WWW.CRAFTFOCUS.COM OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER FOR CRAFT HOBBY + STITCH INTERNATIONAL AND PROUD SPONSOR OF TRENDING NOW TREND FORECAST Fashion fix! Making clothes at home PLUS! Mother’s Day ideas Valentine’s Day inspiration Papercraft trends Hot trends to trial in 2022! Baby it’s cold outside Winter crafting Cover star New stamp collection from Lavinia Stamps
NOW BACK IN STOCK! If you have a retail store and are interested in buying Posca markers please contact us on the email below. contactus@mpuni.eu *We are actively looking to increase our distribution within the bricks and mortar retailer Subject to terms, conditions & availability www . p o s c a . c o m @posca_uk
3 CONTENTS In this issue... REGULARS 9 Industry news What’s happening within the craft and hobby market 15 Brand spanking new Brand spanking new products 79 Tried & tested Craft Focus Account Manager, Tracy Voice gets sewing – this time with Heritage Crafts’ Red Butterfly kit 81 Bookstand The latest book releases FEATURES 41 Craft trends for 2022 We speak to movers and shakers in the world of craft and stationery to find out what’s going to be big over the next 12 months 54 Papercrafts Get folding, cutting and creating with paper! 56 Valentine’s Day Romantic crafts to gift 62 Winter craft showcase Snuggle up and get crafting! 67 Mother’s Day Fabulous craft ideas to make or gift to the leading lady in your life 76 Making clothes at home The perfect tools to upcycle and create beautiful garments 67 December/ January 2022 56 73 33
4 FOCUS ON 51 Lavinia Stamps Tracey Lavinia Dutton, Artist and Designer at Lavinia Stamps talks creativity, fantasy and the company’s worldwide following 60 Ancient Wisdom David Hardy, Founder of Ancient Wisdom talks to Craft Focus about the array of products available and how they have overcome challenges over the past few years 73 Mistubishi Pencil Co Rob Harradine, Head of Sales and Marketing of Mistubishi Pencil Co, UK, chats to Craft Focus about the company’s environmental responsibilities and the fabulous POSCA writing range! BUSINESS 37 The Craft Report Findings from the 2021 report which was carried out earlier this year 82 Intellectual property Dids Macdonald, CEO of Anti Copying in Design (ACID), looks at IP agreements and why they’re necessary 85 Evolution of a classic brand Penguin Random House Children’s has unveiled a brand refresh for Peter Rabbit, with a new world-building identity that places Peter front and centre of the world that Beatrix Potter created almost 120 years ago 88 Retailer comment Natasha Necati, Executive Director of Crafty Arts discusses how to make the most out of the seasonal calendar for optimum retail success! 90 Taking on a new challenge Sara Davies discusses the positives of starting new journeys and trying something new! SHOWS 23 Shows, news & events Stay up-to-date with what’s happening in your industry 29 Toy Fair Toy Fair’s Director of Fairs & Special Events, Majen Immink, talks to Craft Focus 31 Spring Fair preview The inspiring and unrivalled marketplace for giftware and crafting returns for 2022 33 Creativeworld The international creative sector is looking forward with anticipation to Creativeworld in Frankfurt 81 62 29 51
A world class brand Over the past 30 years, Hemline has clearly established itself as a world leading haberdashery brand. Sold in over 50 countries worldwide, with over 100,000 Hemline products being produced in our own factories daily. We have our own specialist designing, testing and product development team, working with industry experts in the sewing field to ensure Hemline quality is maintained at a very high standard with continuous product innovation. New usage features on our renewed recognisable pink packaging! Updated usage and care instructions, plus instructional video QR codes feature on packaging of more and more of our products. Visit www.hemline.com and let us know your experience using our products. Sharing tips and tricks with us often contributes to key product development. The world’s most dynamic and comprehensive range of haberdashery Groves Ltd, Eastern Bypass, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3FU We are passionate about sewing, always striving to improve our product offering. We are reducing card sizes and movingmore of our products away from single use throwaway packs to recyclablematerials and keepsake/reusable packaging. sales@groves-banks.com | tel. 0800 626 152 www.grovesltd.co.uk | /grovesltd | /grovesltd | /grovesofthame
7 EDITOR’S LETTER On the cover King Hopkins, the frog that graces our cover is a new stamp for January 2022 from Lavinia Stamps. All Lavinia’s stamps are created from hand-drawn images by Designer Tracey Dutton. These beautiful, finely detailed stamps will open a creative door for any avid crafter. To view more inspiring designs, please visit https://laviniastamps.com Christmas cheer Christmas is the ultimate season for retail – and as 2020’s Christmas was cancelled we have a lot to make up for! I’ve heard on the grapevine that so many more people are making their own cards, decorations and even gifts this year and I am all for it! As a mum of two, I love nothing more than making reindeer cards out of tiny brown footprints and getting the old PVA glue out. When they’ve gone to bed, I prefer to get out my grown-up box of craft supplies, terrified of the little one’s blunting the nibs of my favourite metallic markers! Please do support your local retailers this winter and get crafty. Natasha Necati speaks to Craft Focus this issue about other important dates in the diary that retailers should really earmark on, such as Easter and Black Friday, to really make your business profitable. You can read all about what she had to say on page 89. This edition we have five pages dedicated to 2022 trends. Craft Focus has spoken exclusively to big industry names about what they expect will be big in the world of craft and stationery over the year ahead. We also have a spotlight on Mother’s Day, Papercrafts and some fabulously cosy crafts to get you through the colder months in our winter product showcase! Wishing you all a happy Christmas and a fantastic 2022, Rachel Westall Editor 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:
