Well, that's that out of the way and I seem to have my life back again. I don't usually do stalls, as it's an almost impossible (and expensive) thing to do when you don't drive and live in remote ruralsville. But this one was only a couple of miles away and Brian-next-door helped me get everything over, on a stormy day with gale force winds and driving rain.
Thankfully it was all under cover. This is the annual Christmas Fair held at Concord International College, at Acton Burnell. It was bigger than I expected - much bigger. My heart quailed, not for the first time, but I got stuck into setting up. I'd been planning this for weeks, so it was just a case of popping everything out.
There was a small emergency when I had to get Brian to pick me up again so that I could dash home and print off more price labels (which I thought I had, but patently hadn't). And also borrowed an extra table cloth from Jean, having scrounged some extra table space.
I even unearthed my old stock of cards, and sold quite a few.
In the end it all went well. My old retail skills kicked back in and I had a pleasant smile glued to my face. There was a large footfall of over 2,000 visitors, not including the college students. My stall was nice and busy and I sold enough gubbins to make it worthwhile. My new Paypal card reader worked and the three hours flew by.
I was inevitably asked about my prices for my own needle felt work. One couple directly asking me why it was priced 'so high'. Once upon a time, I might have shrunk under a stone, but now I've got more confidence. For a start, I answered (keeping my pleasant smile) the smallest thing on my tree took at least four hours to make. I am a published professional in my field, very well known, with over eight years of full time practise. And my work is collected, especially in America, where they really value good craftmanship. So the prices reflect my time, my skills and my name.
It's hard not to be British sometimes and undersell yourself. I now realise that I have to be my own walking, talking CV; there's no point in being overly modest. What I didn't add was that with the hours of work I put in on each and every piece, I am still working for less than the UK minimum wage which is £6.70 at present. So I am pricing as low as I can afford to, even if it seems 'high' because this is not my little hobby, but my livelihood.
But here's the thing - although I only sold one piece of my own work, the look of joy when so many people came up to my stall and admired the displays was immensely rewarding. I put on, as they say, a 'good show'. And sold a lot of kits and supplies on top of that. I have to admit, I treated myself to a celebratory bottle of cheap wine and a pizza on the way home when Brian drove me back. He refused petrol money point blank.
I also had many people asking me if I was holding a local workshop, which is now on the cards and spurred me into setting up a monthly newsletter, which will start in January. It will be solely about needle felting - workshops for next year, tips on working, my own work in progress, new kits - that kind of thing. So there is now a sign up page on my website, here. Of course, your details remain completely confidential. I've already had quite a few subscribers, so I'd better start planning the January edition...
0 Comments on Christmas stall as of 12/5/2015 3:35:00 PM
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Glad you had such a positive time. Exciting news about the guild of Toymakers. Feel justifiably proud of yourself and enjoy the weekend :-)
...and you were 'worried'??? Your stall looks wonderful and congrats on the 'British Toymakers Guild' nod of approval...well, 'pre-nod' :) I love that old pic of you! How cute! I'm glad you've kept the 'old gang', that's great. My son Daniel, who is nearly the ripe old age of 12, keeps his childhood stuffed animal friends in a giant plastic trash bag. I'd assumed he'd outgrown them and considered them uncool to be seen by his adolescent friends in his room so I suggested we get rid of them. The look of 'how-DARE-you-say-that' came over his face, you'd think I was denying him food or air! He's kept, named and still loves each and every stuffed animal he's had since babyhood and swears he will kept them until the end. A strong bond between children and their childhood friends and you're lucky enough to still have yours :) I suspect, somewhere in this world in 40 or so years time, some adult will still cherish the friends you've created :)
What a fabulous day! Recently I went into my local craft supplies shop to buy some felting needles. The two ladies who were serving finally tracked them down (among the knitting needles) but had no idea what needle felting is .... they were fascinated when I explained!
I think the plastic pegs add a joyful note. It all suits. Love your work.
Gretel congratulations on your stall and what sounds like a wonderful day! I love the personal touches such as the photo and your childhood friends - they show very much how your work relates to your own personal story and I think collectors of your work are so very interested in that. Working on my own in my studio I always find it a pleasant suprise when I meet people face to face who are interested in what I do and create and I am sure you found that too! Hope you are well and getting closer to those deadlines step by step!
I've coveted one of your beautiful creations ever since I discovered your blog. They are really stunning pieces. I'm so happy that your little stall was a success.
