The Craft Fair That Wasn't

Or a (cheap) lesson in what not to do...?

I had booked the fair at a school on the basis of it being a) cheap and b) very near home but in the posher quarters.  So I hoped that there would be lots of arty teenagers (it having a specialist arts status) and that crafts would go down well.  Er...wrong.

I sold a stunning...nothing. Excuse me while I go and blush, and then laugh.  Next time can't be any worse, eh?

First, let me show you the stall.

We were right by the doors where people were loading, so it was a somewhat bracing start to a rainy and windy Sunday.  However, when the doors were closed, we were in a good position in the main hall, so had lots of foot traffic.  And from 11am to 1pm, it was really, really busy.

Above you can see some handmade teacup candles, the goblet candles (I was hoping for some Twilight-loving teens), decoupage hearts, and the lovely Mrs Prickles and her hog as made by my mum.

Then there were decorated silk journals, pencil boxes, petal baby hats, which I later took out of their bags and some tealight holders, plus magnetic hearts.  And some vintage silver plate birds.

There was a lot of interest in the baby hats, decoupage frames (just lurking to the right in the picture above) and my lovely pirate box (in the blog header).

So was it my stuff, or was it the fair, or the combination of both?  I started watching what people had bought, and most of the bags seemed to contain plastic toys for preschool children.  Aside from that, very little seemed to have been bought.  So I think my next run out needs to be a proper craft fair, and then I will get some feedback on the makes, and my current pricing.

I found a lovely enamel jug to decoupage for £1 and a stunning 50s book for a slightly overstated £2.  So grand spend for the day of £7, excluding a couple of gorgeous veggie samosas, and a flapjack.  Yum!

And at the end of the day, OH had a lovely and generous surprise.  The cake lady opposite (of the yummy flapjacks) discovered it was OH's birthday, and donated him a delicious heart cake from her remaining stock.  I tried to get a picture before it was attacked, and almost made it.  I would love to link to her website, but sadly the address she gave OH doesn't seem to be working.  If we see her again on the circuit, I will post her details.  She left her crumbs for the birds, so expect to see some low flying birds here in Middle England.

I'm sure I spy purple glitter on OH.  Very fetching!

Getting Ready for Craft Fair #2

So craft fair #2 is a mere day away, and so far I have:

• Unloaded and repacked all my stock that is ready to go, adding price stickers and updating my stock list
• Found my silvery cake stand to display some of the items
• Packed the contents of my craft drawers into a small bag and a little tool kit 
• Found some vintage items to sell, and researched prices
• Made some new items and updated some that weren't quite working

Here are the newbies.  Firstly some decoupaged hearts (some magnetic, one puffy and some ready to hang on the wall).  I'd like to think of them as being funky Valentines.

And while I was in the groove, some matching pencil boxes.

And finally, I've updated the silk paper journals with some pretty jewelled butterflies.  For their intended audience, I hope that's an improvement.

Jobs left to do:

• Pack the jewellery I'm taking to sell, as this is not exclusively a craft fair.
• Make up the cash float.
• Wrap OH's birthday prezzie.  Bless his heart, he's coming to help at the fair on his birthday.
• Eat.  Body and soul  aren't as together as they once were.
• Once the varnish has dried, pack the new makes
• Pile everything up ready to go in the hall
• Check directions for the venue
• Zzzzzzzz.  Lots.

WOYWW: The Mega-Making Edition

So it's been a busy week.  The big boxes of makes have been unloaded, reviewed, repacked and listed ready for the fair on Sunday.  Another list has been drawn up of things to make, and a fair amount of knuckling down has taken place. (Scary, huh?)

This time, I managed to get my act together at an earlier stage (although I did have just over 24 hours notice before my first craft fair), and ordered some bags for my bigger items.  I'd read some helpful suggestions at the Craftster forum about decorating your own bags, so I spent a happy hour stamping away on the bags and some labels for smaller paper bags.  I must admit to being taken with the flowers as part of the font; what do you reckon?

As Sunday's fair isn't exclusively a craft fair, I've been ferreting amongst my vintage finds with the intention of mixing vintage items amongst the crafty makes.  It'll be a voyage of discovery, but then most of this business stuff is exactly that at present.

