HIB 2011......done

4 days in the beautiful city of Bath and I am now home. Hitting the ground with a little bit of a bump having to go back the day job this morning. Set up and the preview evening was on Thursday and then we have 3 days open to the general public.

Its been quite sometime since I last did a 'retail' or craft fair if you like, infact I think it was getting on close to a year. Other than the fact Handmade in Britain was being held in such a beautfil location and city and that I had already made my own assumptions of what I thought it would be like, I hadn't read or spoken to anyone who had previously shown at this event.

The Assembly Rooms have to be one of the most pretty buildings I have seen inside. The chandaliers were gorgeous and the fair was held in the 'Ballroom'. The detailing on the ceiling was beautiful.

It made for a 'perfect' venue for showcasing British Designer makers..........however. Attendance of the Private View evening was dissapointing, the only Trade customer I spoke to was a shop owner that I already supply and I had sent her a free invite so I'm guessing that doesn't really count. Over the 3 days I did make some sales and there were quite a few people through the doors but not half as many as predicted. Was it just a sign of the economic climate? No one can know for sure. If I were local to Bath and didn't need to pay for accomodation for the 3 nights and petrol to drive there and back then I think it would have been a very different outcome for me. This is just my personal opinion of my experience and if you were thinking about showing at next years show then I would get a collective opinion of other crafters who exhibited this year. But for me it just didn't work.

On the postitive side of things: I did get to visit Bath. I made some lovely new crafty friends. I made a couple of contacts which might lead to other things. C and I got to spend some time together on an evening without me being distracted by sewing, internet surfing or Tweeting :D And all in all I had fun.

I am quite the person where I didn't feel down that it hadn't been a success for me. I've just taken it on the chin and I am moving on. I loved how my stand looked, same set up as BCTF, but with an added perspex shelf for my purses and it was full, full, of bags. I swtitched the bags round a couple of times trying out different layouts and said goodbye to some of my bags.

I did finally meet the very lovely Judith Brown whom I have been chatting away to on Twitter since BCTF, her jewellery is so gorgeous if you have never seen it before check out her website. I also had the pleasure of having a stand next to Maya Wilson who designs hand printed textiles and makes the most gorgeous cushions and lavender cats, very stylish table runners and napkins. Helllooooo to my new friends *waves*.

So whats next on the agenda for me and bagladee??? Well at this exact point I have no idea :/ there is nothing booked in for me until April next year. So I guess I'll follow up some of the contacts and work on my website for a while. And maybe I might just get round to painting the upstairs of the house?? Who knows.....

Handmade in Britain Preview Over......Day 1

After a 3 hour journey which turned into a nearly 5 hour nightmare we arrived in Bath very late yesterday afternoon. We were quick and efficient at setting up and even though I felt a bit dishevelled it was time to get my 'game face' on for the Preview evening.

Today we had the first full day open to the public, it was a little quiet but I think part of that was due to the very wet weather. Here's hoping that tomorrow is busier. There are so many stands with beautifully hand crafted work, if you are able to pop in and have a look at whats on offer you're certainly in for a treat. And what is better than a craft fair?? A craft fair with credit card facilities!!!!!!

Come and shop until you drop!! Hopefully see you there tomorrow :)

2 days to go until Handmade in Britain 2011 Bath

Well its technically 1 and a smidge but if I say its 2 it has a strange calming effect that doesn't want me to start blabbering on about how 'not ready' I am.

*enter stage left : drama queen!*

Lets not get into the I dont think I have enough stock. I am over that already. One outburst to C was quickly quashed with a "what if you dont sell anything at all". Now I know that sounds like a harsh comment to make but it did make me think that I was overreacting and that it was better to have a happy medium than an overkill of stock and a extremely exhausted Emma :) So after a good long chat I am CALM (on the outside!).

I am just grabbing a well deserved break accompanied with a cup of tea (and a few biscuits, well it would be rude not too) so I am sat with my laptop in the garden.

So how's the prep going I hear you all screaming! Well good to be honest, I have a good mix of shoulder, slouch, saddle and clutch bags, LOTS of cosmetic pouches (thanks to a trade customer who decided after 2months that she did not want her order >:/ that's one for another day) and a little collection of purses. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to make any of the utility bags, which I am gutted about but as I am a 'one woman band' I don't think I'll lose any sleep over it.

C as always has complete and utter control of the display, I am so thankful that I don't even have to think about it, I've started calling him my creative director. He likes that title :D

So the display stuff is all sorted, I just need to go and ravage the stocks of bubble wrap in Tesco's this evening and that is that done. All paper work is printed and sorted and all my other bits and bobs are stuffed into a box.

I am sooooo looking forward to Handmade in Britain, I have never been to Bath before and it is such a long time since I sold at a fair. Its normally just trade for me so it will be a refreshing change.

If any of you are able to pop in and say Hi and look round the stands post your email address in the comments and I will send you a 2-for-1 voucher for admission. I will be on stand HIB 49 and I love to chat so come and say hello.

Handmade in Britain
@Assembly Rooms, Bath.
17th-19th June (with a private view evening on 16th).

See you there.

I'll be back with some updates soon......ah and some photos too.

(thanks for hanging in there in my absence)

Twin (Peaks, well a mountain really)

I'm so glad that I am finally starting to feel better, time is ticking and there are lots to be made before June 16th!!!
Yesterday was the first day that I've really felt up to 'getting stuck into it', being ill when you work for yourself and you are the only person in that business is not ideal. But I think the few days of rest did me good.

To go with the photo that I posted yesterday of the Ruby triplets here are Phoebe and Cordelia twins. I really loved this print, hence why I bought it in purple and white :)

These are all ready to be packaged up and off on their travels this week and then I can add my new stockists to my website and blog.

I have no idea how many purses, clutch bags and cosmetic pouches I cut out yesterday but I now have 3 huge piles ready to be sewn together. Its gonna be a huge mountain to climb in 3 weeks but I am more than ready for the challenge!!!

OMG I'm so excited/nervous!!!

Just look at this BEAUTIFUL hall, isn't it gorgeous. The photo is of the Assembly Rooms in Bath, UK. And now that its signed and sealed (well apart from my acceptance letter to send tomorrow) I can reveal the reason for the cryptic phone call on Friday.

I had an inkling on Friday but had official conformation Tuesday, Bagladee will be exhibiting at the Handmade in Britain Show in Bath 17th-19th June this year. There are around only 70 exhibitors showing off their talent and I'm so excited that I will be one of them :D

Here is a lovely photo of the exhibition last year with the chandeliers hanging above. Very posh!! ;)

I did have a little panic about it but now I've settled down I'm excited and nervous but good nervous. I will have a lot of new designs to show so its going to be a very busy year for me. Brilliant!!!