Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Textile Pictures

Preparations are now afoot for the 3 day Christmas Fair at the Cowslip Workshops in Launceston this weekend.  I am replenishing stocks and adding  new items to my rather empty boxes ready to take along.  Do let me know if you come along and be sure to say hi!

Do you remember this?  Well Jayne has now got herself a website showing more of her wonderful designs.  Have a look.  Her work is just stunning and I could happily give more wallspace to her beautiful pictures. Here are a few more that she sent me photos of.  I can't decide which one I like best. What do you think?






 


 


 


 
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Sunday, November 15, 2009

The Vintage and Handmade Fair

Well the big day has come and gone, that date we have had marked on our calendars since last May is now over,  and what a day it was!!!  Mum and I travelled up to Bristol the night before and stayed in a hotel, Sue came up too so it was a jolly girlie evening!  My 4.30am start for Ilminster the week before made me realise that I just can't do a ridiculously early start, a fair and then a long drive home all in one day.  By lunch time my brain has turned to mush, I can no longer add up and cannot remember my name, so starting off from a mere 19 miles away was wonderful.

Before going to bed  however, I switched on the tv only to catch the weather report  and hear the severe weather warning for the next day.  They said it was going to be at it's worse between the hours of 6am to 9am with 75 miles per hour winds, trees down and floods but should be over by 3pm.  So I went to sleep, or rather didn't sleep, with that worry on my mind!  Well the weather could not have been more different, it was sunny, dry and clear on our journey to the Town Hall and unloading was not the traumatic experience I had envisioned.

So, we unpacked and quickly set up ready for the shoppers to arrive at 10am, and they were prompt with queues around the building!  The fair was just wonderful, loads of beautiful stalls, really talented women showing  craftmanship at it's best, with the very best of vintage goodies to compliment them.  It was so lovely to meet many bloggers, who I have communicated with for years, but have never met in person. One of these was Claire, who designed my logo and whose work I adore.  I would have loved to have spent more time with her. 

I did not take many pictures sadly, it was such a busy day that after I took a few photos of my own stall, just before the customers were let in, and then of the crowds coming through the door, I did not get an opportunity to take any more.  There are wonderful photos on HenHouse's blog as well as Sal's and no doubt there will be many more as people get home and find time to upload their photos.


 
 
 
 


The photos do not do it justice though, the lighting in the hall was not great, but what you also can't get from the photos is the buzz, the atmosphere, the excitement and friendliness of the whole event. It has to be experienced.

I heard so many women talk of being overexcited and I could understand. When I first got in and saw all the lovely things being put out on stalls I was practically hyperventilating!!!

I bought a few lovely bits but, alas, cannot share them with you as my recipients are blog readers and I would not want to give the game away!  Let's just say there were a few bits from Hen, made with my own fabrics I hasten to add, some lovelies from Jayne, Michele and Niki, fabrics from LucyLizzie and Sue (as always) and some little goodies from Daniella and Claire and a furry something from Nicky (I tried not to look!).  I didn't get to look round all the stalls as I kept having to go back to my stall which was a shame.

If you didn't get to come this time, make a date in your diaries for May 1st and come, you will not be disappointed! Pin It

Thursday, November 05, 2009

Talent for Textiles

Yesterday was the Talent for Textiles fair in Ilminster.  A great event in a wonderful venue.  The stall worked out fine and the boxes worked a treat.  The table was a bit longer than my desk, thank goodness so I was able to improve on my mock up. 


 


It is always so lovely to see my customers at these events as I only communicate with my customers by email or phone usually, which is the downside to having a mail order business.

The next event I will be at is the Vintage and Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury. I know many of you are coming to sell and to buy and I am really looking forward to meeting a few people who I have known for some time but have never met!




For those of you who can't come don't worry I have added listed loads of new fabrics to my website and will continue to add more so that you will not miss out. Pin It

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Fairs

Well here we are in November.  How did that happen?!!

I am very busy this month with 3 fairs to attend as well as the website to maintain. The first fair is on Wednesday at the Meeting House in Ilminster. This is a wonderful fair both to sell at and to buy from with some great sellers and top quality textiles.  The venue is lovely too with a great cafe selling delicious food.

I have been busy painting the insides of vintage apple boxes to use as shelving, using Cath Kidston furniture paints.  I love the colours.  Here they are drying out.






Today I did a mock up of my stall. I always like to change it as much as possible to keep things looking fresh and new.  Here is a preview for you.



 

 

 


I have so much stock to take and I am hoping that the tables are just a tad bigger than my desk!

The next fair will be the Vintage and Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury on November 14th, which I am beyond excited about, and then I am at the Cowslip Workshops 3 day Christmas fair in Launceston on 20th to 22nd November.  Hope to see some of you at one of these events.  Don't forget to come and say hi.



Remember me telling you about the Sip and Stitch club I go to now?  Well we were all featured in the local paper. My ripple blanket is now famous in North Devon!
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