Alpacas are primarily kept for their fleece. To showcase the diversity of alpaca fibre the East of England Craft show will be offering multiple categories to highlight not only the beauty of alpaca fibre but the creativity of some of our owners & keepers. From soaps to shawls, spring through winter – alpaca covers you from head to foot as well as your home!
With more and more very talented people within the alpaca world showing us every day, the fantastic items they are making with English Alpaca Fleece, we would very much like you to show us your own talents, and the beautiful items you are producing.
This year we would like to announce our first Craft Competition to be held at Essex Young Farmers Club, Kindly sponsored by Free Range Fibre.
Many thanks to our Judge this year who is Susan Hardy – please see below for Susan’s credentials.
Judging will take place on Saturday 12th October and the results will be announced ASAP. All items will be viewable on the day, so please come and have a look at all of the wonderful items!
There will be a Judges Choice category which will be the item that the Judge likes the most.
How to Enter
Categories – This year our categories are Alpaca Yarn, Items to wear, Toys, Items for the home, Miscellaneous and Judges Choice.
Entry Forms are available BELOW along with all the category details.
Entry Fee is £4 per item for EAG Members and £5 per item for Non-Members. Please add £5 return postage charge per entrant (not entry) if you are not attending the show.
How to pay – an invoice will be sent out to you for payment, which will need to be paid before the show. Please add your email address to the entry form.
Closing Date is 22nd September 2024 and all items to be received no later than 30th September 2024.
Please complete the Entry Form and send with your items to: Sandra Justice, Rowen Barn Alpacas, Sheilbry House, Church Lane, Boughton, Norfolk PE33 9AQ.
A description of each item, and the materials used to make it, should be included with your entries, along with a returns address if you are not attending the show.
Any queries please contact Sandra Justice on 07957 579 579 or email rowenbarnalpacas@gmail.com
About Susan
My name is Susan Hardy, and I have dedicated over 40 years of my life to the art of costume and period clothing making. My journey in fashion began after I left college, where I specialized in children’s wear design. My first job was with Marks and Spencer, designing practical yet stylish clothing for their children’s line. However, my career took an exciting turn when I collaborated with Kaffe Fassett on a collection of cashmere sweaters for the Paris market. This experience deepened my love for high-end fashion and refined my design skills.
As much as I enjoyed designing, I soon discovered that my true passion lay in the hands-on process of making garments. This realization led me to join the wardrobe department of a small theatre in Newcastle. It was there that I developed a profound appreciation for the history of costume, learning the intricacies of historical clothing while creating costumes for various productions. This experience solidified my commitment to the craft and set me on a path that would shape the rest of my career.
When the theatre lost its funding, I relocated to London and joined Cosprop, a company renowned for its expertise in period clothing. My time at Cosprop was transformative, spanning over four decades and offering me the opportunity to work on some of the most iconic films and television series. I was privileged to create costumes for Pirates of the Caribbean, where I crafted garments for Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley, as well as for other major films like Harry Potter, Dangerous Liaisons, and Out of Africa. My work also extended to television, where I contributed to many of the BBC’s beloved period dramas and even made clothes for the pilot episode of Game of Thrones.
Throughout my career, I have continuously sought to learn and perfect my craft. Each project has been a new adventure, allowing me to delve deeper into the world of historical costume design and garment construction. My work is driven by a passion for authenticity, attention to detail, and a deep respect for the artistry of costume making.
In every garment I create, I strive to bring history to life, blending the past with the present in a way that honours the stories being told on screen. My journey has been one of learning, creativity, and a profound love for the craft of costume making, and I am grateful for every opportunity that has allowed me to contribute to the world of film and television.