craft market round up
One of the things that I love doing with a few spare hours on a weekend is mooching around the various craft markets in London, and now that the sunshine has returned, I’m inspired to head outdoors again. I can’t face the big regular markets (eg Camden, Portobello) but I love the smaller, local markets fully of crafty people selling their wares.
London is full of crafty hotspots but they may not always be obvious, so I thought it might be useful to gather together a bit of a list. (There is a particular reason for why I’m doing this post right now, but that will all become apparent later!)
First weekend of every month. Abney Hall, Church St, Stoke Newington, N16 0AS
This is one of my favourites. It’s not a huge venue (so you can pop in without feeling like you need to prepare yourself for an ordeal) but no matter who’s got a stall on any particular day, you can be assured that it will all be great crafty stuff sold directly by the people who made it. (Plus they have a little shop around the corner in Kersley Rd where I’ve been known to buy some lovely things without even meaning to).
Not actually a craft market (more an emphasis on yummy food) but there are also crafty and vintage gems in this strip of trendiness on the edge of London Fields. A nice place for a stroll on a sunny Saturday, pick up a bite to eat and have a rummage through a stash of vintage buttons.
As they say on their website, “The Craft Guerrilla Army is taking on the world for a better hand made existence! We’ve had enough of soulless, mass produced tat and so has the average consumer.” That says it all really! This collective organises various craft markets, events, and craft DIY nights, and their website has details of whatever they have coming up.
This is another collective organising crafty events in London. They’ve been organising craft markets and other events since 2008, and always have something in the works. Their Christmas markets are a highlight, and their blog links to lots of great designers and crafters.
Courtesy of the magazine of the same name, BUST has been having London-based Craftaculars for the past few years. No details on plans for 2011, but thought I should post the link just in case there’s something in the works.
Every Saturday from April 2 until September 24, The Triangle, Warburton Rd, E8 3RH.
This is the new kid on the block, a new weekly market that has just started this month. Anyone want to check it out with me?
These are a few that I know about, but I’d love to hear about your favourite London craft adventures. Where do you go to see what other people are making and selling?