HERE  for the first time this weekend, the annual Creative Textile Show plans to entice Craft lovers to a textiles show “where creativity and imagination meet.”

Running from May 2 to 4 at the National Convention Centre, the show will offer  a cornucopia of daily classes where visitors can learn to make everything from mixed-media artworks to tassels, aluminium art and Japanese ‘kazanshi’ flowers made from kimono fabrics.

There will be free floor talks and demonstrations, as well as displays from Australia and around the world. Conveniently the event runs one week before Mother’s Day and presents a unique shopping opportunity with craft, sewing, and textile products at reasonable prices.

One highlight will be renowned ‘Passamenterie’ (tassel-making) artisan Morrison Polkinghorne who will take classes covering basic tassel making and an old-fashioned 18th century technique of beaded tassels.

The “Lace through the Ages” display will include lace from a bolt of fabric used in the wedding of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, as well as vintage lace pieces more than 200 years old.

The millinery display will include race wear, vintage 1940s pieces and men’s hats.  The  “Heads up on Hats” exhibition will be staged by the Riverina Millinery Association Inc and the ACT Textile Arts Association will showcase silk scarves, creative felt outfits, intricate knitted tea cozies and mixed-media artworks.

Canberra landscape architect and noted textile artist, Dianne Firth is the ACT representative in an  international exhibition, Living Colour. One of only 32 entries selected from 177 for display, her work, “Chlorophyll,” combines her love of flora with her 30 year passion for textiles.

South Australian textile artists from the South Australian living textiles group will be exhibiting 40 journey-themed quilts.

The Creative Textile Show, National Convention Centre, 31 Constitution Ave, Canberra,  May 2-4, 9am – 5pm. Tickets at the door from $9-$15, Children under 5: FREE. Day and group passes also apply. The  Creative Textile Show App can now be downloaded for for iPhone or Android.