[Lesley Silvester]

I just hope I do have enough stuff. I'm knitting and weaving like crazy. At least it keeps me off the computer, which is where I tend to spend most of my day.

[renee]

That's interesting. I am organising a small craft fair for 7th December and I'm wondering how it will go. Rather than a set fee, we are charging 10% of sales up to £20 to go to the church whose building we are using.

I would prefer to pay in that way. I am often spinning ar shows where I know there is little chance of selling thigs. Some are nice and let me off free as they know I travel a long way just to show the craft.

[Lesley Silvester]

That's what I thought. I've been to craft fairs where I haven't made the cost of the stall rental, or only just. It's in two weeks' time so I'm still frantically making stuff. I am knitting while on here.

[Bionic]

Lesley, how can you knit and type at the same time ?

[SallyintNorth]

Lesley, how can you knit and type at the same time ?

She's using double-pointed needles, silly.   

[Lesley Silvester]

Lesley, how can you knit and type at the same time ?

She's using double-pointed needles, silly.   

   


Ok I do take a break every so often although I have been known to read the screen while knitting. I then have to put the knitting down to reply to things. I'm also doing NaNoWriMo where I have to write 50,000 words of a novel during November.

[Clarebelle]

my show is on saturday! I am franticly making my little pony plushies! Getting really nervous now too. I'm hoping to at least sell the xmas decs as the will be a bit harder to get rid of after xmas!

[Lesley Silvester]

Good luck. 

[Clarebelle]

well the show is over - thank god! lol, it has been such a stressful few days, I didn't manage to finish everything I wanted to take to the show and was working until the last second before having to set up.

It was a really slow day, it was only a school fair run by the pta but i don't think the way they layed it out was particularly stall friendly. We were tucked away in a classroom and had hardly any foot traffic coming through. And they charged £10 a stall which i didn't know about until the woman came round asking for money!

I did make a bit of money but not loads and I have loads of stock left over but the woman who had a similar (but far more proffesional!) stall opposite didn't do any better so I don't feel too bad.

It was a good experience but I'm not sure I'll repeat it!! 

[Lesley Silvester]

As you have lots left, it might be worth trying a better venue.

[Clarebelle]

yes, possibly! i'll have to see if theres anything else local.

[Lesley Silvester]

This is the time of year for craft fairs. There are loads going on round here.

[plumseverywhere]

I've decided to give up craft fairs and craft markets. This year I've stood in the freezing cold too many times having paid £10 for a table and only taken £3!!  Then I go home to find that the website has taken £100 in international and UK orders....... its a no brainer for me.
I will continue to support my 2 local schools, especially while the girls still go to them. 
Its such a shame when you see how much work goes into organising a fair (both from the organiser and the stall holder point of view) only to see it poorly attended or in the case of handmade soap, to hear "£2!! you could buy 10 for that in poundland...."   

[happygolucky]

I used to love craft fairs but now I am not keen at all, however, if/when I have money, I would happily sit in the comfort of my home with a cup of tea and trawl the net for gifts......I was shocked when we took the dogs for a walk and stopped off for a coffee and cake, my husband who hate shopping said "lets go into that gift shop"  we went in and came out again fairly quickly empty handed, although I did love the local pictures.

[Lesley Silvester]

The trouble is that people tend to think of craft fairs as 'home made stuff' that, therefore, isn't worth as much as machine made.