The fabulous Christmas Craftacular was held at Bethnal Green’s York Hall yesterday. Women, men and someone dressed as a panda queued round the block in the sunshine to buy handcrafted presents.

Organised by Bust Magazine, this popular craft fair brought the best independent designers together for a cool indie shopping experience. While the DJ’s played the greatest hits of Tiffany, hoards of shoppers descended on the 50+ stalls selling handmade cards, bags, jewellery and other cute gifts.

As well as shopping, there was a Tatty Divine tombola, crochet your own moustache classes with Prick Your Finger and Christmas bauble decorating with The Make Lounge. I spent a fun hour helping out with the bauble making and couldn’t resist decorating one of my own to take home.

The next Craftacular will be in 2011, keep an eye on their website to find out more. www.bust.com

If you can’t wait that long, you’ll love We Make London’s 2010 Christmas Fair, 4 December at Chelsea Town Hall. We Make London has an equally brilliant mix of exciting talented designers and is perfect for present shopping.

Don’t forget to check out our Christmas Shopping in London guide.

Fill your Christmas stockings with lovely hand-made gifts! Head to We Make Christmas at Chelsea Town Hall where London’s top designer/makers will be selling their work at this sparkling Christmas fair.

Designers have been selected by the We Make London team who organise regular craft shows. Buying directly from designers is a lovely experience. You might even end up commissioning something special or falling in love with a new craft!

You’ll find cards, art, ceramics, textiles, jewellery and more. There are also carol singers, craft demonstrations and other festive fun. Check out the We Make London website to for a taste of the treasures you’ll see at the show. London is blooming with talented artists and designers!

London based artist Alexandra Ashby will be selling her cards and prints at We Make Christmas and loves to spend time drawing in London. We asked her where she goes for inspiration:

“I’m currently preparing for my spring collection and I’ve been looking at the Kew Gardens hot houses. Kew is the best place to draw rare, pretty flowers and plants. Battersea Park and Victoria Park are very ‘old Victorian London’ which inspires me when I’m thinking about drawing in a new style. Walthamstow Marshes is also great, as it’s often full of highland cows, which I love drawing.

The V&A has provided so much inspiration to me, especially seeing the botanical drawings in their archive which really triggered my interest in this type of drawing.

My line drawings of people wouldn’t be possible without observing the frenetic life of Londoners every day. I once spent a week sitting in the Royal Festival Hall drawing people. I didn’t need to move as there was constantly something new to look at – tourists, families, students, business men!”

We Make Christmas at Chelsea Town Hall, Saturday 5 December, 11am – 5pm, entry £2 for adults, free for children. wemakelondon.blogspot.com