This perfect 25 piece essential set of tools is ideal for model making & craft projects. It comes in a handy aluminium case for protection and to carefully keep the tools in place. ModelMaker tools are perfect for times when detail, precision and close control is required. The comprehensive collection is suitable for a wide variety of model making, general hobby and craft making tasks. For more information and details of the full range please contact Pauline Hinkley on T: 07739 200153 E:pauline.hinkley@bachmann-europe.co.uk WWW. B A C HMA NN . C O . U K YourWholesaleCraft AndHobby SuppliesAllWrappedUp Website: www.peakdaleproducts.co.uk Email: sales@peakdaleproducts.co.uk Tel: 01298 78447 premium art knives #OlfaUK AK4 AK1 AK5 Become an official OLFA UK reseller 020 8204 1422 info@olfauk.com Lightweight and comfortable with an easy blade change
9 INDUSTRY NEWS Industry news Latest news from the craf industry Lavinia Stamps is delighted to be a finalist in the west Cheshire and north Wales Chamber of Commerce Recognition Awards for 2021 in the Business Growth Award Category sponsored by Nat West Bank. Lavinia Stamps was established in 2005 when founder artist Tracey Dutton started to design stamps for the card making industry and they have never looked back. Over the last year Lavinia Stamps has increased its business by over 130 per cent and now export to more than 35 countries worldwide, direct to individual retail customers, and specialist independent retailers. Trading predominantly online with a small retail shop and gallery, its customer base has grown significantly which has benefited from an increased presence on social media platforms with over three million page hits and more than 200,000 unique visitors in the last 12 months alone. Andrew Peers at Lavinia Stamps said of the recognition: “The last 18 months have been unpredicted for any business, and I believe that we have been fortunate that we offer one-of-a-kind products that we’ve delivered direct to our consumers to allow them to escape into a world that they love, the world of crafting. We’ve seen this by the increased amount of social media posts that we have received of their creations during this time. We’ve established a huge online community of crafters who offer encouragement to one another. It has been wonderful to see.” The Business Growth Award Category is open to businesses of all sizes and recognises those that have experienced exceptional growth in sales, profit, market share, jobs, or international trade. Judges will be looking for an organisation that can demonstrate the highest levels of growth with a strong plan for sustainable financial performance. Lavinia Stamps’ increase in sales has given rise to the recent acquisition of new premises which will facilitate the opportunity for further expansion including taking on additional staff members. Andrew added: “There are a range of new products coming on stream over the next few months that’ll have a significant impact on widening our market and increasing brand awareness. We still think of ourselves as a small business and getting to where we are now has been down to the hard work and dedication of our 11-strong workforce and I think we all feel this has been a tremendous achievement to even make the awards shortlist. All of us at Lavinia Stamps are very much looking forward to the future and relish the opportunity to continue this fantastic journey.” To find out more about Lavinia Stamps you can visit their website at https://laviniastamps.com Hale & Hearty after 30 years! Hale Events, the B2B events organiser based in Somerset, is celebrating 30 years of trading in 2021. “It’s been two very challenging years for the events sector” says Mike Anderson Managing Director, “but we’re now planning our events with confidence, and companies are booking stands because they are feeling the same way. We have to get on with it!” Hale Events connect food, drink, gift and home companies, with trade buyers, in south west England. Based in the historic town of Axbridge the company has now been trading for 30 years, employing a small close-knit team, and recently marked the occasion with a company barbecue complete with commemorative cake. For more information about Hale Events and its trade shows, visit www.hale- events.com Lavinia Stamps finalist at Chamber of Commerce Business Awards
10 Captain Sir Tom Moore inspires donation of £60,000 by Bachmann Europe On Thursday 9th September 2021, Bachmann Europe visited the GB Railfreight/ EMD Roberts Road Rail Maintenance Depot in Doncaster where Class 66 No. 66731 Capt. Tom Moore was in residence. Earlier this year the Bachmann Collectors Club released its Pride of Britain Train Pack, celebrating the astonishing fundraising achievements of Captain Sir Tom Moore and honouring the outstanding efforts of the NHS and all key workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. During the visit Bachmann presented a cheque for £60,000 which will be donated to NHS Charities Together, and a presentation was conducted by Keith Thomas, Financial Controller for Bachmann Europe Plc and Paul Matthews, Head of Locomotives for GB Railfreight. Those Club members who purchased a Pride of Britain Train Pack when they were first released were entered into a prize draw to win a guided tour of the Roberts Road Depot and the lucky winner, Mr Denis Armstrong, was also in attendance to receive his prize. The Pride of Britain Train Pack has been produced in N and OO scale (with a Sound Fitted option in OO scale) and each pack includes a Class 66/7 locomotive No. 66731 Capt. Tom Moore in GB Railfreight’s ‘Thank You NHS’ livery and two Easy Model 1:72 scale aircraft – Hurricane LF363 and Spitfire MK356 – portraying the two aircraft that performed a flypast for Captain Tom on his 100th birthday. A limited number of each pack remains available, and these can be purchased now directly from the Bachmann Collectors Club. ACID logo competition winner announced Anti-Copying in Design is delighted to announce that Em Royston, designer, creator and owner of Chasing Threads, is the winner of the recent ACID Logo Competition – designed to raise awareness about the importance of high-profile ways of displaying the ‘Member of Anti Copying in Design’ logo. The ACID logo aims to communicate a powerful