have a ton of lovely stuff crammed into this building. The lady started by just supplying flower arranging stuff. She worked out of a port-a-cabin based on a farm, then they grew and grew. There are just two problems, when anybody is standing looking at stuff on the shelves there is no room to squeeze by and some things are a bit pricey - but that's probably just me being tightfisted !
Anyway, when I went there a few weeks ago because I'd run out of jam jars, I picked up a leaflet about their Christmas Fair and thought I'd go and have a look.
They had a big marquee up for the stalls
1. I could do it myself
2. Everything looks a bit tacky......not a fan of knitted cakes!
3. Everything is too expensive (and before anyone says it, I know the amount of hours that goes into to handmade)
or 4. I could find this somewhere secondhand!
I rather liked the Christmas bunting hanging on the front of the stall in the centre but, oddly, they didn't have anything similar for sale, just bunting where all the triangles were made of the same material rather than mixed fabrics......... bit boring.
Then I went into the shop- it's just such a treasure trove that it's overwhelming. This is their Christmas room
I didn't! Just something for the Halloween and then the Christmas mantle-piece..............under £5..
Thanks for comments on Saturday and hello to more new followers - Welcome.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
When it comes to craft markets I'm exactly the same - Those same four thoughts rattle round my brain as well lol ~ Cathy
ReplyDeleteSame here Sue! I often think the same about just crafting something myself, although I often don't bother in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe shop looks jam packed with all sorts. Are you going to let us see what you bought? 😉 X
They'll be on the mantle-piece later in the year.
DeleteWow what a lot of craft making stuff. My daughter in Ireland makes Christmas Bunting with different fabrics.
ReplyDeleteI am much the same as you when I see craft items, I know I can make items, I did make a load of bunting last year. Our tree ornaments have built up over years, many have history behind them, which makes putting the tree up so enjoyable. I don't like to shop where everything is crammed together.
ReplyDeleteBecause I craft I go looking for ideas and definitely not to buy which I feel guilty about.
ReplyDeleteTania, that made me smile!
DeleteWhat a display, Sue! We were in very wet lakes last week and took refuge in the big garden centre at Ambleside. Lovely lunch and then onto the Christmas displays-what a variety. As it hosts bus tour groups, the stuff was flying off the shelves quicker than it could be put on. I have just finished 4 sets of bunting for a friend's charity with 15 double side pennants and 4 metres of bias tape. Cost to me was about £10 per set and she'll be lucky to get £5. Thank goodness I'm stashbusting otherwise I wouldn't do it!! Catriona
ReplyDeleteI think the ones they had were £8.
DeleteOh Sue I love a good craft fair but I'm with you. The kind of crafts I like I can make most of, though I'm not the best seamstress in the world by any stretch so I adapt to my ability. I make what I like and it normally comes out ok. I used to take part in quite a lot of craft events selling baked items and paper craft but found you never got your money back for the papercraft items in relation to how much time you spent making them.
ReplyDeleteI used to sell papercraft and cross stitch cards along with our secondhand books and at The WI Country Market. Just to get the materials cost back really.
DeleteSue, as far as Craft Fairs are concerned, you have more or less summed them up for me.
ReplyDeleteI sat at a stall for a friend of mine as a favour. It was very depessing.
ReplyDeleteI would hate to be doing craft fairs these days as most people that visit are just looking for ideas they can copy.
ReplyDeleteIt must be quite soul destroying for the stall holders listening to people saying "ohh I could make that myself for a lot less". Well yes maybe they could but do they have to stand and say it in front of the poor person who has slogged their guts out to make the stock they are showing.
I do have to question though why anyone would want or need a knitted cake...lol.
Hugs-x-
I promise I didn't say anything!
DeleteI'm totally with you on these craft things, Sue. I find such things are usually nice for the crafters to make but do I want them in my home? No matter how well some things are executed, I just don't want knitted fruit and veg on a shelf. As The Weaver of Grass says, you have summed them up for me, too.
ReplyDeleteMargaret P
www.margaretpowling.com
I love Christmas, but that shop has Too. Much. Stuff.
ReplyDeleteI just get overwhelmed!
DeleteI love to create things; especially knitted items. I buy high end yarn at discount prices. So if people think it's expensive, it's basically the cost of the yarn without the labor. Many people have a livelihood with these cottage crafts and they're so nice compared to the cheap items we get imported from China.
ReplyDeleteYes, much nicer than new junk. I feel guilty for not buying craft items from the makers
DeleteI'm exactly the same at craft fairs and at most of the stalls on a Farmers Market.
ReplyDeleteThat shop has its aisles much too close together ... I think it would put me off looking if I had to constantly squidge in to let folk pass.
How would I get through with the chariot?! I would be straight out of the door. Similar to all you crafters when I retired and began to look at art exhibitions I thought I could do better than that....Not sure I did but I enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteYour paintings are brilliant, love the lighthouse ones,hope you sell loads at the exhibition. I don't count artwork as things I don't buy as I will buy original paintings if I see something I love
DeleteIf only people would make more for themselves. Keep on crafting everybody!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that huge pile of Christmas stuff does nothing for me. It's far too early and what about all those people (and children) who can't afford anything? Commercial Christmas opportunities are rammed down our throats at every available opportunity. No wonder the true spirit of Christmas is disappearing. And with that I will return to sewing my pile of To Be Finished by Christmas presents!
I think they start early because they are wholesalers mainly selling to people who are making things to sell on. Well done for sewing Christmas presents. Lots of mine will be home made but cooked rather than sewn!
DeleteI usually find if I go to a craft fair that there are only one or two stalls that stand out and I would buy from. Some craft fairs even seem to have stalls where they 'buy in' items to sell.
ReplyDeleteI nearly always make my friends presents at Christmas because I enjoy making them and they love receiving them. We just give modest gifts - the best things come in small packages! That shop is a bit overwhelming - good for a rummage but I have mixed feelings as a lot of it may eventually end up in landfill and that would be sad.
I hate these places
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem with craft faires - I'm thinking the same as you!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like the kind of place you pop into for five minutes and come out of a couple of hours later!
ReplyDeleteLisa x