Category Archives: Craft Fairs

I take flowers, plants, seasonal things like wreaths and table decs to craft fairs – as well as handpainted signs my sone makes and other things I happen to do – a bit of crochet or sewing maybe. Mostly I go to Christmas Fairs in November and December, but occasionally others throughout the year

February 13, 2012 · 10:27 am

First fair under my belt

Yesterday the Vintage Valentine’s Fair finally came around –  the first fair I’d organised at Rivers Meet (www.riversmeetcraftcafe.co.uk).   I’d been looking forward to it since Christmas, although with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.  I know as a stallholder that the organiser has to do a good job – or else….. so I had a good go and learnt a few lessons, but basically I think it went well.   We certainly had lots of visitors.  At one point you couldn’t get in the door.

The stallholders really brought some fabulous stuff.   Lorelie’s recycled jewellery fascinated me.  It was made from old envelopes and takeway menus but it looked just like porcelain beads, and Twisted Vintage (www.twisted-vintage-design.co.uk) brought some lovely things as usual. My friend Sally from Lavender Attic bought some of this pretty bunting from them.  Lisa and Jane will be opening their new shop very soon in Whitwood, Castleford and I wish them all the luck.

We had great vintage clothing from Beau Boutique and Luna & Annies.  Really nice things – I just need to lose a few pounds!  Thanks for coming ladies and we’ll hope to see you again soon.

I did a roaring trade in daffodils.   I think everyone is looking forward to the spring and a bunch of daffs is a good way to cheer yourself up without breaking the bank.  And I had a brought a few fair trade products for Easter – the handpainted little eggs which were made in India went well and not surprisingly.  There’s so much detail in them and they really are good value as well as being beautiful little objects.

I’m sure our craft fair on Sunday 25th March will have much more of an Easter feel about it.  With just two weeks to Easter it’ll be a perfect time to pick up gifts.  

For more about yesterday take a look at www.lavenderattic.blogspot.com …. and for more about coming events please take a look at my events page or please contact me if you need any more details.

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Filed under Craft Fairs, vintage

January 23, 2012 · 1:35 pm

Be my Vintage Valentine

I’m excited….I’ve started a new project and so far it’s going well.   This year I’ve taken over the organisation of the fairs at Rivers Meet Craft Cafe in Methley.   I attended a couple at the end of last year when they first started and so when I got the opportunity to organise them as well I jumped at it.

It’s a lovely place.   On the main Leeds Road in Methley it was an empty old pub which was looking very sad.  Bravely Joanne took it over – revamped it with her partner Richard and threw open the doors to a warm and welcoming cafe where one of the rooms has now become a craft workshop.   There’s a programme of events for would be crafters of all ages and abilities as well as a function room and  a small shop trading in locally made goods at the back.   And I know she has big plans for it to develop.

Of course there’s good coffee and home made cake too…..what more could you need.

To back to the fairs.   We worked out a programme which you can see on my events page and the first one is very soon.  It’s Sunday 12th February and its a Vintage Valentine’s Fair.   The stallholders are all booked – and they do some fabulous things.

  • Real vintage lovers Luna and Annies are coming over from Manchester.   Their love of vintage has helped them put together an eclectic mix of beautiful and elegant pieces of clothing, shoes, accessories and books.
  • We have reworked fabric pieces from Rhi-Stitched – Rhiannon has been over before and I know her work was really appreciated by visitors to the fair.
  • Lorelie Jewellery make vintage style jewellery from recycled paper – things like old takeaway menus, leaflets and other stuff that gets thrown away.  The transformation is amazing.
  • From Phil we have true antiques to add to the mix with some costume jewellery and vinyl.
  • Mary paints plant pots and garden accessories in a vintage style – should be something there I’ll like I’m sure.
  • On the Button is a new venture using vintage buttons to create jewelery
  • Chicken Shed Gifts has a mix of rustic gifts and home accessories
  • Beau Boutique will be bringing clothes and accessories dating from the 40’s to the 70’s as well as jewelery, vanity items, homewares and photo frames
  • Twisted Vintage will have a range of giftwares and needlecraft all in vintage style
  • Virtue to Victory will have handmade gifts and clothes, some made using vintage patterns
  • Wildheart gives us her Victorian Gothic inspired jewellery and accessories

We open at 10 am and I’m almost itching to see what everyone’s bringing.   If you’re a fan of vintage I think it’ll be a real treat.

