A year ago I wrote on a piece of paper that I wanted to get my creativity out in ways that others could receive it, get serious about my writing and into some sort of form, and be supported financially as I did this. This is the week where I realised how much of that had come to fruition - what with the writing course, pretty much non-stop freelance work - and now the opportunity to sell some of my cards at the Country Living fair on its first time in Scotland - thanks to Jane of Snapdragon.
There are my cards in their little Ikea boxes on the beautiful and inspiring Snapdragon stall - which really is a centre piece of the whole fair. Earlier this year Jane asked me to a demo of Christmas wrapping at her stall during the show. I wasn't quite sure what form this would be in, so decided to make it something I felt everyone may be able to accomplish in some way - using recycled, reclaimed, or charity shop materials in a new way that could look just as good (if not better) than spending lots of money on new (and often un-environmental) wrapping. There are so many beautiful things lying around that could have second lives in a creative and one-off form.
The feedback from the demo that I've been doing has been fantastic, and I'm so pleased that others feel inspired to go and try alternatives to make their gifts more special and unique - and sustainable!
At the other end of things, I've been dashing back to make more recycled cards to put on the stall - although I have had time to go and look round too.
The fair is very high quality, with lots of individual craftspeople as well as more mainstream companies. You can read more over at Jane's blog, but I pretty much agree with her that the whole feel of the show is very positive and inspiring.
For those who may be interested to see more, my friends and mum included (who were told to keep away from the stall, lest they put me off!) I will show a present a day from the demo, starting on 1st december as the beginning of advent. The paper above came from a roll of retro wallpaper picked up for 79p in Oxfam - but more later to come...
A big thank you to Jane and Sally for promoting my cards and involving me in their show - here they are working hard before it even opened, as they have done in the months leading up. I feel very green to the whole experience of this size of fair - playing catch up on myself as I make cards in the evening to top up the next day! I'm still not sure of myself as a 'business' but at the moment am content being a maker when there is supply and demand. Thanks to Sally and other good friends who leave bundles of magazines on my doorstep etc, just as my supplies for the recycled cards are waning- it feels like a very organic and rewarding process, that I am really only making from what is available and not taking any more than that.
If you are coming along this weekend - I hope you have fun and enjoy yourself - there are lots of inspiring people, gifts and ideas. One of my favourites so far has to be
Nutscene - all those balls of coloured twine, and the most ingenious display yet - a garden broom with balls of twine all stacked up the handle.
...oh, and by the way - get those pens and paper out and write down those intentions (Thursday new moon/new beginnings - imagine you are planting seeds) - mine have been answered in ways I could not have imagined - but do be prepared for growth!
(as I write this I thought the heating was creaking away, but realise there are bluetits tapping at the window behind me!)
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