Did someone ask how many days to Christmas?

countdown to Christmas chalkboard

countdown to Christmas with a mini chalkboard complete with chalk holder house

I know they’ve been talking about it, because these new Countdown to Christmas chalkboard/blackboard plaques were the stars of the day at the fair I did this weekend.  They even come with a little stick of chalk which sits very conveniently behind the little wooden house.  A sweet little alternative to an advent calendar, they promote numeracy skills and are such fun to use.  They can be re-used every year, and are sure to become a bit of a ritual.  Only 6.99, you can buy yours here: http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/christmasitems.html    

It was a busy three days at the fair.  These “save water, drink wine” plaques also proved popular…. I suspect they are being bought as jokey for presents for friends!  You can get yours here: http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/humourousgifts.html for just £5.99 plus £1.20 postage.

save water drink wine plaque

The drawbacks at the weekend?  Oh, I suppose I could mention the small matter of the severe weather warning on the Sunday… after a gloriously sunny and bright Saturday which was just lovely.  I did think the rain and winds would keep people at home on Sunday but it didn’t seem that way.  My first customer was buying gifts before she went back to her home in Portugal - she had been beginning to wonder why she had left this country but the weather on Sunday was a not-so-gentle reminder. 

We were lucky, as the predicted 70 mph gusts didn’t seem to materialise - at least not in the Wilmslow area.  The day was wet, cold and very windy though.  Leaving my cosy warm home that morning, I nearly thumped Mr 1st Unique Gifts when he said “well, it doesn’t matter - you’ll be inside, won’t you?”   Yes, inside a big billowing tent, with puddles on the floor and draughts under the sides.  Not really my idea of “inside”. I shouldn’t complain.  The marquee was ok, really - it had doors (which were a real problem to close in the strong winds!), a carpet walkway (which even came to behind my table, a real luxury!) - and pretty fairy lights.

Fairy lights!!!  OK, how many days to Christmas????  The little plaque in the earlier picture says it all.  Yes, it really is 51 days to go.

I think I knew it, but this weekend should confirm it… I am officially completely barking mad.  Yes, I’m going to spend another weekend in a draughty marquee selling my personalised painted goodies.  I’ll be at Wilmslow Garden Centre (SK9 2JN) from Friday 30th October to Sunday 1st November - more info on the garden centre here: http://www.klondyke.co.uk/node/19

I don’t mind it really.  I quite like marquee events - at least there’s plenty of fresh air, and I love the atmosphere - the camaraderie and banter between stallholders is fun.  I miss that element of working full time in a busy environment (not that I don’t still work in a busy environment, but mostly it’s just me and the radio and the paint!!).  I will just have to remember to wrap up in (as my mother would say) “more skins than an onion”  and take my flasks (one of coffee and one of soup) to help keep me warm.

This morning, I feel quite pleased with myself.  I dragged myself out of my bed very early, and painted ten pink fairy door plaques before breakfast.  Lots to do today, customer orders to finish off and stock to complete for the weekend.  The door plaques, in case you are after a little girly gift, are available to buy here: http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/doorplaques.html 

magical fairy door plaques

If you’re in the Wilmslow area, please do pop along to the marquee at the Garden Centre and say hello.  It’s on Manchester Road, postcode as above.  If you can’t make it, do have a look at the events page to the right –>> or pop over to the website: www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk .  We are also taking bookings for school Christmas fairs (we’ll add to your fundraising with commission on all sales!) and house parties at the moment.

See you soon.  I have a date with some blackboard paint as well as some pony canvases!!  Best get moving then…

A three-day craft fair can be quite tiring, and this one (at Rivendell Garden Centre, Widnes) is no exception.  So when the clocks go back tomorrow, and we are blessed with that extra hour, I for one will be so-oo grateful for it!!

Last night I came home and painted a mirror and door hanger for a customer.  Now, every time I’ve painted horses, I’ve sold them before I can photograph them for the website and - yes, I’ve gone and done it again!!

I will try to make it a bit of a priority to make some more - and take a photo this time!!  It’s been a busy fair, with lots of orders, and great fun, despite the tiredness!  It’s also a bit on the cold side, but a few extra layers and a flask of soup have together worked wonders!

Tomorrow should prove to be another busy day - looking forward to it.

Today I’ve been putting the finishing touches to some items for the Rivendell Garden Centre Craft Fair.  It opens tomorrow (23rd October 09) for three days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

a bit of a production line going on

It’s definitely feeling a lot colder lately, and my thoughts are turning to things like yummy vegetable soup in a flask as well as gloves, scarves and hats.  I’ll be taking my flask of soup to Rivendell, which I hope will keep me warm - we are sited in a marquee.  Not the warmest place to spend an autumnal weekend.  I shall dig out my gloves and scarf too.  Will I need a hat? 

