82-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, Juna 12, 1993
Creative Festival Displays New Products, Methods
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
KING OF PRUSSIA (Mont
gomery Co.) If you sew, do
crafts or like to see what’s new on
the market. The Creative Festival
is the place to go.
The Creative Festival is a three
day show held in 30 different cities
throughout the year. Local and
national companies exhibit
machines, tools, supplies, kits, pat
terns, books, videos and more for
almost every craft in existence.
Free educational classes, work
shops, demonstrations and lectures
are offered throughout the festival.
If you want to purchase a sewing
machine or serger. you can try
hands-on classes offered by most
of the major sewing machine com
panies. That way you can make a
better qualified decision because
you have first-hand experience on
how fabric feeds through the
machine and how easy it is to
switch to different stitches.
Many of the exhibits demon
strate crafts at the booths, but for
those interested in more in-depth
teaching, 30-minute to one-hour
'n m
Large crowds gathered to watch Kit show the audience
how easy it is to dip a vase in Magic Dip.
If vou want to purchase a sewing machine or serger, you can try hands-on classes
offered by most of the major sewing machine companies during the three-day Crea
tive Festivals held In 30 cities annually.
workshops are held. These include
free workshops on bowmaking,
banner making, sewing swimwear,
fabric painting techniques, strip
quilling, tumble dyes, and much
more.
Even if you are an expert quilter
or cross stitcher, you will find new
methods and equipment available
to make these crafts quicker and
easier. For example, there is a
quilting thimble that you do not
wear on your finger, and it allows
even the novice quilter to make
quick, tiny stitches. For those who
like to finish projects in a hurry,
several booths demonstrated new
methods of quilting with machine
without marking the quilt
For those who cannot or do not
have the time to sew but like home
decorating, valance frames are
available in which straight pieces
of fabric can be inserted and turned
into puffy valances and swags.
Some of the craft exhibits that
gathered large crowds were Crea
tive Ideas by Patti who used broc
coli, celery, and other produce in
an unique fabric painting projects;
Magic Dip, a marbleizing paint kit
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that transforms trash into designer
works of art; and sweat shirt decor
ating.
Several exhibitors demon
strated products such as irons,
fabrics, tools, and saws. Recent
developments in irons and ironing
board covers make ironing a
breeze. A Miracle Ironing Board
Cover, made of Owens-Coming
Fiberglass yam is guaranteed not
to bum. H reflects 95 percent of the
heat placed on it, which means that
the iron never needs to be set above
a medium heat setting. Because the
iron reflects the heat, both sides of
the fabric are pressed at the same
time.
Several irons on the market
allow you to press clothing while
hanging on the hangers. These
steam irons give professional
results.
Machines, tools, supplies, kits,
patterns, books and videos may be
purchased at the show. Many of
the exhibitors have special sale
prices during the show, but you
must be careful according to Fay
Strickler, Penn State Extension
economist. She said, “Like any
show, some prices are marked up.
It pays to have a general idea on
prices so that you can determine
which are truly sale prices and
which are not.”
Strickler was one of the eco
nomists who manned the Penn
State Extension booth at the show.
The Extension focused on distri
buting information for hobbyists to
start their own business. The
Extension also taught workshops
on turning a hobby into a business,
which includes information on leg
al issues,, zoning, taxes, record
keeping, licensing, pricing, trade
marks, and insurance.
Last week, a three-day Creative
Festival was held at King of Prus
sia. It is an annual show and will be
held next year about this time.
Upcoming festivals located in
Lancaster Farming’s patron area
include Howard County Fair
grounds in Baltimore, Md., on
June 11-13; Meadowlands Con
vention Center, Secaucus, NJ,
June 18-20; Erie County Fair
grounds, Buffalo, September
10-12; and 1/X Center, Cleveland,
Ohio, November 5-7.
For a complete listing of shows
or advance tickets, write to Roth
Exposition Group, P.O. Box 9, San
Mateo, CA 94401. Regular admis
sion is $6 per ticket, but tickets
purchased in advance cost $5.
Sandra Larsen, holds a mailbox dipped In Magic Dip, a
marbelelzlng paint kit that transforms trash Into designer
works of art. In the background are other items dipped in the
Creative Ideas by Patti show how broccoli, celery, and
other produce is used to make unique fabric painting pro
jects. The roses were made in seconds by covering a cut-off
stalk of celery with paint and stamping on fabric.
For those who cannot or do not have the time to sew but
like home decorating, valance frames are available In which
straight pieces of fabric can be inserted and turned into puf
fy valances and swags.
qCeate s i e * i i f/iies
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