Shopping in London: BUST Christmas Craftacular
It’s been one of those weeks where London’s burning with amazing Christmas shopping events, sales and exhibitions, and it’s finally taken its toll on this wee birdy. So when my alarm went off at 6am on Saturday, I just couldn’t face the bleak reality of trudging out to Wembley in the freezing cold for the much-hyped Angels Vintage warehouse sale.
As a huge vintage fan, I was really looking forward to this event and it’s been in my diary ever since Susie Bubble announced it last month on her blog. I had dreams of nabbing an amazing ‘60s Biba frock or picking up an original ‘50s prom dress, so I was really disappointed I didn’t make it. But I don’t think I could have weathered the mandatory four-hour queue, and I just couldn’t get past all the rules and regulations about not taking a bag (huh?) or bringing a camera (why?). And as I’ve been feeling under the weather, I don’t think I would have handled the mother of all shit-fights which ensued inside. Read all about it (and watch the video) over on Susie Bubble’s blog.
So it was straight on to London’s very first BUST Christmas Craftacular, which had been given a distinct British spin thanks to the line-up of the nation’s hottest crafters at Euston’s St Aloysius Social Hall.
The queue at BUST Christmas Craftacular...
The opening crush of well-dressed hipster girls (and some skinny jeans-clad dudes) reflected the mantra of BUST’s editor-in-chief, Debbie Stoller (my hero) that “crafting is the new rock’n’roll”.
Decorated in a riotous display of kitsch Christmas decorations, the hall was packed to capacity for the first hour, and it was difficult to actually move, let only dance, to the superb set by Pamflet zine’s Phoebe Frangoul. Making my way around the stalls to the strains of Lush’s “Shake Baby Shake”, I stumbled across some fantastic new finds, including brooches by Hetty and Dave, hand-sewn soft toys by Bobby Dazzler, illustrations by Kate Seaward and headpieces by Tour de Force.
Bobby Dazzler
Hetty and Dave
The ever-creative and original Tatty Devine girls set up a brilliant Craft Surgery, where they dispensed all sorts of clever crafty tips and advice.
After meeting up for tea with Basil Exposition who was in London for the weekend (ah, the joys of blogging!), I returned to hear more of the brilliant DJ line-up, including Sheila B from Cherry Bomb playing sixties girl bands (swoon). But the seriously amazing Shellac Sisters were the highlight of the day, who looked glam in their vintage ensembles as they played 78s on their 1920s wind-up gramophones.
Just the thing to get into the swing of stitching and bitching!
