The crafting calendar usually starts slowly.  There have been a few fairs and markets about but I didn’t book any in January as internet sales were busier than I thought they’d be (which is nice, obviously) and I also needed some organisational and admin time, seeing as I didn’t get a spare minute before Christmas.

My first event of 2010 then will be at Worsley Park Hotel in Manchester on Sunday 28th February.  It’ll be great to get out and about with 1st Unique Gifts goodies and meet the public as well as other stallholders.

It’s followed quite quickly by a local one at Croft memorial Hall in Warrington on Sunday 7th March.  When I say local, I mean it’s -ooh - all of 2 minutes’ drive (and half a minute of that is waiting to turn right onto the main road!).

The other big thing going on is this:

www.wowthankyou.co.uk is a new website dedicated to showcasing UK handmade items - and we will be listing some of our products on the site.  It’s brand new, due to launch on 5th March 2010, and it’s really exciting to be a small part of that launch.

I’ll remind you of the website address nearer the time, but for now I have a lot of work to do photographing, editing and listing my items for sale via wowthankyou.

See you soon!

I know there are a lot of people heartily sick of this snow.  I realised how much it was getting on my nerves when I walked across a 2ft x 6ft pice of cleared tarmac today outside someone’s house.  It was so nice to feel my boots connect with something solid - we’re fast becoming used to slippy snow, glassy ice and slushy, mushy slush!

For those of you who can still appreciate the beauty of the snow, here are some more pics.  I took these today - if you’re live anywhere near me, you may recognise it as Culcheth Linear Park.

Winter Wonderland

Whiteout

Snow White

Deep and Crisp and Even

Sunlit Snow

Bright Skies

All White

Blue Sky

The snow is slowing everything down.  If you can get to the shops, it takes twice as long as usual - or more.  Two people here who should be in work and college respectively keep distracting me (in the nicest possible way of course!).  I keep bringing paintings into the house to dry - it’s much too cold in the studio for them to even think about drying - they just sit there shivering and wet.  I’m also working at the moment on updating the website - there are a lot more things to be uploaded in the next few weeks, but that’s a slow process at the best of times.  I would’ve thought the snowy surroundings would’ve improved the photo-taking process but the light seems odd… hmmm.

And I’m still feeling chilly from all that walkin’ in a winter wonderland!

It seems the snow has no intentions of leaving us any time soon - it’s now hanging round like an unwelcome house guest.

However, it is very pretty.  We went for a walk yesterday just to admire its beauty. 

tree lined walkway

sunset over snowy fields

trees and snowy fields

sinking in

We walked for a few miles but then I managed to slip over just outside our house.  I’m ok but my wrist is sore.

I’ll be in Golden Square Shopping Mall this weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday the 11th, 12th and 13th December.  It’s part of the Made in Cheshire initiative.  More info here: http://www.ntopsearch.com/VisitBritain/Details.aspx?ContentID=938827&IndustryType=3&StartDate=2009-12-03&Nights=100&WindowSearch=0&Location=Christmas+markets+in+Britain&Theme=Christmas+markets+in+Britain&NonAvailable=True

It’s the first time I’ve done something so ambitious, so I do hope I’ve got it as right as I can do in the time I’ve had.  It’s a very busy place, especially on Saturdays, as well as being a very busy time of year.  Not only is it going to be busy anyway, there’s a full page ad in the local paper for the food and craft stalls.  Wow.

Golden Square

I only hope I can do it justice and that I have enough stock.  I can see sleep yet again being a luxury way out of my attainment over the next few days.

OK, off to paint some more…

Are you looking for a new or different way to raise funds for your school, playgroup or other organisation?  If so, we may be able to help!!

We’ll happily come to your school or organisation, and hold a 1st Unique Gifts sale.  We bring a wide range of goods, with prices from 99p unwards - something for everyone.  As well as gifts that your guests can buy there and then, we’ll also take orders and deliver them 3 weeks later.  This gives people a bit longer to pay, which is sometimes a big help.  You’ll get 10% cash commission on all sales to put towards your funds.  You can also make money by selling refreshments and raffle tickets, etc (or anything else which takes your fancy!) which makes the day (or evening) more fun.

