Phew! The Cheshire Show was an exhausting show! Up at 4.30am on the first day for unloading at 6.30am, a long day’s trading from 8.30am till 6.30pm, spending an evening finishing plaques for the second day, it was hard work.  Oh, but thoroughly enjoyable!  Lovely customers and lovely stallholder/neighbours - oh, and such wonderful weather.  It was fab to meet people who bought from me last year and returned for more. It was also fab to meet people who’d bought from me online too.  And of course it’s always good to meet new customers, especially the ones who are enthusiastic about my work!  These things really do make a show enjoyable and worthwhile.

I get two days’ respite until the next show at Arley Hall.  This is part of the Arley Hall Garden Festival and should be a really lovely weekend too.  The word “respite” is perhaps a slightly hopeful exhausted woman’s exaggeration: there will be a lot of furious painting going on in my studio these next two days to replenish stock as well as fulfil customer orders.

Arley Hall

Arley Hall is in the village of Arley and is close to both the M6 and M56, just south of Warrington.  To find out more, visit www.arleyhallandgardens.com

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!

How cold can one human being get without bits falling off?  Well, maybe it wasn’t quite that bad, but on what was possibly the coldest day of the year so far I was on a stall outside when I, for some inexplicable reason, thought the stalls would be inside the shopping mall.  No, they were very definitely outside.

I wrapped up fairly well, but obviously not well enough.  I was extremely grateful for my new thermal-lined fingerless gloves, which kept the blood circulating to my fingers.  This is of course important for anyone, but I do need to keep my hands moving so that I can personalise gifts for customers while they wait.

If only I’d had a similar pair for my feet.

I do like outdoor markets though.  I don’t seem to be troubled with headaches when I do them, which happens a lot with the indoor ones.  The fresh air is good - although a little too fresh at times!  The coffee stall was just to the back of me and kept me topped up nicely.  Very welcome and very fresh.

It turned out to be a busy day, and today should be even busier.  If you happen to be near Golden Square in Warrington today, please come and say hello.  I’m there as part of the Made in Cheshire Christmas Market.  Loads of fabulous food suppliers, as well as some fab gift ideas.

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…

Exhibiting at craft fairs and markets can be a bit of an exhausting business!!  I’ve spent three long days in St Helens town centre in a windy, wet marquee (yes, the rain found its way under the side of the marquee and on top of my groundsheet, creating the biggest puddle of the day behind my table).  It was cold, wet, busy and fun in equal measures.  I came home and painted, fulfilling customer orders and replenishing stock. I even got up and painted some more!!  The St Helens fair was a great success - and the Stockton Heath Winter Market follows it tomorrow.  I’ve tried my best to replenish stock, but I must admit I’m struggling a bit!  I’ve worked on plaques and picture frames tonight, and will be finishing them off tomorrow very early.

I’ll be working hard on getting customer orders finished from Monday onwards. 

Next weekend I’ll be in Golden Square Shopping Mall in Warrington for three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  I’m thrilled that muddy puddles and wet feet are unlikely to feature on the agenda!!

I’m signing off now to curl up on the sofa and finish watching Rod Stewart on the telly!

Back from the craft show at Lytham, and spending the next three days almost glued to my paintbrushes!

Lytham was a great weekend - Saturday was a pretty good day, but Sunday was very busy.  It was lovely to meet so many people.  Lots of personalising things for people, but bad lighting in the venue, making me realise I need a portable work lamp.

I arrived early on the Sunday morning, and rather than queue up outside the venue with the other stallholders waiting to access the venue, I went for a walk along the sea front. 

Fishing boats were setting out

For once, the weather was lovely -  sunny, cold, crisp and bright.  It was such a treat.  I don’t know how long it stayed like that because I didn’t have a view of the outside world all day. 

a very pleasant morning

Victorian villas overlooking the sea

By the time I got to my car after the show, it was dark, wet and miserable.  It made me glad I’d taken 10 minutes to take advantage of the lovely morning.  The M6 was also dark, wet and miserable.

M6 in the rain

In the interests of public safety I should really point out that I wasn’t driving, or in any way in charge of the vehicle, when I took the above photo (a few weeks ago)!!!  It was just as wet but considerably darker yesterday - but my camera of course stayed safely in my handbag while I was on the motorway.

Having such a busy weekend followed hot on its heels by all the Christmas Markets I’ll be doing means I need to paint furiously to get customer orders sent out and replacement stock completed.

Upcoming events where you can say hello, see our products, buy and (maybe, just maybe) place orders:

St Helens Town Centre (Church Square): 3rd, 4th and 5th December (Thurs, Fri, Sat)

Stockton Heath (Warrington) Village Centre: 6th December (Sunday)

Golden Square Shopping Mall, Warrington: 11th, 12th, 13th December (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Stockport Market: 19th December (Saturday)

They should all be fabulous events with lots of varied stalls for you to be inspired by.

I’m off to unload my car and start painting!!

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

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.

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!).

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.