an anti-copying message to all, through the strong ACID brand of deterrence against theft and Em rose to the challenge by designing and making her fantastic, customised laptop sleeve - stitched with her interpretation of the ‘Member of ACID’ logo that she proudly displays on her website as a show of force against copying. A delighted Em Royston said: “Not Entering the ACID logo competition wasn’t an option having used so many of the membership benefits over the last few months, after discovering copies of my products. The Intellectual Property I create is so important and my hand-stitched logo is a visual representation of the time and effort it takes to protect original ideas. I will be proudly displaying this image on my website and hope it will act as a deterrent for future design theft.” Em was recently featured in an ACID member focus. No stranger to her innovative designs being ripped off, ACID had also shared information about a successful takedown of a knock-off design on Etsy here. Sadly, Em’s copying issues are ongoing, with ACID CEO, Dids Macdonald intervening in an open letter to Hekaytnoon.com over clear copying of Em’s products. CEO Dids Macdonald, OBE said: “Em is one of hundreds of small creative companies continually copied so we are absolutely committed to working closely with her to help resolve her ongoing dispute and will post future updates as and when they occur. I want to reach out to design creatives everywhere to support her in this latest battle”. Crafter’s TV Welcomes Two New Craft Experts Crafter’s TV, the live digital channel dedicated to crafting and run by Crafter’s Companion, is welcoming two new craft experts. Michelle McCarthy joins the team as the latest craft expert and Becky Sworn is joining as a specialist soft craft expert. Both Michelle and Becky will demonstrate craft techniques and inspiring makes live on air alongside the channel’s existing craft experts and presenters Becky Redican, Joe Remblance and Ben Moseby. Both bring with them decades of crafting experience and creativity. New soft craft expert Michelle comes to the role following a number of years on the Crafter’s Companion design team creating card and craft samples for onair shows. After getting into craft 13 years ago via a card making kit, she’s now a dedicated papercrafter with an in-depth knowledge of Crafter’s Companion tools and materials, particularly the Gemini die cutting and embossing machine. Jeni Santillo, Head of Broadcast Operations, said: “We’re so thrilled to welcome not one but two new craft experts to the team. It will be so exciting to share their talent, ability and creativity with our Crafter’s TV Community!”
Maxi package only £1,284.00 Perfect Product Partnership for Haberdashery & Craft Retailers Dannells manufacture the NeedCraft® range of craft kits that you can use with your fabrics, textiles and papers to make creative products around the home, and also Stick-IT® the most popular range of self-adhesive lampshade materials. We supply for retailers, wholesalers, distributors, workshops, manufacturers and educational establishments. Kit prices start from only £2.62+vat free delivery. www.dannel l s .com Lampshades - Table Lamps - Floor Lamps Lanterns - Clocks - Bins Handmade Wax Melts, Tealights and Candles Made from Eco-Friendly, Vegan, ethically sourced ingredients. www.topdogcandles.com | www.topdogcandles.etsy.com | 07786516040 Facebook: TopDog candles | Instagram: @topdogcandles
12 “It is good news that the Chancellor has announced a rise in the Department for International Trade’s budget, in particular the allocation of £45m in funding for the Export Support Service holds out the prospect of really making a difference to how the Government can help businesses to export. “There is funding too for radical improvements at the border to streamline traders’ interactions with agencies. The introduction of a Single Trade Window, the funding for which, to the tune of £180m, has now been announced, is an opportunity for a step change in how trade is done. “Having an efficient, effective border is a big part of facilitating international trade and so the £838 earmarked for upgrading how people and goods get into and out of the UK should signal a big step forward. Digital technology can offer a lot in terms of removing barriers and enabling companies to get what and who they need to their customers quickly and predictably. If admin can be done in advance away from the border itself it reduces the likelihood of the last-minute snags and snarl ups that cost businesses so much. “In the light of the skills shortages, from which we know internationally trading companies are suffering, the commitments of an additional £554m Adult skills and an uplift for apprenticeships are very welcome. Training people to do roles such as customs compliance or logistics management is essential if we are to boost the UK’s international trade performance. “And as eyes turn towards COP, and the scale of the climate challenge becomes ever more apparent, the moves to green shipping by attracting more carriers to the UK’s stringent standards is to be applauded.” - Marco Forgione. New sales manager appointed for Scotland’s Trade Fairs Springboard Events, organisers of Scotland’s Trade Fairs, has just appointed a new sales manager. Jak Kelly-O’Donnell will manage the sales and bookings for the 500 or so exhibitors who are taking stands at this Scottish Show which takes place at the SEC, Glasgow from 23rd-25th January, 2022. With a background in exhibition sales, most notably eight years in sales for The Wedding Show at the SEC, Jak brings a wealth of experience in selling stands and organising shows. She’s also worked on the Baby Show and is well versed in events at the SEC in Glasgow. On 27th October, 2021, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, announced the 2021 Autumn Budget and Spending Review in the House of Commons. The statement set out the Government’s spending plans for each government department for the next three financial years. The following statements are comments from Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the retail industry charity the Retail Trust; and Director General of the Institute of Export & International Trade, Marco Forgione, respectively. “Financial