CRAFTALIVE is coming to the Hawkesbury Showground for the first time ever, drawing together Sydney’s craft community for a weekend of paper craft, scrapbooking, card making, quilting, embroidery, cake decorating and more.
Retailers, teachers and designers - as well as local craft experts - will be selling and buying the latest craft supplies, kits and equipment, and punters can attend classes and listen to talks.
Event organiser Sally Taylor said it is a hands-on event, and she recommended booking classes online ahead of time to secure your spot.
“The weekend itself is very interactive - there are hands-on classes and demonstrations. It’s as much a social gathering for the craft community as it is a chance to shop and find the latest things,” she said.
“It brings a range of crafts to the area that you wouldn’t normally be able to experience.”
CraftAlive has been running for 28 years and Ms Taylor said it was the country’s largest craft show series.
Big names at the event will include Pauline from Pauline’s Quilters World. “She is a very big name in the craft industry, and the fact she’s coming to the show is like having a celebrity there! She’ll be running classes from her stand all weekend on quilting and patchwork,” said Ms Taylor.
The show is designed to appeal to all ages and skill-sets, including “mums and daughters who want to sit down and do a class together”.
“We’ve seen a very large trend of new, younger generations coming through, whether it’s somebody that wants to start a new craft, or someone who wants to personalise something to put that individual touch on it,” Ms Taylor said.
“It’s about personal expression, and stepping away from the computer and being able to create something yourself. We see a lot of generations coming in together, like a granddaughter and grandmother who share a similar interest.
“Craft is so much more accessible now and there’s so many ways to get involved that are more suitable to modern life.”
Kathryn Trippett from The Australian Wool Store in Castlereagh will be selling her hand-dyed yarns.
“I have very vibrant colours, all individually dyed, so very unique. I’ve got some new colourways coming out and a gorgeous shawl pattern that will be launched there - it’s using yarn that is a cashmere-merino blend, it’s hand-dyed, gorgeous and so soft,” Ms Trippett said.
She has been involved with CraftAlive on a number of occasions but said it was “about time” a show opened closer to home. Other CraftAlive shows occur in Tamworth, Dubbo and Newcastle.
During the show, Ms Trippett will be taking sign-ups for her knitting and crochet tour of Japan for 2019, and will also be selling knitting accessories, needles and hooks and crochet accessories, and will also be offering demonstrations.
CraftAlive is on at Hawkesbury Showground from Friday July 20 to Sunday 22, 9.30am until 4pm each day. The Showground is at 40 Racecourse Road, Clarendon.
Book classes and purchase tickets online at www.craftalive.com.au/locations/hawkesbury. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, but it is advised to book classes ahead of time.
Sarah Falson
Daily Liberal journalist. I love telling people's stories. Get in touch at sarah.falson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Daily Liberal journalist. I love telling people's stories. Get in touch at sarah.falson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
