LOVERS of textiles and interior design are in for a real treat when they visit the Guildhall Craft Fair that is being organised as part of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Christmas programme.
One of the new companies taking part is local craft and textile company, Velveteen run by local artist Rachel Kelly who will be exhibiting her range of embroidered and printed purses, cushions, textile art pictures and decorations.
Velveteen is just one of over 40 exhibitors taking part in this year’s event that is scheduled to take place in the historic Guildhall this weekend, Friday 23 until Sunday 25 November.
Based in Victoria Road, Rachel set up Velveteen back in February 2013 creating a variety of mixed media textiles for both the interior design and fashion accessory market that she currently sells in a local craft shop.
She is looking forward to returning to this year’s Guildhall Craft Fair as she believes it’s a great opportunity to build on her strong existing customer base and showcase her wide range of colourful, quirky free hand drawing style designs.
“I am really looking forward to be part of the Guildhall Craft Fair again and showcasing my work.
“I design, draw, cut, stitch and print all of my designs.
“All items are created using my own illustrations which I transfer through a process of free machine embroidery, lino or screen print and are finished to a very high standard and fully lined.
“Everything I create is done with extreme care and attention to detail and are made in small batches and many are one-off items.
“They make for really good gifts, especially for children, with stories and rhymes a recurrent theme in my designs.
“The Guildhall Craft Fair is a great opportunity for regular customers to come and see my produce as well as provide me with an opportunity to expand my customer base and meet new clients as well as engage with other craft producers,” she added.
Now in its 24th year, the Guildhall Craft Fair continues to be one of the most loved retail events in the run up to Christmas. This year’s event runs from 23 – 25 November with the opening times as follows – Friday (12 noon to 7pm), Saturday (10am – 6pm) and Sunday (11am – 6pm).
Admission fee is £1 per adult and free for children under the age of 14.
The event will feature 45 craft stands on the upper floor of the Guildhall, and an artisan food hall in the ground floor with seven stands selling bespoke products and tasty treats.
For more information about the Craft Fair visit – www.derrystrabane.com/craftfair
The Craft Fair marks the start of the city’s Festive celebrations and full details are available at www.derrystrabane.com/christmas
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