The August bank holiday Monday with these perfect blue skies

blue skies and marquee before the customers arrived

the well-trodden grass

well trodden grass

and the promise of a good day out

gorgeous setting

with a variety of attractions

birds of prey

could only mean one thing . . . yesterday at Gawsworth Hall was a busy day for all us stallholders. 

I enjoyed personalising gifts for customers.  Among other things, I sold quite a few first day at school frames

first day at school photo frame

a few fairy clocks

fairy clock

some wine o’ clock clocks

wine o clock

and lots of mini masterpiece holders for all those little budding artists out there

mini masterpiece hanger

It was exhausting but lots of fun - and I still haven’t unloaded my car.  I’ve an urgent order to start first, though, so unloading will begin as soon as some paint needs a bit of drying time! 

I love the way my days get ordered nowadays by paint drying!

A three day craft fair is a bit exhausting, a lot of fun and a great place to catch up with old friends and make new ones.  This weekend’s fair at Gawsworth Hall is no exception.

Saturday (yesterday) saw a fairly quiet day for all of us, probably because the weather wasn’t particularly friendly: heavy showers may well have put a lot of people off but the customers who did brave the weather were happy to spend their money on the many stalls.  There was a lot of evidence of early Christmas buying (I’m extremely impressed with the high level organisational skills these people have!).

Sunday (today) was busier after the rain stopped somewhat suddenly at lunchtime, when we were blessed with blue skies.  Monday promises sunshine and blue skies (although I’m not holding my breath) so hopefully we’ll have a busy day tomorrow.  I’m not very good at standing still and doing nothing - talking to customers and, even better, personalising items for them there and then makes the time pass much more quickly for me. 

It was nice to see some new stallholders.  I loved the applique cushion kits from www.picklepatchdesigns.com

cushion kit from Pickle Patch Designs

I also loved these ceramics from Carol of Conway Ceramics.  The stall was full to bursting with my favourite colour . . . blue.  When Carol’s website is up and running I’ll add a link to it.  I’m sure you’ll love her things too.

original unusual blue ceramic vases

Of course, it was great to catch up with the lovely Rama from Veggie Delite.  Rama specialises in the most amazing Indian food.  We ate her food at home this evening - as quick and easy as a takeaway, but deliciously home cooked and authentic.  I can certainly vouch for her mango chutney too!

mango chutney to die for

Rama does meal kits too:

Indian meal kits from Veggie Delite

Like some of our visitors at the fair this weekend, maybe you’ll also be tempted to do a bit of early Christmas shopping . . . and if there isn’t a craft fair near you, the internet is increasingly becoming the place to find handmade and unusual gifts. 

And, best of all, it won’t matter what the weather is like.

If you’re in Cheshire and looking for something to do on the upcoming bank holiday weekend you could do a lot worse than stopping by Gawsworth Hall.

Gawsworth Hall Craft Event

I’ll be there as part of the craft fair that’s there this weekend, which is always a good show (it includes a food marquee too!) - but there’s so much more to see besides.  As well as the fair, there will be birds of prey, realistic combat displays, chainsaw carving displays and have-a-go archery.  Tea rooms and tours of the hall are also available. 

The fair is on for three days over the weekend: Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th and Monday 30th August.  If you want to come when it’s quiet for a bit of serious browsing of the many stalls, Saturday is probably your best bet! 

You’ll find more information here: http://www.creativecrafts-online.co.uk/html/latest_news.html

All we need now is a little bit of sunny weather.  What do you reckon our chances are?

I’ve been such a busy bee these past few weeks…

busy bee

fortunately, I haven’t had any fairs to attend.  I’ve been kept busy making up customer orders but we’ve also had lots of family stuff going on to fill up any spare time (and filling time that really wasn’t spare at all just for good measure!).  Things have settled a little bit so the hospital/nursing home visiting has been reduced for a while.  It seemed at one point we were on a permanent tour of the nursing homes of Warrington!  One of my customers even worked in one - I dropped off her purchase there while en route between visiting two others!

