HELLO AUTUMN

Hello everyone

Last day of summer yesterday, first day of Autumn today - how mild it is though, quite muggy really.  Is there any other country where the weather is so frustrating?

It has been a hectic week making goodies for forthcoming Christmas fairs and because I was contacted at the beginning of last week with an invitation to take part in a wedding fayre today.  After a bit of negotiation over price, I agreed to take part and as I was going to be the only wedding stationery there, how could I refuse?  I am an early bird, but getting up early to go to work on a Sunday is not really much fun - I don't mind getting up early on Sundays if I know I can take my time getting going.  However, an early start it was and and when I arrived at the venue, I was surprised to be only the second exhibitor there.

The information received from the organisers suggested that if leaflets were to be included in the fayre's goody bag, they should be delivered or dropped off by Friday of last week.  The name of the person they were to be addressed to was an unusual spelling and I wondered at the time if it was possibly someone I knew.  A lovely surprise when I arrived at the hotel this morning, it was an ex-student of mine and I was so pleased to hear how well she had done since she left college.  Even nicer was that because of her enjoyment of a Unit she studied with me, Event Management, she had made a career in that subject - I love to catch up with ex-students and find out how they are doing.

The wedding fayre was very good, a steady flow of visitors throughout the day and I have three quotes to prepare, one of which is 99% a definite order, so I am a happy bunny. Here are some photographs of my stand and some of my wedding stationery, as well as a photograph of a gorgeous red Cyclamen I took with me.  At wedding fayres I always like to take either flowers or a plant on my table - I think it looks rather nice.

As everyone who takes part in craft fairs of any sort knows, it is exhausting and you can't wait to get home.  It was a good day and I met some lovely people - both potential clients and fellow wedding exhibitors.  I have a question for my blog readers though, how do you think one should dress for wedding fayres?  I feel it should be smart and certainly not casual.  One person today was dressed in jeans and baseball boots - am I wrong in thinking they hadn't really dressed for the occasion?  At the wedding fayre I exhibited at in August, one person was wearing denim shorts!  My feeling is that we are business people and as such should dress accordingly.  What do you think?

Thank you to everyone who left comments on my blog post of last weekend, I love to read them.  A message of Lesley, yes, I have lots of Christmassy decorated jute bags.  Would you like some pics of them?

I am off for a glass of wine, feet up and watch Young Montalbano - I love the 'old' Montalbano and this is proving just as good.

Don't forget to drop into Handmade Monday this week - always very inspiring and great fun to catch up with everyone.

I am also taking part in this week's Creative Mondays blog hop - great fun so do check out the participating bloggers.

Have a good week everyone - I will be back next Sunday and Milly will be here on Wednesday (catching up for missing this week coz those cheeky foster kittens, Rosie and Violet, pinched the laptop from her).

Jill

TO MARKET, TO MARKET TO BUY........ A CANDLE

Hello everyone

Hasn't the weather been gorgeous recently?  Very hard working inside at the moment - I can make cards outside, so that is not a problem but making candles is a little tricky and that is what I need to work on now. moment.

I attended my first country market in Jacob's Well on Friday.  It was an interesting experience.  When the doors opened at 10.00 am it was rather like the first day of the sales - well not really, but similar.  Customers made a bee-line for the stalls selling cakes and savouries, followed by the meat stall, then eggs and lastly plants.  Those of us selling crafts had a few visitors, but apparently this was how the market is most weeks.  I sold one candle - to be honest I wasn't too disappointed.  No table rental and free coffee and biscuits makes it a not too disappointing event.  In addition to it being my first event, customers were not expecting candles to be on sale (because of anticipated sellers (who didn't turn up) I was 'in the corner'), so I am hopeful that things will improve in the future with some advertising and word-of-mouth promotion.

Stall-holders do not take payment for their goods; on entry into the market customers are issued with a list and for each purchase the stall holder adds their details.  Payment for everything is made at a central point (rather like a supermarket) and during the first market of each month, cheques are issued to the stall holders for their sales during the previous month.  If sales are high, I would find this difficult because of needing to purchase supplies to make more stock - however, it is rather like being an employee as in paid at the end of the month.  I look at it as another outlet for my work and the feedback was good - lots of people said they 'will make lovely Christmas presents', so fingers crossed.

My fellow stall-holders were great, very friendly and helpful.  Two offered to source cups and saucers for  my candles, told me of good places locally to buy them as well.  The event is well organised and everyone pitches in to set up and clear away.

It is generally acknowledged that (as with all events) the market needs more customers.  Despite prices being very reasonable, even low for many perishable items, the footfall has decreased over the last year and promotion of the market is vital to help its growth.

This week (or rather it is last week now) has been hectic.  Not a lot of making, but a lot of other creating.  On Monday I went to West Dean with Linda (the cake-maker).  We went for some forward planning time in gorgeous surroundings, also to check out the shop as on a previous visit Linda had been amazed to see a cup and saucer candle set on sale for £24.95!  We have lots of plans, ideas and proposals for the Christmas sale season.  It does seem very odd planning (and making) for Christmas when I am desperate for summer to arrive, but as we know in the craft world you have to be at least one season ahead.

On Tuesday I met up with the lovely Twitter Gals (Lesley, Dawn and Michele) for lunch at the Harrow in Compton.  We were able to sit outside - so nice to have lots of lovely sunshine and good company.  Dawn is going to be a Stampin' Up demonstrator and this leads me nicely to my next 'bit' of news.

At the end of the week I met up with Lauren who I worked with at my inaugural card-making workshop.  Lauren is a Stampin' Up Expert and we spent Friday afternoon planning our next joint workshop.  The date is 11 June 2013, and the theme is likely to be cards for males (always hard to find really good ones in the shops or the right material to make them).  We have agreed date, content, costs, and I am off to check out two potential venues on Tuesday and then it will be advertise, advertise and advertise.  We have lots of ideas and plans for future workshops, so watch this space and if you know anyone in our area (Guildford, Farnham, Ash) who may be interested in attending our workshop, please ask them to get in touch with either of us.

It's time to get back to digging and planting, but before I go I want to thank Wendy of Handmade Harbour for her lovely digi-stamps, which I am trialling and using to create cards. I will post the results next week.  I have an order for  a new baby card and am using one of the designs for this.  One of my fellow pottery students gave me an order for a card this week - the recipient likes natural things, so I have a lot of work to do to come up with ideas that may suit.  Don't forget to visit my guest blogger's post - all about tools and equipment for the craft market.  Many thanks for taking part Alison.  Finally, a 'must do' is a visit to the Handmade Monday bloggers - always lots of great reads.

Have a great week everyone.  Milly will be here on Wednesday (she is rather busy at the moment as she is being interviewed by the gorgeous Rumpydog) and I will be back next weekend.

Jill