Better day today at Sunnyfield House!

Back at my usual venue today for their monthly Craft Fair and although it started slow, it picked up as the day went on.

I disagree with closing up early at any fair as you never know who will come in during the last hour and that's what happened today resulting in a sale of one of the lovely butterfly scarves.

Cards were selling today as well which is nice since they're my baby and Pat's lovely bookmarks with the local scenes on them had a lot of interest and a couple of sales!

I also managed to sell one of  Tonya's (Hillbilly Handiworks) quilted picnic placemats which was nice since they only arrived yesterday.

All in all worth getting out of bed for!

Today was a steep learning curve!

Well folks,

Off I went this morning to a Craft Fair at a new venue optimistic and excited about my new products and a busy Easter Sunday Craft Fair with glorious weather.

The weather co-operated but I'm afraid nothing else did!  The stall holders were a rather 'tight knit' bunch with a couple of exceptions who were lovely to me as the 'newbie'. The rest were not particularly pleasant to say the least!

The potential customers were another breed altogether.  Craft Fair does not mean Jumble Sale.  Craft Fair means you are buying handmade and unique not dirt cheap tat!  To say these 'customers' had deep pockets was an understatement!  It wasn't even like some of us were making money and some weren't.  I would say you could count on one hand anyone who made a profit today.

It's such a lovely venue as well but badly advertised with no signs to say there is even a Craft Fair on in one of the many outbuildings on the site.  As for spacing out who sold what and limited the number of say card or jewellery stalls. That certainly didn't happen.  It appears that as long as you pay your table price, you can sell what you like.  This meant that we were overrun with jewellery and cards stalls and no one was making a profit.

Well you live and learn don't you?  I smiled and spoke to everyone who came through the door from 10:00 until we packed up at 2:00 and yes my face hurts from smiling and a lot of people ignored me but I will not let it change who I am and how I behave.

So as it stands I'm scuttling back to my lovely corner in Sunnyfield House on Saturday where I'm guaranteed a good crack with my fellow stallholders and friendly customers.

I'm now back at home with a well earned ice cold beer and looking forward to a takeaway curry for tea!

The stall by the way looked absolutely lovely.  Here it is!

Busy day!

It's a good job that I'm off on leave from the day job at the minute.  I don't know how I'd have found the time to get ready for the Craft Fairs if I'd been at work as well.

The banner turned up today and my friend Rachel has brought me some jewellery to sell that a friend of hers makes.  It's necklaces and earrings made from recycled music paper varnished and strung as beads with coloured beads in between and it's lovely.  I've already nabbed one for myself.  Must get some photos taken!

I've managed to pack my new sports bag on wheels so that it's not bursting at the seams.  Thanks to Pat for the tip.  I managed to buy a decent one yesterday for a tenner!

So the range for Sunday is 3 types of pendant scarves, a variety of fabric bags, Pat's lovely hand painted bookmarks, my greetings cards, Liesl's beautiful stone and copper necklaces, Alix's music paper earrings and necklaces,  and the leather coin purses (what's left of them anyway as they're selling fast).  Not a bad selection at all.  Lets hope I come back with an empty bag!

The stall is going to look great so I'll make sure to take some photos before we open to the public :-)

The good news on the home front today is that Cassie's blood tests have come back from the vet and her liver is recovering and the other results are back to normal since the change in her epilepsy meds.  The vet couldn't be more pleased and neither could we.

Here's the little madame earlier tonight.  As you can see she's terribly stressed LOL

Getting ready for Easter Sunday fair!

New bags arrived today along with business cards and everything looks great.  John's got the bags up on the web-site and just needs to do Liesl's jewellery now.  The photos have been taken and just need posting on the site.  Just the banner to arrive now and Pat's new bookmarks and we should be set for Sunday.

Just need to get everything there now and hope it doesn't rain!  With any luck it'll be a gorgeous day and be busy!

I've spent the last hour trying to get a definitive pricelist together which makes everyone a profit but is still a good price to the public so think I'm there now finally!

New stock still arriving!

Got Liesl's lovely jewellery in the post today so I'm looking forward to selling it along with the new bags which arrive on Monday.

I went through to one of the local pubs today as the landlady wanted a preview of the products.  I sold her one of the lovely leather purses, a bag and one of the butterfly scarves before she goes off to Vegas tomorrow on holiday!  Well worth the trip through to see her.

I then spent a lovely couple of hours in a local beer garden for some lunch and a few cheeky glasses of wine with the girls.  Still managed to make it home in profit too! LOL  All in all a productive Saturday afternoon.  Good job I did the shopping this morning!

So now all I'm waiting for is the shipment of bags and my new business cards and banner for the first fair on Easter Sunday!  Onwards and upwards!

The following photo is one of Liesl's beautiful pieces.  May just have to keep this one for myself!

New website is up!

