When I go to travel destinations or select shops, I can't help but imagine, "How would I use this at home?"
And the exhilaration of finding and welcoming my favorite "one-of-a-kind" item is something that cannot be replaced by anything else.
From May 8, 2024, for six days, the "Handmade Crafts Fair" is being held at Tenmaya Kurashiki Store, where handmade crafts from all over the country gather, so I went to check it out.
10th Handmade Crafts Fair
The 10th Handmade Crafts Fair is an exhibition that started on May 8, 2024 (Wednesday) at the event space on the first floor of Tenmaya Kurashiki Store.
The organizer is Okayama Prefecture Folkcraft Promotion Corporation, which operates "Living Gallery" in Okayama City and Osaka City, centered around its main store located in Toyamacho, Kita Ward, Okayama City.
This exhibition is being held for six days until May 13, 2024 (Monday).
Please check the following images for information about the exhibitors.
Overview of the 10th Handmade Crafts Fair
I also went to the venue on the morning of the first day of the event, May 8.
It was about an hour after the opening, and customers were intently gazing at the works on every shelf.
Since it has been three years since the last event, many seemed to have been looking forward to this day.
All the works in the venue can be touched, so many customers were enjoying the experience of touching the works while appreciating them.
A variety of genres of handmade crafts lined up
At events in department stores or station buildings, exhibitions are usually organized by genre, such as ceramics or textiles.
However, at the "Handmade Crafts Fair," various genres of handmade crafts are gathered in one place.
As a result, you can enjoy thinking about your own combinations, like cutlery and dishes, glasses and coasters. Many of the works in the venue had actual flowers arranged or pots placed on trivets, which sparked the imagination of everyday life.
Carefully examining while looking and touching
The "Handmade Crafts Fair" is not only enjoyable to look at, but also one of the pleasures is to welcome works that you want to incorporate into your daily life.
Many customers who took a round to appreciate the venue returned with baskets.
Each work has different colors and shapes.
It was impressive to see customers carefully examining each piece, looking and touching them.
Imagination expanded through communication with staff
While looking at and touching the works in the venue, a staff member quietly approached me.
When I asked, "How do you use this?" they kindly demonstrated it for me.
Seeing how to use it and learning how the staff actually use the tools in their daily lives expands the concrete image of how to incorporate them into life.
I also welcomed the dessert fork from Lue that I had been interested in since the first round.
Lue is a brass cutlery made in Setouchi City. It is said to be just right for cutting and eating cake and fruit into bite-sized pieces, so I look forward to it being useful in the upcoming season when peaches and melons are in season.
Conclusion
At the venue where various genres gather from all over the country, every visitor was not only looking but also reaching out to the works while imagining "how I would use it" and thinking of original combinations.
On the weekend of the 11th and 12th, a workshop by Shimayusha Kaaranya is also scheduled, and it is expected to become even more lively.
The workshop has reached full capacity.
At the 10th Handicraft Fair, why not find your favorite work and incorporate it into your life?
Data for the 10th Handicraft Fair
| Name | 10th Handicraft Fair |
|---|---|
| Date | May 8 (Wednesday) - 13 (Monday), 2024 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (closes at 6:00 PM on the last day) |
| Location | 1-7-1 Achi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free admission |
| Website | Okayama Folk Craft Promotion Corporation |