stress can cause a range of mental health issues so we very much welcome the increase in national living wage in today’s budget. This has the potential to provide much-needed relief for thousands of retail workers who have faced extraordinary financial, physical and emotional pressures over the last year and a half. “As a charity, the Retail Trust has given out £1.2million of non-repayable financial aid since the start of the pandemic to help people working in the industry to pay bills and keep a roof over their heads. We have also run more than 11,000 counselling sessions for those struggling with mental health challenges. “Our only hope is that the increased wages bill that will follow doesn’t lead to more job losses or retailers having to close more stores. Retail employment is absolutely vital in tackling issues like social mobility and supporting young people into jobs and training so the measures announced around business rates will be really important when it comes to helping retailers’ ongoing recovery from the pandemic.” - Chris Brook-Carter. Comments from the Autumn Budget
Compact LED Desk Lamp White N3280 Black N3281 Lightweight & Portable - folds flat • 3 colour temperatures • Touch sensitive buttons NEW www.native-lighting.com To become a stockist, then please get in touch: T 01173 709995 E sales@native-lighting.com Introducing newWhite Craftfoam! A completely blank canvas for any modeller, sculptor or crafter to work with. Fabricated by Panel Systems Also available in grey and green. Craftfoam is one of the most popular materials with craft enthusiasts – here’s why: • It’s easy to cut and shape, sand, mould and bond • It’s lightweight, but rigid • Available in a range of thicknesses • Arrives boxed in a convenient selection of sizes Suitable for sculpting, model making, crafts, hobbies, floral displays – the possibilities are endless. For more information or to place on order, call 01909 774914 or email: sales@panelsystems.co.uk Buy at our online shop www.craftfoam.co.uk
We provide a fast, friendly, and reliable service on our increasing range of products such as…. Plains • Laces • Embroidered Beaded • Tulles • Edgings • Motifs • Buttons • Accessories • Eco Going Green: Alongside the launch of our new Eco Fabrics sample book, we are promoting the many things we do to be a “Green” supplier including using as many recycled items as possible. Contact us to find out more! E: admin@michaelsbridalfabrics.co.uk • T: 01322380480 • W: www.michaelsbridalfabrics.co.uk Michael's Bridal Fabrics @michaelsbridalfabrics @MichaelsBridal We are an agent for Ramon Santaeulària, Contact us to find out more! ®
15 BRAND SPANKING NEW Brand spanking new Check out some new and exciting products in the current market UNI-BALL Create beautiful lettering and brush script designs with uni-ball’s Love Lettering PIN pen calligraphy collection This set includes three chisel tip pens in small, medium and large plus an expressive brush tip and 0.9mm tip for clear definition. This variation in nib style and size allows for a range of different hand-lettering styles and overall finish. Chisel tips are wedge-shaped, depending on how you hold the pen, you will be able to create a broad or narrow stroke. PIN’s brush tip is firm, so it adapts to your pressure, angle or speed of writing. This firmness gives you excellent control, giving you the power to truly master brush script and expressive brush pen painting techniques. These, combined with the robust chunky line of the 0.9mm fine tip pen provides a wealth of creative calligraphy possibilities. The creative hand-lettering pen set is presented in a fully biodegradable plastic-free pack that was manufactured in the UK using vegetable inks and sustainable printing processes. The pack artwork features calligraphy from hand-lettering artist, Lettering Our World. +44 (0)1908 328 833 contactus@mpuni.eu www.uniball.co.uk PEARLYWINKS Pearlywinks’ brand new EZ Blend Extreme Sprays have been developed with coverage and simplicity in mind, they’re perfect for adding colour to your projects and also fantastic to blend with. The sprays have been created to a blend that really does simplify blending and also allows them to be water reactive. Spritz the sprays on to a dry ink pad or some cut and dry foam and use the ink to stamp with, apply with a blending brush to achieve perfect colourful results. This set comes with nine 30ml sprays in gorgeous colours and has an RRP of £31.91. +44 (0)1612 229 690 simon@pearlywinkscraftsupplies.com www.pearlywinks.com HERITAGE CRAFTS Stella (JLSL1550) is part of the Elegance range. The design measures 16.5cm x 40cm and has an RRP£55.45. Designs are available as complete cross stitch kits with 27 count evenweave or 14 count aida fabric. Kits contain: Zweigart fabric, DMC stranded cottons sorted on to numbered cards, a needle and clear charts and instructions. sales@hcrafts.com www.hcrafts.com EAZI CANDLE Making bespoke, personalised candles is easy with EaziCandle. These new wax appliqué sheets come in an amazing range of colours and can be safely used to decorate candles. Cut out shapes from the wax appliqué sheets using cookie cutters or go free hand with a craft knife. The wax shapes when warmed slightly in the hand will stick onto the inside of clear glassware, which can be personalised with letters or shapes. You can also apply the wax shapes to the top of a container candle or to the side of a pillar candle. Use your imagination to create beautiful, bespoke designs. Get in touch with one of the team for more information. +44 (0)1335 390 639 info@eazicandle.co.uk www.eazicandle.co.uk
