My First Craft Fair

It's been a while since I last did a blog post.  In fact I've just realised I haven't done a post on my first craft fair which I promised myself I would do.  I can't believe a whole month has passed and Christmas has already been and gone :(

 

Anyway, my mum and I set off at 8am and arrived in a somewhat flooded car park at Delapre Abbey.  The weather had been awful and had been raining non-stop for days.  Luckily it stopped long enough for us to unload the car. One of the organisers told us where our table was located.  We were in one of the three small rooms in the Abbey.  The floors were pretty muddy with everyone coming in and out.  I was careful how to get out the white sheet which we used as a table cover.

 

We set out our table with my dolls and bags and my Mum's iPad cushions, bags and keyrings, etc which she sells on her page, Nina's Nicecties.  My dad made me a gorgeous clothes stand and some miniature hangers for me to hang my doll's dress-up clothes on.  I was so pleased with my little display.  The only downside was that the walls were solid concrete and I couldn't push a drawing pin into it, so I couldn't put up my Little Sugar Plums banner that I had printed, so the wall behind us looked a bit sparse. The bunting I made for the front of our stall looked lovely though.

 

 

Me on my stall with Craft Seller magazine!

DOLLS!

 

 

 

 



The lovely Clothing rail my Dad made me

 

Our bags



Pincushions

 

Mum's accessories from Nina's Niceties (find her on Facebook)

 

The fair started at 10am to the public and finished at 4pm and it was non-stop the whole day!  There wasn't a quiet moment.  I met quite a few people who are fans on my facebook page and lots of friends and family came out to offer their support.  It was a great day. We did really well and I sold quite a few dolls and took some orders.  A lot of Mum's little accessories and bags sold well too.  One lady asked me if I could embroider her Daughter's name on the back of the dolly, which I did and delivered it to her house that evening...

 

 

 

It did take me a few days to recover.  Nobody told me how exhausting doing a craft fair would be!

 

I don't have any more fairs lined up for the New Year but it is certainly something I will consider.



 

 

2 Weeks to go!

With just 2 weeks to my first craft fair, I really do need to get a move on and get some more things made.  I am really struggling for time at the moment, as I work part time as a self employed childminder during the day, so my mornings are taken up with looking after three toddlers and my afternoons and evenings are taken up with taking care of my two year old daughter and my 12 year old son when he comes home from school, as well as cutting out and sewing up dollies, dolly clothes, bags and, accessories and hair clip holders!  I also have 10 custom orders to do before Christmas so I really am feeling the pressure at the moment!

I thought I would share a few dolls that I have for the craft fair so far...

This is Rory.  He is a blue-eyed Sugar Plum boy dress-up doll and wears designer Riley Blake dungarees.  Aren't his freckles cute?  I gave him sticky-up hair just like my own son.  He has a double crown and i've always found it a nightmare to get it to lay flat!

 

 

This is Holly and Ivy.  They are limited edition Christmas dress-up dolls.  I love the way that despite being sisters, they look completely different, just like my own sister and I!

 

 

And here is a cute little outfit I made for my Daughter's Little Sugar Plum doll especially for Halloween!  How cute is her matching trick or treat tote bag?  More about her here.

 

 

I have spent this afternoon cutting out dolls and outfits ready to sew up this evening and over the weekend.  I wil post more photos when I have them.  In the mean time, please like my page over at www.facebook.com/littlesugarplums. I am up to 775 likes and I hope to get 800 by the end of next week. :)

 

 

Children's brooches

Well I have been a busy bee!  With only 12 weeks until the christmas craft fair, I spent all weekend making little tote bags, and this afternoon I've been making some little brooches.  Here's a sneeky peek....

London inspired busy bag

 

Strawberry brooch

 

 

I've made some strawberries, owls, cats and frogs so far.   Ohhh, and check out my little tags I've made to display them on!  I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

 

I have a busy few weeks ahead of me and am trying to get as organised  as possible.  I know it's early but I have some paper bags all made up with my logo on and I have added a little leaflet and business card to each bag which will save hassle on the day.

 

 

 

They will also have "Find us on Facebook" printed on the bottom, although I am still waiting for the stamp to arrive in the post.

 

I am so excited to be doing my first fair (can you tell?).

 

Right, I'm off to make a few more brooches while the hubby gets the kids reasdy for bed and then I shall be having a well deserved restful evening.  I have some X factor to catch up on!

Delapre Abbey Annual Christmas Craft Fair

I am delighted that my application for the Delapre Abbey Annual craft fair was successful and I have a table booked on 25th November 2012.

My Mum is going to do the stall with me and has been making some P.E bags and bag charms to sell too. This will be our first craft fair and I am a little nervous, but also excited!  I have been trying to find some pictures of craft stalls to get some inspiration for how I will set ours up.

I LOVE how this one is set up with the cute bunting along the front of the table.

Craft stall by Kirsty Fish

Or this one from Covetables

 

I have bought a Christmas themed banner which I will display on the front of our table ...

 

 

And lots of baskets to display things in.  Now to get making!

 

Unfortunately I will not be taking on any more custom orders for the run up to Christmas as I get some stock together.  I still have a full time job, so time is limited with just 12 weeks to go!