Wisley Craft Fair

Craft And Design Fair

RHS Wisley Gardens

I so love Wisley Gardens in Surrey at the best of times.  (RHS. Wisley Gardens). The beautiful house and gardens with a superb garden centre, shop and cafe are a lovely place to visit. The flowers are stunning at most times of the year, sadly a little spoiled by the continuous wet weather we have experienced so far this year.

Stunning house

Pretty pond and waterfall

The pagoda

A few spring flowers struggling with the wet conditions

But we were really not here to see the gardens but to visit the Contemporary Craft and Design Fair, which was housed in large marquees erected throughout the gardens. It is organized by Craft In Focus  and runs from 3rd until 7th May 2012.

The exhibitors were many and varied and had come from far and wide. A few were exceptionally interesting and all were wonderful and very unique ...

Yellow Cymbidium

These amazing flowers were made in porcelain by  AshleyLouise. Their floral design stand had some beautiful things - very special floral arrangements for home and weddings in particular.

Pink Cymbidium

John Milner specializes in treefrogs. They were very unusual indeed. He makes frogs from all available materials, pottery and metals being very much in evidence. They were weirdly wonderful.  Their website says it all ...  www.geckoman.co.uk

Pottery wall hanging treefrog

Mary Mary makes colourful handmade jewellery in Cornwall and her stall was extremely bright. I loved these heart shaped pendants with sparkling jewels.

Pretty pieces from Mary Mary

The Natural Knitwear Company  makes socks. Not just any old socks but colourful cotton mis-matched socks. I so loved them and bought two pairs for Mr Whizz Kid. Last trip I bought some for my son and he says that they wash very well.

The colours chosen were 'Raspberry' and 'Woodland'

I love this whole mis-matched thing. I also have some mis-matched shoes called 'Twins' by Camper Shoes, which make me smile when people do a double-take. Why on earth should socks or shoes match? I like weird!

Excellent knitwear from Lorry Marshall

Some stunning designs

Lorry Marshall makes these beautiful knits in Newcastle using a variety of textiles. Her company is called  The Original Hand-Made Knitting Company  and her knitwear is truly original.

These amazing tables really caught my eye

And this jewellery was most original

These colourful items were all made from glass and resin and the tables were hand-made in wood with glass and resin inserts. The company was called  Giddygecko.

Hand-made hats with knitted flowers by Lavender Heart - loved these!

These hats had gorgeous knitted flowers decorating them (sadly not available seperately) and were made by Lavender Heart who also made lots of other pretty knitted items.

Superb knitwear

And my very favourite crafter  Heidi Rhodes Textiles

Heidi Rhodes is a wonderful young textile artist whom I come across on a regular basis in the South Of England. She makes the most original pictures using a variety of materials. Her work is quirky and colourful and really makes me smile. More of her work can be found here at  Heidi Rhodes Textiles. Do take a look as it is so wonderful. I could not resist the one below and bought it for myself. Isn't it adorable?

And this is one I bought!
'Tea With The Queen'
Heidi Rhodes

Detail of 'Tea With The Queen'
Taken in the sun!

Wonderful original ideas - 'Guards at Buckingham Palace'

My photo's do not do justice to this amazing work

So I had a great day out in the rain with a friend and we finished up having lunch (yes I truly belong to that club of 'the lazy ladies who lunch') at  Carluccio's  in Cobham. It was very good indeed!

Floral Design by Ashley Louise

Do go if at all possible!