Thursday, 11 December 2025

No Plastic Tat Here!

Every time we have been over to our little chapel recently, we passed signs about the Hindolveston Craft Market. H is a little village a few miles on from the chapel - less than 20 minutes from Cornerstones. So we pootled over on Sunday afternoon after lunch.  Entry and parking were free.

Every stall was run by a local person with proper handmade crafts - knitting, sewing, quilting, cardmaking [various] jewellery, basketwork, ropework [various] woodturning, glasswork, pewterwork... Nothing that was an 'assemblage' of bits from China, or plastic and produced on a 3d printer.

It was brilliant, and run by the Hindolveston CIA [Crafts In Action] This is their 25th year [how have I not heard of it before?] and they do a 2 day event in December, and in August a 'workshop' event, where the craftspeople demonstrate their crafts and allow the visitors to have a try.
The Village Hall was beautifully decorated and they have gorgeous little stalls with striped awnings - plus hot drinks and cakes. And everyone was so friendly, and prices were reasonable. We enjoyed it so much - and everyone was really friendly
One woman had a few knitted baubles, all the same design. We got into conversation and I showed her my review of the book by Arne and Carlos. She took a photo, and said she would like to check out the book, as she only had the one bauble pattern!
The best Christmas Market I have been to this year, and on my radar for next year now! 

30 comments:

  1. I love these craft markets and they're popping up a lot more these days, that one look very nice indeed.

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    1. It was such a happy atmosphere, genuine artists and crafters

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  2. This sounds great! How nice to get away from the stifling presence of continual plastic!

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  3. I would pay to go in! It's as much an exhibition as a craft fair. What a lovely find.

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  4. It was good that it was nice and friendly. I am always wary of these makers markets these days because I have attended some where the sellers are far too pushy for my liking and as soon as you might look at something in more detail pounce on you and then it is hard to move on to the next stall without offending or buying. I like to browse all the stalls before I would decide on what I might buy, if anything. Often I want to just think if an item might be a present for someone or not and come back to it.

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    1. If they are too pushy, then they lose their chance of a sale

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  5. Sounds like a lovely crafts fair!

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  6. How lovely to find somewhere so 'real'. People spend hours making pretty things, and its so good to feel they are appreciated.

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  7. That looks wonderful! Here in the States we have craft fairs, but it drives me crazy when I go and there are very few vendors that have handmade crafts. Most of it is manufactured items or multi-level marketing items such as pampered chef or scentsy. Etsy is also turning into more of a print-on-demand company than handcrafted items.

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  8. I was at a similar fair on Sunday. It was packed full of 'real ' artisans. I bought a couple of things that I couldn't make myself but most crafted Xmas cards were £4 each so I'd say your fair was a lot cheaper!! I love the quilted tree forest panels. Did you but anything?

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  9. What lovely items for sale!
    The jewellery sets are good, I'm guessing made from polymer clay, a craft I always intended to pursue but never got around to!

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    1. Yes it was polymer clay. That's a craft I have yet to try

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  10. That looks like a very worthwhile visit, how nice all those makes are.
    Alison in Devon x

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  11. Isn't it nice to go to a real craft fair, and be tempted by things made with love and talent. I love those doorstop knots. We have one somewhere, but I can't think which door it is either holding open, or hiding behind!!

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  12. Wow-I would love to have visited that market! It’s such a joy to see genuine handmade items for sale. Catriona

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    1. You would have had a great time C. And Shedman would have liked the woodcrafts

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  13. I would love to see that market. I used to go to weekend markets around the area but got sick of all the plastic imported clothes and junk also JennyP

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  14. That looks lovely. Lots of variety. We have a monthly one near us, and the goods are excellent but a bit samey. There's a limit to how many silver earrings and dolphin paintings anyone needs.

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    1. Round here there are always loads of artworks involving beach huts or windmills

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