Crafty thoughts from Crafts forum Members

here are some pictures of my set up for this years open house which is currently in full fling. 

Goodness me - it’s been ages since I posted on here. My own blog has been updated a few times but I don’t want to get into the habit of cross posting because that could just get a little boring - and I’m sure Mr M would say it messes around with the SEO or something like that :)  Well the school holidays are coming to an end and Anya goes back to nursery on Monday - she is sooo ready to go back! I’m hoping that it will mean that we are back in a routine and that I can get on with more crafting stuff. I really do need to get on with it though as I have my first ever craft fair (along with Tip Top) in Salford in October. I have a huge list of things to make and I’m still thinking up new ideas that would be good to take along - if only I had the time! Oh and I have about 100 of these to make too……

These are some of my old business cards from when I was Pawprint cards rather than Swirlyarts so these had to go in the bin as it was a bit confusing to have this offshoot of Swirlyarts. Anyway it looks like I am going to be busy, busy for the next few weeks - wish me luck!

This Saturday will see our first Craft Saturday in Exeter.  To say I’m excited about it would be an understatement.

Having been finally released from shopping-sitting a friend’s fancy dress hire shop, and with the advent of lovely sunny weather, this Saturday has something of a ‘holiday’ feel to it for me.

I know that these craft fairs will be quite small, although we were hoping for many more crafters on each day, because of people’s other commitments such as holidays abroad and lack of childcare etc, but even still I’m very enthusiastic.

I’m still at a lost to explain the high numbers of crafters who lost interest as soon as they realised that we were running these Fairs in conjunction with Exeter City Council’s Markets Division……why was this? Suggestions please!  ECC are a dream to work with. They are supplying brand new market stalls for us to use, complete with electricity, a jazz band, a hog roast and a face-painter for the little (and not so little) ones! Not to mention the publicity. I couldn’t ask for better, so why do the crafters dislike our partnership?

The lovely weather is set to continue (touch wood) and I think we deserve some sun after the Monsoon season this last few months. ( Just how do they cope in the countries that have proper Monsoon seasons??)

Thanks to our freaky weather I have written so many cheques for refunds that I have exhausted my chequebook and I’m awaiting a new one to write even more cheques. There’s actually something indefinably pleasing about dashing off cheques quite recklessly, even if I’m not technically spending the money…….!

At Bradford on Avon, I decided my stall was rather flat…it lacked excitement. There wasn’t anything to draw the eye, to make a potential customer actually want to come closer. Hopefully, I’ve got this sorted now. A trip to my favourite shop (eBay) yielded a 3ft high Boyd’s Bear called Big Jake, who is now modelling one of my childrens’ aprons and a chance wander around a very cheap tacky shop in my nearest town provided three old fashioned free-standing clothes airers on which to better display other aprons. I’m going to stand the airers on my table, or next to it, and they should give the public a visual feast (I hope…)

 So, I think I’m set for Saturday craft-wise. I’m taking plenty of cash too though…there’s a Lush shop in Exeter!!!

Wish us all luck!

 Jules