of brightly coloured glass pearls - I think this year was the first year I didn't buy any beads at all. Not for want of choice. I had my eyes open for something else...

Giant Knitting!

Amazing installation by the Guild of Machine Knitters

 'Well Knit by Moonlight' designed by Alice Wolfe

Cake and crafts, of course, go hand in hand. I bought the biggest apple filled, icing covered danish pastry you have ever seen (yes, I DID share when I got home!)

A little demo on needle felting from Margaret Fox (Floral Art Products, Malvern) This is something I have been wanting to have a go at for a long time and Margaret was happy to show us the basics! I am now armed with needles, mat and wool roving and ready to go!!

Margaret's lovely display of thick wool felt all ready to be turned into something even more gorgeous - if that is possible.

I am so excited to finally have the needle felting kit and can't wait to get going. Rosie bought herself a kit too and we talked about attending one of Margaret's workshops in the near future. I will let you know how it goes.

I love visiting these specialist shows - they are jam packed with all sorts of goodies but it is especially inspiring to see experts in action and have a go yourself. It's so easy to get into a crafting rut doing the same old thing. Creativity should be stretched or it becomes stale. 

I'm off now to stab some wool!

The Stitch and Creative Crafts Show (aka the ultimate stash boosting shopping experience)

Imagine all your favourite craft suppliers (and many you may not have met yet) all under one roof, add some demos and workshops and throw in lots of lovely, like-minded people and what do you have? The Stitch and Creative Craft Show ! This is the third year I have attended and the change of venue from Cheltenham Racecourse to the Three Counties Showground, Malvern last year was a definite improvement with much more room for exhibitors and visitors alike.

First stop was the The Southampton Bead Shop where Alys got stuck in selecting beads for her new jewellery designs.

I wasn't supposed to be shopping for beads - I have a very respectable bead stash left over from my jewellery making days - but the magpie in me just could not ignore the strings of beautiful faceted crystal beads hanging across the back of their stand. They are sooooo pretty... some of them just had to come home with me :)

 
 
 

                          One stall caught my eye - a table full of hats and fascinators.

These all came from Janie Lashford's School of Millinery - an impressive array of pillboxes, mini top hats, fascinators and headbands. Situated near Evesham, The Millinery School runs 1,2,3 and 4 day courses covering all aspects of hat making for beginners and experienced milliners alike. Janie also teaches at City and Guilds level for those who are seriously interested in millinery as a career path.

It's something I would love to have a go at.

Maybe one day...

 

More lovely things just across the way at Debonnaire Gorgeous artisan yarns in different weights including fabulous multi coloured sock yarns and hanks of super-soft lace weight yarn that I could just imagine knitted up into a beautiful vintage style shawl...

 

Lush Lampwork had some absolutely gorgeous lampwork beads, pendants and buttons and also runs workshops from her Malvern studio.

oooops...more beads...

 

And finally, Japan is in everyone's thoughts today as we watch in horror as the tragedy Mother Nature has unleashed unfurls before our eyes thanks to 24hour news streaming.  One stall we visited Festival of Japan was showcasing a selection of traditional Japanese crafts and had a beautiful selection of Japanese Kimono silk fabric pieces and traditional folding papers available to buy. We were taken by the fabric origami boxes and bought a kit to have a go. The lady running the show, Jill, is clearly very passionate about all things Japanese and is a frequent visitor.
 I hope that her friends over there are safe and that her next visit is not  marred by sadness...