Wednesday 5 September 2012

Crafty Fair Tales....

Well I'm pleased to say £545 was raised for the Macmillian Nurse Charity! My friend Penny, worked so hard organising everything, the weather was lovely and it was so good to see so many people supporting the cause!

 

I really enjoyed myself, it was a good experience, especially for my first fair!

 

The little brooches were popular! As we're the little bags I had made!

 

I'm not sure my little town is quite ready for the Vintage Vibe just yet though!

It is, I suppose, an acquired taste! I took along some of my china bits and bobs, as well as some of my vintage Pyrex, but it wasn't really what people wanted! It did however, take some of the older participants 'down memory lane'!

 

Only a couple of people got excited by my Vintage Wallpaper, can you believe it! and no orders taken for my Painted, wallpapered, Printers trays, I had only just got them and hadn't been able to finish one, I took along some books with examples....but alas, not what was wanted on the day!

 

I've decided to ask for a stall at the School Christmas fair and perhaps need to 'tone down' the vintage vibe a bit, still using vintage materials, of course!

Im just toying with the idea of opening up an Etsy Shop, for my wallpaper packs- or might pop them on eBay, any suggestions anyone? I have far more than I will actually need! I know some of you would love some of the designs to get crafty with, and they are so expensive to buy by the roll.

Over the next couple of weeks I'm hoping to finish Clarice's cover with some wallpaper, and paint one of the Printers trays, I have my Crafty Time back!

It's soooo quiet here today, Eldest Bea has started senior school today. She only tried on her uniform so I could check everything fitted,and I burst into tears! She said to me not to cry, everything would be OK! She's my extra special girl who finds any change so hard, I'm soooo proud of her!

I'll be back soon with an Award and hopefully show you my progress!

Thank you for your lovely comments, and a Warm Welcome to all my new followers!

Have a great week!

Ada :) x

 

 
 

40 comments:

  1. Oh your stall looks wonderful. I personally would have snaffled up several items if I was on the right side of the equator and count me in for a wallpaper pack- go etsy I think the perfect place for crafty folk. Love the printers tray idea and look forward to seeing your finished work. Best of luck to your big girl too. My boy just got a school award for helping the librarian sort all the books alphabetically- funny thing was he was no big deal about the award but did find it concerning that there were so few books with authors starting with I,E or Q! melx

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  2. What a good cause, I would have loved to come to your fair and bought lots of goodies and I love old pyrex designs :) Hope your baby is having a wonderful day and making lots of new friends, my daughter stared her last year at primary today, growing up far too quickly, I need to freeze time! x

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  3. Hello Ada, well done for the stall, it looked great. It's hard to understand why people don't jump up and down with glee at the sight of vintage sheets but I guess there are some that don't! nevermind, etsy could be good. I would be interested in some vintage wall paper if you do. Enjoy some time today, Heather x

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  4. Oh yes, all those changes! My eldest also has such a hard time with those and he is going to college (university) next year!
    Anyway, your little stall looked fabulous and I love all those pieces of old wallpaper. I certainly would have bought several items if I had been able to fly over! :-)

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  5. I love all your vintage wares! It has, in fact, taken me quite some time, from curiosity to fascination... to actually falling in love with the vintage look. So I guess it is indeed an acquired taste ;-) Well done you, though, to "bringing it out there" to the people in your little town.

    I am so honoured that you should want to follow my little blog. Thank your, Ada! And as for yours, I thoroughly enjoy it, and check it at regular intervals for any new entries!

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    1. Thank you Mia, I have enjoyed your blog for a long time now, Ada :)

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  6. Lovely colourful stall, well done... You could try adding big cartel on your blog and sell through that.http://bigcartel.com/
    Smiles Cass

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  7. I would love to buy some wallpaper from you! I can't seem to find any that I like and yours looks really good stuff. Hope you decide to sell it :). Also wanted to say that your stall looked great. I felt a bit flat when no one wanted to buy my pictures at the fair I did. Sometimes I think I forget that people have very different tastes to mine! X

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  8. Glad you jumped in and enjoyed the selling. I'd say stick to what you like and know or you won't care as much about what you're selling. Once I'd tried out playgroups and fairs like yours I got the confidence to apply to sell at markets I liked which my work and wares fitted at.

