Craft Focus - Aug/Sep (Issue 68)

CREATIVE CRAFT SHOW HEADS TO MANCHESTER The latest edition of the Creative Craft Show will take place in Manchester from 6 th – 8 th September. The event will feature a host of mediums including knitting, cross stitch, papercraft, jewellery, textiles, dressmaking and stitching, and visitors will be able to find everything from kits, charts and patterns to tools and accessories. Highlights will include the chance to see a collection of giant hand- stitched works by Taiwanese artist Yao Ming Chien. Yao has been deaf from birth, but after arriving in the UK in 1993 he studied English Sign Language and became interested in embroidery. One of his most elaborate pieces, Heavenly Kiss, took four months to complete. The National Needlework Archive will also be presenting an exhibition of vintage handbags, and there will be a full programme of workshops and demonstrations. For details, visit stitchandhobby.co.uk HANDMADE FAIR TO DELIGHT HAMPTON COURT Kirstie Allsopp’s Handmade Fair will return to Hampton Court Palace from 14 th – 16 th September, 2018. It will feature a wealth of hands-on workshops from some of the industry’s most talented designers, and aims to delight craft enthusiasts for the fifth year running. Visitors can get involved with a variety of different skills, from willow weaving and needle felting to lino cutting and brush lettering, not to mention painting, sewing, papercraft and other handmade techniques for beginners and more experienced enthusiasts alike. Creative sessions will fall into one of four categories: paint and print, home and garden, sewing and textiles and paper and pens, giving visitors a wide range of choice. The show will also feature a selection of stalls where tools and materials can be purchased. At the fair’s skills workshops, attendees will be able to satisfy their creative cravings in a series of one-hour interactive sessions. This year’s experts will include Lauren Cooper of Oh Wonder Calligraphy, Eddie Glew from Blithfield Willowcrafts, who will show visitors how to make a birdfeeder and Tess Hucker of the Arty Craft Place, who will encourage visitors to try their hand at Indian block painting. “I am immensely proud that The Handmade Fair will be celebrating its fifth year on The Green at Hampton Court – it’s set to be better than ever,” says Kirstie. “We have a raft of incredibly talented producers and crafters on board that I’m really excited to see in action. It’s going to be a joyous few days of crafting in a beautiful setting, and we’ll all be taking home new skills and wares to improve our homes and, dare I say, lives. I can’t wait!” For details, visit thehandmadefair.com/hampton-court shows, news and events 26 craft focus