Field Trip: Creativeworld at Messe Frankfurt
Once again Dear Handmade Life has graciously been invited by Messe Frankfurt to participate in the international DIY trade fair, CreativeWorld! While attending the journalist dinner, I met folks from all over the world and had some interesting discussions about the revival and resurgence of handmade goods and the “Do-It-Yourself” attitude in places like Russia and Turkey which was a fascinating entry point into this year’s trade fair.
If you’ve never heard of CreativeWorld, it’s an international trade fair for everything hobby, craft, and art related. Hundreds of worldwide vendors set up amazing booths to demonstrate their tools and materials. Vendors and artists set up in thousands of square feet to display, demonstrate, and discuss their tools and products. Even some of our favorite vendors and Craftcation Conference sponsors present and past are there, too (like Jacquard and Sizzix). Many of these vendors do fun hands-on workshops that anyone can attend! There are also lectures and demonstrations by artists and business owners who discuss both new techniques for using materials and how best to stock them if you’re a business owner.
CreativeWorld is also part of a trifecta of awesome as it is one complete trade fair alone and happens at the same time as PaperWorld (all things office supply which is also a delight for this nerd) and ChristmasWorld (all things gift and Christmas related for folks who stock such things in their shops). Most of the time I spent was exploring CreativeWorld this year, but I did pop in to see some incredible exhibits like the Dark Ocean display – an entire room devoted to deep blues, greens, ocean life, and it was an interesting magical underwater experience that felt like perhaps I know how mermaids celebrate Christmas?
This year I went knowing a few things from last year and really planned out which demonstrations and lectures I would attend and mapped out all the fun hands-on workshops scattered throughout the immense space. There is always an exhibit in the middle of the main floor called “Trends” and this year it was a spectacular display of reusing, recycling, and reimagining materials that you might otherwise toss out. There were items such as weaving and other textiles made with bits of plastic bags and old fabric given new life with dyes. There were makers creating vessels and bowls utilizing plaster and other recyclables like shredded paper for the filling. New techniques using paints, dyes, and botanicals did not disappoint with their tablescapes showcasing pressed flowers in fabric and clay.
If you go to CreativeWorld (and I definitely recommend you do), you will need to do a little planning yourself to get the most out of your days there. This trade fair is really everything for creatives, whether you are a business owner looking for new vendors, an artist looking to really investigate new materials, an event planner there to meet vendors and get ideas for new workshops, or even a hobbyist looking for a reason to do a bit of traveling and doing something fun and new. If you want any tips on going to CreativeWorld, have any questions or want more recommendations for staying in and exploring Frankfurt email me! I will happily talk about making and traveling all day long!
Recommendations:
Stay:
Motel One Frankfurt-Römer – This is a fantastic place right next to Aldstadt (Old Town). It is near the river, the beautiful old buildings in Aldstadt, museums, and many shops, cafés. It’s also about a ten-minute walk to the underground station to get to Messe Frankfurt.
Eat:
Margarete Restaurant Messe Frankfurt hosted a journalist dinner here and it was delicious!
Wacker’s Kaffee – A fantastic coffee shop along the walk from the hotel to the underground. Perfectly roasted and prepared coffees and tasty treats, too!
Buy:
Wolle-Rödel – If you’re a yarn hound like me then you’ll always know where there’s a wolle (yarn) shop nearby!
-Spaulding
*All photos courtesy of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
