Blimey! What were so many cool and colourful people doing on a Sunday afternoon in an East London venue normally associated with boxing bouts? Shopping for crafts of course!
This year's
Bust Christmas Craftacular was another festive market filled with gorgeous handmade goodies, sold by indie maker/designers offering a refreshing spread of fabulousness.
Bust? It is indeed an event associated with US magazine
Bust - they hold one in New York which inspired the London event to start up a few years ago.
As well as filling up your Christmas stockings there were free workshops throughout the day where you could make stuff. Milliner extraordinaire Chloe from
Hatastic! (she makes headwear from sweets and recycled things) ran a session on making mini fascinators ready to be worn on Christmas Day.
While Queen of Crafts
Jazz Domino Holly added festival flair with her Handmade Hangout where you could make dream catchers (or snowflake catchers, whichever you preferred!)
Recognise this lovely trio? Yay! It's
The Make Escape DJs Isabel, Alice and Dan who provided some of the soundtrack to the event.
It wasn't just visitors ears that were satisfied, sights were too thanks to the rather spectacular live entertainment courtesy of a hula girl...yes a girl who performs with a hula hoop. And not just any old girl;
one of the happiest and most enthusiastic dancers I've ever come across!
Like every good event there was a raffle. I do love a raffle. Especially
one with such brilliant prizes...keeping my fingers, toes and current
buns crossed for the giant Craft necklace donated by
Tatty Devine. It
would look so fabulous on me.
Last year I got over
excited about meeting my hero
Rob Ryan. He was back this year in his
own Print Grotto where he was selling jawdroppingly amazing
screenprinted wrapping paper.
Amongst the 75+ stalls was a lovely selection by my favourite
haberdashery supplies shop
All The Fun Of The Fair. You can normally find them in
Kingly Court off Carnaby Street, pop by next time you're in that area.
My fave stall was by
Crafty Pint - really colourful and welcoming
selling fun cushions and bunting made from vintage tea towels and
character fabric. Crafty Pint also run regular craft workshops in South London, check out their
site to find out more.
The youngest stall holder was Chloe from
Hatastic's niece who managed the
stall while Chloe ran her workshop. Take a good look at this face, she has
her sights set on being Prime Minister..,and she loves craft which is a
good thing, so expect lots of crafter-friendly policies!
It was also great to see newcomers
The Craft Closet selling their 'make it yourself' craft kits. The girls were so committed this was their second stall of the day. They also had one at We Make London where they served a certain Mr Gok Wan who bought one of their 'knit a purse' kits.
This is why the
Craftivists say to make three jigsaw pieces for their
I Am A Piece project, one to give to them, one to gift to someone else and one to pop on your tree!
That Sarah Corbett, she never takes a break! She was even busy stitching on the
Craftivist stand..while stylish sporting some fab jigsaw shaped earrings.
It wasn't just crafty goodness for sale,
The Merry Bobbins sold homemade chutney and marmalade to raise funds for Age Concern and there were many tempting cakes for sale including Egg Nog cupcakes by
Ms Vegan Cupcakes - yum!
I got chatting to the current president of
Shoreditch Sisters WI who is about to embark on a new job in The Congo for three years...I'm sure she'll be inspiring them with her crafty presence, I loved this jumper she customised with a felt Christmas tree decked out with sequin baubles.
I also bumped into the super lovely Rosie Martin aka
DIY Couture...who was on the hunt for a Christmas gift for her mum.
I was searching for things I can send in the post and picked up this
lovely typewriter brooch by
Kayleigh Omara which I am still umming and aahing
about keeping for myself...
While these badges by
Mary Kilvert are being sent to my friend Janine in Ecuador who collects sausage dog memorabilia.
Another year, another great event. There are so many Xmas craft fairs to choose from in London, all fabulous, but this one is especially a treat to visit. The standard of crafts on sale is really high and it's well priced. If you missed it then try and get along next year, and if you can't wait until Winter, they usually have a Spring fair too.
The Bust Christmas Craftacular took place at York Hall in Bethnal Green east London, on Sunday 16th December 2012.
Keep up to date with them about future events by visiting their Facebook page.
I don't have any expectations of 2013 and no 'resolution' has captured my mind (yet?). 