All we ask is that you invite people - we can email you an invitation which you can either print off or email to your group.  It’s as simple as that!

If you’re interested, and if you’re based in Cheshire, south Lancashire, Greater Manchester or the Liverpool areas, please email: wendy@1stuniquegifts.co.uk - we are based in Warrington, but are happy to travel any reasonable distance.

campervan canvas painting with personalised numberplate option

We will also be happy to attend your school fair if we are free on the day it’s being held.  Again, we’ll be more than happy to make you a donation.  Because many of our items are child-oriented, our stall can make a great addition to your school fair.  See our products here: www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk 

a magical fairy sprinkled stardust all over any child you like

The magical fairy canvas (above) comes in lots of different guises.  The magical fairy can also live on a door hanger, a clock, a peg rail, a door plaque, a mirror, etc.  She really is quite popular with the little girls, and comes in two very different pinks as well as a pale purple and natural cream.  Or pick your own colourways!!

If you can’t make it to one of our events http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/events/ or school fairs, you can of course buy online at www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk

STOP PRESS: We are exhibiting at Rivendell Garden Centre this weekend - the 23rd, 24th and 25th October 2009 (that’s the Friday, Saturday and Sunday).  We’re in the marquee just by the garden centre entrance.  Rivendell is a fabulous garden centre - worthy of a visit on its own - but visiting the crafts marquee as well makes it a bit more of an outing!  WA8 3UL is the postcode you’ll need for your satnav, or follow the Widnes signs from junction 7 of the M62.

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…

The Stockton Heath Festival (in Stockton Heath, Warrington, Cheshire) is an exciting event spread over a few days (and a few venues!) which just gets bigger and bigger every year.

On Saturday 11th July, Stockton Heath Festival is hosting an Art and Craft Market - it should be a great event, with artists, designer/makers and crafters all displaying their wares.  I’ll be joining them, so look out for the 1st Unique Gifts stall.  Lots of canvases for kids’ rooms, clocks, picture frames and door hangers and door plaques.  Everything we do can be personalised especially for you - sometimes on the spot (depending on the stock we have with us).

You can look up more info on the Stockton Heath Festival here:

http://www.stocktonheathfestival.co.uk

 Look forward to seeing you there!! Oh, by the way - the Art and Craft market will be in Mill Lane Field (in Stockton Heath, Warrington - of course!).

What a fabulous day it was yesterday at the Cheshire Show.  If you were there too, in whatever capacity, I hope you had a great day too.

My customers were all fabulous!  Everyone was lovely.   Other stallholders were lovely too.  It was great to put names to faces of people I’ve met online on the craftsforum. 

The sun shone all day, but it wasn’t clammy like the day before.  It was a shame to be inside a marquee all day (although I could think of many worse places to be!) but it was lovely on the rare occasions I ventured outside for loo breaks.  Speaking of which, I was amazed and impressed that the toilet facilities were kept clean, were fairly plentiful, and replenished with loo roll and hand towels.  Doesn’t take much to please me does it?!

If you were one of my customers, or potential customers, thank you.  You all collectively put a smile on my face yesterday.

Today I realised that I am not the only mad person trying to set up a business in four weeks so that I can launch it at an upcoming craft fair…

Have a quick peek at www.designedbyfae.blogspot.com - Fae and I will be launching our businesses at the SAME craft fair!

The craft fair is on Sunday 31st May, at Grappenhall Community Centre in Warrington - if you are around, please pop in and say hello!  Like Fae, I am busy getting stock together, business cards, trying to work out how best to display stuff, and getting insurance quotes. Etcetera, etcetera.

Will try to get a few more photos loaded up soon.  The studio is starting to fill up with lots of brightly-painted goodies.  Rocket ships, fairies, cats, and even the odd shoe shop. (Edit: that’s the odd shop that sells shoes, not the shop that sells odd shoes…)  All will be revealed, soon, I promise!

I so wish my red paint would arrive - and quickly.  I want to paint ladybirds!!  Everthing else I ordered came immediately, but the one colour I was desperate for was out of stock.  Isn’t it always the way?  I was tempted to do some shocking pink ladybirds today, but I’ll try to be patient.