16 ENVELOPES World of Envelopes has added a new product to its range! Say hello to these new environmentally-friendly, biodegradable version of cello bags, manufactured with a substance called PLA (polylactic acid) which is produced by using fermented plant starch. These bags are perfect in preparation for the introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022 – make sure your business is ready. The biodegradable cello bags are available in six sizes and are ideal for packaging sweets, jewellery, crafting accessories and more. The peel and seal closure makes them super easy to use, and helps keep your items protected from the elements when sealed. +44 (0)1628 810 999 customercare@worldofenvelopes.com www.worldofenvelopes.com HAWTHORN HANDMADE These new needle minders are made in the UK from birch plywood and super-strong neodymium magnets and they retail at £8. The three new designs are the Penguin, Christmas Jumper and Snow Globe. Needle minders are a perfect gift for all stitchers, saving hours of looking for lost needles! Plus, they double as cute fridge magnets or even little brooches. +44 (0)1258 863 873 www.hawthornhandmade.com S&S HOME SUPPLIES LTD. T/A OLFA UK A craft project requires not only the right cutting tools but also the correct cutting surface. That’s where OLFA’s FCMA2 (450mm x 620mm) and FCMA3 (320mm x 450mm) cutting mats come in. Both user and eco-friendly, these foldable 2.5mm thick mats have been specially made for heavy-duty cutting and can be used with all OLFA utility knives, art knives, and even their rotary cutters. Following a three-layer structure; their tough cutting surface is made of flexible olefin resin and has a layer of durable, hard resin underneath. Non-slip backing has also been added for cutting stability. Both mats benefit from OLFA’s selfhealing technology; the surface of the mat returns to its original shape after it has been cut. It’s soft enough to protect the blade, but also hard enough to prevent heavy incisions from occurring. Both mats are also double-sided and feature easy-to-read numbers and yellow metric grids (centimetres and inches). They’re created mainly for quilt/patchwork applications such as easy measuring and accurate cutting of straight lines and precise angles. Their foldability means that they occupy as little space as possible and can easily be stored away. This also makes them convenient to transport between locations. Their fold line is a curved joint that is designed to piece together closely to prevent blades from cutting into the joint gap. +44 (0)20 8204 1422 www.olfauk.com CRAFTY YOU CRAFTY ME New to the Crafty You Crafty Me collection for January 2022 is a range of stylish macramé rainbow kits. Macramé growing in popularity thanks to its simplicity and natural materials and with gorgeous 100 per cent British wool and natural cotton rope these kits contain all the materials you need to get creative. Available in rainbow and spring colours and two sizes, these kits also include clear step-by-step instructions with colour photographs to make some stunning hanging rainbows. wholesale@craftyyoucraftyme.com www.craftyyoucraftyme.com
Bothy Threads New Autumn Collection 2020! Bothy Threads Ltd., Unit 7, Aspatria Business Park, Aspatria, Wigton, CA7 3DP info@bothythreads.com 01900 828844 www.bothythreads.com Bothy Threads New Autumn Collection 2020! Bothy Threads Ltd., Unit 7, Aspatria Business Park, Aspatria, Wigton, CA7 3DP info@bothythreads.com 01900 828844 www.bothythreads.com Bothy reads Christmas Collection The Home of Happy Stitching Bothy Threads Ltd., Unit 7 Aspatria Business Park, Aspatria, Wigton CA7 3DP info@bothythreads.com 01900 828844 www.bothythreads.com Expand your brand with a custom UK made craft collection photocentricgroup.com/craft 01733 349937 craft@photocentric.co.uk Get in touch to start your journey NIFTY™ : Clean & Organized ISBN: 9781446309056 RRP: £12.99 Order your copy today from David & Charles UK Sales: rachel@davidandcharles.com International Sales: kelly@davidandcharles.com Free projects, patterns and exclusive content from your favourite art & craft books! Sign up free today: www.bookmarkedhub.com
18 MICHAEL’S BRIDAL FABRICS Michael’s Bridal Fabrics is now offering a sample book exclusively for eco fabrics, which will be ready by the end of the year. This includes plain satins, crepes, mikados and tulle along with qualities made from milk, oranges, corn and rose petals. There are some new lace designs including French organic cotton qualities, and recycled Guipure qualities. There’s also some new Italian embroideries. The company is also taking steps to ensure it becomes as ‘green’ as possible in all areas. More information is available by request. +44 (0)1322 380 480 www.michaelsbridalfabrics.co.uk KNITTING FEVER For most people, tweed conjures up images of cool, crisp fall weather and all that this implies; apple-picking, leaf-peeping, simmering stews, football games and of course, hand-knitted woollen garments. Knitting Fever’s new fall/winter ’21 yarn from Ella Rae, Elegant Tweed, is just that. It delivers both tweed and elegance at the same time. The superfine alpaca, wool, poly and silk blend provides the elegance while tiny multicolour woolly nubs throughout give this yarn its classic tweed look and feel. A gauge of 12-15 stitches per four inches using US 9-11 (5.5mm-8mm) needles classifies this as a bulky yarn − which will make for quick stitching. Elegant Tweed contains 240 yds/100g per skein and is available in a total of 10 subdued shades. customerservice@knittingfever.com www.knittingfever.com GROVES PONY has been working hard to create an environmentallyfriendly solution for single use packaging and the company has fulfilled the brief perfectly. Not only has PONY removed any plastic but have replaced it with a jute case. The jute plant has an extremely low carbon footprint and is an amazing crop for the environment as the plants are rain fed and require no pesticides, fertilisers or irrigation. These cases are sturdy and customer ready. There will be no worries of the pins escaping with a neat popper on the back to keep them safe. These plastic-free, space-saving cases are perfect for the environmentally conscious knitter. sales@groves-banks.com www.grovesltd.co.uk VISAGE TEXTILES LTD Wild Dreams is a vibrant collection of hand drawn floral blooms designed by Paula Milner, The Crafty Lass. Printed on organic cotton, Paula’s second collection is inspired by summer meadows, blossoming bouquets and the true wonder of British nature and can be ordered now for delivery this spring. Paula hopes these colourful designs truly inspire people to get making and creating. +44 (0)161 832 2213 admin@visagetextiles.com www.visagetextiles.com
