November Check In

[yourlibrarian]

If you've joined us since October, this post is to prompt anyone who has been doing crafting lately to share about their projects. Plus there's a general question for everyone to chime in on.

This month's question involves crafting events. After seeing this quilting post it made me wonder if anyone else has been to an in-person crafting competition or fair in the past few years? If so, what did you like best about it? Did you display anything yourself?

Comments

[matsushima]

I go to iDoll and Dollshow whenever they're in Tokyo, which works out to about one craft fair (focusing specifically on dolls, mostly clothing and accessories but some artist dolls and plushies) every other month. The next one is iDoll in December!

[yourlibrarian]

That sounds like it would be fun! Must be a lot of doll enthusiasts to support an event that happens so often.

[matsushima]

I wouldn't say it's a mainstream hobby here but it's not as niche as in the States. Even in the mall near me, the ¥100 ($0.60) store has a doll section and the accessories store across the hall, where they sell like cute pencil cases and other odds and ends, has a whole rack of doll clothes for this specific type of plush doll that's popular with teenagers and young adults. I often see young people taking photos of their dolls around town and one hotel even started offering little doll beds!

[yourlibrarian]

Oh interesting! One year when growing up my mom made doll beds as a Christmas present by adapting a 3 tiered shelf.

I still remember at a crafts fair a lady was selling Barbie clothes and modified Barbies wearing wonderful stuff. I don't even collect dolls but I couldn't resist buying some for nieces.

[merrileemakes]

I used to compete in craft competitions, and often did well but stopped because I didn't get much out of it. I think I'd enjoy it more if I got feedback or knew what the judging criteria was.

I love going to yarn shows but only went to them this year when I was also demonstrating with a local group. My stash currently overflows.

[yourlibrarian]

Yes, it's helpful to know what's being looked for.

I went to some "wholesale" bead sales a few times and some of the sellers' pricing was quite good, but the majority wasn't much cheaper than what I'd find in a craft store. It was certainly easy to load up when you're getting a big price break!

[readera]

I just finished fixing the hem of some lounge pants yesterday. I'm also working on a cowl off and on. It's a bulky yarn so the knit is quick but it hurts my wrists.

[yourlibrarian]

Aw, that's too bad. At least a cowl shouldn't be too long of a project, right?

[bookscorpion]

I am working on a yarn for a friend and I'm practising to spin it thicker than my usual yarns. It's working pretty well, I'm pleased with it.
I have actually never been to any crafting fairs! I should look up if there are any near me. I do want to go to the sheep shearing day at a zoo near me that specialises in rare breeds of all kinds of livestock. The temptation to buy a fleece will be enormous.

[yourlibrarian]

Yay for new techniques!

Ooh, that's interesting that they sell the wool. Makes sense with so many people able to spin it.

[bookscorpion]

They keep Cobuger Fuchsschaf which is one of my absolutely favourite fibre to spin. If they sold fibre from their Soay sheep that day, I would go for it, but idk if they gather it.