THE FRIDAY REVIEW: DAWN HART OF STONEPIT CRAFTS

Hi everyone

This week's Friday Review is about someone I met through Twitter and has become a good friend who jumps in at the deep end end, literally, to help out with the Godalming Bazaar events.  However, in 'real life' Dawn is a crafts person and my review is focusing on one aspect of her creativity.  In addition to making beautiful greetings cards, Dawn is also a fantastic knitter producing great items from hat-bands to flower-pot covers and bangles to babies jackets.  Over the last year or so I have watched with keen interest as she has turned her skill and talent into a very successful business.  Her product range is always changing and expanding, so it is a good idea to check out her website regularly.

My Friday Review is about particular favourites of mine: her knitted people, all in uniform.  Apart from making great toys for children, they are also lovely keepsakes for people in the professions Dawn has represented in her creations.

This particular gentleman is a Paramedic - a profession close to Dawn's heart

How about these three?  I love the attention to detail: buttons, tie, helmet badge, the nurses fob watch.  My favourite is the fireman - apart from a man in uniform always being attractive, I love his hat.  

In addition to making items for sale, Dawn also runs several knitting groups in the Godalming area and you can find out more about them on the Knitting Groups Information tab on her website, where you can also see more photographs of her hand-knitted items as well as her cards.

I know that Dawn will have some of her people and possibly more at the next Godalming Bazaar, which is on 6 September in the Godalming Borough Hall.  Come along and have a look at her work and I am sure you will find it very hard not to ask her to make one of Knitted People for you.

Come back next Friday to see who is under the Friday Review spotlight.

Jill

THE GODALMING BAZAAR EVENT 7 JUNE 2014 - A CUSTOMER REVIEW

Hello everyone

I am really pleased to be able to present this guest post from Lesley Beeton who not only took photographs are stallholder's work at the 7 June Godalming Bazaar, but attended the event as a customer.  It certainly contains food for thought for both me and the stallholders who took part and it is a timely reminder for stallholders taking part in any event.  Thank you Lesley for a very interesting guest post.

The Godalming Bazaar – a customer review

Hundreds of people visited the indoor Godalming Bazaar on Saturday 7th June.  The rainy morning kept some shoppers away, but those who braved the damped conditions were greeted with food and crafty delights.  These are some of my favourites.

JoJo from Artyfacial did a great job, keeping children occupied with face-painting, whilst Julia from Glutton and Glee provided a pop-up café for that much-needed cup of coffee and a sit-down.  Stallholders included Melanie Capper from Melanie’s Garden, a natural skincare range, Kevin Gorton, a local artist and musician who hand-paints scenes of Godalming on everyday items, and Dawn Hart of local home-industry knitting enterprise Stone Pit Crafts. Crafts and gifts on sale varied from beautiful oil paintings on canvas by Jan Windle, to delightful glass products by Hot Glass.  There were plenty of hand-sewn items for sale, many to delight younger shoppers, such as customised bags by Made By Lorraine, and the gorgeous tooth-fairy pillows made by Lauren Broughton of Love Sew Sweet. Acorn to Oak provided a little bit of peace and quiet with reiki massage and crystal therapy.  Jewellery, re-incarnated plastic bags and fascinating items by Juraj, the blacksmith, added to the mix.  There were foodie highlights too, in the visual splendour of the macaroons by Pinch of This and the Chai Tea and Perfect Curry kits.

I do however, have some observations (as a customer), which I hope will provide constructive criticism for both the organisers and stall holders. Remember, you want to sell, and I want to buy.

Firstly, although slightly up on last time, a footfall of 50 an hour, or 2 visitors for each stand, seems a bit low. I wondered if a Town Crier out and about in town would be better than someone trying to hand out leaflets.  If you are going to hand out leaflets, what about numbering them and having a ‘Lucky Number’ draw each half hour, with a different stall holder putting up a small prize each time.  The poster boards at the door were not visible.  The banner poster was not effective.  Bunting might make people look twice.

There should be a unique selling point for the market - something that local people will look forward to each time.  Jugglers and knife throwers (or balloon artists and face painters) are too gimmicky for a luxury market. I spent a minimum of £10 at each stall I bought from, most were £12.50 starting point.  That's not cheap (nor should it be) but the market should promote itself as something special.

The first door (opposite Stone Pit Crafts) should have been open. It would have created a better flow of people, and more welcoming on entry.  A large map of who's who would be nice. Stall holders need badges to identify themselves.  Many were not very friendly.  One even had ear phones in!

I really don't like the borough hall as a venue. It was difficult for stall holders to display on one table top, with nowhere to put a banner or hanging items behind them.  This meant that buyers always look down, instead of up and out at eye-level, making eye-contact with sellers.  The noise in the room is unbearable.  There is nowhere for it to go. I had to work really hard to engage the stall holders in conversation, even when I had my purse open and money hanging out.  The exceptions were Melanie’s Garden, Peru Project and the local Godalming hand-painted coaster artist.  They wanted to tell me about their work, and they were interesting to talk to.

I didn't like having the food court stuck away.  More people would have bought a coffee on the way in/out if it had been part of the main event. 

Well, that’s enough feedback.  Good luck with the next market on Saturday 6^th September.  May it be happy and successful, with lots of sales.

Lesley Beeton

Note: I took photos of, and talked to every stallholder. If anyone wants to talk to me directly about ways of improving the marketability of their stall, or get a high res photo, please let Jill Spain know. No charge.

Monster face-painting by JoJo of Artyfacial

Yummy macaroons by a Pinch of This

Kevin Gorton, local artist and musician

Tooth fairy cushions by Love Sew Sweet

Melanie Capper, Melanie's Garden

Dawn Hart, Stone Pit Crafts

Oil paintings on canvas by Jan Windle

Unique blacksmith art by JAJ BBQ and Blacksmith Products

TODAY'S GUEST BLOGGER IS......

