We ventured over the border last weekend to the fleshpots of Manchester to visit the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair held at Spinningfields. www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk Promising over 160 quality artists & makers, selected by a panel of 'craft experts' expectations were high (although we did also combine the trip with a night out to visit friends so all the weekend excitements were not all pinned on the crafts). Despite my initial sense of being slightly overwhelmed by the many aisles of stalls stretched out before me, the mild stress of only having 2 hours to consume it all (it closed at 7pm on Friday night) and a concern about the levels of pretension that may be involved (set by an extremely 'arty' looking lady with very bold eyebrows and over sized bow headband sat near the entrance), it all turned well. The promised quality was indeed there, with seemingly a good mix of the accessible and easy to love as well as more 'challenging&
www.lostinthewood.co.uk