Successful Eastleigh Craft Market

I visited Eastleigh Craft Market yesterday at Market Street and really enjoyed it.

I hope the craft market will return as it shows immense talents of local artists and crafters and celebrates creativity in the community.

The one-off Eastleigh Craft Market was run by Eastleigh BID (Business Improvement District). It was joined onto the farmers’ market, which is held twice a week in Eastleigh town centre.

The Eastleigh Craft Market was held on the same day as the Eastleigh Chilli Festival 2014 took place at Leigh Road Recreational Ground.

Crafts and arts with personality

At the craft market, I saw attractive stalls with high quality, unique, mesmerising products. It’s always pleasing to find unique hand-made gifts by local artists and crafters.

Freebird Shop by Soma Daya

I was enthralled by the very first stall, Freebird Shop by Soma Daya.

Soma made beautiful Tote bags (roses, bird, leaves), petite pleat bag, Hey Doll Face bag, Rule Britannia bag, and also pocket mirror, portable placemat with cutlery, and many lovely creative items.

Upcycling jewellery LaDanneh

I love the concept of upcyclying. Daniel Butterfield and Stephen Deamer, of LaDanneh, created handmade upcycled bracelets.

They use discarded aluminium ring pulls and upcycle the ring pulls into fashionable, affordable and unique jewellery. The bracelets are available in a wide variety of colours. I wouldn’t mind having a purple one for my birthday.

Artists from the Sorting Office in Eastleigh

Eastleigh’s creative centre, The Sorting Office, was launched in May last year by world-famous designer Wayne Hemingway MBE.

I was fortunate to see (and touch) beautiful work by three artists from the Sorting Office studios at the craft market.

Contemporary stained glass artist Carly Mann

Carly Mann is a contemporary stained glass artist, who creates distinctive, original and experimental pieces that incorporate mixed media including collage and her own paintings.

Carly’s work is influenced by her interest in other cultures, landscape, ancient history, symbols, stories and myths.

Textile artist Karen Head

Textile artist Karen Head is a designer, dyer, maker and tutor. She uses wool, silk fibres and threads to create bespoke artwork and nuno scarves.

Karen hand dyes her materials, allowing for variations in character in the creation of expressive abstract pieces.

Fashion designer Anna Lambert

Anna Lambert of Sewannaboutique is a designer and maker of unique skirts and accessories.

Anna Lambert specialises in feminine gathered skirts for girls and women, some lined, others an exuberance of pattern, and others with retro styling details, but all with a nifty and practical adjustable fit.

I also visited a gift stall by Lucy Whitcher, and Stuff by ruby roo – by seamstress Jolene Gelder.

Coincidentally, I also saw a Forever aloe vera stall, manned by Lucy Guilder from Chandler’s Ford and her friend Carole Hodgson. Lucy Guilder told me she is training to be a funeral director in Chandler’s Ford, and has also just started her aloe vera business.

Eastleigh craft market has potential

As a paper crafter, I love to see Eastleigh Craft Market to continue running and flourish. The handmade products I saw yesterday in Eastleigh were of high quality and show the artists’ individuality.

I visited many craft markets before, and I was impressed by the Eastleigh Craft Market, even though the market was of a small scale. Does size matter? Eastleigh Craft Market is a great start and I’m sure the council would be able to attract more artists and visitors to flock to Eastleigh if the craft market continues to run.