Craft show and shopping (not the same thing)
Along with all the Melbourne women aged over sixty (or so it seemed), I went along to the Stitches and Craft show today. Taking a baby in a pusher is a great way to have an economical time at a craft show, I must say! It makes it quite difficult to get close to the stalls. People either stop and coo and chat to bub, or they see the pusher and glower threateningly. The Living Creatively stand was a highlight! There is the most gorgeous crafty garden that has been created, complete with real grass and real rabbits! I briefly met Kristen, Angela, Bianca, Kristine, Justine, Fiona, and there were other crafty gals there too I didn’t get to chat to but whose names seemed very familiar. It was a bit of a blogmeet! My friend Nikki was demonstrating how to make bags (very professional with the microphone, I must say) and all in all it was the best stand there. There were also some beautiful yarns available (Pear Tree Yarn was especially gorgeous), but I restrained myself from buying and instead took their business cards with those all-important online store addresses. Some great felting stands, loads of beading/scrapbooking/cross-stitch/needlepoint/quilting (none of which interests me at the moment – although I did get a little excited about a super-duper fancy schmancy iron and ironing board – what am I for that to be a thrill?), lots of the same old same old, so it was great to have Living Creatively there to freshen things up.
So, back to shopping! I have done a little bit of online shopping over the past month or so, and thought that it’s time that I shared it.
Lots of beautiful crochet patterns, great skirts (it’s about time that I learned to draft my own simple skirt patterns instead of relying on commercial ones), yet more crafty bags, scarves, placemats etc in the Simple Gifts book, and Style Rx is a terrific guide to dressing to suit your shape.
Clover crochet hooks, from the USA. Once again, it would have cost me more than double the price to buy them here! Online shopping must really be doing some Australian retailers out of some business. I can’t wait to give these hooks a try. Maybe with my other new book, Vintage Crochet.
Oh, so many lovely things to crochet! Like these:
among many, many others!
A week or so ago I also managed some successful op-shopping – fourteen old Top Kids magazines for 50c each:
and the Spencer & Rutherford handbag outlet sale had these trims:
As you can see, I had no need to go spending money at the Craft show after all! I’ve got loads of lovely goodies to craft with and inspire me as it is.
Although while getting my sewing machine attended to again yesterday, I did spot this:
Well, I do have a major birthday coming up … maybe I can dream a little …
It was great to meet you, thanks for stopping by 🙂
Sounds like fun Lara, but I see what you mean about not needing to buy…..that is a serious online shopping skill you have my dear.
That show sounds like such a fun time! You’re going to be very busy with all those new books. Fun busy of course. 🙂
Your post brings back memories Lara of the first and last time I did the stitches and craft show. It was with a pram in tow and I vowed never to go there again. We had every 60 year old women in Sydney crammed into Rosehill Racecourse and they were the rudest people I’ve ever encountered. My beautiful boy didn’t get so much as a coo just lots of grumbles, pushes and shoves. BUT I did buy stuff of course.
I’m heading in tomorrow with my 7 & 4 year olds in tow. If I see the Living Creatively stand, I think I’ll cut my loses and get out!
OOOH MY GOSH, A Craft show, no wonder it was “flat chat” at the moment!!!LOL. I would have been one of those ooing and aweing at you precious baby!
peggyann
Great haul.
A quick question – did you spot a stall stocking dolls that are pre made or you knit then make clothes for. They were quite expensive from memory – do you remember the name of the stall?
Unfortunate about the pram, you’d think the ladies would be more understanding since most of them had been there at one point in their life.
The next best thing to shopping is to see someone else’s shopping 🙂 thanks for sharing and let us know how the crochet hooks work out, I’ve never seen those type before and I hear you about the online shopping. I probably buy about ninety percent of my craft supplies online. I’m horrified by retail prices now.
Karen
Hi,
I felt urged to speak up I am a shop owner and yes the retailers are feeling the loss of sales going to overseas internet stores.
We hold huge inventories employ staff, pay high rents and have the problem having to deal with local distributors not addressing the issue of pricing.
I know I and other shop owners work very hard at having the latest and most gorgeous fabrics, come up with new designs etc.
Thankfully i have many lovely customers that support us but had to comment how disapoining it is when some come into our shops to check out the latest book or fabrics, then brag about buying from the net on their blogs.
If you don’t support your local shops you won’t have them, simple as that.
There will come a time that shop owners will pack up and leave it to the overseas online stores.
I hope this doesn’t happen but I think it will.
Lynn (Patchwork on Central Park)
Thanks for your comment Lynn – I have emailed you.
Gosh, the one time I went with a pram, two years ago, the ladies were all so incredibly rude and pushy! I went alone yesterday for a couple of hours. I’m (mainly) a cross-stitcher, so a bit into the ‘same-old’, but I found the whole show quite underwhelming too. I did manage to meet Nicole, she’s lovely 🙂