The cafe will be open too – Joanne’s menus are full of good local food.   One of her aims is to keep food miles down and to support local food producers.   Added to that all the cakes are baked daily on the premises.

Where is it?  Easy to find on a main road, the web address is http://www.riversmeetcraftcafe.co.uk and here’s the map:  http://g.co/maps/uazvk

See you there……

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December 5, 2011 · 6:27 pm

If it’s Friday……

it must be – um…..?  The festive fair season is in full swing just now and honestly I hardly know where I am.   I love them when I get there and everything’s in place.  Usually there are lots of Christmassy things going on – Santa, Carols and brass bands – and everyone gets into the christmas spirit.  It’s just the getting there that’s a bit of an issue.   I’m on the merry go round and so maybe it’s a senior moment thing, but unless I keep referring to my diary I have no idea where I’m supposed to be or what time I’m supposed to be there!  If I’ve tweeted about where I’m going would you mind giving me a quick dig in the ribs to remind me nearer to the date!

Last weekend was St Gemma’s Hospice Christmas market and that’s one of the highlights for me.   They work so hard and the hospice gets great support for its work, and this year a rock choir sang on Saturday and my pal Lucy played in the brass band on Friday.

I’m going somewhere new on Thursday this week which presents its own problems!  On my way to one fair last week my sat nav decided to take me on a tour of a housing estate until it brought me to a halt at a row of bollards which it clearly hadn’t bargained for.   Oh how I regretted not having a road map in the car any more.

There’s nothing worse than arriving late.  I end up dashing in and out like a mad thing as the visitors start to arrive.   Then of course they might like to buy something, but I’m bound to have forgotten how much the hyacinths are or where I’ve hidden the cash box.

Last weekend I sent the cashbox flying – not the best when you’re chasing 20ps across the floor as a confused customer is waiting for her change.

So this week it’s South Leeds Hub on Thursday afternoon/evening, and one of my favourites on Friday – Leeds Univeristy Union Christmas Day.  It’s not just for the students everyone’s welcome.  The money we all pay for our space goes to the Salvation Army and the army are there playing …lovely.  And Santa’s coming.  I need to ask him for a road atlas I think.

To see where I’m going to be next see my events page https://readyplanted.wordpress.com/eventsdates/

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Filed under Craft Fairs, Uncategorized, wreath

October 1, 2011 · 12:08 pm

Sign of the times

The other day I mentioned our handpainted signs on Twitter and caused a bit of a flutter.   Clearly I hadn’t said enough about them

They are rather lovely when I posted this picture of a sign for the menus at  The Mustard Pot in Chapel Allerton I immediately had people asking about them.

It began with a few bits of wood and some pots of paint and me needing a sign for something.  That one turned out so well that we had a bash a making a few for sale and they looked really good.   So we went to craft markets with some for sale off the peg as well as offering signs made to order and off we went from there.

The wood is all reclaimed and the signs are individually handpainted.   The lettering is in waterproof enamel and so they can be used outside.

Here’s a whole pile of them ready to go.

Well then it turned out that they were really a great hit with brides to be.  A lasting memento of their wedding day and personal to them.  A nice sign read “Mr & Mrs …….  21st September 2010” which could be hung at the reception as people come in and then taken home and hung in the house.

They make great presents – especially if its hard to find something a little bit different for someone.   Let’s face it we all have people who are hard to buy things for which is probably why we’ve named so many sheds!  What are these chap’s getting up to in there? Can’t tell you how many we’ve done – Dave’s Den, Kev’s Shed, Mike’s Shed, etc, etc…..  But the ladies get a look in too, Bev’s Kitchen, Jenny’s house, Mum’s allotment, and I’m still waiting for one for my garden but maybe I should just nab this one which seems to be to be just right for me.

If you’d like one just get in touch – margaret@readyplanted.com or fill in my contact form and we can sort it out.   Prices are good I think when I look at others and start at about £12.50  plus postage.   Tell us what you’d like and we’ll be able to give you a price.

Meanwhile…….

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Filed under Craft Fairs, handpainted, signs, Uncategorized, vintage, wedding

November 20, 2010 · 10:24 pm

The Christmas markets are in full swing

How come when there’s lot’s going on fate steps in and throws a few unexpected odds and ends into the mix to make things a little bit more complicated?

