Creative Stitches:

Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts is returning to Exeter Westpoint from 22-25 September and Cardiff Motorpoint Arena from the 29 September – 1 October and will be showcasing some of the sumptuous costumes from the hit ITV series, Downton Abbey. 

Written by award winning writer Julian Fellowes, Downton Abbey captured the hearts of the country last year with some of the finest examples of Edwardian costume splendour.  Featuring a capsule collection of some of the most iconic outfits from the series, each outfit shows the exquisite needlework and craftsmanship that went into their design.  The collection includes dresses worn by Dame Maggie Smith (Dowager Countess of Grantham), Elizabeth McGoven (Countess of Grantham), Penelope Wilton (Isobel Crawley) and the three daughters, Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Lady Sybil Crawley.

Continuing the theme of costume dramas, the new Quilters Guild of the British Isles collection, The Romance of Words is helping to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of Jane Austen’s ‘Sense and Sensibility’.  Embracing the theme of romance in the written form, each quilt has captured the imagination of the maker and presents literal and lateral interpretations of the subject.

Poetry in Stitches will continue the collaboration of words and craft with the last round of this ever-popular project from the National Needlework Archive.  Inspired by poetry, textile artists have been asked to combine the two forms to complement each other.  This exhibit will feature some of the best and truly stunning interpretations.

Exploring the ancient craft of lace-making, The History of Lace-Making will show why lace is often described as an ornament in itself.  Featuring lace made by hand and machine, this exhibition will showcase needle lace, one of the most flexible forms of the art, Cutwork lace which is constructed by removing threads from a woven background and many other examples of this delicate art form.

Evoke memories from your childhood with the Glimpses of Childhood display.  This exciting embroidery display shows the best entries from the prestigious Stitch/Madeira 2011 competition that was judged at Fashion Embroidery and Stitch in March 2011.  Depicting everything from Dorothy, Toto and the Cowardly Lion to Rupert Bear, climbing trees and days out with the family to the seaside, this is one display that will make you feel young at heart!

BRAND NEW to this year’s show the Drop in ‘Sewing Cafe’ will be embracing the ‘make do and mend’ culture that is sweeping the nation and offer customers the chance to use a sewing machine by the hour.  Thelma Judge, former dressmaking advisor for John Lewis’s Oxford Street Store, will be on hand to offer you advice on how to update your garment with new techniques so make sure you bring your garments along and have a go!

Following a nationwide competition last year with the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and UK Hand Knitting Association, the Stylish Stitches ‘Headgear’ display will showcase some of the best entries received.  Judged by renowned knitting expert and author Erika Knight, whose book Simple Knitting featured on Kirstie’s Homemade Home, members were challenged to get their needles clicking and knit a piece of headgear – pop along to see what they came up with!

Renowned textile artist, Kim Thittichai, will be launching her latest book ‘Layered Textiles’.  The book demonstrates many brilliant new techniques for working with layers in textiles.  With over 20 years teaching experience, Kim will be on hand to offer her expertise in experimental textiles so why not go along with any questions you may have.

Featuring at the Cardiff show, the ‘Above and Below the Waves’ display  will be making waves and showing why it has been a shore hit at the Autumn 2010 and Spring 2011 ICHF Shows.  Measuring an enormous 9×6 metres including a 3D walk-through tunnel with knitted beaches, waves and all the creatures that lurk beneath the waves, this display has been raising money for the RNLI’s Train One – Save Many Campaign.

All show visitors will be able to enjoy a FREE programme of Quick & Easy Workshops and Talks each day of the show.  With more than 150 exhibitors on hand to offer you the best advice and all the latest products, ideas and innovations in the world of creative craft, you will leave the show racing home to try your hand at a new craft.

Hobbycrafts:

Put some fun and creativity back into your Christmas shopping by visiting Crafts for Christmas / Hobbycrafts / Art Materials Live at the NEC, Birmingham from the 3 – 6 November and Crafts for Christmas / Hobbycrafts at the SECC, October from 27-30 October!  Away from the crowds and queues of the High Street, this is a more relaxing shopping experience that will make a more handmade and personalised Christmas for you and your family!

Whether it’s a nostalgic toy for the children or a beautiful necklace for someone special, Crafts for Christmas offers a huge selection of fine handmade crafts for you to choose from with over 200 crafts people present.  You will find presents for even the most hard-to-buy for relatives and everything you need to make this an extra special Christmas.

Find treats that will capture every boy and girls’ heart, young or old at the British Toymakers Guild.  The Guild will demonstrate why traditional toys are best, with beautiful handcrafted dolls, scooters, character chess boards and much more.

Add some Christmas sparkle into your household and visit the Prima Magazine Craft Theatre where you can pick up some clever ideas to add some creative handmade touches.  With daily demonstrations you can learn how to personalise crafty Christmas cards and tree decorations.  The Festive Food and Drink aisle is a must visit for any foodie.  With a fabulous selection of goodies including handmade chocolates, marmalades, cheeses and wines, there will be something for even the most discerning tastebud.

