One final rant

Dusting off the soapbox and turning it up on its end (I'm not very tall)..

Ladies and gentlemen, I just want to take a few minutes of your time to talk to you about the Stitches and craft show in Melbourne. I don't want to sell you anything I just want to suggest that you might like to attend.

Why?

• Well, its a craft show so I figure if you read here you are into a bit of craft.
• There are heaps of well-priced classes and FREE studios to attend.
• There are insanely good workshops and free craft bars where you can pull up a stool and make a wee item and take it home... for FREE
• There will be lots and lots and lots of other crafty folk there to bump into, have coffee with and generally be social with.

BUT..and here's the kicker guys.....

I think you might like to come along to support the people who support craft. Does that make sense?

In the craft world, the guys behind Stitches and Craft are the ones out there offering support to little indie businesses. They give us the chance to take part in a HUGE event and gain exposure that most of us couldn't normally afford to do (like not even close) . They help us figure out all the logistics and they sometimes even give people a bit of a kick in the butt to get them started (in the nicest possible way)

Why should you care?

Well there are the big reasons for caring - like supporting handmade, and the craft industry. But I think its fair to ask people to support Stitches and Craft because they are out there promoting and sharing and getting the word out about craft . Their show helps raise the profile of craft and handmade and that has to be a good thing right? Surely getting craft out there in the world has to have a trickle down effect, more people know about craft, think its great, are more likely to look for handmade when the need arises. More people get excited by craft and go home and take up knitting or sewing or raffia hat making or whatever fuels them....so our community grows and new exciting stuff happens...

and apart from all that ? Maybe one day YOU will want to get a teeny stall in the incubator and spend five days meeting people and showing off your stuff and having a great time, or maybe your mum will, or one of your blog friends. How sad would it be to say "oh there used to be this great place for little businesses at a craft show- I never went though, I wonder what happened to it?"

So maybe you are half-heartedly thinking about attending... Seriously tickets are only $10, or $15 for two days...if that's as far as your budget stretches, pack a sandwich and come and do all the free stuff.

But I say throw that $10 to the wind, and get to Caulfield, join in the big crafty love-in and show your support for craft. What have you got to lose?

For a full list with links - of all the people in the incubator go and check out jennies blog.

and for a comprehensive list of all the great retailers attending, check out the stitches and craft site

* hops off the soap box and packs it away to return to the sewing machine (where she feels far more comfortable)*