... and a Visit to the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Show

The popular Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Show came to the ExCeL in London for the first time and as it was only a train ride away, we just had to pay a visit! It was a great day out and here are some of things that inspired us...

Stitching a Welcome to Athletes of the World - a tribute by members of the Embroiderers' Guild to welcome athletes to the Olympics. Each country is represented by a series of embroidered postcards.

Textile art by Ginny Epstein (ginnyepstein@hotmail.com)

Doodle by Stitch -Washable pens for doodling on duvet covers, 

pillowcases, placemats and aprons (paulinepauluk@aol.com)

Teddy bears by Barbara Ann Bears 

Felt making demonstration and art by FLEWS Group 

(Feltmakers Lacemakers Embroiderers Weavers Spinners Group)

Textile pictures of waves and 3D seascape by Dee Anne McCoul

Above and Below the Waves - knitting project by designer Alison Murrau, raising money for the RNLI's 'Train One - Save Many' campaign. This 3D knitted structure was created with donations from over 2000 knitters of all ages from all over the world and has so far raised over £18,500. 

Craft Club Linking Up - after the successful World Record by the NFWI for the 'Most people knitting simultaneously', where 3,083 members knitted a green and white linked chain, the WI along with Craft Council and the UKHKA have decided to go for another World Record: The Longest Knitted Chain!  

'Pieced Patterns' display by Contemporary Quilt, a specialist group of The Quilters' Guild 

who work in textiles to create innovative and dynamic art.

Madeira Embroidery Competition -the theme was 'Glimpses of Summer' and entrants were asked to embroider their own bit of sunshine, to remind us what summer should be all about.

Smocking Treasures of the WI - collection on loan from the NFWI Textile Archives

We couldn't resist buying some lovely things for our craft supplies, including a needle felting kit from The Frame Workshop and Molten Designs. It's something that we've both wanted to try out for a while, so look out for it in future posts!!

We also managed to fit in a visit to the V&A museum and were lucky enough to get tickets for the Bowie exhibition, which was amazing!