I guess it must have been early days for me because I sort of discounted it as something that only REAL crafters do. However, after a few months of serious craft production, I realised that there was going to be no better place to go - and - it was an excuse to meet up with my mate Jacq for the weekend.
The conversation went a little like this...
Liza: So, are you up for this knitting and stitching show thing then?
Jacq: Oh yes, definitely.
Liza: I've been looking at the website, looks like there's the one in London, which would be nice, but there's also one in Harrogate - you could stay with me and also visit your Nans at the same time????
Jacq: Good idea.....but....have you seen where the other one is.....?
Liza: Dublin?
Jacq: Dublin!
Liza: Ohhhh, are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Jacq: Girls' weekend in Dublin?
Liza: It's a deal!!!!
Jacq: See you there!!!
Isn't it lovely when you have friends who think along the same lines as you?
So, with no further ado, we booked into the Gresham on O'Connell Street, and booked flights (from Leeds and Southampton) which landed within an hour of each other.
Friday morning dawned (we were up already - it was an early start!!) and by 9:30am we were checked into the hotel, and off in search of breakfast - most important meal of the day - especially when you got up at 4:30am!
We found it in the pub about 5 doors down from the Gresham - Murrays Grill and Bar - who, for about one third of the price of the breakfast in the Gresham, provided, Tea/Coffee OJ and the most brilliant breakfast baps (egg, bacon and sausage!) ever tasted!!!
We confess to having one of these brekkies every day!
So then, thanks to Jacq's brilliant organisational skills, we had bought super all-city bus tickets for the 3 days, and jumped on the bus to the K&SS venue - this was a 15 minute bus ride out to the RDS in Ballsbridge (no sniggering)
By 10:30 we were getting off the bus (it has to be said - with many many other ladies of a certain age - maybe WE are now ladies of a certain age?) and crossed the road to the exhibition centre.
With our pre-paid tickets, we didn't have to queue, and after a "double Yorkshire moment" with neither of us wanting to pay to put our coats/bags in the cloakroom ("I'm not paying €2 to hang my coat up") we entered the main event hall.
WOW!
It was a bit mind boggling. A bit like a market with loads of tightly packed stalls...we were faced with wool, ribbons, buttons, lace, sewing machines - you name it - it was there!
So, we decided to proceed in the most logical fashion which was up the 1st row and down the next!!! Each stall was numbered and therefore we kept a note of the ones we liked, so that we could come back to buy things on another day. We could do this because when we pre-ordered the tickets, we spotted quite a good deal on a 'group ticket' which allowed us to buy 4 tickets at a reduced price, but the 4 tickets didn't have to be all used at the same time - so basically we decided to use 2 to visit the show on the Friday, and 2 for the Sunday, and then we'd have Saturday to explore Dublin itself!
So we trolled up and down, chatting to the stallholders - all of whom were crafters themselves and all of whom were available for a chat! It was really really nice.
After a couple of hours, we were only about half way round and so stopped for a bite to eat - I think it involved chocolate muffins (although there was a full on canteen where what looked to be very nice food was being served) we stuck to the coffee and buns!!!
From the upper balcony of the exhibition centre, we were able to see all the stalls laid out below...
You can just about see the upper balcony with further stalls and exhibition stands - and people demoing their crafts - spinning, felting, embroidery. Fabulous!!!
We managed to keep going 'till about 3pm (not bad given the early start) with, I think, only one other stop for coffee and cake...
And then it was back on the bus to the city centre.
As I recall, there was then, a torrential deluge - during which I realised my mac wasn't waterproof...because by the time we arrived in the pub in Temple Bar, I was actually soaked through to the skin!!!!
Fortunately, a pint of Guinness and a Hot Port soon warmed me up again and we were able to continue on for dinner.
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