Bethnal Green Craftacular

The Craftacular at Bethnal Green yesterday was spectacularly well attended. I got there at midday, which was when it was due to open, and the mother of all queues was already in place.

That was just the bit that went round the corner. When you got round it there was a whole another bend to get round.

Has there ever been such a queue to get into a craftacular?

In any case, it was worth the wait, and the £2 entrance fee, as this is what awaited me.

Stand after stand of crafty goodness, plus cakes and drinks. They sold out of iced tea in an hour (20 gallons so I heard) and anyone making fans would have been minted as I must have been asked a dozen time where I'd bought mine. (Luckily I always carry one, as you do - so handy on the tube, and got my panda encrusted one from Artbox. Love that place and excellent online service.) Truly they could have done with some air conditioning.

You know how in the consumer craft world there are trends and then everyone is suddenly doing them? Here it was screenprinting and shapes cut out of acrylic.

Plus moustaches. The days when Erqsome was a lone moustachio'd warrior are no more, and in fact someone told me tattoo artists were now accustomed to people asking for them to be tattoo'd on their fingers, so they could assume a moustache at a moment's notice.

(Can someone please tell me how they will explain a tattoo'd finger to others in 10 years time? But then I guess some things never get old, and the grandkids are going to love it.)

There were also some highly inspirational things too:

Love those pillows, and the pincushions below likewise.

My actual purchases were modest and consisted of a little leather hairclip,

......a free copy of Bust magazine (feminist mag combining lady porn, music, films, interviews and etsy) who organised the whole shindig, a zine, a few greetings card and a snazzy pair of handmade pants.

I also gathered tonnes of business cards for when I am a bit more in the money. So pretty.

Special mention must be made of the cakes. Polka dot heart shaped lemon tarts anyone?

Or edible glitter covered rose water cupcakes?

Sadly a bit beyond my budget for the evening, so luckily I spied a branch of Percy Ingles near Whitechapel tube and made away with 9 of their best for my evening with friends.

Om nom nom nom.