The weather has been a bit mixed of late, and the plants seem a bit confused.  This little apple tree (below) currently lives in a big pot in the garden.  It’s patiently waiting for its permanent spot - but there’s a lot of hacking down of overgrown conifers to do first.

my baby apple tree

Have you noticed what’s unusual about this little tree?  It’s now well into autumn, and most of its leaves have turned brown or already fallen.  But there’s a confused little branch which believes spring has already arrived.  The leaves are bright green and fresh, and there’s even blossom!  Look a bit more closely:

apple blossom in October

This one looks really exciting.  It is a shopping evening, called “Concessions of a Shopaholic”, organised by a charity called STEPS, on Thursday, 12th November at the Cottons Hotel in Knutsford, Cheshire, starting at 7.30 pm.  It’ll be an excellent opportunity to browse and buy from lots of independent small businesses and designer/makers.

It’s £5 a ticket, which includes refreshments, and because it’s in aid of a charity, you know that the entrance fee is going to a good cause. As well as a fun evening with friends, and the warm fuzzy feeling that you’re helping a worthwhile cause, you can get some of your Christmas gift shopping out of the way without even going near a shopping mall!!  Find out more about STEPS here: www.steps-charity.org.uk

Call 01925 750271 to book your ticket!!

I’ll be exhibiting at the craft and gift fair at Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield, Cheshire on Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th September, which is only just over a week off.  Where does the time go to?

There’s more info about Capesthorne Hall here: http://www.capesthorne.com and more about the craft fair itself here: http://www.capesthorne.com/forthcoming.html

We’ll be in a marquee in the gardens.  A lovely venue, though, and well worth a visit.  Let’s hope the weather’s warm(ish), always easier to bear in a marquee than gale-force winds, torrential rain and freezing cold.

I am hoping to find enough time in the next week to introduce some brand new designs.  They are just a twinkle of an idea at the moment.  By the end of next week they could be adorning your child’s bedroom wall!  (It’s quite amazing when you think of it like that…!)

If you do manage to pop along, please say hello.  It’s always amazing to meet people who’ve seen me (and my ramblings) online.

Watch this space…

Wow, is it really Friday already?  Where does the time go?

I’ll be loading up my hire car (see this post for why it’s a hire car: http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/2009/08/whoops-a-daisy/ ) with all my 1st Unique Gifts goodies and taking them to Gawsworth Hall in Macclesfield this weekend for the craft fair.  I really do need a van.  I’ll get round to that soon, no doubt.  Meanwhile, it remains a (… erm, I think the polite word is:) challenge, to get everything in my teeny tiny car.  Hoping for help today as my neck, back and shoulders are still sore and complaining painfully at every attempt to move.  My car is a bit worse off, in the garage as we speak having a replacement bumper, tailgate and boot floor.

The craft marquee will be open on the Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th and Monday 31st of August 2009.  I’m hoping the weather will improve a little from the torrential rain we’ve had this morning.  It can’t get any worse, can it? Don’t tempt fate.  Let’s just get out there and do a little sun-dance.

This link will tell you a bit more about the event: http://creativecrafts-online.co.uk/html/latest_news.html - it does look interesting, and the mediaeval entertainments should be fun.

The postcode for your satnav is SK11 9RN.  It’d be lovely to see you there!

I love this blog: www.theartofthecraftshow.com which is described as writing about art and craft shows for artists and crafters.  If you exhibit at art or craft shows (as I know some of my readers do), you’ll probably enjoy it too.

in the craft marquee

I’m sitting here at the New Brighton Floral Pavilion, typing this in between chatting to customers.  It’s a lovely venue, in a large room with big full-width ceiling-to-floor windows overlooking the sea.  I should’ve brought my camera.

The Floral Pavilion will be home to a craft fair every month for the rest of this year.  I will try to fit in some more visits here around my existing events commitments, and will update my events page accordingly (click on the link to the right) as soon as I finalise the details.

If you were a customer here today, thank you.  A lot of you bought a first day at school picture frame, and I’ve also already sold a few stork paintings for new babies (some not even born yet - awaiting details!).

As always, if you are interested in buying, please do visit the website where you can buy online: www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk or come and see me in person at one of the upcoming events.

It’s going to be a busy weekend coming up (is there any other kind at the moment?).

I’m off to the Wirral on Saturday the 8th August, for the new monthly craft fair at New Brighton Floral Pavilion.  It will be quite a big fair, with over 80 stalls.  Should be a great shopping experience for customers, many of whom have already started their Christmas shopping.  Oh, to be so organised. Sigh.

Then on the Sunday, I’m back up to Samlesbury Hall (in Blackburn) on the 9th August for the Wild Lancashire Country Show, which promises to be a great day out in fabulous surroundings.

Oh, and there’s a wedding to go to on the Saturday evening.  Phew!  it’s making me exhausted just thinking about it!! 

I am hoping to get all outstanding customer orders sent out this week, which (if I manage it) will mean I start the weekend with an empty order book - a first, if it happens!