For any of you with teenagers, I'd love to know what you think they might buy in terms of makes.  I have decorated box files, pen boxes and journals underway.  Any other thoughts?  Should I abandon production of anything I've started?

I'll show you more of the makes and the production process later this week.  Unusually, I've found myself a bit quiet this week, but I'm sure it won't last....

To see more crafty desks, head on over to Chief Desk Inspector Julia Dunnit at the WOYWW button to the left.

WOYWW: The Knuckling Down Edition

After a week enjoying the bright lights and many temptations of Edinburgh, it's time to knuckle back down to work, or rather that form of enjoyment that now counts as work!  And it being Wednesday, and more particularly, What's On Your Workspace Wednesday, it's time for show and tell.  If you'd like to blog hop to more crafty desks you'll find them linked via Desk Mistress Julia Dunnit at the button to the left.

So, onto the delights of disorganisation that are my working areas...  First up, the hall cupboard.  This was going to be painted and sold until I discovered its capacious capabilities.  The top row has stamps, ribbons and more stamps; embellies, glue, cutting boards and sundry unknown items are on the second shelf, with tracing and other papers plus books on the third and fourth shelves. 

On top of the cupboard are my new storage tins from Lakeland (a splendid £1.99 for the tall ones and 99p for the small ones in the sale).    To give you an idea of size, the small one takes ten stickles and other assorted sparkly bottles without complaint.  (And yes, for the eagle eyed amongst you, the one that was marked "glitz" has shed a "z" somewhere...)  Much easier to find things now I am no longer awash in seas of chipboard and sundry small iffit. 

Then there's my occupation of a spare kitchen worktop for things messy.  Some of you may have noticed that things haven't moved on a great deal since December, but I promise to address my slothful ways and crack on with making some more decoupaged items. 

 I have another craft fair booked this month (my second - weeeee!), so the trundle drawers will be out again.  Need to have a sort through them first; there's a limit to how much glue even I need for a day out.



This is my big box full of 12x12 papers.  I really need to find somewhere more permanent to store them, but I've not yet found something suitable.  I'll be investigating all the WOYWW desks searching for ideas...

Happy Wednesday to you all - looking forward to seeing what you've been doing this week!

Bernie

February Journal

I think I've posted an early version of this here before, but I'm adding it again so I can link to the Flickr Group.  For more details of the 2011 Journal Challenge, follow the Kathryn Wheel link on the right sidebar.

Pigment and pearlescent inks, for the background, swirled with paper for texture.  The outside of the heart is made of overlapping square ink blocks.  Hearts hand drawn and edged with drawn patterns.  And an extra big heart for the 13th, it being OH's birthday.  Images from an old fairy tale book, coloured with Promarkers.

Now to think what to do for March!

Playing Cards 2011: Ace of Water

I've been a bit slow in progressing the Playing Cards challenge, hosted by Rachel at katzelbows (see the linky button to the side).  It's been rather frustrating, because I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but couldn't find a teardrop punch anywhere.  Finally I found one on eBay and, once it arrived, found out it didn't work very well.  So I ended up cutting freehand, which I could have done in the first place.  Doh! 

So here's a detail shot of the Ace of Water:

It's made up of lots of little droplets, made of fabric papers, mirror card and gauze, accented with different colour stickles.  The back needs a bit more work still; I think it might need some paint lines around the edges to look a bit more smeary.  Anyway, that's progress to date.  

Belated Birthday in Edinburgh

You may have noticed that it has been suspiciously quiet in these parts.  OH treated me to a birthday trip to Edinburgh, and we've been sunning ourselves (yes, really) north of the border.  This is the view just south of Carstairs, when it was just about light enough to really enjoy.

Having set off at a scarily early hour, we were able to check in early at the hotel for a quick catnap before hitting the sights of the city. 

That evening saw us safely tucked up in the Cafe Royal bar for Burns night, replete with enormous salmon baguettes and a beer or two for OH. 

Of course, I had to go to the beach, and a wild windy morning found us at Portobello, where we and a few dog walkers were braving the front.  One fine dalmatian had a social circle all of his own, and was pleased to make our acquaintance for further adoration.  As a concession to vice, I spent a massive £2 in the amusement arcade.

