Bust London Summer Craftacular 2009

A heaving York Hall

I am delighted to say that the Bust London Summer Craftacular 2009, to give it its full unwieldy moniker, was an extremely ambitious success.  Lessons were clearly learnt from the Bust London Winter Craftacular 2008, with the biggest one being the move from the tiny St Aloysius’ Social Club beside Euston Station to the far larger York Hall in Bethnal Green — York Hall, though still, as you can see above, thronged with people, is far airier and doesn’t give quite the same tin-of-sardines impression that Aloysius did.  However, there were other touches that signalled a growing professionalism and savvy in the planning of this event, which only added to my enjoyment.  The number and variety of exhibitors was a big factor, but little touches, such as the cute entrance stamp, the more pulled-together event guide and the fact that issues of Bust were on sale this time round (they weren’t last time — completely inexplicable to me still), were of great importance.

Entrance stamp

Another element that I liked about this Craftacular (do I have to keep using that word?) was that there was a lots of fun to be had at the event that wasn’t purely shopping.  Tatty Devine helmed a parasol-topped table in the dead centre of the hall where they were endeavouring to create the world’s longest-ever charm bracelet.  Here they are in action:

The Lady Luck Rules OK Pop-up Tea Shoppe added to the buzzy, convivial atmosphere.  Their tables were absolutely jammers the whole time I was there, with beehived and lipsticked waitresses weaving in and out of them on preposterous shoes, handing out tea and cake to all and sundry.

Lady Luck Pop-up Tea Shoppe

However, that said, I know what most of the punters had come for — brazen consumerism — and they were not to be disappointed by such a high standard of exhibitors (which possibly had something to do with the rather high fee the organisers were charging stallholders for a place).  Below are my selection of favourites.

Caroline Dulko‘s very sweet, bright-coloured and reasonably-priced printed home textiles really impressed me.

I can’t say I was overly sold on Claire Platt‘s knitted planes (why?) but her embroidered human organs (in the centre of the above photo) were revolting — in a good way!  See more of them here.

Megan Price/Mr PS‘s stall, with a close-up of her excellent new tea cosy design.

A real little Aladdin’s cave of a table from Fine City Friends.  I would have liked a chance to give this more attention but the crowds around it were oppressive; the most I could glean was that they do a very charming line of cards.

The lovely people at Moxie Beauty.  A very tempting-looking and -smelling range, and moreover a very well-designed look to their products, which can’t be said for all small beauty producers.

Brooches (I think) from Love From Hetty and Dave.  This stall was even more packed than the Fine City Friends one, and this was the only picture I was able to get.

While plenty of the jewellery tables were artfully designed, I really liked Never‘s terribly, terribly cool one, which was also very simple, putting the found-object pendants (e.g. spoons, tongs, medals) of their simple necklaces to the fore.

My sole crafty purchase from the event — look after the pennies and all that — was this watch-necklace by I Dream of Clockwork (no website), £15.

Thus the BF will never again answer my questions about the time with the massively annoying response that it’s time I should get a watch.

I felt the show was the probably the best of its kind I’ve been to, and I’m really looking forward to the next one to see what this team will come up with next.  Well done, London Busties!

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