visit: eazicandle.co.uk email: info@eazicandle.co.uk phone: 01335 390639 Our range includes 4 specialist melt and pour waxes for making premium quality candles at home. ◆ Add our fragrances and colours to make bespoke hand poured candles ◆ Upcycle, recycle or make new candles ◆ No special candle making equipment needed with our innovative melt and pour candle making system ◆ Over 24 years of candle making expertise has gone into creating eazi candle! Call us for more information on 01335 390639 or email us info@eazicandle.co.uk for a trade price list www.faedmunds.com info@faedmunds.com
20 VIRIDIAN Viridian is delighted to introduce its new range of Opal 4ply yarn Van Gogh. Opal first presented these impressionistic colourways in honour of Vincent van Gogh 10 years ago and they’ve never been forgotten. There are eight new colours this year. Van Gogh is one of the most popular painters of the 19th century and went down in world history with his paintings. Opal is the home of limited edition self-patterning sock yarn. Most ranges are made of 75 per cent wool and 25 per cent polyamide − it’s hard wearing yet gentle, perfect for both little ones and the more mature skin. office@viridianltd.co.uk https://viridianyarn.com KNITTING FEVER New to the Noro fall/winter 2021-22 collection is Haunui, pronounced Hoo-nu-ie and translated ‘place of the winds’. The wool comes from the South Island of New Zealand from a familyrun mulesing-free farm whose sheep are bred from the Halfbred and Fine Romney breeds. Their wool shows natural colours from brown to beige and is of the highest quality with a fineness of 22-24 microns. The fleeces are processed in Japan with old machines and a lot of manual work carried out especially gently to preserve the natural properties of the wool fibres and to make them tangible in the yarn. Haunui is offered in five undyed natural colours. customerservice@knittingfever.com www.knittingfever.com PHOTOCENTRIC Based in Cambridgeshire, UK, Photocentric specialises in providing customers all around the globe with fantastic service and support, since 2002. In addition to clear stamps, the company also offers a growing range of other bespoke craft products, such as stencils, dies, printed papers and more, as they enable creative businesses of all shapes and sizes to bring their brand to life. Making creating a high-quality craft range accessible and simple. In 2022, Photocentric is providing something new for customers, adding a new 3D printing service to accompany its existing offering. Customers now have the ability to work with Photocentric to enable greater innovation in mass manufacturing, to produce product free of tooling or set-up costs. The image shows a set of perfume caps that were designed using the freedom of geometry that only 3D printing technology allows, all printed together on one production run. The beauty of 3D technology to the craft industry is the ability to customise and adjust parts at ease, and the speed to market that can be achieved. These lids were all printed on their revolutionary Liquid Crystal Magna printer. +44 (0)1733 349937 https://photocentricgroup.com/craft DAVID & CHARLES From straightening out your kitchen drawers and maximising closet space to keeping your home clean and tidy, the tips, tricks, and hacks in NIFTYTM: Clean & Organized will take your space to the next level in no time. From the popular BuzzFeed lifestyle destination NIFTYTM, this home organisation guide is perfect for anyone who wants to bring a little order to whatever space they call home. It includes helpful advice on how to clean and organise every room in the house, making life easier, more organised, and less stressful than ever before. With money-saving tips, fun DIYs, and inventive ideas for maximising space, this book is the ultimate cleaning resource. Whether it’s tackling the chaos of the bedroom closet or making the most out of the limited space in your tiny bathroom, this title makes tidying up and staying organised easier than ever. +44 (0)1392 790 650 https://davidandcharles.com
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23 SHOWS & EVENTS Shows, news & events This season’s most unmissable events Diary dates Harrogate Christmas & Gift Fair 16th-19th January, 2022 Harrogate Convention Centre www.harrogatefair.com TOY FAIR 25th-27th January, 2022 Olympia, London www.toyfair.co.uk Christmasworld 28th January- 1st February, 2022 Messe Frankfurt, Germany www.christmasworld.messefrankfurt.com Paperworld 29th January- 1st February, 2022 Messe Frankfurt, Germany www.paperworld.messefrankfurt.com Creativeworld 29th January- 1st February, 2022 Messe Frankfurt, Germany www.creativeworld.messefrankfurt.com SPRING FAIR 6th - 9th February, 2022 NEC, Birmingham www.springfair.com CHSI Stitches 27th-28th February, 2022 NEC, Birmingham www.chsi.co.uk BCTF 10th-12th April, 2022 Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate https://bctf.co.uk/ CRAFTERAMA 12th-23th March, 2022 Alexandra Palace, London www.crafterama.co.uk British Craft Trade Fair on track for major comeback in 2022 Planning for BCTF is in full swing as the new owners, Kerrison Exhibitions invest in the show’s return to the Yorkshire Event Centre for the first time since its successful 2019 edition, for what’s set to be its biggest and best show yet. Taking place from 10th-12th April, 2022 at the YEC Harrogate, the fair will welcome thousands of quality trade buyers looking for the latest collections for their stores from over 300 carefully vetted designer makers showcasing the very best of British handmade craft and giftware. Uptake for the show has been strong, with spaces in both the Newcomers Gallery and Post- Newcomers Gallery being limited due to high demand. Makers participating in the show can also take advantage of the additional benefits such as: • Inclusion in the online trade Catalogue. • Online Mentoring Sessions to help prepare them for the show, covering topics such as pricing, T&C, SOR, percentage mark-ups and stand displays. • Access to Newcomers Guides and Help Audios. Matt Miller, owner of Kerrison Exhibitions commented, “BCTF has a fantastic following of thousands of UK buyers and galleries already, and we’ll be supplementing direct mail and email invitations to these regular visitors with promotional campaigns on social and across all key press titles. We’re committed to making BCTF 2022 a great success for all our designer makers.” Latest confirmed designer makers include Caroline Finlay