Smashing Selvedge

As promised, I couldn't let the week pass without popping back to share my trip to the Selvedge Fair at Chelsea Old Town hall last Friday.  The fair now stretches over two days (Friday and Saturday) and is held in a lovely old hall, full to the brim with stall holders and well heeled shoppers!  It was certainly busy on Friday morning.

The first stall I encountered in the foyer was that of an old favourite, Made in Hastings.  I am a big fan of Claire Fletcher's work and I would dearly love one of her angel dolls.  One day.  This time, I had to be content with an ogle and I did buy some jolly Christmas themed badges.  Not sure what I am going to do with them - yet!

Along the hallway, was a stall right up my street, full of vintage trims and fabrics.  The buttons on the cards looked very pretty but I came away with some 1950's fabric for the stash.

I bought some more oddments of antique fabric and bits of Durham quilt from Sallie Ead's stall, a lady I often see at fairs in the West Country.  Watch this space as I have Christmassy projects in mind for those.

Jess Quinn's stall was a delight, with her quirky handmade dolls and I loved the felt baubles, too.

Sarah Strachan is a lady I've met at the last couple of Selvedge fairs and I love her work.  I bought a kit to make these cute pixie dolls.

She has a knack of creating very cute scenes with her fairies but it's all the little details I delight in: that dinky crocheted blanket on the bed and the little wrapped presents.

I eventually found an old friend in Viv of Hen's Teeth whose stall looked really beautiful.  It was clear she'd worked long and hard on the gorgeous stitchy items she had for sale.

Her new toadstool designs were looking particularly cute and into my shopping bag went a few goodies: a Christmas present and some embroidered scraps from Viv's workbox to make some treasures of my own.

Just across from Viv, I found Ellie Evans.  I am a fan of her stitched work, too.  I most like the very individual pieces she makes inside old cutlery boxes.

Inside the main hall, I found Jessie Chorley, and you will know if you've read this blog a while that I am a big fan of her work and have attended a few of her workshops.  Her stall was a veritable feast for the eyes.

I particularly loved her new sewing themed brooches, needlecases and pin cushions.  I wouldn't mind finding those in my stocking! Just in case, I couldn't resist bringing home a "Pins" brooch which actually opens out into  miniature needle case.  

Finally, I was pleased to find that The Magpie and The Wardrobe also had a stall at the fair this time.  I received one of their quirky necklaces as a gift a few years ago and the stall looked enchanting.  

It was difficult to capture on camera, but a little old cabinet had been transformed into a dolls house.

Inside, dolly was in bed, waiting for Christmas morning, no doubt!

I had an absolutely marvellous time at the Fair.  It really is of the highest quality.  Most of my purchases were raw materials which I can use in creations of my own but I did find a few handmade goodies slipped into my bag.  Whilst I can make many things myself, I always like to support the work of fellow makers and my purchasers are lovely mementoes of a super day out.  I'm looking forward to getting my hands stuck into these goodies soon.

The next Selvedge fair is on at the beginning of April, so do check the magazine or website for details.