onionbagblog

Christmas is coming – time to get crafty.

Sunny Colch came up with something quite special on Saturday with two crafts fayres, both within walking distance and both offering the lover of all things hand made and bound something slightly different.

First off was the Craft Fair @15QueenStreet. The residents and members had opened up the building for the day with weekly office space replaced by stall space. Downstairs and you were greeted with complimentary cups of tea, mulled wine and 15 mince pies – that’s mince pies with a #15 on the crust, and not the meal that is otherwise known as a mid-morning snack whenever I’m on the day shift.

Craft is something which is participatory, rather than being there simply for perusal. You could knit your own scarf in under an hour, or if time was pressing, walk away with what resembled a basketball hoop for the young nephew.

Katie Kennedy’s 15 Queen Street based vintage clothes and design business had taken up residency in the library. With the back door open and a welcoming smile on arrival, the footfall from @firstsite accelerated the disappearing pile of mince pies.

The main meeting room upstairs was buzzing with crafts, covering print, greeting cards and even a retro spectacle frame business – quite a, um, spectacle.

Visitors were encouraged to make the short trip to the very near neighbours and the annual Christmas Craft Fair taking place at The Minories. Handicraft had replaced hanging pictures, all served up with an afternoon tea and scone.

A sausage dog styled in the shape of cat (confused?) was there for the taking, as well as there to be used as a draft excluder back at base. My budget couldn’t quite stretch to the splendid paving stone encrusted with mosaics. I don’t think that the bicycle ride would have managed either.

And so a small hop, skip and a jump down the High Street and the hustle of the busiest day of the year saw a more manageable way to go about your Christmas shopping. The #15 branded mince pies may just have started a new Sunny Colch craze.

Exactly how many shop numbers run along the High Street…?