Lunch in Always Sunday (what a great name for a cafe) included a smoothie so dense with fruit, it must have included more than the usual two of my five a day, plus a cappucino large enough to conduct swimming lessons and a plate of apple crumble. 

Finally, the hotel sported one of the best signs I have ever seen...   

WOYWW: The Pictureless Imagination Edition

Today's desk inspection will have to be virtual.  Mr Lappy is still unwell, and I have not had time to get him fixed.  For any of you asking about desk inspections, welcome to the weekly What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, where we get to look at crafty workspaces.  This week, your challenge here is to close your eyes and imagine:

• a small stack of card (pearlescent and mirror) in silvers, aqua, deep blues and greens, plus aqua and silver ribbon, and glitter glues in deep blue, turquoise and sea green.  This is the start of the Ace of Water for the Playing Cards 2011 challenge (linky to the left, if you'd like to know more)
• my beloved Promarkers, now safely stashed in colour group boxes.  So easy to find, so tidy...
• a small pile of blank ATCs
• my travel insurance renewal (woo!  more journeys!)
• my travel journal (time for a bit of inkiness here)
• a big sign saying "TAX".  Although the nice HMRC man registered me, he hasn't yet sent me any papers, and I'm guessing that I can stop blaming the snow, and need to accept that it's lost in the post.
• a big while envelope box full of business receipts
• my enormous work diary
• a list of craft events I want to attend, and craft fairs where I want to book a stall
• a stack of notebooks and journals to alter
• my ink chest, made of a big Sanctuary gift box with 4 drawers: stamp blocks in the top left, distress inks in the top right, pearlescent inks in the middle drawer pigments to the bottom

Now imagine the above, stir vigorously, and that's my desk.

For more crafty desk hopping goodness, call on the Chief Desk Inspector Ms Julia Dunnit at Stamping Ground.

* STOP PRESS*

And a big thank you to Jude, whose WOYWW blog candy arrived in a very timely way this Wednesday morning.  It contains lots of lovely treasures including ATCs (how did you know I needed them, Jude?), a mini canvas, beautiful brads and charms, cherubs, a lovely golden heart...in fact way too much to mention.  Pics later when I can find somewhere to upload them.  Spoilt I am, and thanks so much, Jude, whose blog you'll find here.

Playing Cards 2011: Sea Fever

Here's the second card from the deck for the Playing Cards 2011 challenge.  You'll find the link to the challenge, hosted by Rachel at katzelbows, over to the left of the blog.  I decided to go for the suits of the elements: earth, water, air and fire.  This week's card is the Seven of Water, and I have called it Sea Fever.

I grew up on the estuary in Devon, and now live almost as far from the sea as you can get in England: not so good for someone who loves the water.  So I make up for it by spending as many holidays as I can in, on or by the sea.  "I must go down to the sea again..." has always been a favourite thought of mine, so the second card I made had to be inspired by Masefield's "Sea Fever". 

The image has been added to the ATC leaving space at the top for me to add the suit and card number once I have worked out the font I will use for all the cards.  The reverse is drawn with italic pen and both sides are coloured with Promarkers.  I left the rough pencil marks on the reverse as I quite liked their roughness.

Next call of the rolling tide?  Next week, when we're off to Edinburgh (my birthday present from lovely OH), and will spend some time on the coast.  Can't wait!

Blog Giveaway Win: Sweet Birds From Michelle Palmer

I was absolutely delighted to be the winner of a giveaway from the lovely Michelle Palmer.  Michelle's art is focused around the sweetest birds and beasts, illustrated as watercolours, or on fabric.  So imagine my delight when an envelope landed on my doormat last week...and my frustration when I couldn't blog it immediately because the laptop was unwell. 

I was already smiling when I opened the package...  And then I found this beautiful coaster!

"Be full of joy..."  Now if there's ever a fine resolution for a new year, I think this is it!  Michelle, thank you so much for the gorgeous bird coaster.  I have it propped up on my desk, and it makes me happy every time it catches my eye.  I am sure that the birds outside are calling and flirting with their painted kin.

Pop over to Michelle's and see her sweet Valentine's mice and giraffes.  And if drooling over these beauties isn't enough, you'll find her creations available at Etsy too (link via Michelle's blog above).