NI Craft Fairs 2010

SuperMum2010

So excited - just got the proof emailed to me for our banner - it looks AMAZING!!! Am hoping some little plane can fly the real thing over to me in time for this weekend, whilst dodging bits of Iceland....(along with the two wholesale orders Im waiting on too - tremble!) - OR they could put it in a tube with a note, and push it out to sea somewhere near HEysham...its bound to arrive then!!

glassact

fi99 wrote: »

glassact i heard the ballymena show didnt do too well last year. there is a fair in ballyclare on the same date, im doing it instead

I tryed to get in at Ballyclare but was booked up. I do think some fairs ask over the odds for a fee! actually when you add the VAT on to Ballymena it is £78 - quite ridiculous!

glassact

SuperMum2010 wrote: »

no probs. So, did you say (a long way back!!) that you are going to mountstewart? Im really nervous about it. Apart from anything else, I have 2 wholesale orders Im waiting on that might be delayed with the flights being cancelled etc....argh! Also, there arent enough hours in the day for making stuff - I have some in with me today to make during my lunch break! might have to find a quiet corner in the pub next door to get sewing, LOL!!

I am a bit nervous myself - have only done about 6 fairs altogether. My mum always comes with me which is great. When I heard that there were 30 jewellery stands in one marquee I was surprised. My gosh there are quite a few crafters out there! I am working on my jewellery today and i must say I do enjoy it.

SuperMum2010

Mountstewart have been marketing the jewellery marquee quite cleverly as a Bling Tent!! I know fairs normally limit the jewellery stalls but when I queried it, Mountstewart said that in England there are often whole fairs of jewellery only, and that they were wanting to give it a go. I will certainly be paying the tent a visit (credit card beware!). I guess everyone is looking for something different and there might be something that catches your eye on one stall that no-one else has.

If its any consolation, Ive been doing fairs for 4 years now, and I am still nervous at each one as you just dont know wht it is going to be like. But this is our first big professional one, which is making me tremble even more! The one thing you can guarantee though, is that if you find a stall run by one of the merry crafting bunch on this thread, you are guaranteed a smile and a good dose of craic!!

SuperMum2010

Ginger_Rosie wrote: »

Well ladies I'm having a weekend off so while you're all stressing I'll be sitting with a glass of wine in my hand. Heehee! Mountstewart is too expensive for me. I'm trying to stick to the cheaper things this year and see how it goes. I have enough commissions to tide me over, but I don't know what I'd do if I forked out £100 for a table and didn't make it back, and the recession does seem to be affecting things this year (if Ballance House is anything to go by!). Anyway, good luck to you all...can't wait to hear how it goes.

Have a glass of wine for me Ginger!!! I think this one is a bit of a gamble for all of us...so everything is crossed

glassact

SuperMum2010 wrote: »

Mountstewart have been marketing the jewellery marquee quite cleverly as a Bling Tent!! I know fairs normally limit the jewellery stalls but when I queried it, Mountstewart said that in England there are often whole fairs of jewellery only, and that they were wanting to give it a go. I will certainly be paying the tent a visit (credit card beware!). I guess everyone is looking for something different and there might be something that catches your eye on one stall that no-one else has.

If its any consolation, Ive been doing fairs for 4 years now, and I am still nervous at each one as you just dont know wht it is going to be like. But this is our first big professional one, which is making me tremble even more! The one thing you can guarantee though, is that if you find a stall run by one of the merry crafting bunch on this thread, you are guaranteed a smile and a good dose of craic!!

i take it that you are a knitter and sewer - never quite got into that, although I do go to a textile art glass in island centre, lisburn which is great. we do some sewing at it but she teaches us all sorts of things including silk painting, feltwork (which I really like) and its good craic.

SuperMum2010

Yes, I knit like mad, as does my friend who also runs the stall, although we have struggled to make much for this fair coming up. I love making tea cosies, funky mad ones, not your usual frilly WI ones (not that I knock them, they are lovely too!) We also sew, and are working on some new things - princess and the pea sets, mice in matchboxes etc!! And the rest of our stall is funky felted goodies from two womens co-operatives in Nepal and Vietnam - bags, purses, mobiles etc...all very bright - you cant miss us :-) (Especially not with our wonderful new banner LOL!!)

glassact

SuperMum2010 wrote: »

Yes, I knit like mad, as does my friend who also runs the stall, although we have struggled to make much for this fair coming up. I love making tea cosies, funky mad ones, not your usual frilly WI ones (not that I knock them, they are lovely too!) We also sew, and are working on some new things - princess and the pea sets, mice in matchboxes etc!! And the rest of our stall is funky felted goodies from two womens co-operatives in Nepal and Vietnam - bags, purses, mobiles etc...all very bright - you cant miss us :-) (Especially not with our wonderful new banner LOL!!)

I will look out for you at fair if I get a chance. Always like to look at other peoples work. Theres such a lot of talented people out there!

SuperMum2010

Yes, hopefully we will get to meet too!! We should wear badges from here so we know who is an MSE crafter LOL! What will your stall look like - mine has black velvet and the Two Bag Ladies banner!

Rach39

Hi Glassact, welcome to the madhouse! I'm a jeweller too and am intregued at your 'glass jewellery' do you mean glass beads or do you work with glass? Only askin as I've just started having a go at lampwork with a blow torch and glass rods. Very much beginner but like it v much and wondered if you do anything similar? (always looking for tips!!) Would love to have a go at enamelling too but still saving for a kiln ... sigh!