Christmas Craft Fair

Well for the past while I've been busy busy with organising and making stuff for a local craft fair. As always, it was brilliant get to meet and chat with the crafters and see what their creative minds and hands have produced. I also managed to squeeze in a little Christmas shopping at the fair too!

So I thought today I show a little flavour of what was available at the fair. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to get photos of all of the stands but have provided links to a couple of other exhibitors towards the end of the post.

First up is Sharon Spendlove (Tel 086 6067726 spendlovesharon@gmail.com) who works wonders with fabrics and created this cute teddy and beautiful bags.

Deirdre Mellon (087 1273122 naascrafts@gmail.com) made these adorable fabric decorations and gorgeous felted handbag.

She also made the sweetest little baby booties.

Ruth Teskey (Tel 087 2604946 avondalehandcrafts@gmail.com) always amazes me with her fabulous ideas and designs and this year was no exception. I just love these!

Next up is Sandra Petitfrere (086 8583832) who had fantastic handmade bags and paintings. I'd love any of these bags

and absolutely loved this painting by Sandra.

Anne Casey (casanaglasshp@eircom.net) had painted glass using gorgeous vivid colours as you can see here. I was very tempted to buy something from the top shelf for a purple loving friend in Minnesota but was afraid it might break on the journey.

Paddy O'Connor's (Tel 085 1408941 poconnor1313@gmail.com) work is always a pleasure to look at. Among the many items he had on display were these lovely clocks,

pens and pen holder. Did you spot the fun glasses holders in these photos?

Paddy had lots of company at the fair including his cute grandson who was admiring the amazing spinning wheel that Paddy had made.

Virginia McNceill (vmcneill@eircom.net) created these cosy and oh so pretty items. They'd be perfect for the cold spell we're going through now!

Roisin Monaghan made these beautiful bags. I think she used her Big Shot to make the flowers on her fabric bag - so pretty!

Lorraine Kavanagh had lots of beautiful knitted and crocheted item including these cuties.

From Naas Photography Group we had John Rapple (087 7671736 johnrapple@gmail.com) and Paul O'Rourke (087 7057250 paulorourkephotography.ie). They had fabulous photos and I have to apologise to John and Paul as my photography skills are lacking and my photos don't do justice to their work! You'll get a better idea of their work on either their Facebook page or website.

I really loved John's photo of the snowy old cottage below and he had another fab snowy scene with swans on a local lake - pity I didn't realise my memory card was full when I took that one!

I love Paul's photo of one of my favourite spots in Glendalough

and this gorgeous photo of a local canal with autumn putting on its glorious display of colours.

It was great to meet the Byrne family again at the craft fair. Becky Byrne (Tel 085 7665871 beckybyrne@eircom.net) created these gorgeous flowers and I love that the funds she raised are going towards the publication of her nana's book.

Jackie Byrne (Tel 087 9514757 edwardbyrne@eircom.net) made some gorgeous necklaces and felt work,

while Becky and her dad Martin (Tel 087 2077582) had gorgeous photos on display.

Also at the fair were Cliona Kelliher, Purity Belle with yummy scented candles and Lisa Skidmore, Feelights (087 2153439) with the cutest handmade handbags and dog bandanas.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to organise the Christmas Craft Fair next year but was delighted when Becky Byrne kindly volunteered to run it next year so that the fair will continue on - thanks again, Becky:) I hope you enjoyed your trip to the fair and that you have a great crafty weekend!

Craft Fair - part 3

To start with today I’d like to show you the gorgeous work of three friends who came together to form Naas Handcrafters.

Ruth Teskey (Tel 087 2604946 avondalehandcrafts@gmail.com) created -

Beautiful crocheted hats.




and fab jewellery. I thought these necklaces were stunning in the beautiful colours Ruth had used and she actually crocheted the wire in making the necklaces.


Deirdre Mellon (087 1273122 naascrafts@gmail.com) created -

A beautiful soft scarf in such a yummy colour.


Wonderful crocheted and knitted bags which were felted.




Beautiful jewellery


Sharon Spendlove (Tel 086 6067726 spendlovesharon@gmail.com) created -

A gorgeous floral scarf


Lovely soft cosy scarves and cowls




Now it’s time to move on to some patchwork. I spent ages and ages looking at Mary McCann’s (Tel 086 2470285 marysquilting@gmail.com) fabulous quilts. Mary teaches patchwork and I’d say it would be wonderful to attend her classes.

Mary and her daughter Gina


Feast your eyes on these beauties








This is a log cabin quilt that Gina is working on at the moment. If you click to enlarge the picture you'll see that she has placed a little sheep at the centre of each block - so cute! I love her fabric choices with the mix of pine cones, little hens and bees.


I tried to get around to take photos of as many stands as I could but unfortunately didn't get photos of three of them - felting, bog oak and knitting. If anyone else has taken photo of these, I'll add them at a later stage. Of course I forgot to take photos of my own stand but sure you know the kind of things I make anyway! I had hoped to do some knitted pieces and some fabric ornaments but I just ran out of time. In the end I made cards, gift tags, corner bookmarks, gift boxes and packages of magic reindeer food (my best seller, lol!). If I get a chance I'll take photos of some of what's left but it mightn't be anytime soon - I've to try and catch up with getting my Christmas shopping done!

Craft Fair - part 2

Next up from the craft fair is some feltmaking, candle making, knitting, crochet and photography.

A couple of years ago I attended a feltmaking workshop. It was really enjoyable but by the end of the week I felt as if my arms would fall off if I did anymore rolling to make felt! After seeing all the effort that goes into making felt I really admire Katrina Hughes’ (Tel 087 7473233 kathrinah@gmail.com) work. Not only is it totally stunning to look at but I can only imagine the amount of time it must have taken to make each piece. Katrina also holds workshops on feltmaking and here are some examples of her work.

A gorgeous brooch – it looks even more beautiful in real life.


Sometimes Katrina mixes silk fibres in with the wool and the beautiful sheen of these fibres look wonderful mixed with the wool. I love this collar – the flower is on the bottom piece and is fed up through an opening on the upper piece to hold the collar in place.


Gorgeous felted bags.


I absolutely love the fantastic texture and colours on this piece.


Sorry for the slightly blurry photo but I just had to show one of the felted flowers that Katrina had made for her Christmas lights and also the beautiful candles made by people of the Grangebeg Camphill Community.


Naas Knitting Group meet in the library every Wednesday. Anyone can join the group from the complete beginner to those who have been knitting for years and years. Eva Kavanagh (Tel 085 1314480 evakavanagh@gmail.com) started the group and she also runs knitting workshops. I’ve attended a couple of Eva’s class and as well as being a great teacher she also had us laughing throughout the class.

Here are some examples of the group’s work.




Mary and Eva modelling knitted and crocheted hats.


Another knitting group in Naas is Treasure Knitting Club http://www.facebook.com/treasureonline http://www.etsy.com/shop/treasureonline . Lianne, one of the members of the knitting group, brought along these examples of the gorgeous work being produced by members of the group.


These mug cosies are so cute!

Finally for today we have the very talented Byrne family - Jackie (Tel 087 9514757 edwardbyrne@eircom.net), her hubby Martin (Tel 087 2077582) and their daughter Becky (Tel 087 6667409 beckybyrne@eircom.net). Both Jackie and Becky create gorgeous fascinators and crochet. In addition Jackie knits and Martin and Becky are photographers. Here is a little taste of their work.











Tomorrow I'll post the rest of the photos from the fair including jewellery, patchwork and some more felting, crochet and knitting.