Craft and Quilt Fair 2011 Review | Sydney

Festival Girl Rates: 8.5/10

The Craft and Quilt Fair Sydney 2011 is always one of my favourite events to attend. The fact that the show is spread over a few days, gives you a really good chance to attend over the week.  I also love the plethora of craft stalls available, with many craft businesses coming from all over Australia. and all the exercise I get walking up and down the aisles discovering them. 

Walking around the pavilion, I explored a number of the new additions to this years show. I really loved the idea of the canvas competition, where fair subscribers were invited to decorate a supplied canvas using any crafts they wanted with 'Sydney' as the theme. This mosaic was then judged by the fair goers and had a $250 cash prize. Not only was there a cash prize, but you also got your art displayed at the show. I would have loved to take some pictures for you, however, I was advised that I wasn't allowed to take pictures.

Texstyle featured the best year 12 major projects of 2010 focusing on fashion, costume, textile art or furnishings. These students are mighty talented.  The tree of knowledge encouraged you to share your best crafting secrets with the craft community. The best entries should end up in the new book 101 Tips for Craft, which is to be published in 2012.

Seeing Kelani in the previous  Craft and Quilt Fair,  it's really nice to see her new designs, fabrics and these cuties...

Owl socks mobile

Such a beautifully illustrated cushion. I love the grass decor.

I spy with my little eye, something starting with Fabrics!

A collection of crochet flowers creates a beautiful blanket

Some of these lovely ladies learning to sew for the first time with the patient ladies of the Knitters' Guild NSW. Knitted flowers anyone? 

Anyone for dessert? Egg custarrd tarts, Oreos and pink frosted donuts

Mmm delicious savouries...

So cute! It must have taken years to create this master piece

What better way to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Knitters' Guild NSW  - I love this table setting that has all been knitted by the lovely ladies of the guild.

How cute is this knitted clock? 

Thanks to the sweetie Mio from Studio Mio for giving me tickets to the show in her facebook competition 

I love these fat quarters and there is a beautiful contrast between pretty pastels and spotty navy fabrics

I really like this display - there is just something about zippers that I cant get enough of

My favourite - beautiful geisha's using Japanese prints

Matching apron and handbag, adorable

Miss Rose Sister Violet and her quaint store offers her beautiful collection of antique lace, tea cups, ribbons and pretty flowers

I met the delightful owner of a new stall Rainbow Clay at the show

With a number of great points, its very light weight, durable and non-toxic and did I mention totally addictive. You can buy both the clay and the tutorial sheets on how to make some of these cuties.

Ah, its always nice to see a familar face from Posh Pendants!

How can I possibly choose?

 Uh-oh, accessory overload... Must. Have. Them. All.

If only the real Eiffel Tower were covered in jewels?

I heart these knitted beads. They almost look edible.

Anyone who knows me well, knows of my love of the Spanish culture. Let me establish, I'm not condoning the violence of bull fighting and I agree with a number of Latin American countries banning the sport. However the iconography of the tradition is breathtaking; from the colours, costumes and battle between the wild beast and the precise matador. This is a performance best left for the quilt.

A beautiful Spanish dancer with her stunning frilled red dress

These are some of the best 2011 Art U Wear competition entries. The theme was 'Circus Berserkus' and was originally apart of the Textile Art Festival that is held annually in Brisbane.

Such beautiful colours and textures by Kirry Toose

The circus is here

The Siren of the Sea is part Victorian lady, part jellyfish-mermaid, with glistening tendrils flowing over her skirt by Svenja. It's just gorgeous 

Lovin' the green and baubles

Grand works from Cathy Clur from Qld - presenting the ringleader woman.

The lovely wizard cape

I found this presentation really delightful as a select number of quilters designs were chosen and then made into sewing machine skins. 

A beautiful display of colour and design. Imagine having your own design on your own machine!

I thought this stall was really lovely contribution. In conjunction with the theatre show Breast Wishes, Bras have been donated and decorated by the lovely sewing ladies to create these master pieces. All bras will be displayed in the Glen St Theatre foyer during the Breast Wishes season and Bras will be auctioned silently during the season with all the proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Hope to see you at the show next year

xox Love, 

Festival Girl

Craft and Quilt Fair 2011 Review | Sydney

Supanova 2011 Sydney Review - Popular Culture Expo

Festival Girl Rates: 9.5/10

I had an absolute blast at this year's Supanova Sydney. It really amazes me to see how much this event has grown over the last few years. The very first year I attended, Supanova was at a smaller location with a handful of stalls. Moving to the current location at Olympic Park, Supanova has really grown; the number of Cosplay participants dressing up every character you can imagine is phenomenal - from the creative homemade attempts made from raiding Bunnings and Spotlight, to really authentic costumes that could give the originals a run for their money. 

What I love most about this kind of event is the passion that people have and the smile on the faces of a group of men as they point and reminisce about the Transformer toys they used to play with and all the wonderful memories they had. 

With so much to do at the show, dressing up as a part of Cosplay, getting some new anime dvds, playing on the new Kinect console or coming along just to see the sci-fi TV and film stars including Yuko Miyamura from Asuka in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Berserk, Astro Boy, Amy Acker from Dollhouse and Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter. 

Transformers, humans robots in disguise!

God I wish I didn't get rid of my Transformers when I was a kid. Who would have thought that they would come back?

Great Two-Face costume. His costume skin looked so...burnt and gross. Love it! Also, quite a example of Heath Ledger's Joker from The Dark Knight

DC vs Marvel. It's on!

Oh geeky Poison Ivy - you've put a spell on me

A female Joker from the original Batman comic series

Ironman is real! Wicked costume

Wolverine from X-men and his lady counterpart

With so many ghoulish characters around, it's good to know we've got this Halo soldier on our side

Kerrigan from Starcraft knows how to strike a pose

This costume was uber impressive in the flesh. 

So that's what the Power Rangers have been up to for the last few years

This Portal 2 droid is looking for someone to help him find his way

Caught out? Freddy and Jason are best of friends and even shop for comics together - aww

I had to do a double-take at this Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Carribean. Not only did he get the outfit spot on, you are also a dead-ringer for Mr Depp himself

Darth Vader does have a soft spot, as they raise money for Miracle Babies Foundation... Aww 

Aliens vs Predator - oh, its on! 

Yuka Miyamura and Tiffany Grant - the talented voice actors of popular anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. 

An ingenious costume from this expo visitor

Oscar the Grouch 

Looks like this Pikachu is all tuckered out

I loved Rainbow Bright when I was growing up

The Dalek Robot from Dr Who

Ah, cute t-shirts!

Dr Who vs the Gargoyle girls

 

Hear no evil...See no evil

I'm not exactly sure who these girls are, but I love their pose - killer shoes.

I was late for school so many times waiting for Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon to get together

I always did have a soft spot for the Sailor Moon girls

Seeing the world through rose coloured glasses

Lovin' the lollita-gothic look

Where do I get this outfit? I love the bows and lace 

So cute she wouldn't hurt a fly

Peaches and Luigi, sitting in the tree...

I wonder where the rest of his Tetris buddies are? Also...how do you go to the bathroom?

One bit of advice for next year, is definitely pre-buy your entry tickets, as the line-up to get in this year was insane, with a queue lining up around the block. 

xox love,

Festival Girl

Supanova 2011 Sydney Review - Popular Culture Expo