Lyttleton Stores was thrilled to be able to take part in #SydneyCraftWeek2023! We were one of over 60 venues who contributed to this year's program, and we were particularly proud to be able to represent the Blue Mountains as part of the Greater Sydney Region.

We set the tone for the event by installing a new exhibition in our Window Gallery. Heartfelt Fibres by Blue Mountains artist Julia Butler brought the craft of felting to Lyttleton, featuring organic, sculptural pieces and wearable art. This intersection of art and crafts hung proudly in our Window Gallery for the month of October.

On Sunday 8 October, we hosted our first Destash Craft Fair. Here we sort to connect with the crafters who were at the heart of Sydney Craft Week, while also representing Lyttletons ethos of reducing waste and building community. This was a laid back affair, held in our community gardens and designed so that any crafter with an excess of crafting tools and supplies would feel comfortable booking a stall and passing some of their treasures onto a new home. And we were blown away by how well the event was received! Over a dozen crafters sold on the day, with a steady stream of customers and community coming to enjoy the gardens and look for a bargain. It was a particular hit with the children, who loved running around, making up their own games, and discovering the joy of the perfect lovely button or ribbon!

We had lots of enquiries about whether there would be another fair, and have been inspired to make Garden Fairs an ongoing feature at Lyttleton! On Sunday 16 December we will hosted a Garden Thread Fair, where locals have been invited to book a stall and sell their pre-loved clothing. With Christmas approaching, we’re empowering our community to take a step away from consumerism and waste. This is a wonderful chance to find your treasure, grab a bargain, and give new life to someone’s old threads!

We finished up Sydney Craft Week with our first Craft Circle, an informal social event where crafters were invited to come along, bring a project, craft in company, and connect with fellow craftspeople. The goal of this event was to welcome people in and foster inclusiveness, so anyone who loves to create was encouraged to come along, as was anyone looking to learn more about getting into crafts! Again we had a wonderful response, with a wide range of crafters attending and enjoying the company. It was amazing to see the range of crafts and creative pursuits being undertaken, including spinning, knitting, crochet, felting, sewing, weaving, watercolour, basketry and more! Several people used the opportunity to learn something new, while others were able to finally get to that project they just never seemed to find time for, some even picking up their craft for the first time in years.

And as with our Garden Fairs, the Craft Circle has become a regular event at Lyttleton, being held monthly (next up, Saturday 16 December at 6 pm). And we’ve also been inspired to create a larger program of Creative Community Events - events that are facilitated on a volunteer basis and run either free of charge or at a minimal cost. They aim to bring people together, promote inclusiveness, support community, and of course provide participants with an all important creative outlet!

We’re so pleased with the success of Sydney Craft Week 2023 at Lyttleton, not only for the fabulous program of events and wonderful community response, but also for the ongoing impact the week has had on the creative and community landscape at Lyttleton.