WIN TICKETS TO SEWING FOR PLEASURE AND HOBBYCRAFTS AT BIRMINGHAM’S NEC

Popular shows Sewing for Pleasure and Hobbycrafts return to Birmingham’s NEC from Thursday 12 – Sunday 15 March 2009. As well as many brand new features at Hobbycrafts, Alison Smith, author of The Sewing Book will be appearing at this year’s Sewing for Pleasure.

The life-size knitted display, Shaun the Sheep & The Great British PicKnit, is unveiled at the show, plus you can step back in time and experience the razzle-dazzle of London’s Windmill Theatre and the WW2 blitz with original costumes from the smash hit British film ‘Mrs Henderson Presents’!

If you thought that recycling couldn’t be fun, think again! A group of artists prove how fashionable recycling can be with their creative display, Reclaim, Re-use, Recycle, plus you get the chance to Meet the Designer for inspiration, advice and creative ideas!

With thousands of modern materials alongside traditional supplies, stitching enthusiasts and beginners will find everything they need at Sewing for Pleasure. With over 150 exhibitors, find hundreds of embellishments including beads, buttons, ribbon, fabric and gems to create anything in your wildest imagination! You can learn to customise clothes, knit stylish accessories, make beautiful cushions and patchwork quilts – the list is endless!

Don’t miss out on the Hands-on areas where you can try out new products, be inspired and get involved with workshops, lively demonstrations and informative talks. Sewing, Cardmaking, Papercraft, Quilting, Origami, Weaving and Jewellery Making are just some of the daily demonstrations on offer! No need to pre-book the workshops & talks, just check the programme when you arrive or visit the website www.ichf.co.uk where you can find details. Learning has never been so much fun!

The Dressmaker’s Forum and Pattern Bar is bigger and better this year with Alison Victoria’s School of Sewing, run by Alison Smith – the largest independent sewing school in the UK, offering advice and guidance about new products and sewing tips. Alison is launching The Sewing Book’ in February 2009.

Brand new to Hobbycrafts is the Simply Wood area for those interested in woodcrafts, featuring Marquetry, Woodturning, Toy making, Pyrography and many other similar crafts. Meet the crafts people, get advice and all the supplies you need to develop new skills. Enjoy lively demonstrations from exhibitors and societies including the Marquetry Society, British Toymakers Guild and British Woodcarving Society.

At the new Dedicated Workshop Area four of the top manufacturers will offer the chance to enjoy all the latest innovations in creative crafts. Workshops will be chargeable and need to be pre-booked - full details are available on www.ichf.co.uk

Students from Inkberrow Design Centre will model in the popular catwalk events at Sewing for Pleasure, in one of the daily catwalk shows! Brenda Killigrew continues to organise these successful shows taking place at 11.00, 13.00 and 15.00 everyday of the show. Original designs from students and exhibitors will be showcased on the catwalk.

See the stunning winning embroideries and best entries from the 2008 STITCH/Madeira Embroidery competition (normally only seen at Fashion Embroidery & Stitch in Harrogate). The theme 'Glimpses of China' evoked inspiring images including the Great Wall, Ming dynasties, padi fields and the 2008 Olympics.

Due to the popularity and success of last year’s French Exchange, this year ICHF are sending the knitted gingerbread house to France! In exchange, Pascal Jaouen will display a collection of beautiful, traditional Bretton creations at Sewing for Pleasure.

The Quilters Guild of the British Isles were set a Challenge in conjunction with Makeover UK with the theme ‘Out of the Shadows Into the Light’. Entrants could make quilts, a three-dimensional item or piece of clothing to represent the theme. ICHF are pleased to present a display of the impressive winners and entrants’ work.

The National Needlework Archive invited professional and amateur textile artists to combine beautiful textile art with poetry, creating a series of stunning designs called Poetry in Stitches 2. See the complete collection at Creative Stitches.

Leave Sewing for Pleasure & Hobbycrafts with something in your hand and ideas in your head! Meet welcoming exhibitors and join creative people for inspiration, advice and fun!

Tickets purchased in advance are priced £8.50 adults, £7.50 senior citizens and can be booked on-line at www.theticketfactory.com  or by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 33 88 000. Tickets on the door are priced £10.00 adults, £9.00 senior citizens. Children under 16 go free when accompanied by an adult or £3.00 if unaccompanied.

For your chance to win one of 5 pairs of tickets answer this question: -

Q: Name the author of The Sewing Book who will be appearing at Sewing for Pleasure.

CLICK HERE to e-mail us your answer.
 Please put "Sewing" as your subject and remember to include your name and address so that we can send the lucky winner their prize. The first eight entries drawn will receive two free tickets to the Shows.

The draw will take place on 3rd March 2009

Good luck !