Brighton Craftaganza!!!

Ok, peops, time for me to do a little unveiling. Permit me to take you way back to December 2010 when I posted about my New Years resolutions for 2011. A few in there were of a somewhat secretive nature because they weren't at the stage of development where I would feel comfortable sharing the details at that point. However, the first is now ready to have its shroud of secrecy removed!

In that list of resolutions I vowed to:

'Work hard on currently-undisclosed exciting organising project with my recently made new homegirls Steph and Lisa'

I can promise you I have been doing just that, so now, may I present to you: Brighton Craftaganza!!!. Since last Autumn, we have been organising a new craft market to be held in my relatively new hometown of Brighton, UK, the first of which is scheduled for March 26th 2011. The venue for the market will be Fabrica, an amazing old church right in the very centre of one of the main and busiest shopping areas of Brighton. It's a very cool space that is more regularly used for contemporary art exhibitions, but is also host to various other events, including previous craft markets and vintage fairs.


So, how did this come about? Well, long story short, I met a talented multi-disciplined crafter named Steph by emailing her through the Burdastyle Sewing Groups thing, in the hope of meeting some (or at least one) sewing peop here in my new hometown. I didn't hear a reply (her internet was down) but I bizarrely met her dressed as a fake blood covered zombie on White Night through some random friend of a friend. Anyways, when we met up again (fake blood-free), we discussed the possibility of creating a new sewing group (I'm a veteran at this now, with one in London and one in Barcelona now notched up) which kind of got put aside in favour of an idea she'd been considering of starting up a craft market, and thus getting involved with and developing a creative community that way.

Steph had already floated this idea to her boss Lisa, owner of U-handbag, an online stockist of everything you would need to create amazing professional-looking bags. Lisa is also the author of the genius-ly titled U-handblog AND a real-life published book called The Bag Making Bible. Phew! I am among greatness with these creative ladies, let me tell you.


So, many hot chocolates, mulled ciders and discussions later, we have got this to the point that it's a REAL THING! If you've managed to somehow avoid my links so far, let me inform you we have a beautiful new Brighton Craftaganza blog from which we will share information about the market, feature the market's sellers, share crafty inspiration and knowledge, and generally hang out and soak up local, national and international crafting vibes.


If you happen to be a Southern UK resident and are able to come along, it would be awesome to see you at Brighton's first Craftaganza on Saturday March 26th, and if you are interested in renting a stall, check out our Seller Info section or email us at craftaganza (at) gmail (dot) come to answer any questions you may have. If you're not a UK resident or lucky enough to have a fluke holiday to the South of UK booked for around that time, you can see what we are up to by checking the blog from time to time, should you so desire!

Oh, wait, did I mention we have a blog?!?!