Hobbycrafts, the UK’s largest creative crafts show, will be bigger and better than ever this year with over 200 exhibitors bringing the best of the creative craft world together.  Stock up and discover new products with an unrivalled choice of supplies.  Speak personally to the exhibitors for all the latest trends, ideas and top tips for a wide range of creative crafts including papercrafts, felting, beading, stamping, parchment craft, decoupage, calligraphy and much more. With daily on-stand demonstrations and mini workshops, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for your own creative craft projects.

Get creative at UK’s liveliest and biggest art materials show, Art Materials Live (Birmingham only) where leading professional artists will be on hand to offer the very latest in art supplies, ideas and innovations as well as free demonstrations to leave you feeling inspired and enthused.  Visitors can vote for their favourite painting in the ‘Simply the Best’ competition organised by the Leisure Painter & The Artist Magazines or attend one of their pre-bookable hands-on workshops.  Demonstrating artists include Bob Elcock who specialises in pastel pencils, Jeremy Ford who regularly features on the Painting and Drawing Channel, Fraser Scarfe who enjoys landscape painting in acrylics and oils, watercolour expert Matthew Palmer and many more.

If you want to have a Christmas that is surrounded by handmade and personal fares or simply want to stock up on your materials for your favourite craft, make sure you visit Crafts for Christmas, Hobbycrafts and Art Materials Live! You will have a truly enjoyable and inspirational day out that will leave you with loads of new ideas that you will be racing home to try!

Upcoming show dates:

Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts – Westpoint, Exeter

22-25 September 2011
Open 09.30-17.00 (Saturday 17.30)

Tickets:

Adults £7.00 on door (£5.50 advanced price)

Seniors £6.00 at door (£4.50 advanced price)

Children under 16 free if accompanied by an adult (otherwise £3)

Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff (Formally CIA)

29 September – 1 October 2011
Open 09.30-17.00

Tickets:

Adults £7.00 on door (£5.00 advanced price)

Seniors £6.00 at door (£4.00 advanced price)

Children under 16 free if accompanied by an adult (otherwise £3)

SECC, Glasgow

Crafts for Christmas & Hobbycrafts– 2 shows for the price of 1!

27-30 October 2011

Open: 09.30-17.00 (Sat 17.30)

Tickets:

ADULT: £5.50 advance/ £7.00 on the door

SENIOR: £4.50 advance/ £6.00 on the door

NEC Birmingham

Crafts for Christmas, Hobbycrafts & Art Materials Live – 3 shows for the price of 1!

3-6 November 2011

Open: 09.30-17.30 (Sun 17.00)

Tickets:

ADULT: £8.50 advance/ £10.00 on the door

SENIOR: £7.50 advance/ £9.00 on the door

2 DAY TICKET: (Advance only) ADULTS £14.00/ SENIOR £12.00

Children under 16 free if accompanied by an adult (Or £3)

Buy tickets on-line at www.ichf.co.uk  or Phone Ticket Hotline: 01425 277988

Show organisers ICHF have offered 10 pairs of tickets for each show to COTN visitors.  To be in with a chance of winning a pair of these tickets simply answer ‘Exeter’, ‘Cardiff’, ‘Glasgow’ or Birmingham’ to the question below.

Well our craft store only magazine Creative Cardmaking now includes a monthly competition and we want you to be a part of it!  Each month Creative Cardmaking contains a free designer paperpack, featuring some of the most gorgeous papers available.  These papers alone will have you itching to make cards before you can even get the magazine home; but don’t worry because that’s exactly what we want (well, once you’ve paid for the magazine that is)!  Use the papers to create a card, send it into us at Creative Cardmaking HQ and tell us which craft store you bought the magazine from.  If you’re lucky enough to be picked as our winner you’ll receive a £50 voucher (yes 50 quid off us) to spend in the craft store where you bought your copy of Creative!  Oh and by winning you’re also supporting your local craft store, because we’ll give it a £50 credit on its Practical Publishing account too!  That’s not all; your card will also appear on a full page feature within an issue of Creative Cardmaking where our readers can learn all about you!  So come on, let Creative Cardmaking showcase your talents by getting involved, just like our first winner did in issue 29…

Here’s the card from Debbie Stevens who picked up her copy of Creative Cardmaking in Mountain Ash Crafts, Stourbridge.

Front

Inside

So what are you waiting for?

Issue 30 of Creative Cardmaking goes on sale 1^st July and comes with a Krafty Hands paperpack.  For your chance to win a £50 spending spree in your local craft store, send your entry along with your name, address and email address to Your Creative Cardmaking Competition, Creative Cardmaking 30, Practical Publishing, Unit 1 Adlington Court, Adlington Business Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 4NL.  All entries must arrive by 29^th July 2011 and don’t forget to include the contact details of the craft store where you purchased your copy of Creative Cardmaking.

Good luck!

To find your local stockist of Creative Cardmaking call Chris on 0844 826 0611 or email chris.cooke@practicalpublishing.co.uk