Meet the stallholders...

Sheila Wilkins

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

I have always loved 'making things' but while my family was still young, space and time limited me to making practical pieces that we needed for the house, like curtains and cushion covers. As the children got older and started to leave home I began to paint and now love working with acrylics on large canvases, mostly land and seascapes. Then more recently a very close friend started a charity in memory of the baby she lost, to raise funds for a new baby heart monitor at our local hospital. I wanted to help but my paintings were too large for my friend to sell so I returned to the sewing machine and started making door hangers and then cushions covers with fabric remnants that I had. I found it to be so enjoyable that I carried on making them for family and friends.

Tell us a bit about what you make...

I'm a bit of a magpie when it comes to collecting fabrics, which became worse when I discovered the Silk Mill at Sudbury and the beautiful remnants that they sell. Some pieces are quite sizeable and lend themselves to being made into cushion covers - 'envelope-style' ones are simple to make but the quality of the fabrics make them look quite luxurious. And being made from remnants, most of my cushions are one-offs.

The chicken door-hangers have 'evolved' - I started ambitiously with templates including elephants and rabbits but chickens soon became my favourite as they can be embellished with fancy wings, tail feathers etc. Making heart door-hangers was a simple step-on, and again I love to use beads , buttons and other trimmings to make them extra special.

Meet the stallholders...

Yvonne Hadley

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

I have always been a 'crafty' person it all started at school many years ago. When I retired I made cakes, flower arrangements and preserves as that is what I enjoy doing, usually only selling them from home.

Tell us a bit about what you make...

I make cakes - anything from biscuits to wedding cakes, flowers for all occasions and a selection of jams, chutneys and pickles.

Fully Booked!

All spaces at the Creations Christmas Craft Fayre are now booked! The last two 'Meet the Stallholders' posts will be appearing soon. Sorry to disappoint anyone who was hoping to have a space - I am keeping a waiting list of names so if a space does become available I can let people know. Please do still come along to the fayre as a customer and say hello though!
From what I have seen so far, the crafters will have some lovely items for sale. We're hoping that it will be a really great event (and if it's successful I would like to organise more next year and perhaps include some of the crafters I couldn't fit in this time)!

Meet the stallholders...

Rachel Hopkins

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

Even as a child I liked making things for Brownie competitions, and simply fiddling about with fabric at home. Work and taking care of my three children has slowed my projects down a little and in recent years my creativity has been mainly channelled through fancy dress costumes for various school projects and parties. With my youngest now at playgroup I thought I would use some of my spare time to start creating again.

Tell us a bit about what you make...

For this, my first ever craft fair, I have designed and made a range of decorative items to hang in the home, some with a Christmas theme and some to be used all year round. I am also busy creating a range of bunting for the home, garden or even beach hut. I am looking forward to meeting people at the craft fair and getting some feedback on my designs, do come a visit me there.

Meet the stallholders...

Jacqui Rowing

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

As far back as I can remember I have always been interested in arts and crafts. I used to spend hours drawing and sketching as a child.

I practise my lifelong interest in art in various media. I am trained in bakery and sugar craft and have made a number of wedding cakes, including my own, and other celebration cakes using both the Australian method and more traditional royal icing styles. My decorative methods include painting directly onto the icing as well as constructing 3D models.

I enjoyed cross stitch for many years but painting is now my main art form. I do paint on canvas but wood is my favourite medium with themes inspired by the countryside. I have sold these crafts at a few local craft, school fairs and online with good feedback which has encouraged me to continue.

Tell us a bit about what you make...

In the last few years I have developed an interest in painting on wood. Its texture complements my designs which are often inspired by East Anglian flora and fauna. I hand paint my own designs on wooden items of various sizes, finishing each with a varnish to preserve the work.

Producing art on Birchwood lace bobbins is a new interest. Getting the requisite detail of a fruit, flower, bird or feather onto such a tinysurface is a very challenging proposition. I sell bobbins individually, in pairs or sets of four, usually according to a theme. I am always open to new subject ideas and commissions.

All my work is hand painted. I never use transfers etc. It therefore follows that everthing I make is unique. Even if I were to try to produce two truly identical designs there would be subtle differences between them. Very subtle perhaps, but present nevertheless.

Meet the stallholders...

Lisa Doonan from Miss Lily's

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

I have always been quite creative and I first became interested in flowers when my mother did a flower arranging course, which I would often accompany her to.

It wasn't until I hit my 30's that I decided to change my visual merchandising career for floristry. I studied hard at Writtle College for 2 years to gain my professional floristry foundation degree with distinction. I have a passion for flowers and love each season for the variety of flowers and colours they deliver. Summer has to be my favourite with the arrival of peonies, delphiniums, stocks and hydrangeas but roses, in many colours, will always be one of my favourite flowers.

Tell us a bit about what you make...

My work can be varied from bridal bouquets to funerals, but I mainly focus my work on creating bridal flowers and table/ venue decorations for weddings and events throughout Essex. After the wedding season I often spend the winter making table decorations, gifts and wreaths for Christmas.

Links:

http://www.misslilys.co.uk/

Meet the stallholders...

Penny Myers

Have you always been a 'crafty' person - how did you start making things to sell?

I come from a long line of knitters and from an early age knitted and crocheted. At Christmas I would make something handmade for the grandmas and aunts presents. Then once babies of friends and relatives arrived it would be all systems go for baby blankets, knitted cardigans and 3D name letters!

Tell us a bit about what you make...

For the fayre I will be bringing along Christmas bunting, 3D decorations, crocheted baby blankets and buggy blankets, Aran style cardigans and children's dressing up pirates costumes.