Jewellery, Xuella Arnold Jewellery, Chris Ceaser Photography, Papershades, Ruth Haldon Design, Circle & Dash, Emma Nicol Illustration, Tracy Ford Ceramics, The Linen Garden, Umbellifer, Wendy Bell Designs, Holy Loch Pottery, Kushboo Soaps, Lauren’s Cows, olliefrench. woodworks, Sarah Perry Fine Art, Tania Holland Gallery, The Candle Brand, Erum Aamir Ceramics and many more. For more information about the show, email Kane directly: kane@kerrisonexhibitions.co.uk or visit the website: www.bctf.co.uk If you’re interested in exhibiting, please register as a maker using the following form: https://bctf.co.uk/register/exhibitor.html If you’re a trade buyer and wish to register to attend, please use this form: https://bctf.co.uk/register/buyer.html Crafterama at Ally Pally Brought to you by Sarah & Vicky of Stamp Addicts (since 1992) and Stamperama (since 1998) Crafterama at Ally Pally is an exciting new event being held in The Great Hall at Alexandra Palace in north London, a beautiful iconic venue overlooking London. Crafterama, taking place 12th-23th March, 2022, is an extension of Stamperama which is a fun, friendly and interactive event with makes & takes, demonstrations from expert professionals and lots of incredible exhibitors and famous faces from the world of crafts. For more details visit www.crafterama.co.uk or call Stamp Addicts on +44 (0)1234 855 833
24 Face to Face: CHSI Stitches returns CHSI Stitches returns to the NEC on 27th-28th February, 2022. Event Director Steve Mitchell says: “This length of time without a face-to-face trade event is unprecedented in the craft industry and we know there’s a huge appetite for meeting in person again. This is the show that brings together our industry and it’s been much missed. We’re excited to be providing craft businesses with their first opportunity for personal contact with buyers in two years. “There’s a growing demand out there for craft, with much of the new interest driven by the events of the last two years. The annual Craft Report, presented at the show, will deliver valuable insights to businesses to enable them to capitalise on this growth and the latest trends. Combined with our speaker line up this year, the highest profile to date, we have an unmissable event, and we can’t wait to welcome the industry back.” A brand new two-day format will deliver valuable content and experiences to key industry buyers and connect them with the industry’s leading brands and products. Features confirmed to date include: • The Craft Report 2022. It’s the fifth year of this core industry report and the 2022 presentation will include a headline trends update as well as a special report on Going Green: Crafting to Net Zero. If you make it to one presentation, make it this one. • Insights Hub – expect the highest profile speaker line up to date. • Networking events from the Craft Network – forget Zoom, catch up on those all-important face-to-face chats here. • The largest selection of brand-new products under one roof. There’s no substitute for seeing the products firsthand. For further information, visit: www.chsi.co.uk Details correct at time of going to press. Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring is back! Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring is back in person, in Glasgow from 23rd-25th January, 2022. With a raft of interesting and innovative exhibitors clamouring for stands, this is a not-to-be missed event for retailers north and south of the border. Following the successful re-introduction of Scotland’s Trade Fair Autumn in September where business was brisk and retailers were quick to place orders, it seems that the industry is looking forward with confidence and returning to the bigger January Show. Here some 500 exhibitors will showcase their products from gifts to crafts and jewellery to textiles at the Scottish Exhibition Centre. Scotland’s Trade Fair Online has been busy throughout 2021, keeping 175 suppliers and over 2000 retailers in touch all year with a combination of an online product directory and live product sessions. Scotland’s Trade Fair Spring is more than just a buying show, it will also have Best Product Awards, workshops, talks from experts, networking opportunities and more. The Launch Gallery and Craft Gallery will be a hotbed of creativity and is often the first stop for many retailers. Nothing beats the actual face-to-face interaction that visits to trade shows facilitate, where buyers can meet with suppliers and where they can feel the quality of products, and choose colours, ranges and sizes, which has been so missed over the last 18 months. Helen Crawford from the Old School gift shop in Beauly emphasised: “We always think of the Scottish Show as an opportunity to cement existing supplier relationships, meet the ‘new kids on the block’ and touch base with our fellow retailers. If you want the best commercial Scottish products, this trade show is an unmissable date in the buying calendar!” Chris Lewis from Chris Lewis Silver who exhibited at the recent Autumn Show said: “Scotland’s Trade Fairs never fail to provide me with the results that I hope for. I’ve never done one of your shows and not hit my target.” Show Director Mark Saunders said: “After such a tough period for the retail industry in Scotland we’re delighted to be back in January. Interest for the show from potential exhibitors has been positive and we’re pleased to be showcasing many new and innovative producers from Scotland, the UK and beyond. We aim to be a one-stop show for all independent retailers in Scotland and northern England. However much online ordering has advanced recently, nothing quite beats seeing and feeling the products in person, networking and re-connecting with the industry. We look forward to welcoming you all on 23rd January, 2022.” For further information, visit www.scotlandstradefairs.co.uk
Everything you want to gift and be gifted with. Contemporary, quirky, personalised or licensed, it’s all here. springfair.com The Springboard Center, Mantle Lane, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3DW robert@cleopatrasneedle.co.uk Tel: 0843 479 3071 Mob: 0757 242 1022 www.cleopatrasneedle.co.uk NEW RELEASE CX14 FALL ON GREEN Inspired by the Autumnal colours of the Maple leaves in New England, USA.
