Cited as "one of the best" in the July/August '03 issue of Vogue Patterns, the Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival was established in 1988. Today, the fall festival, the world's largest public event of its kind, covers 200,000 square feet of exhibit space (twice that of 2001) and the spring show has grown larger than pre 2002 fall events.

Here you can learn how to put your own one-of-a-kind stamp on everything from clothes and curtains to greeting cards and accessories. From embellishing off-the-rack-items to constructing custom clothing and jewellery, the Festival is known all over the world as the premier consumer show for creative individuals who craft-it or create-it themselves

Whatever the art from or medium, you can see, touch, feel and buy the latest fibre, paper, textile, craft, decorating and other creative arts related supplies, equipment and services in an interactive retail marketplace and educational forum.

As International recognition continues to grow, we are able to bring you the best. Modern masters, industry experts, celebrity designers, awe-inspiring artists and TV hosts are all eager to share valuable insider tips, trends, trade secrets and know how.

Our unique and dynamic events are constantly changing to reflect the current and upcoming market trends of the creative do-it-yourself industry without sacrificing the quality and commitment to excellence that everyone, vendors, guest instructors and visitors have come to expect.

Since the 1988 inaugural Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival in Toronto, which attracted almost twice the visitors forecast, steps are taken each year to broaden the show's appeal.

The early 1990's saw this event spread across Canada to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax.

1995 was a year of restructuring, to develop, introduce and add the conference component with small personal hands-on workshops with celebrity experts. And, the decision to bring visitors to experience creativity in the cosmopolitan city of Toronto twice a year, rather than continuing operating smaller satellite events across the Country.

2002 introduced the Creative Crafting, Arts & Décor Festival to overwhelming response, to run concurrent with the fall CSNF. This second blockbuster event put even further emphasis on paper arts, scrapbooking, decorative painting, general crafts, do-it-yourself decorating, embellishments, beading and other mediums outside the fibre arts, previously represented in a smaller way.

2003 expanded the do-it-yourself decorating focus -- a direct response to the millions across North America tuning in to shows like The Decorating Challenge and Trading Spaces -- by bringing TV hosts and decorating celebrities to demonstrate, teach and inspire.

2006 reconfirmed our mission to create, expand and revitalize interest in all the crafting creative arts, regardless of the medium or art form. To reflect this achievement, resulting from our growth and expansion over the years, it's time for change, a new look and a new name that incorporates everything into one spectacular world-class event…

2 highly effective events
2 different formats
2 unique audiences

The Fall Festival has been attracting over 40,000 creative enthusiasts each year since 1992. Held in the heart of Toronto's entertainment district, it lures both an international and local audience with attendees and instructors from as far away as British Columbia, Newfoundland, California, Bermuda, Japan, England, Australia and South Africa. The conference program, only in the fall, provides a unique opportunity for visitors to get-up-close-and-personal with some of world's brightest talent; obtain in-depth knowledge and hands-on practice.

The Spring Festival attracts about 25,000 visitors at its airport location with free parking. Seminars hosted by celebrity and industry experts inspire shoppers to try new techniques and explore new craft mediums. With all attractions included in the price of admission, it offers exceptional value and a great way to sample a new art form and give it a try.

Whether you enhance an extraordinary shopping experience with a taste of techniques at the all-inclusive spring festival or take part in unparalleled learning opportunities at the fall festival, Toronto is the place to be each April and October.

what's featured?

Jam-packed exhibit halls filled with the latest sewing, embellishment, needlework, paper arts and crafting supplies, ideas, information and creative inspiration!

the spotlight's on…
fabrics, fibres, papers, paints, yarns, notions, trims, embellishments, supplies, tools, equipment, machines, books, patterns, kits, software, tip, tricks, trends, techniques & solutions for...

• Appliqué • Art Supplies • Bargello • Battenberg Lace • Beading • Bear Making • Book Binding • Bow Making • Bunka Embroidery • Candle Crafts • Cake Decorating • Canvas Work • Card Making, Journals & Albums • Ceramics & Plaster Crafts • Chalking • Clock Making • Collage Art • Colourwork • Crafting • Crazy Patchwork • Crewel • Crochet • Cross Stitch • Cutwork • Découpage • Decorative Painting • Designing • Die-Cut Art • Digitizing • Doll Making • Embellishments • Embossing • Embroidery • Fabric Dyeing • Fabric Crafts • Felting • Finishing • Fitting • Florals • Framing • Glass Etching • Goldwork • Heirloom Sewing • Jewellery Making • Knitting (Hand & Machine) • Lace Making • Leather• Lettering • Long-Arm Stand-up Machine Quilting • Loomwork • Machine Embroidery • Mats & Framing • Memory Making • Miniatures • Mosaics • Needle Tatting • Needlepoint • Oil Roughing • Origami • Paper Art • Paper Piecing • Paper Piercing • Paper Tole • Patchwork •
Pattern Alterations • Pattern Drafting • Petit Point • Photo Tools • Pressing• Punch Art • Quilling • Quilting (Hand & Machine) • Ribbon Art • Rug Hooking • Serging • Sewing • Scrapbooking • Shadow Work • Silk Painting • Silk Ribbon Embroidery • Smocking • Soapmaking & Aromatherapy • Spinning • Stained Glass • Stamping • Stencilling • Sticker Art • Surface Embellishment • Tailoring • Tatting • Weaving • Wire Arts • Woodburning • Woodworking & Much, Much, More!

do-it-yourself decorating - an integral part of all events!
• Colour Trends • Designer Cushions • Décor Fabrics • Draperies • Easy to do Home Projects • Faux Finishing • Furniture Slipcovers • Home Accents • Lampshades • Painting on Fabric, Wood & Glass• Placemats • Room Makeovers • Table Top Decorating • Throws • Wall & Window Treatments...

who's participating?

• Retailers • Manufacturers, Wholesalers & Distributors • Publishers • Do-It-Yourself TV Celebrities & Authors • Award-Winning Artists • Awe-inspiring Designers & Teachers • Associations & Guilds • Educational institutions • Home-Based Businesses

what's happening?

• Interactive In-Booth Activities
• Mini Hands-on Workshops
• Celebrity & Industry Expert Seminars
• How-to Demos
• Make 'N' Takes
• Dazzling Displays
• Expert Advice
• The Latest Industry Trends
• Decorating & Design Ideas
• Memory Making Secrets
• Fabulous Fashion & Style Shows
• Meet TV Hosts, Designers & Artists
• Enter to Win over $10,000 in Door Prizes
• Extraordinary Shopping And, Over 300 Hands-on Conference Classes (only in the fall)

For every age and skill level, this one-stop creative shop has all the supplies and creative ideas to get you started. There's so much to see and do, you'll find one day just isn't enough!