Well everyone the metamorphosis continues. The new website is up and running although the new bags are still to go up.  The new company is called Greetings and Gifts and the new web address is http://www.greetings-and-gifts.com  A  second order of bags are on their way so 3 more new styles to come.  The site should be fully stocked by the beginning of the week providing the postman delivers the latest order tomorrow.

I'm really looking forward to the next fairs and the home party as well.  New products just seem to be dropping into my lap from, nowhere.  A good friend of mine has just got me a small amount of jewellery made from old music paper that she says is lovely and made by a friend of hers. Hopefully that will be part of the range at the home party and probably the fairs as well. I'm really excited to see it.  It sounds great.

The new business cards and banner for the stall have been shipped and they're fab and funky! Can't wait to see them in the flesh.

I've also registered to go to the Gift Fair in Harrogate in July with one of my good friends and my supplier of the bags and scarves has a booth there so goodness knows what we'll come back with!

Just had to share my excitement with you all!  New business card below!

Glutton for punishment...

Well in for a penny, in for a pound.  When I started booking Craft Fairs at the beginning of this year, I chose 2 venues.  Sunnyfield House in Guisborough where I have my 3rd fair at the end of this month and Nature's World in Middlesbrough where I originally booked July, September and November.

Nature's World are having a Craft Fair on Sunday April 24th (Easter Sunday) and they've just confirmed my reservation for a stall on that date as well.

I have, however, just realised that means I have a Craft Fair on Sunday April 24th, one on Saturday April 30th and my home party on Tuesday May 3rd!

Oh yeah and in between I have a sneaky girls day out in Peterborough with my friend Vicki!

Good job I have 2 weeks off the day job starting this Friday! Let's hope it's all a success!

Crafti Cardz becomes Greetings and Gifts...

Well folks,

Crafti Cardz is in the process of re-branding to Greetings and Gifts.  The new web-site is under construction and John's doing a great job of putting it all together.

The new business cards have been ordered as well as a banner for the stall at the Craft Fairs so it's all go here.  I've also managed to get my hands on some cheap bags so at least I'll have some packaging for my customers to take their purchases away in.

The home party at the end of the month has received some interest so I hope all my friends enjoy the evening and buy loads :-)

Today has been spent doing the mundane chores around the house but I've managed to make a cherry cake and a corned beef pie in the process.

Only one week at work then two weeks off so it will be nice to get back to making cards again with no time restraints!  Tonight is for relaxing and putting my feet up I think!

Cassie has pride of place on my post today as she's just been bathed and clean puppy won't last long!

Lovely new products have arrived

I'm so excited about the new products that arrived this week.  The embroidered canvas handbags are lovely as are the gorgeous leather coin purses.  Really funky colours and good quality.  I've already claimed a coin purse and a bag for myself...for advertising purposes of course! :-)

Although the cards are my first love and are all my own work, the new additions are fabulous and are already selling well before the Craft Fair at the end of this month!  No reason that crafts and gifts can't sell together.

Unfortunately, the shop we were interested in has been let so we're still keeping our eyes open for other properties.  We have, however, decided to beef up the web-site so will be changing from Crafti Cardz and rebranding with the purchase of a new .com site!  John's currently working on it, so watch this space for the launch of the new company name and site.

I've also been speaking to a number of other crafty people who may be interested in allowing me to sell their products which include hair accessories, crocheted toys and jewellery made of old music paper!

I've decided to try a few home parties as well.  If it's good enough for tupperware, it's good enough for me.  I'm having one at home at the beginning of May and my mum wants me to have one at hers in June.  Have a few other friends that may also be interested.  A few bottles of wine and some nibbles and lovely gifts and cards to buy.  Sounds like a good plan to me!

I've been out today and bought some hangers to display the scarves at the Craft Fairs and think they will look really effective when it's all set up.  Onwards and upwards with the new stall!

I've just found out there will be a second stall selling hand made cards at the next few fairs but I'm not afraid of a little competition and know that my cards are of a good quality and totally unique.  I also know I can afford to drop my prices if necessary so bring it on!

The more products I source, the more excited I get about selling so maybe I've found my niche!  I even managed to sell scarves to a friend of mine who popped into the house for a visit today LOL

Think that's all for now so will keep everyone posted of any new developments!

Back from Amsterdam

Just a quick one today as I'm still suffering the effects from my long weekend in Amsterdam.  My feet are still sore from all the walking round the shops and I'm absolutely ready for a good long sleep.  Probably won't catch up until the weekend but a great time was had by all!

I've got another couple of products being delivered this week too.  Same supplier as the lovely butterfly scarves except this time it's fabric/embroidered bags and leather coin purses.  All very nice indeed.  Should be here by the end of the week so that will be me well stocked up.

Must get back to the cards this weekend too.  I did a special request for one tonight and it reminded me that I really enjoy making them so must do some more.

I sold some more scarves at work today also so may just have a party at home to sell some of the great things I've got in stock.  Few drinks and nibbles and hopefully everyone will like all the items for sale.  May be a good way to introduce them to people.

Guess that's about it for now.  Will be back when the new exciting things arrive!