Category: Fairs and Events

Many of our customers and colleagues are exhibiting or appearing at craft shows and fairs in the run up to Christmas, so here is rundown on where you can see some of them:

• Wokingham Arts Trail, 22 & 23 September 2018 Wokingham Arts Trail – WAT. 19 Magnolia Way, Wokingham RG41 4BN, off the Barkham Road. Link to The Wokingham Arts Trail Website
• Sevenoaks Stag Plaza Artisan Crafts Vintage and Gift Fair, Saturday, 22 September 2018 – 10:00 till 16:00
• Hampshire Craft and Gift Fair, Lockswood Community Centre, Locks Heath Shopping Village, Locks Heath, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 6DX, Saturday, 29 September 2018 – 10:30 till 14:30
• Arts and Crafts Fair, Troon Concert Hall, Ayr Street, Troon, South Ayrshire, KA10 6EF, Saturday, 13 October 2018 – 11:00 till 16:30
• Norwich Creative Market, St Andrews Hall, St Andrews Plain, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1AU,Sunday, 4 November 2018 – 09:00 till 17:00

This is just a brief selection: you can find many more listed on the UK Craft Fairs website

A couple of months ago we were headed north to Harrogate to the Yorkshire Exhibition Centre to visit the British Craft Trade Fair. If you are serious about selling your products to trade buyers then this is THE show to exhibit at. This video will give you a 60 minute whirlwind taster of it. As well as a few artists, there were potters, ceramicists, sculptors, wood turners, knitters and everything in-between. If you’d like to know more, visit their website.

The Sandown award winning Craft live show is hosted by Stephanie Weightman and Nancy Watt, and is being brought back once again to Sandown Park Racecourse. You can expect to see Esher and a whole host of celebrity crafters at this event on Thursday 25th January for a day long event which includes everything you need to create a number of craft projects and is ideal for all skill levels. Pre-booking is essential, but you are guaranteed to have a great day, learn lots of new techniques and make new friends. The Workshop ticket also gets you into the show on any or all of the days and covers all equipment and refreshments during the workshop, as well as a selection of craft goodies to take home!

The show itself is open on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th January, and is open 10am-5pm on both days.

Friday and Saturday will host an array of exhibitors stocking stamps, dies, decoupage, fabric, ribbon, beads and much more. You can stock up on all of your craft essentials, as well as finding inspiration from brand new products and watch on-stand demonstrations. There are also refreshment options and areas to have a much needed sit down after all that shopping!

What’s more, every advance ticket purchased is eligible for a FREE GIFT* worth £15 – just collect yours at the show. Plus every guest will get a £5 voucher** to spend with our sponsors Create & Craft.

Artmart is a well established and increasingly popular specialist Art, Craft and Artisan Food market, ArtMart established in 2010, returns to Folkestone town centre in 2018 for it’s ninth year.

A range of stalls in the precinct between Debenhams and W.H Smith, open between 10:00 – 17:00, ArtMart is an excellent place to purchase a range of Art, Craft, Handmade goods, Jewellery, Soft Toys, Jams & Chutneys, Cup Cakes and Artisan Foods for yourself and special, unique gifts for others.

OPENING TIMES 10 AM – 4.30PM (5PM SAT)

The Creative Craft Show is a haven for knitting, cross stitch, paper crafting, jewellery & dressmaking and stitching enthusiasts, offering all the very latest supplies, ideas and innovations in the hobby world! You’ll find everything from kits, charts and patterns to fabrics, yarns, threads and buttons plus opportunities to glean advice from industry experts. 

ADULTS £8.00 SENIORS £7.00

Druitt Hall, Christchurch High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1AB

This the weekly craft fair and table top sale in the Druitt Hall (behind Christchurch Library) every Friday 10.30am-3pm with a variety of stalls selling handmade items and bric-a-brac such as jewellery, knitted goods, new and nearly new clothes, cards, books, DVDs, china, glass and toys. Tea and coffee 70p per cup, snacks now also available. Free entry. Well-behaved dogs welcome.

Now also on Sundays: 2nd and last in month starting Sunday 8th October 11.30am-4pm.

Spaces for new traders. Please email natula@btinternet.com or phone 01202 470261

Opening Times

• Friday 17th November – 10:30 till 15:00
• Friday 24th November – 10:30 till 15:00
• Sunday 26th November – 11:30 till 16:00
• Friday 1st November – 10:30 till 15:00
• Sunday 3rd December – 11:30 till 16:00
• Friday 8th December – 10:30 till 15:00
• Sunday 10th December – 11:30 till 16:00
• Friday 15th December – 10:30 till 15:00
• Sunday 17th December – 11:30 till 16:00
• Friday 22nd December – 10:30 till 15:00

SunnyBunnyCrafts is an online textiles shop on Etsy but also runs some workshops based in Bournemouth. They provide a variety of different products with many different handmade designs on them at a fair and reasonable price. Some of the things that they sell include cushions, baskets, bags and decorations/ornaments. They also provide kits where you can have a go making these products yourself.

“I was taught to knit at only 5 years old and various other crafts at a young age, the passion grew over the years (apart from a few twilight years – late teens/early twenties when the pub was more interesting).

My main cardmaking passion came about through personal tragedy when my first son was stillborn. Without dwelling (nor casting it aside but this isn’t the place for that story) I became involved in a support group, I met a likeminded fellow mum and we made cards to sell for the charity. From that the passion grew, and luckily for me so did my family! Skip forward a few years (too busy mopping kids and floors!) and I found I had a few spare hours to make cards again for my family and friends. Sunny Bunny was formed. And then I dusted off my sewing machine thanks to a chance remark from a family member and so we have my products today, all stemming from each other and the love of gorgeous fabrics!

I have also recently branched out and made some of my makes available as kits or tutorials. You can find these under the Sew Easy category in my shop. I also run regular workshops in Bournemouth so please convo me if you would like details on those.” – Suzanne

The Great Dorset Arts and Crafts Fair returns to the stunning Grade II* listed Upton House, for your chance to meet talented local creatives and purchase a hand-crafted Christmas gift or two, or maybe even a treat for yourself! Set against the wonderful backdrop of Upton Country Park, in addition to the wide selection of goodies on offer, there will be the opportunity to enjoy some musical performances in the Grand Entrance Hall and take part in craft activities. Refreshments will also be available throughout the day.

Browse the beautifully created goods on offer, enjoy a mince pie and relax listening to musical performances in the grand Entrance Hall. All arts, crafts and gifts available to buy are hand-crafted by Dorset suppliers so don’t miss out on this great opportunity to get some unique Christmas gifts.

Tickets are £1.50 per adult and children under 16 when accompanied by an adult are free.