Craft Focus - April/May 2021 (Issue 84)

7 EDITOR’S LETTER On the cover We’re delighted to feature Specialist Crafts on our cover. These new Spectrum Artist Colour Pencils ooze quality with a wonderful soft, creamy wax-like core. The round cedar barrel is delightful to hold and the wood is from a sustainable source. Each pencil offers a generous 3.7mm core and delivers a wonderful laydown of pigment. The colours can be easily blended to produce an extensive palette. Comparable with other brand leaders of waxy pencils these Spectrum Artist Colour Pencils by Specialist Crafts will not disappoint. Marvel at their exceptional quality and price and see the difference in the artist’s performance. They’re available in sets of 12, 24 and 48. For further information visit the website www.specialistcrafts.co.uk Retail revival Yes! All non-essential retail can reopen from 12 th April, 2021! I for one, cannot wait to browse the bright summer stock, chat to friendly shop owners (rather than simply clicking ‘add to basket’) and seeing our streets come to life slowly but surely. The feeling of holding bags full of creative goodies is a buzz that’s hard to be recreated online. Let the retail revival commence! Over the spring, the Government will run a scientific Events Research Programme. This will include a series of pilots using enhanced testing approaches and other measures to run events with larger crowd sizes and reduced social distancing to evaluate the outcomes. We do hope the results are positive, so we can start taking laps of our loved exhibition centres by summer. Come 21 st June 2021, all being well and all boxes being ticked, we could be living in a very different UK, with the promise of all current legal restrictions being abolished. To help you get your stock ready please enjoy this issue packed full of bright products in our summer product showcase and our trend file entitled Jungle Fever! We also have a spotlight on Father’s Day with great ideas for men; plenty of needlework inspiration; and our all-important wellness and wellbeing feature – no one is saying the months ahead will be easy so take time to relax and look after yourselves. We have some wonderful, calming projects that may give you the perfect excuse for some ‘me time’. Finally, Specialist Crafts has sponsored this issue’s competition where you can win one of 20 sets of 48 Spectrum Artist Colour Pencils to trial yourself or give away to your customers! Click here to enter www.craftfocus.com/competition See you on the high street! Rachel Westall Editor Rachel x EDITOR Rachel Westall +44 (0)1376 514 000 editor@craftfocus.com PRODUCTION MANAGER Scott Brothwell SALES MANAGER Sarah Mclean +44 (0)1376 538 490 sarahm@craftfocus.com ACCOUNT MANAGER Tracy Voice +44 (0)1376 538 555 tracyv@craftfocus.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Sarah Hill, Stephanie Hodder, Vicky O’Connor +44 (0)1376 535 616 artwork@kdmediapublishing.com PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Lorna Butcher WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Stuart Weatherley DIGITAL MARKETING COORDINATOR Katie Laley +44 (0)1376 514 000 KD Media Publishing, Pantile House, Newlands Drive, Witham, Essex CM8 2AP craftfocus.com Craft Focus is solely owned, published and designed by KD Media Publishing. Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this magazine was correct at the time of going to press, the publishers cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor can they accept responsibility of the standing of advertisers nor by the editorial contributions. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Craft Focus is published six times a year. ISSN 1758-0900 @craftfocus @craftfocusmag @craftfocus MEDIA PUBLISHING Craft Focus is proud to be associated with and supporters of:

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