Deployment at the Craft & Quilt Fair

Thursday morning our household was moving with the precision of army manoeuvres. Kids to get to school and 'Operation Craft Fair', saw me and The House Guest (from Heaven [Newcastle actually]) maintaining a strict timetable. Out of the house for the 8.21 fast train to Bliss for 8 hours! Between 9am - 5pm I was only contactable on the Craft Fair hotline and I was operating on a 'don't ask don't tell' budget policy. You know the one where you are allowed as much fabric, notions and patterns as you can hide!


The House Guest and I decided to split up and meet at 11.30 and 2.20 for refuelling. We had taken a packed lunch which meant we didn't have long to wait to get our coffee, sat down when we wanted, and saved ourselves a bit of spending money to boot!.


Starting at Stand 1, I took my time to look at each stand and even spent time at crafts that I don't do, but was able to admire and appreciate the work that went into each persons own passion. 
I fell in love all over again with Hot Possum - especially their matroushka quilt. I snaffled me some sprout design fabric, drooled over Prints Charming, chatted to shoppers and stall holders, spent a bit here and there and slowly filled my backpack with purchases, flyers, patterns and cards. 
I was mesmerised by the variety of ribbons on display. They are like the offspring of the bolts of fabric that can have me staring for hours on end. Oh so many more of them fit on a display shelf too!. I did show some restraint and took lots of business cards for 'follow up' purposes.


As if I don't have enough bag pattens already, but this CD from Jody at Quilt block of the month club was too good to pass up. Especially as we got a discount for going to the afternoon workshop. I have some plans for this bag pattern, (picked up from Retallacks). Actually I have some paisley material, that has plans for all these bag patterns...

I bought a couple of kits too. This mug holder, with it's own little matching fabric coaster, was justified on the grounds that I will need something to take with me when I get the opportunity to go to Brown Owls or the Craftroom...
The other kit is for a sewing bag, but I've already worked on modifying the kit to turn it into a laptop bag. The little paisley birdie was the clincher in that sale!


I stared at every single one of the 300+ quilts on display. I have a few little pics, but for reasons of fairness to the quilters, you will just have to imagine how wonderful they are.


I also picked up some other little bits and bobs - one being for the postcard swap. I found a few little 'time' related goodies - but you'll have to wait to see those later...


Foot sore,  but well satisfied, the House Guest and I reluctantly left at 5pm, lugged our bulging bags back up to Town Hall, fluked the fast-train to Beverly Hills, and were sitting, warm and cosy at home, with a reviving cuppa, in under an hour. 
Operation Craft Fair a resounding success!

thanks for taking a peek over the fence...