History uncovered: Antique and Craft Fairs

Today I thought I would talk about a long-enduring love of mine: Antique and Craft Fairs.

With the economy in the state it’s in, these fairs have become so much more popular in the past few years, and have shed the previous ‘only for pensioners’ image they used to hold. My flat is now completely full of ‘tat’ that I’ve picked up simply because it has a history and a story to it!

For all you history lovers it is really worth visiting an antique fair or two (Portobello road is worth a look if you want to start somewhere). Here you can find something that has a story, is really cheap, and will look lovely. It is a fine art though, as there is usually a lot of junk to sort through!

As an example, here are two kinds of ‘fairs’ I visited the other day:

The first was called a “Living Crafts Fair” at the beautiful stately home of Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. This one isn’t really an ‘antiques’ fair as such, but it is a chance for local crafts people to show their work, and many of these people have been doing their crafts for generations.

So, here is a demonstration of what Living Crafts from Hertfordshire has to offer:

A lucky horse!

As you can see, many people take the chance to catch up on making their pieces!

And... jam everywhere!

Outside there's even more to see:

The second fair we went to was super-local. In a church-hall local. Why would I go to something like that? Because it can be a gold mine for history:

It’s not all amazing though….

What even is that?!

My tips for Antique Fairs:

-       Always barter. The little stickers on them are usually just a guide price, and they will often do you a better one – you just have to ask!

-       If you’re going to take photos, particularly at a craft fair, always ask permission first (don’t worry, I did).

-       Take cash. I’ve made that mistake so many times!

-       Make sure you think about where the item will go in your house. It’s so tempting to buy a china plate for £2 because you got excited, but when you go home you realise won’t fit in with anything you own.

-       Take your time. Just because a stall looks cluttered doesn’t mean it’s not worth looking at. Often the most amazing finds are underneath so much!

Finally, some lovely shops to have a look at:

http://www.ladybirdandleaf.com - beautiful jewellery that is really unique.

http://www.whitewashsoaps.co.uk - handmade soaps and creams that are really reasonably priced for a change!

https://www.facebook.com/thekatcollectionporcelain - cute porcelain for dog and cat lovers.

http://firecreation.co.uk - Game of Thrones fans, this is for you.

These are just some cheeky non-history ones to enjoy, but there is lots more to explore :)