Forthcoming Craft Fairs/Markets in November and December 2016

The Forthcoming Craft Fairs/Markets

in November and December

The Season for the craft fairs are coming.  I'm getting ready for the several fairs including new screen prints on paper and on fabric (new!), greeting cards and the regular wild plants calendar 2017.

This week:  It's the last one before Christmas!

Snapped Up Christmas Market at The Printhaus

Click here for details

Date: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December 2016

Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm 

Venue: The Printhaus (7A Llandaff Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9NL)

*The Printhaus is behind the tunnel-like gate.  Parking is recommended outside the venue on the road nearby.

Entry: Free

The new series is 'British Native Plants'.  The first one is 'Sessile Oak and English Oak'.

I am fascinated that Britain has such wonderful native plants, and want to introduce the wild plants.  On the craft fairs (as well as on Etsy) screen prints on paper and fabric such as tea towel and cushion (+ cushion cover) this time.  There are also other new screen prints as well.

organic cotton tea towels

cushions

 a new screen print: 'A Fox in Beechwoods: Looking Through the Window II'

PPODD Contemporary Markets

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Date: Saturday 5th November 2016

Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm

Venue: The Paget Rooms (Victoria Road, Penarth CF64 3EG)

Entry: £1.00 (kids free)

PADLT Christmas Crafts and Creations

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Date: Saturday 26th November 2016
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Venue: Stanwell Road Baptist Church Hall
(Victoria Road CF64 3EG, next to the Paget Rooms on the left side)
Entry: Free

GIFT Penarth Contemporary Craft Market

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For details on Etsy Local Event site

Date: Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December 2016
Time: 10am-6pm
Venue: Penarth Pier Pavilion (The Esplanade, Penarth, CF64 3AU)
Entry: Free

Snapped Up Christmas Market at The Printhaus

Click here for details

Date: Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th December 2016

Time: 10:00am - 5:00pm 

Venue: The Printhaus (7A Llandaff Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9NL)

*The Printhaus is behind the tunnel-like gate.  Parking is recommended outside the venue on the road nearby.

Entry: Free

October Calendar 2016: Sorrel

October: Sorrel or Dock

Meadow

Rumex acetosa
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex

or as dock
Rumex obtusifolius
Order: Caryphyllales
Family: Polygonaceae
Genus: Rumex

habitat: open grassy space
distribution: widespread throughout the British Isles

I thought it was sorrel when I worked on this print. But it can be dock.  They belong to the same family, which is why they look quite similar.  But the leaves of sorrel are smaller than the ones of dock, and shaped like arrows.  The leaves of this print are bigger and longer and not arrow-like.  I can tell now it is dock, which can be seen everywhere on grasslands, roadside etc.

I was confused to distinguish between sorrel and dock, for it was because the flowers are resemble as they are both of the same polygonaceae family.  Both are edible plants, though, only young leaves can taste.  Nowadays you can even buy sorrel leaves for salad, which are usually mixed together with other salad leaves.

The seeds of both dock and sorrel turn fiery red (soon after brown as they dry) in the autumn.  I found the seeds are also edible and the grounded seeds can be used as flour.  No wonder, dock is a buckwheat family.  But I cannot guarantee how its flour goes well as an ingredient.  Besides you have to harvest a massive amount of seeds.

Dock is known for a herbal remedy, especially to ease the nettle sting.  (See my blog on September 2016 'Nettle')as NHS Choice says on its website.

Dock and sorrel, both grow widely all over the Europe (even they can be seen in Japan).  They grow everywhere, on grassland, roadside, footpath, between the stones of pavement, sometimes through the tarred surface.  Although we see them everywhere, these wild plants are often neglected.  Let us enjoy the autumnal colour, and try the young leaves next spring.