Wonderful Winter Weekend!

Another great weekend, with two successful events in two very different places.

Full marks to Emma for organising the Curious Christmas Market in Kirriemuir, which was maybe less a Curious Christmas event than a Marvellous Market - of the Christmas variety.

There were wonders and marvels, as well advertised - Full Marks again for the huge banner hung over the wall of the Guide Hall into the co-cop car park informing anyone who didn't know that the market was on.

Yet again, I had two - in fact three, two on one stall -  lovely neighbours. Seamstress and costumier Susan on one side and Michael the mini helicopter pilot - or more correctly, the controller of the mini helicopter camera who was helping out on the Kirrie Art Gallery stall along with the lovely Lisa from the gallery.

A good mixture of stalls, well attended by local patrons and the further flung, including the magnificent Karen, the driving force behind the Bizarre Beach Bazaar.

My camera batteries - 3 sets of ageing rechargables -  were not in good fettle (I think they discharge when not in the camera) so my pix are limited, but I wish I had taken a pic of Karen, who managed to combine black mourning garb, after a close family bereavement, with the festive touch of a sparkly red frill round the hem of her gown.

A nice local event ended very considerately with mince meat pies and mulled wine for stallholders.

Next day was Drouthy's market in Perth Road, Dundee, and I managed that without having to repack the car - a great bonus. Thank you to lovely Freya, her sister and all at Drouthy's for various help, including a great many gentlemen holding doors open and to the chef for free samples of his second best cake!

It is a quaint, cosy venue, with the odd advantage that anyone upstairs in the pub lands in the middle of the market, en route to the toilets.

One well oiled, middle aged man said his mind was blown to discover that people had gathered to hold a market in the pub basement on a Sunday afternoon, he said he couldn't take it in, and I believe I heard the word 'surreal' used!

I had a lovely neighbour, who I have met before but not really spoken to, to any great extent - Susan of Pepped-Up-Studio - and we had a companionable, crafty afternoon.

It is a small venue for a market, but with a good variety of high quality handmade goods and artworks. I had a rail of vintage coats and winter woolies and a small table of candles and gadget cosies.

I sold to a number of fellow traders and some lovely customers, including a young man who couldn't believe that he could buy 100% silk ties at a bargain price, so he bought two!

A girl with model looks and high quality modelling experience was very flattering in her appraisal of my rail and thought I must be representing an entire vintage shop.

I met stall holders I see regularly at other fairs and some new people with entirely new and quirky products.

I expect to see some stall holders and customers next week at Funk Fair in Roseangle and hope to meet others again, if I manage to return to Drouthy's. December 15th 'clashes' with Gin in Teacups in Chamber East, but I hope the two events can team up to offer a great, joint shopping experience I certainly hope to meet everyone I met this weekend again, and I hope to see some of them very soon!

Another Day, Another Excellent Fair

 After the success of Coupar Angus Christmas fair, I had to make more candles for next day -

at Karen's Bizarre Beach Bazaar.

It included the anticipated collection of wonders and surprises,

 from moustachioed ladies, 

(including the gaffer) and live music,

 from DIY - or participatory - crafts -

to the ready made;

from the traditional handcrafts, 

through the whimsical 

to the zombie world.

Once again, I had two particularly lovely . . .

 stall neighbours,

 and I hope to meet both of them - Ashley and Beverly - again.

The event attracts a diverse audience,

from the blue rinsed . . . to the green;

and talents  

from soothsayers

 to soapmakers.

 A grand day out that genuinely offers something for everyone.

A Great Weekend

Two great fairs in two days have lifted my spirits!

First was a Christmas event in Coupar Angus Town Hall - a small town with a very big heart and a community that never stops trying to help itself, fundraising for floral displays, Christmas lights, the local heritage society, improving the look of the place and treats for old folk to name but a few. 

Saturday was the the turn of the Lumineers (spelling?) and everyone in the community turned out to support the effort.

I had very co-operative stall neighbours on both sides - one of whom I recognised from around 10 years ago and one I failed to recognise from two months ago because she looked ten years younger than she did in September!
As a member of the Relax! group she must be a walking advert for the benefits of the philosophy.

There was a wide range of stalls from hand thrown pottery, handmade soaps and hand spun fibres, hand knitting, sewing, jewellery, . . .   

to more commercial treats

 and finally, the essential - the CUPPIE - and a mincemeat pie.

Please note, in line with total community involvement - gentlemen waiters in attendance with the tea pots.

These chaps don't need to join Relax! - they're there already and giving the event the thumbs up!

Swings and Roundabouts

Two fairs in four days. Neither fair very successful, by my criterion of success - to rid myself of clutter, albeit attractive and desirable clutter, but clutter once it reaches certain proportions, nor financially, one fair not even covering the cost of the table.

What was successful was that I met some genuinely nice people, spent time with people whose faces I've seen around at vintage fairs but never 'got to know' to any extent and thirdly that I met some people who were interested in the stuff I DIDN'T bring with me.

Stats show that 'visitor numbers' rose after the weekend event - if you're back again, "Thank you for your interest".

I WILL put up some pix of wool, fabric and 1960s, 70 & 80s tableware, but today I have to prepare some goodies for two forthcoming craft fairs - candles and fruits of the sewing machine!

Thank you for your good company and for your interest.

Since I'm here, I have dug out some pix from another recent, but more successful event.