Yeah, Sam's back!

Sam and his Dad at Bethany's 18th.

Our awesome (his word but he is!) son Sam has been home from Uni for the first time since he started in August. He's been back as far as Newcastle for a 'sesh' with his mates but didn't have time to make it all the way home! Anyhoo, we had been having trouble contacting him for a few days - not too unusual as he's not great at the best of times. It turns out that he was trying to keep his visit a secret so as to surprise us all, but he'd already mentioned coming up this weekend in a previous phone call! While he was trying to avoid letting the cat out of the bag, we were trying to organise bus times and meals!!
Needless to say we spent four days plying him with his favourite home-cooked food. Beef in black bean sauce, tandoori chicken and Sunday dinner complete with roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings. Then two well stocked bacon butties before he caught the bus back to Leeds! We did show him a few cooking basics before he first left and his sister bought him a cookery for students book for his birthday. To Sam, however, life is too short to even shop for a mushroom, never mind stuff it! He's a dab hand at fried egg sarnies and already getting free chips from his local burger bar, so I'm sure he won't starve!  

Our first ever craft show!

Bethany and I have finally done our first craft fair at The Country Barn where she works. We turned up just before nine to set up and immediately felt really small and unprofessional. We had all been asked to supply our own tables and the only one I had that would fit in my tiny car was a wee picnic table. Also, we didn't want to spend our limited funds on having business cards and such printed, so these were handmade using free gifts from craft mags and cheap card already bought for another project. 

The stool I had taken to sit on was incorporated into the display until I made some space by selling a bag! All in all I think we managed to make an attractive enough display and jotted down many tips and ideas on how to improve. 

Humble beginnings!

Despite feeling a tad unprepared we couldn't have had a better introduction to craft fairing. It was a small venue, only a dozen stalls, but everyone was so friendly and helpful it was a pleasure to be there. We ended up with some new friends and contacts, covered our costs, made a tiny profit (and, oh yeah, I got a stiff neck!) so all in all a good day.

Bethany's Christmas cards (yes it's creeping up on us!) received lots of good feedback, which made the tears and last minute cutting, folding and stuffing all worth while! She will be adding more designs and featuring them all on her Etsy shop as soon as she gets a chance.

www.etsy.com/shop/bethanyhunterdesigns

I must share with you my favourite stall of the day and the two lovely ladies behind it. We were set up next to each other and they were so friendly and supportive despite our stalls being at opposite ends of the spectrum! Tracey owns the business and has huge support from her sister, Michelle, who is much more than 'the unpaid help'. They had a great rapport with the customers, Michelle encouraging people to pick items up and smell them and Tracey out front explaining the ingredients and how best to use the products. That said, they were never intrusive or overbearing, just enthusiastic about a fantastic range of products. Well done, ladies and best of luck to Tracey when she leaves full time work in December to concentrate fully on the business. I can't wait to see your Christmas gift boxes at the next fair.

Email Tracey at: thelittlesoapbythesea@hotmail.co.uk or Tel: 07983 536402

She also has a website coming soon, I will keep you posted.

The Little Soap Company by the Sea.

Sooooooooo pretty!

And it smells gorgeous too!! 

New adventures.

The Slouchy Hobo.

Sorry if you've been trying to view my blog and it's been dancing about a bit! I've been trying to change it having seen so many lovely ones out there. I'll have to enlist Bethany's help (when she can fit me into her busy schedule, lol), she's just set up her own blog, peaceloveandmarshmallows.blogspot.co.uk and it's sooooo pretty. 
Anyhoo, I promised to tell you about our newest adventure. Bethany and I have booked our first ever craft fair appearances at the farm shop and cafe where she works (more info about her dreamy cakes in a later post!). My daughter is a designer, www.etsy.com/shop/bethanyhunterdesigns, as well as a cake maker and is currently working on designs for notelets and xmas cards. Can you believe it's getting so close?! I'm going to sell (hopefully!) my fabric bags and other handmade items, it's quite daunting thinking of people judging your goods right in front of you!

A bit of a practice on the bed! Some of the items ready for the stall.

I soooo want to keep this one!

If your in the area and would like to come along were at:

 The Country Barn, Widdrington 

www.thecountrybarn.co.uk

Local Produce Fair

Saturday October 13th

9am-5pm

and

Christmas Shopping Evening

Friday November 9th

4-8pm