I had absolutely super crafters with me at my Hand-Crafted Home Fair on Saturday showing their wares in such inspired ways.
Just think how hard it is to create a stunning show with only a table and some props from home along with the wonderful items which we all spend hours creating with real love and care.
When people arrive who are genuinely interested in what we do, it is such a pleasure - one little girl came up to me and told me that her great aunt is teaching her to knit - she looked at all my items and asked about individual items - "How did you make this? How many stitches did you put on at the start of this? How old were you when you learnt to knit - I'm 8?
She was an absolute delight, and went very happily home with a goody freeby bag from Lesley with all she needed to begin creating her own fabulous greetings cards.
So here are the pics and read more below about more ideas on the way!
Sally Jerome - Check out these adorable bootees - knitting, crochet and felted items, and I was very jealous of her fantastic vintage clothes airers used for display!
Rachel Nicholson - These beautiful candles have a central core and are then dipped and carved many times to create these stunning designs, and Rachel has only about 5 minutes to carve them before the wax hardens!
Becky Lewis is just starting out with her jewellery design business. She is working on fairly mainstream items at the moment, but her love is Goth - so you see, hand-crafts don't have to be itsy-bitsy!
Lisa Strathdee under the name Dusty Moon creates unusual wooden plaques, framed prints, super rings made from hand painted buttons and delectable boxes for all your treasures.
Jennifer Merrills creates a super mix of beautiful jewellery, and specialises in polymer clay which is created like a stick of rock - such tiny work and just wonderful.
Janice Farrow creates stunning flower arrangements from both fresh and silk flowers, and including these delightful hair bands - and just look at the price - where can you find something like that on the High Street?
Belynda Faulkner's Sterling Silver jewellery has to be seen close up to appreciate the detail - I love her little bird earrings.
Jamie Dixon (Jewellery by Design) won't mind me saying that he is quite a big lad, but just look at the delicate pieces he produces - and these are the best quality gem stones - no plastic here!
Lesley Barnes - who has attended all of my Fairs at Stanwick Lakes since I began there last July - a fantastic array of incredible hand made greetings cards - which she spends hours making on her narrowboat home and half the price of those in the shops!
Lesley also raised just under £30 for Help the Heroes in the sale of some of her cards.
And me - I just knit (a lot) and produce throws, cushions, bunting, knitted necklaces, tea cosies - retro and contemporary etc. The Louis bunting was made for my grandson who was 5 on Saturday, but another little boy came up to me and told me he really loved it - his name was Louis and his favourite colour was red - I felt a real heel not being able to let him have it - but all names and all sorts of colours can be made to order for £2 per letter!
PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PRODUCERS!
