The Handmade Fair

Last Saturday I was up bright and early, as I was due to attend The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court Palace.  I arrived at the beginning of the day and walked through the palace gardens to the fair.

The first thing I saw were the pompoms.  This was only a small section of them.

They were part of Kirstie Allsopp's attempt at smashing the Guinness World Record for the longest chain of pompoms in aid of the charity Sense.  

(photo source)

I walked around the fair to get my bearings

and popped into the Rowan tent.

I loved this crocheted blanket!

My ticket included a needle felting class with Jayne Emerson at 11am.  This is the first time that I have attempted this craft and I will definitely be doing more of it.  The general consensus of the ladies I spoke to was that this was an easy to do craft with quick rewards and I have to agree.

My robin still needs a little trimming, but I am really happy with how he turned out.  My mind is now racing away with ideas for more needle felting projects! :)

After the hour long class I wandered around the shopping village.  It was very easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of beautiful crafts and supplies on offer.  These are some of the displays and goods that caught my eye:-

The beautiful embroidered pictures on the Rowandean Embroidery stand.  There was the opportunity to sit and embroider here, which I would have liked to do if I had had more time.

This Advent Calendar Quilt, displayed by Cowslip Workshops was so full of detail!

These Liberty fabrics were tempting, but I managed to resist.  :)

I was rather taken with this autumn wreath on Blooming Felt's exhibit.

I had booked a ticket to see Kirstie Allsopp talking to Kaffe Fassett in the Grand Theatre at 1pm.

What an interesting man!  The talk was very relaxed and amusing and was over far too quickly!  I could have listened to Kaffe Fassett speak all day.

They discussed his fabulous use of colour and the history behind his work.

This needlepoint had to be my favourite piece there.

When asked how he chooses his colours, he replied that he picked some colours, then added 20 more!

Kirstie was rocking a floral headband and pompoms on her shoes.  She totally got away with it!

After the talk I managed to walk to the stage for a close up of the gorgeous quilts. 

Back outside I stopped at the Spin City stand in the Etsy tent.  I tried my hand at spinning with a drop spindle

and decided to take the plunge and try again at home.  I made an attempt this morning and I have to say it didn't go as well as it did on Saturday!  I might need lessons! :)

There were two main shopping tents, both a feast for the eyes.

This beautiful redwork quilt was on display at Dandelion Designs.

I liked this pretty tin on another stand

and these lovely blankets too.

These adorable ceramic buttons are by Kate Holliday.

I just had to buy these ones!

These large buttons could have been made for me!  They are just like my Ella, Maurice and late Pippa.

They are machine washable, but I would be scared to put them inside my washing-machine!  They are going to decorate something special, like a crocheted brooch or a bag.

I was pleased to see several yarn sellers in the tents.  I bought this hank of baby alpaca 4-ply by Watercolours & Lace, in the colourway Summer Garden.

My final purchase of the day was this novelty tape measure. Well, I had to didn't I? :)

I had signed up for the World Pomination class towards the end of my day at the fair.

Previously I had made 30 pompoms for the attempt at the Guinness World Record for the longest chain of pompoms.  The record was smashed as 7200 pompoms were made by the end of the fair! 

All too soon it was time to leave, but I have noticed that the Fair is going to be held again next year! :)