How did you get into needle felting in the first place? (and my next question, is it hard to do?)
Hope you don't mind me asking.
Have a great weekend - perhaps you'll be getting some samples of your work ready to send off to the Guild :0)
Congratulations on such a beautiful
and successful day. Wish I was there.
The photo of your well loved childhood toys is so very touching and charming and prompts memories of my own childhood. But as I was the middle child of seven and our Teddy was passed down through the family from child to child I don't know what happened to him eventually.
Your stall looks fabulous! I wish I had been there.
Love the pic of you when you were little.
I still have 'Big Ted' in my bedroom much to Paul's disgust!
Sounds like your stall was a success! How nice that you got to meet the chairman of the toymakers guild! That group can connect you to all sorts of other opportunities. That picture of you as a little girl is so cute! :-)
Good for you. Sounds like it went great. (Did you have paintings for sale there behind your table? Any sales?)
Looking forward to you driving as well! :-) That'll open up a whole new aspect of life that you can take advantage of if you so desire. :-)
Happy saint George's day to you. Your stall looks great! I am looking forward to seeing what you have been up to in the illustration genre. Waiting with baited breathe! x
I wish I had been there!
Woohoo, Gretel, the people you meet, eh!
Your stall looks great and it sounds like everyone had a fabulous time.
The photo of you with your toys is so cute, hand me downs and all. Didn't we all wear them?
I would imagine you have made some more fans and happy customers.
Congratulations
i bet you had to fight them off! such a
darling stall you made!
I felt very chuffed for you reading this :) Your toys are most certainly worthy of guild membership.
I've done the exact same thing with a piece of rope on a stall too :)
Lots of love from over here x
Oh Gretel...I am so very happy that this was such a positive experience for you. Enjoy the adoration because I think quite a bit will be coming your way very soon. I am so pleased to own your cards and four of your felted beauties...with Oscar, of course , being my prized Parker possession. I would have been glued to your table during the needle felting demo!!!!
Your stalls are lovely. Glad it went well for you. Carla
I wish I could have been there. What a perfect event, complete with a good fairy from the Toymakers Guild (very exciting, fingers crossed).
I'm glad you had such a good and rewarding weekend.
That's an interesting piece of art behind Maisie and friends, the poster/wrapping paper with (I think) fairies?
Well, PG, looks as if this will not be the last time you set up a stall. What a debut! Of course, you wisely brought enough of your very own self to that hall, to allow the visitors to have a chance to get to know you.
The photo and teddies are sublime. You had a great way for everyone to take a bit home with them to remember you. Bravo also on the toymakers guild. Please follow up with this within the week!
Hoping that tea and rest have restored your voice (vocal version.) We all can see that your visual voice is very strong indeed. xo
What a successful venture and that bondage rope looks so festive and inviting LOL. And absolutely congrats on bascially being in the Toymakers Guild, you are as good as in.
What a terrific day you had! Your stall looks wonderful, so interesting. Now you HAVE to join the Toymakers Guild, you have the approval of the Chairman!
It's lovely you still have all your old cuddly toys - I just have a rag doll my mum made for me when I was 3, all the rest she threw away one day when I was at school...I was in my teens, but still it made me sad.
I'm glad the day went well for you. How exciting to have the Chairman of the Toymakers Guild suggesting that you join - I'm not surprised though, your needle felted animals are just beautiful and real works of art.
What an exciting day, Gretel, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I smiled when I saw your toys, we had that Noddy too but I rather think he belonged to my niece - who isn't much younger than I am. I've still got the dog I had for my first birthday - he's nearer 60 than 50 now! There's a picture of him at the top of my blog.
Wish I'd been at the needle felting demo. I'm still persevering in between the knitting, but it would have been nice to see someone else at work.
Wow, that looks great.
How exciting! Your stall is LOVELY and if I had been there I would have poured over every inch of it. I think you are a fabulously talented artist. . . repeat that to yourself every day. Oh and the Toymakers Guild! I just get excited every time I read your blog.....
Like so many others, I would have loved to have watched your demo. Your display looked perfect and what an exciting thought - joining the Toymakers Guild!!
a great stall, it makes mine tosay at Grange look a bit tatty!!
Well done Gretel! I'd have absolutely loved to have seen your satll in real life! How lovely having the little notice board with the personal touches. You must have been the star of the show! :) xx
Ooooh Gretel, that's fantastic! I just knew it would be a success and that you'd draw a crowd!