My First Fair!

Last Saturday I lost my craft fair virginity when I took my Piccadelhi products out in to the big, wide world (well, Crouch End) for the first time.

The inaugural Crouch End Christmas Craft Fair was held in the Town Hall Square and I joined around thirty other stallholders there, each of us selling a variety of hand-crafted wares.  The sun was out early and after putting up the gazebos provided, I set about laying out my table.  As recommended, I had done a dress rehearsal the night before so I knew where everything needed to go. This meant I saved a bit of time, which was just as well as customers were beginning to browse before the advertised 11 o' clock opening time.  

Ready for business!

Obviously I was apprehensive about how my range would be received by the residents of N8 but, after making my first sale at around 11.15am, my nerves were steadied.  Throughout the day there was a constant stream of visitors, including appearances from a few familiar faces, and I barely had time to make use of the chair I had brought along.  The wind proved a bit of a problem - the poor lady selling her art work next to me eventually got fed up chasing her paintings across the shrubbery and packed up about 3pm, and at one point Santa was left exposed as his grotto went sailing across the square! - but all in all it was a resounding success for all involved.  

I made some good sales but, perhaps more importantly, I gained valuable feedback.  I went in to the day treating it as a learning experience more than anything - any sales would be a bonus - but I came away with twice as much money as I started with, a handful of new Twitter followers and a head buzzing with ideas.  I have great enthusiasm for 2014 and shall start working on some new designs over Christmas.

My bright coloured wares attracted lots of interest.

More than anything the whole experience gave me so much more confidence in my designs and belief that this is something I am meant to be doing.  Standing behind my stall greeting shoppers made me feel far happier than I ever have in my working life so far…although perhaps in the future I shall target indoor events - I may have been happy but I was still cold!

Crafty Fox

For the last few months I have been busy developing my own range of homeware and stationery products, inspired by all the fabulous designer/makers I have come across since starting this blog towards the end of last year.  I'm almost ready to release my tea towels, bags and cards in to the wild but a lack of self confidence (yes, really!) means I'm rubbish at blowing my own trumpet and the thought of approaching journalists and potential stockists absolutely terrifies me.

So, last week I attended the Crafty Fox Talk on How To Do Your Own PR.

I only found out about it at the last minute (thanks to Twitter) but luckily managed to bag myself the second to last available space. 

Illustration by Jimbob Art

The Crafty Fox Market is a curated art and design event giving emerging designer/makers a platform to sell their wares and is currently held seasonally in Brixton, south London. It is the brainchild of husband and wife team, Stephan and Sinead Koehler and it is Sinead who also hosts the Crafty Fox Talks. These speaker-led events are specifically for creatives and are a great way to learn and be inspired, as well as being a good networking opportunity.

The panel of speakers consisted of Perri Lewis, freelance journalist and author of 'Material World: The Modern Craft Bible', Zeena Shah, creator of lovely screen printed things who has starred on Kirstie's Vintage Home and The Apprentice, and finally Miss Cakehead (aka Emma) who runs the PR agency of the same name which specialises in 'edgy' campaigns that no-one else would dare!

It was an insightful evening and afterwards we were invited to showcase any samples of our products that we had brought along which is certainly a good ice-breaker.

Networking, Camden style.

As I mentioned earlier self confidence is not my strong point and having seen the quality of some of the other items on show I was reluctant to let other people see mine. But, what good is attending a talk on PR if you don't take any advice? Coaxed by my new acquaintance, Mandy, I sheepishly placed my cards on the table and went off to mingle.

I met some very talented crafters, some of whom I will introduce to you in a later post, but the biggest surprise of the night came as I was chatting to the lovely Cecily Vessey about mugs, as you do. 

I was approached by a very nice lady who loved one of my designs and, to my utter disbelief,  asked if it was for sale. Why, yes, I suppose it is!

And so I sold my very first item. The thrill of having a complete stranger wanting to buy something I have created has given me a second wind. Now I know it is possible that other people will like what I am doing, I have the courage to put it out there.

Thanks, Crafty Fox,  for teaching me to play like Dizzy Gillespie*.

*Any younglings reading this might want to Google him.