I desperately need to be making up stock, something which I’ve had precious little time for, as I’ve three upcoming weekends booked with fairs.  They are:

Adlington Carnival

14th August sees me at Adlington Carnival.  I believe the carnival is on for 3 days but I’ll just be there on the Saturday as I’m seriously limited on time.  More info here: www.adlingtoncarnival.co.uk

Fir Tree Farm, St Helens

The following weekend, Saturday the 21st, I’ll be at Fir Tree Farm in St Helens.  Last time I was there, it was just a craft fair (a very good one, actually!), but this time the craft fair will be combined with the regular farmer’s market.  I love attending farmer’s markets as I can do some fresh food shopping while I’m there…much better produce than you’ll find in any shop. More info on the venue and market here: www.firtreeshopandcafe.co.uk

Gawsworth Hall nr Macclesfield

And the weekend after that, which will be August bank holiday weekend, I’ll be at Gawsworth Hall near Macclesfield.  I’ve been to Gawsworth a few times now and it’s always a fabulous event.  Lots to do for families, lots of stalls, and a lovely house and gardens to look round as well.  Gawsworth is a 3-day event and I’ll be there for all three days. More info from the show organisers here: www.creativecrafts-online.co.uk  and about Gawsworth Hall here: www.gawsworthhall.com

Gawsworth Hall

Phew! I’m exhausted just writing about all that! 

I have a lot of making to do this next week and am trying to get myself into a habit of early starts.  My usual time for starting work is 7.30am (it’s easily do-able as I have no commute!), but I reckon if I can get another hour and a half in at the start of the day, I’ll get much more done. 

Up to now, however, my bed has won the argument when the alarm goes off at 5.30am. I’m working on it. Really, I am!!

Bee photo courtesy of www.irishviews.com

Tomorrow is the most local of local events for me.  A craft fair in my own little village of Croft in Warrington.  It’s very close to both the M62 and M6, so it’s easy to get to for most people in the north west -but most especially people from the villages of Croft, Culcheth and Winwick, who will have a very short travelling distance!!

WA3 7BG is the postcode for finding your way to Croft Memorial Hall for the craft fair tomorrow.  All day catering (breakfasts, lunches) and cakes! (Oh dear, bang goes that diet, again - can I resist?).  However, if you want to make it a day out, Croft is the perfect place for a fabulous pub lunch (try http://www.horseshoe.moonfruit.com or  http://www.thegeneralelliot.co.uk )  and maybe even a countryside walk through fields and lanes.  There’s also a lovely, safe and very well-kept playground for children.  If this sunny weather continues, it could be a lovely day out for the whole family.

If you come along, please say hello!  What’s the betting you’ll find me with a cake in my hand, hiding behind here:

my stall

It’s always lovely doing a craft fair so close it’s within walking distance (well, it would be walking distance if it weren’t for the truckloads of stock!) and it’s not often you get the opportunity.

This Sunday I’ll be driving for all of two minutes before I arrive at the venue.  What a luxury - no chance of getting stuck in motorway traffic, no petrol money to budget for - and if I forget something vital I could even nip home for it!

It’s at Croft Memorial Hall, Mustard Lane, Croft, WA3 7BG.  There’s an all-day catering service - breakfast barms, hog-roast lunchtime barms…oh, and home-baked cakes.

yummy cake

It’s close to J9 of the M62 and J22 of the M6 and really easy to find.  Lots of stalls selling lovely things.  What more could you want?

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow, Sunday 31st January, sees Winwick’s first Craft, Gift and Eco Fair taking place at Winwick Leisure Centre on Myddleton Lane.

If you are local, it should be well worth a visit.  I’ll be popping along as a customer and hope to catch up some of my crafting friends and colleagues there.  WA2 8LQ is the postcode which will get you there with your satnav.

Or not, if your satnav is anything like mine (known not-so-affectionately-at-times as Nagging Nora) with a mind of its own and a very awkward disposition (and an odd fondness for driving round in circles and taking unnecessary detours around housing estates.  What’s all that about?).

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

Just a quick note to let you know we’ll be at the craft and gift fair at Capesthorne Hall, near Macclesfield, Cheshire, tomorrow and Sunday (26th and 27th September 2009).  There’s more information about the fair here: http://creativecrafts-online.co.uk/html/latest_news.html.

It’s a great event, with lots of craft and gift stalls and a dedicated food section.  Be great to see you there!!

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…