I thought I’d mark this special
day – 12/12/2012, by catching up with my blog.
It won’t happen again until 1/1/3001!
It’s been a very busy time since I last posted – we seem to have been
either at craft fairs or making stuff to take to fairs. The Mansion House at St. Helens was successful
– everyone was in festive mood and we even had a choir to sing to us.
The 30th November and the
1st of December were spent at the Chapel Gallery, Ormskirk, a two
day event which coincided with the switching on of the Christmas lights. It’s always a pleasant event – the staff are
very helpful and efficient and join in the fun with some spectacular
costumes. There were lots of people
about on the Friday but not so many on the Saturday but, all In all, we were
happy – especially to meet some old friends who, like us, seem to be permanent
features there -Jackie and Clare who make lovely scarves and
their friend Kiki who makes exquisite bags and other accessories and who is always
so enthusiastic and encouraging – she always raises my spirits. You can see
some of her creations on folksy – Aliki bags.
The following day, feeling more
than a little jaded, we went to Scorton, another venue we always enjoy, not
least because we’re made so welcome and provided with endless cups of
coffee!
On 5th December, Liz
was away on holiday so I enlisted the help of my long-suffering husband to help
me with a fair at Edge Hill University – a new venue for us. The building we were in is very impressive
and there were a good many stalls spread over 3 rooms. Unfortunately, the room that we were in
seemed a little bit out on a limb and there was not a lot of footfall. The sales I made were mostly to staff.
The piece de resistance of the
whole ‘crafting’ year was last weekend at Open Culture’s 2 day Winter Arts
Market at St. George’s Hall, Liverpool.
What a beautiful, impressive building both inside and out. The organisation is always excellent - Christina and Charlotte work like Trojans to
make everything run like clockwork and their happy band of helpers and St.
George’s Hall staff were on hand to assist.
When we were setting up our stall
on Friday evening, we met a newcomer to the craft market scene who was more
than a little apprehensive and we tried to reassure her she would enjoy the
experience.
We arrived early on Saturday in
time to greet the dozen or so friends who also had stalls – it’s a bit like a
reunion. There wasn’t much time for
socialising though – there were literally thousands of customers. It was really hard work but so enjoyable,
people were interesting and interested and the time flew by. I sold lots of photo cards as well as felt
and knitted items and a few bits of jewellery. We did just have time to see our
lovely young friend from the previous evening – her name is Natalie Louise
Smith and she is an illustrator. I was
totally captivated by her animal portraits, they are well worth a look www.natalielouisesmith.co.uk. By the end of Saturday, we were thoroughly
exhausted but exhilarated and it was nice not to have to pack up but to leave
the remaining stock there ready to start again the following morning. Both Liz and I spent a good part of Saturday
evening reprinting, sewing, etc. to get some more bits and pieces ready for the
following day. Sunday was again, busy and among my sales was
the bag I had knitted from wool I had spun and dyed myself. Towards the end of the afternoon we were each
able to get away for a few minutes to catch up with some of our friends and to
see how they’d fared. Everyone we
spoke to had enjoyed the event and most had been very successful. A weekend well spent.
The first few days this week have
been spent trying to tidy up, do some washing, etc. Now it’s time to make some preparation
for Christmas which has been sadly neglected – I’m beginning to panic – no cards
written, few presents bought and no food planned or shopped for – the rest of
this week and next week are going to be
manic. I can’t wait until it’s all over
and I can get making stuff again – probably using some ideas from the new books
I’m hoping to get for presents – I’ve already got my big Christmas present
which is a drum carder which will help enormously with my felt making.
