The Sandford Craft Fundraiser was set up to co-ordinate the annual Sandford Craft & Gift Fair. It is also involved in other community and family friendly fundraising creative, art, craft and makers events throughout the year, including Crediton Festival Craft Fair on Crediton’s Town Square. The admin base is now at The White Room Creative Space in Crediton & works in collaboration with some of the
events organised there. The craft fair itself is very much a community event with a fundraising focus with over 38 stallholders all selling locally handmade art, crafts and gifts. The fair has always had an interesting, bustling, and welcoming atmosphere and in 2020 it celebrated it's 35th year. It is organised and run by Bindy Saywood with the help of a team of volunteers. Each year there is a varied range of stalls all selling locally handmade and affordable crafts and gifts. Many are local professional artists; skilled craftspeople, makers and food producers. Others are crafters who build up their stock ready for this event each year. The fair provides a successful forum to sell work but also to advertise workshops and accept commissions. There are about 38 stalls each year with bespoke jewellery, glass, pottery and ceramic art; wooden items; paintings and prints; photography, basket and ironwork, cards; textiles, crochet and knitting, locally homemade food items and gifts - jams, pickles; honey and beeswax products; soaps and handmade Christmas wreaths and decorations. The stage is turned into ‘The Children’s Craft Activity Area’ a busy, creative area dedicated to children’s craft activities. There are the popular home-cooked lunches; afternoon teas and refreshments and also the fantastic Craft Raffle - a chance to win one of the many handmade craft and Gift prizes. Each event raises funds for local, national and international charities and good causes over the years. All funds raised by the Craft Cafe is used to support creative projects for children and young people within school. Although the Sandford Craft Fair is each November, Sandford Craft Fundraiser also runs, supports and promotes other local fundraising events that incorporate the skills of local crafters, makers and artists. If anyone would like more information, please contact co-ordinator Bindy Saywood.
