At this corner of Europe, the little emerald of an island has everything you need. Beautiful landscape that provides nutritious food, abundant amount of fresh water from the rain, strong wind to provide power to make electricity, lovely people who can see hope in the most hopeless situation; of course, there are drinks, whisky, guinness, etc.
But the little emerald has only one fiber and craft show a year! Isn't it unbelievable? Think about the amount of Aran sweater this island have produced.
But the little emerald has only one fiber and craft show a year! Isn't it unbelievable? Think about the amount of Aran sweater this island have produced.
Needless to say, all the hopes of every knitter in this island is on this one show...the Knitting and Stitching Show.
Last year, it has been a big disappointment as there seemed to be more non-craft trader than craft trader on the floor. But this year...this year is something else...
Believe me, there were more than you can see from these photos, just that I was too busy looking at everything that I didn't always remember to take photos. Hey, I walked around the exhibition floor from 11:00 to 16:00 non-stop without lunch, I couldn't have done better, no.
The morning started by attending a seminar with Debbie Bliss in a Georgian style library room in the venue. She talked about the job of being a handknit designer, the creative process and tons of jokes. It is so nice to meet designers in person and realised they are just a fellow knitter, not some unattainable saint figure. She is very funny, very nice and very down to earth and she remembers my sister whom she met in Paris for book signing! Can you see them? On the table, there are finished object from her books for us to try on!
Is there a better way to start a knitting show?
After the seminar, did I decide to have lunch? No. I completely forgot about it and headed straight to the market.
The owner of the stall didn't even mind to be on the photo, see how happy he is?
Then you have stall for yarn storage for those who already have way too much yarn.
You also have many other interesting crafts in the show, like hat making.
There were workshops in many different craft. Here, they are doing needle felting with machines. I have also seen wet felting, silk felting, papercraft, hat making, etc. I will probably join some of those workshops next year, I just didn't even know they have some.
From now on, if there is anymore people arguing about knitting and crocheting being craft or art, they should come look at these exhibition. There is really not much difference between craft and art nor there is any point of arguing about it. Why don't we argue how wrong it is for those people who spend their time watching reality show?
I don't know what it is, if the crocheted coral is not art...
Did I finally remember to have lunch yet? Yes, I did, at 16:00!
So in the canteen area, there is a Knit and Relax corner for people to knit tiny scarf for Simon Communities of Ireland.
Yes, there was a Sister in the show, yes.
After lunch, I went upstair to see the demonstration of different craft associations and guilds.
Isn't it a lovely way to spend an afternoon?
Yes again, there is a huge scarf and a huge ball of yarn hanging down from the ceiling.
Posts
1 comment:
Thanks so much for the photos - I've been really curious about the show for a long time, and it's nice to see what it actually looks like.
Post a Comment