26 h+h americas announces partnership with the Creative Industry Association h+h americas continues to gain momentum with a high volume of inquiries and many sign-ups for this event. In addition to the partnerships with the Craft Industry Alliance and Indie Untangled, who will organise a group exhibit for startups in this industry, the organiser has announced a partnership with the Creative Industry Association. The UK-based Creative Industry Association mission is to assist its members with educational content, matchmaking opportunities and creative approaches to increase their value to the craft and hobby industry. Members are grouped in four tiers consisting of Start ups, Retailers, Industry Suppliers and Designers. Craig De Souza, Founder & CEO of the Creative Industry Association says: “We help our international members in developing a strategic plan so they have everything they need to reach the next level of their business journey. Our mission is to constantly improve standards for the global creative, craft and hobby industry. h+h Americas is coming just at the right time after 18 turbulent months. We know that some of our UK suppliers and buyers have a keen interest to attend this US event so we are eager to work with the organiser to make this happen.” “By partnering with the Creative Industry Association we’ve added another valuable partner to our event. This association has global reach and connects the buyer and sellers community while also educating and connecting this industry. We’re confident this partnership will be valuable in our effort to deliver a high quality and diverse trade show and educational program. We look forward to this co-operation,” says Mette Petersen, President and Managing Director of Chicago-based Koelnmesse Inc. h+h americas, the sister event of its German namesake, is said to become the main US industry event for buyers of home textiles, tapestry, sewing, knitting, crocheting, haberdashery, quilting, needlepoint, and business software and marketing solutions. It will be held in partnership with the Craft Industry Alliance, a membership organisation that has served the craft professionals community since 2015. For more information visit: www.hh-americas.com The stationery community reunites at London Stationery Show Both visitors and exhibitors alike were reunited with muchmissed friends, colleagues, and clients, and it didn’t take long before stationery buyers were placing orders face-to-face, keeping up to date with current trends and getting hands-on with new products. “Having had a tumultuous two years, we were ecstatic to finally get back to the Business Design Centre (5th-6th October) and bring the stationery community together once more” says Event Director, Alex Butler. “It’s great to be back seeing our clients again. Being able to present products, not over video calls, but at the show where visitors can touch and feel the products”, commented Glenn Bowen of Pukka Pads. Rachel Owen, who heads up the marketing for Staedtler UK said: “It’s great to be back seeing customers face-to-face and having those quality interactions, as well as being able to meet new customers”. This year’s visitors included Amazon, Anthropologie, B&M Retail, Costco Wholesale Ltd, Disney, Fortnum & Mason, Hallmark, Harrods, Hobby Craft, Marks & Spencer, Merlin Entertainments, Ocado, Paperchase, Ryman, Scribbler, Selfridges, Smythson of Bond Street and Staples.co.uk There were also representatives from heritage sites, independent gift shops and specialist stationers including, Bartrums & Co Ltd, Blenheim Palace, Colemans, Creoly, Essex County Council Library Services, London Graphic Centre, Royal Museums Greenwich, Scriptum Fine Stationery, The Southbank Art Company, Under the Rowan Trees Ltd and Whipsnade Zoo. This year’s Trends Hub was curated by Sally Angharad, who searches out the latest innovations and identifies new design directions for designers, manufacturers, and retailers. The overall theme was based around ‘Being’ and focussed on four key elements – living, restoring, connecting and escaping. Each of the four elements related to different colours, types of materials, textures and sustainability – all correlating with new product launches on display at the show. In place of the Stationery Awards for 2021, we saw the introduction of the Buyers Choice Award. Visitors were able to view 100+ hero products put forward by exhibitors in order to win ‘best in show’. Visitors voted in their hundreds, and at the end of day one it was proving to be a close battle, but by the end of day two, there was a clear winner in sight, with Nice & Graphic and their handmade letterpress print picking up the inaugural Buyers Choice Award. LaunchPad, the competition for new stationery suppliers looking to break into the dynamic, design-led stationery market, gave the opportunity for Love Writing Co., My Happy Journal, O What A Feeling and Wrag Wrap to exhibit and showcase their products in front of a large audience for the first time. The Retail Matters live talks returned and proved a big hit yet again, with Martha Keith, Founder of Martha Brook mentioning “I had such positive feedback on the presentations and visitors seemed to take away a lot of advice”. Martha’s presentation focussed on how stationery and gift retailers can build their brands through effective use of social media. Whereas Catherine Erdly, Founder of the Resilient Retail Club, gave all the latest information on how retailers can move on from the disruption caused by Covid. “We’re so thankful for all those who were involved in this year’s show – from our ground-breaking exhibitors to the speakers who shared their expertise, and every visitor who came to celebrate our industry’s big reunion. We’re excited about what London Stationery Show 2022 will bring and can’t wait to get stuck into the planning for another stand out event”, commented Alex Butler. The show will return next year on its more traditional dateline, taking place at the Business Design Centre, London, on 17th-18th May, 2022.
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