Last Saturday, just as I was gearing up for the Christmas market season and preparing to deal with a garden makeover my poor Elsie was attacked by a neighbour’s gun dog.   I thought she was a gonner, but she’s made of tough stuff.   Full of punctures and with a backend as bald as a coot, we brought our bedraggled and traumatised hen into the house where she has been nursed for a week.  A trip to the ben, antibiotics and anti inflammatories seem to have got us over the worst thank goodness.  Chickens do not like being confined – this one decided she was going to dig herself out one day – what a mess!  Now she’s back in the coop with her pals so we watch and hope.

In the garden I have installed another feature plant.   I’ve rescued a pittisporun which was destined for the bonfire.   It was about 8 ft high but was chopped and stuffed into my little van and fortunately seems to be taking.

Meanwhile the Christmas market season is getting well into its stride.   Today I took our signs, wreaths and Christmas goodies to Albion Place – really enjoyed it and am looking forward to next month when we’re there again.  Tomorrow it’s Green Hammerton and next week Chapel Allerton Lights switch on.

Here’s the schedule so far!  Come and say hello if you can make any of them…..

 

Sunday 21 Nov

  

Christmas Fair

 Main Furniture Company, The Green
Green Hammerton, York, North Yorkshire YO26 8BQ		 10am – 5pm
Wednesday 24th November Chapel Allerton Lights Switch On Stainbeck Corner, Chapel Allerton 6pm
Saturday 27 Nov Woodhouse Grove Christmas Fair Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge, 

BD10 ONR

 

 10am – 1pm
Sunday 28th November Hob House Farm Christmas Fair Hob House Farm, Holmsley Lane, South Kirkby WF9 3JB 10am – 4pm
Tuesday 30th November Ramada Encore Christmas Market Whinby Road
Dodworth
Barnsley
S75 3LF		 6 – 9pm
Friday 3rd December St Gemma’s Christmas Fair 329 Harrogate Road, Moortown, Leeds LS17 6QD 3pm – 8pm
Saturday 4th December St Gemma’s Christmas Fair 329 Harrogate Road, Moortown, Leeds LS17 6QD 10am – 3pm
Friday 10th December Leeds University Union Leeds University, Leeds 1 10am – 3pm TBC
Tuesday 14th December Christmas Market & Gospel Choir 20 Stainbeck Lane
Chapel Allerton
Leeds, LS7 3QY		 6.00 pm – 9pm
Saturday 18th December Artsmix at Albion Place Leeds City Centre 11am – 5pm
Sunday 19th December Pure Genius Craft Centre 3-5 Grape Lane
York YO1 7HU		 10am – 4pm

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November 9, 2010 · 11:59 am

Cabbages and Chickens

This caused a bit of hilarity when I handed it over.   I like the idea of using something different  in arrangements so here’s a savoy cabbage hollowed out and filled with rosebuds.   I’m planning to make a few of these at Christmas filled with red roses or carnations and just lightly sprayed with some silver sparkles.

At home the hens are definitely not happy about the weather and the lack of daylight.   If I let them out in the morning before daylight their little heads peer at me from their perches as if I’m mad.  I can almost hear them ticking me off for getting them out of bed too soon.  However if I leave it too long Elsie gets in a proper tizzie.    Current egg laying time is about 7.45 and current egg laying location is a corner of the shed where she found some left over bear grass which is now a nest so I have to let her out or else.

Meanwhile the other two – Ivy and Daisy are so ravenous having been cooped up for such a long night they make a beeline for the breakfast bowl.   Current breakfast being warm mash – yum!

Egg laying is dropping off a bit from these two girls but Elsie, once she’s settled in the shed, continues to lay an egg every day without fail.   So on that basis alone I think she deserves to lay her egg wherever she wants to.

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Filed under Chickens, Craft Fairs, Flowers

October 15, 2010 · 4:49 pm

Orange…..

I’ve just put this together from left overs and I’m quite pleased with it – I had some orange roses and a bit of amaranthus and so hey presto an orange rosebowl it is….. meanwhile in the oven we have oranges drying so I can start on the Christmas wreaths and things.  The great Christmas craft fair season is getting underway.

Tomorrow I’m popping into one in Ossett where you can see and order our signs at Mrs Madden’s house, her speciality is pinnies, customised and vintage ones (see http://www.mrsmaddenmakes.co.uk).

Next week we go to Harewood House for Autumn Glory on Tuesday 26th.  Looking forward to it, there’s children’s storytelling, broomstick making and leaf printing and a farmers market and craft market, and more (just can’t remember what else at the mo….) so I need to get busy!

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