My name is Dawn Hart and I'm the very lucky owner of Badger Boo a cheeky Cocker Spaniel, it was a massive surprise to be asked to be a Guest Blogger.  I've been writing about Badger Boo's Daft Adventures for several years now, and they are always written from his point of view.  A bit nuts I grant you, but harmless fun.

*Waves paw and bounces onto Friday Guest Blogger*  Hello everybody, my name is Badger Boo and I'm a very spoilt and naughty Cocker Spaniel *so I've been told* but don't believe a word of it, I'm just Badger Boo Media Hound.

I have lots of Daft Adventures with my hoomans and we have a "House on Wheels" that we are always having adventures in.

Personally I likes it best when we go to the beach, I loves to play fetch with my ball in the sea, it's such pawsome fun.

Where we go regularly my bestest friend is Boomer the Rhodesian Ridgeback, he is totally huge with a big scary bark, but I'm the boss of him because I've known him since he was a not so tiny puppy, and made sure he learnt how to train his hoomans properly, because did you know if you don't train hoomans properly, they have a nasty habit of running off, you can spend ages worrying and looking for them!

I always know when we are going away for an adventure, as my mummy packs me my very own little bag with lots of my favourite toys and food, and of course the tennis balls.  I have three balls, one for the beach, one for general walks and a spare in case we loses one, not that we ever have, cos I'm a brilliant retriever even though I'm a Spaniel BOL (by the way BOL is Bark Out Loud if you've never met me before).

I's got so many stories to tell, I don'ts know where to start *scratches head thinking hard* I knows *starts tapping on keyboard*

"The Bike"

When we goes away hoomans always takes the bikes so we can explore, cos mummy can't walk too far cos she has dodgy knees, and cos it's dangerous to tie me to the steering things, I has a what is called a "Walky Dog" which attaches under the seat, and keeps me well away from any dangers like the wheels.

Because I likes to run and pull so hard, I has to wear a harness to protect my neck and take the strain.  When it gets put on me, I bounces around barking and howling like the Huskies that pull sleds, it always causes a commotion on the campsite as people want to know what is going on.  As mummy explains to them, I gets louder and louder, leaping and running on the spot!  Eventually they stop talking and we are off, I do a massive leap and start to run, mummy has to make sure her bike and me are facing the same way, cos once I leapt but the bike was facing sideways, then CRASH me, mummy and the bike ended out in a massive heap BOL.

When I set off, I'm like a steam train, straining against the harness as hard as I can, because mummy keeps putting the brakes on to slow me down, she says it is to pace me so I don't get worn out and sore paws on the roads.  But as soon as we hit the beach or grass I can have my head and I'm off running as hard as I can, although I'm only allowed to do it for short distances so I don't get too hot and tired as we usually have a long way to go.  After my little blow out run, I'm then happy to just trot along next to the bike enjoying the scenery, whenever we stop for a rest it is always somewhere I can be let off the lead to either mooch around checking the local pee-mails or have a rest if I want too.  I loves going away on adventures with my hoomans, and I'm such a lucky pup that they take me everywhere with them.

I thinks that I had better mention that my fitness been built up slowly to run long distances next to the bike, and although it is fantastic exercise, if any other hoomans want to do it with their dogs, they must start off with short distances for several months, and do it only when their dog is fully mature, otherwise their bones could get damaged.  Depending on the breed of the dog maturity can be anything from 18 months to 3 years old, if in doubt you should ask your vet at what age it is safe to start.  Here is a link to show you how the "Walky Dog"works as it's the one thing I've not been videoed doing.  the only difference is, I am on the left hand side of the bike so mummy is between me and the traffic and I bark all the time cos I's so excited BOL.

I hopes you enjoyed this snapshot of my adventurous life?

My adventures can be followed in two places:

1) My Facebook which has been going for several years now, and has 871 members.  You are welcome to join us and share your own Daft Adventures, or just read about other peoples.

2) My Blog which I started in March of this year, and seems to be very popular too.

The choice is yours, but my little motto is:

I'm the cutest Cocker Spaniel about
If you think I'm gorgeous click like
If you think I'm cute click like
If you think I'm adorable click like
If you're not sure click like anyway, and let me win you round ♥♥♥

THE VERSATILE BLOG AWARD - NUMBER 2

Hi everyone

As mentioned in my last post, I received a second Versatile Blogger Award from Dawn Hart.  As all bloggers know, compliments about our blogs are so welcome and very much appreciated.  Thank you Dawn, your blog posts are great.

There is more information on this VBA Blog and the Award Button can be collected from here too.  As before, I had to pass on the Award to another 15, but this time I have limited it to 10 - all great blogs that consist of motivational posts, inspiring posts, new(ish) bloggers, great craft makes and lots of good fun reads.

My Award Nominations are:

Alix of Big Blue Bed
Cory of Coryographies
Jan of Handcrafted by Picto
Mad Imaginations by Maddy
Mammasaurus
Pete of Bodrighy Wood
Tales of a Twin Mum
The Duchess of Fiddle Fart
Trouble Doubled
Wendy of 1st Unique Gifts

As before, the Award requires me to 'reveal' 7 things about myself, so here goes:

• I begin my pottery course tomorrow
• Rushing to get to work (that'll be the day) a few years ago I tripped over my own doorstep and broke my leg
• I love detective stories
• I love detective television programmes
• Pride and Prejudice is my favourite book
• Mozart and Mercury are tops in my 'musicians' list
• I am addicted to blogging

Off to advise the above recipients of their Award.  Hope you all enjoy the rest of this week.  Don't forget to visit on Friday for my guest blog post - I know you will love it.

Jill