Sunday 6 January 2013

MIXED CRAFT SHOW OR PURELY PAPER CRAFTS ?

Thank you everyone for taking part in this discussion , please keep your views coming as we are taking careful note of all you tell us .
In this section i would love to hear your views on what type of shows you want to see.
If the show was in a larger venue would you like to see a mix of crafts including things like knitting and stitching , needlework , embroidery , art materials etc etc ?

Let me have your views.

Those of you who knew Robert for instance will remember him as an all round crafter who could mix all crafts together for some extraordinary results , he was never afraid to do so and was always experimenting . Who could have know for instance that you could machine embroider over embossing crystals ...well you can as robert once proved .

There are all sorts of crafters out there and i have noticed the growth again in needle crafts for instance .

Let me have your thoughts , all of your viewpoints will be worthwhile in the end as you will soon find out but thats all i can say for now .

Just remember this folks...GBFE ...thats got you guessing ...lol ...all will be revealed soon !

Gordon

22 comments:

  1. I'd rather have a single topic show. Mixed shows are either far too big (and therefore have expensive entrance fees!), so that one can't get round everything, or if smaller, there is not the variety in each type of craft that there would be at a dedicated show.

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  2. Interesting , thank you , but you know a very large show does not need to have a large entrance fee , it can easily be £5 !
    Everything depends on the size of the venue as to what can be included in the show.

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  3. Hi, I'm mainly into cardmaking, scrapbooking and Journaling, In my papercrafts I also use a little bit of sewing. I would like to learn to crochet so that I could make flowers etc for my cards.

    Although I focus on papercrafts I wouldn't be opposed to other crafts being included in the show, such as needlework, knitting, cake craft.

    I'm not really intrested in woodwork, metalwork, picture framing, power tool stands and other random stands that have nothing to do with craft for example nail varnish and bags etc

    Hope this helps, mmm GBFE got my brain quizing, i was thinking Great British .... Event but then I can't think what the F stands for :)

    Helen x



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    1. Lol..keep guessing . I like the idea of a mixed show as long as the show was large enough to accomodate everything . It all adds to the mix for a better show i think . I also agree about filling in with non craft items , seems very odd to me ...oops but then again i did buy some great pillows at a craft show recently...lol .Gordon

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  4. Perhaps if a venue with several halls or at a showground with marquees, each craft could be in its own accommodation, ie, Papercraft, needlecraft, art(painting), ceramics, etc.
    that would mean, hopefully the space to see demos and if you wanted to stray into a new craft there would be the option.

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    1. Thank you . Not sure if all crafts should be divided or all mixed together . I agree on the need to increase demos , make and takes etc . A show should be about more than just selling product if the space allows. Gordon

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  5. I quite like mixed shows. Although I'm not personally interested in the art side I do love papercrafting, knitting, sewing, cross stitch and tapestry.

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    1. We are thinking alike as long as the venue is large enough. Gordon

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  6. I like patchwork, quilting, embroidery (not cross stitch), as well as other mixed media involving paper, card, paint etc. I love anything new and innovative to do with mixed media. We used to have a good show in Cardiff but gradually the whole show became devoted so much to card making that many people stopped going. I do love the format of the NEC shows, particularly the March shows, but they are very expensive and car parking extortionate. I also love the Ally Pally shows but coaches don't go from here (south Wales) and car parking plus finding the venue by road are far too difficult.

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    1. Thank you . I remember well going to Cardiff on two occasions , both of which were a flop im afraid as have other shows we have attended in wales. We loved Ally Pally , but after many years there the organiser , Creative Expressions turned on us and threw us out of the show as he said we were selling dies too cheaply and we were not buying them from him as he is one of the uk wholesalers . We were buying direct from Spellbinders and he didnt like us for that . Great pity as w e loved the show and the people who went there . We did not leave by choice and i remember Robert was very upset by this as he got on very well with the organiser . Gordon

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    2. I used to go to Ally Pally and adored watching Robert who got me into Friendly Plastic in a big way with his amazing demonstrations! I had heard about what happened to you and I think it was a disgrace I've never been back there since!
      I am mainly into paper crafts although I love to watch mixed media artists and usually end up buying loads of stuff I don't remember how to use when I get home. I have tried, beading, knitting and sewing but they don't hold my interest so I wouldn't be interested in seeing those things at a show. I can't draw or paint for toffee (thank goodness for stamps) so I wouldn't be interested in art products either.

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    3. It was such a great shame what hapenned to us , Robert in particular took it very badly after all the years at the show . It was one of our favourites and i will never understand why Creative Expressions did this to us . It was purely out of spite .thank you for your points of view.

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  7. I quite like mixed shows as my other passion is cross stitch. The November NEC show is fun for us as my husband likes the art materials side and we have a weekend away visiting family in Birmingham too. As a Londoner I can get to Ally Pally easily by public transport. I also enjoy going to Stevenage as it's so convenient going by train from King's Cross.
    Sue

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    1. Thank you for your comments . There would seem to be a mix of views on this issue and i tend to agree with both ...lol

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  8. I think mixed media shows are a great idea - it gives you an insight in to crafts you might not have tried and more variety/ knowledge to bring to your work.
    Kate

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    1. This was certainly the view of Robert who was in to all sorts of crafts and loved to mix all medias in the most wonderful ways . He was a true mixed media artist in every sense and when he took his city and guilds in embroidery and design his work blew me away . I have kept all of his course work , i wish you could see how talented he really was . Gordon

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    2. Would love to see Robert's work - would it be possible in the future to hold an exhibition - even if it is to put some of his work on display in the shop?
      Kate

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  9. I am not a robot!8 January 2013 at 16:37

    I love all sorts of crafts but my favourite is papercrafts and I think it is posssible to combine all sort of crafts into card making. Jenny Time now is 00.30 am on Wed 9th January 2013

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  10. Shows are better with a bit of everything mainly papercrafts and papercraft tools with some knitting (which is really becoming a trend) and some sewing fabrics that can also be used in card making/scrapbooking.

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  11. I must admit I prefer a papercraft only show because that is what I am interested in. However I would be pretty miffed if I enjoyed a less popular craft and no-one ever exhibited because it was a minority I think we need to share our shows!

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  12. I think a mix of crafts can be a good thing but it depends on the size of the venue.
    If the number of stands for papercraft is reduced in order to make way for other crafts then it may not be worth travelling to a show.

    You can't please everyone I'm afraid.

    Jan

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