The Greatness of The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

I always come back from The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair in Manchester inspired by all the wonderful makers and ideas, thankful to all the customers who took a keen interest in my work...and a bit knackered as it's five long days of excitement and commuting and it takes it out of me! 

There was a lot of interest in my wallpaper. Hooray! There were loads of people walking round with my samples. Thanks to everyone who came and made it such a fun show and thanks to everyone who came with compliments and lovely things to say. It was really nice.

 I realised at about 4.30 on the last day that I'd hardly taken any pictures for my annual blog post so I had a quick run round. There was soooo much beauty to be seen. These pictures are a tiny drop in the ocean of loveliness.

I was opposite a lovely ceramicist called Brittany Delany this year. Always nice to have someone to have a chat and a giggle with.

A Northern Light Claire was doing the show for the first time. 

Her stand (and her dear self) looked bright and lovely.

 We were across the aisle from Juliette Hamilton and we watched her create her beautiful willow creatures while she chatted to people on her stand. 

One minute she had made a sphere and next time you looked it had antlers! Impressive. She made all the visiting children magic wands too. Very sweet.

How sweet are these ceramic watch bracelets by Alice Walton? Very sweet indeed!

And we were entertained with the stories behind these plates by Katie Spragg. It was a mystery when these french bees started making blue honey...until they discovered they had been feeding on vats of blue m&m food colouring outside a factory.

...and this fox was found living on the 72nd floor of the Shard building in London, the UK's highest sky scraper, living on scraps of food left by construction workers! Wow.

It was nice to see by Kirtsy. We're going to be stocking her plywood Sphery's at radiance very soon.

Couldn't resist a photo of lovely Jane Blease's colourful embroidered brooches...I think I take one every year!

Suet Yi was there with her ceramics that I love.

I bought one of her beautiful bird tiles.

Ffion visited and bought a gorgeous ring with a spinning gemstone from Corinne Evans.

I was really glad to discover that Andy of Vinegar & Brown Paper was exhibiting for the first time too. I absolutely love his ideas (which he cleverly etches into glass).

Someone who didn't really get it asked him if he was a wizard. 

He said yes! 

Lovely! All in all.

Now I'm back and settled back in the studio the Christmas gallery orders are rolling in so we're making like loons! No rest for me!