    I thought I'd be all emotional on Monday when our eldest went to High school, but I was fine and more excited about all the stuff ahead in the end. Hope all goes well at your end and she has fun most of all.

    Been sewing labels in the last three nights and then a parents open evening last night so no time to read your posts or anyone elses. Pah, not good enough is it.

    X

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  9. Wow your stall looks fab and I would definitely buy your wallpaper bundles ... stick with what you love and find the right venue to sell it at... good luck for your next fair :) x

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  10. Yes do Etsy, I for one love the bunting. There is definitely a customer base out there.

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  11. Well done for raising all that dosh for such a worthy cause ... you are a clever bunch of ladies ... I love your stall ... it might be the masses don't quite get what we like ... definitely give etsy or some other online marketplace a go ... I would love to get my hands on some of your vintage wallpaper :) ... Bee xx

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  12. Hi Ada, glad you head a good day! Poor you, it's very emotional for us Mams when our children are growing up and changing schools, hope it went well xxx

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  13. Hi Ada
    as someone who was inspired by your suitcase to leave bids on a couple at auction yesterday i'd definitely be interested in paper packs. Unfortunately i didn't win the cases but there will be more and I can be prepared.
    Fairs can be so hit and miss. I can never predict how my stuff will sell and what goes well at one might not at the next.
    Ellie
    x

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  14. Oh no don't tone down the vintage vibe - you just need to find the right type of fair. Where I live there are lots and lots and LOTS of old folks who simply don't get vintage because for them, it's plain old-fashioned and what they always had and no longer want. So I understand what you experienced.

    Your items are so lovely - do give Etsy a try. There are loads of peeps out there who love vintage sheets.

    I'd buy some of your wallpaper - no hesitation. I've been looking for some but most of it is in the US and blimey some sellers charge a fortune for postage!

    So lovely that a good amount was raised as well -makes it all worthwhile.

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  15. Why I can not believe you did not sell out. I wish I could have been there. I love the idea about you opening an etsy shoppe. I did very well with mine. I destashed tons of my fabric. Things are much improved on etsy since I opened my(now closed) etsy shoppe. I really enjoyed the experience, and continue to shop there.

    blessings, jill

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  16. Your stall looked completely fabulous! Just so pretty and colourful.
    Claire

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  17. it's not easy to understand what people really likes......but you have just started and I honestly think your stall was pretty!!!
    xxxx Alessandra

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  18. Your booth was beautiful!! I think you should open an Etsy store up! You can even check out Storenvy, too! Have a great day! xo Heather

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  19. I loved your stall! Such pretty things you had for sale! You should give Etsy a try for selling your vintage wallpaper and anything else handmade you might want to sell! Congratulations also on the money you guys raised for the Macmillian Nurse Charity!
    Stephanie :)

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  20. My advice would be to stay true to your passions. Don't water down your vibe. It will become your "trademark"

    I too have thought about what I could do with and etsy shop. Shall we tackle the learning curve together?

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    1. Sounds good! I need all the help I can get! Ada :)

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  21. Absolutely agree with Sassy above, you do what you do because you enjoy it - going down another path, unless this is really what you want to do, is no fun at all, and still you only please some of the people some of the time. Nevertheless, it looks like you still did pretty well. I think you have to do a little bit of tailoring -to-the-event but without losing sight of who you are..keep to your 'trademark'!

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  22. What a pretty stall, and a fabulous amount of money raised on the day. I think you would have sold out of all your handmades and wallpaper packs if all your bloggy friends had called by : -)

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  23. I love the things you have made. I am sure that it is worth opening an Etsy shop to sell your surplus. I think that more specialist vintage fairs are the way to go - then you will find buyers for all your things, I am sure.

    Pomona x

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  24. Your stall looked so pretty, and the amount you raised is fantastic! The first few stalls I did were a brutal lesson in pricing and what people want to buy. I for one ADORE your vintage aesthetic and would love it if you sold some of your wallpaper collection. xx

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  25. Glad you raise a lot of money, your stall looks very pretty and inviting. I would also be interested if you sold wallpaper I have bought some from Jane at teawagon tales before. It's too expensive to buy a whole roll if you only want small bits. By the way thanks for your comment on the dresses I bought. I booked the course and can't wait.

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  26. You have a definite Ada 'look' going on and I agree you should stick with that. (Whispers) vintage sheets really aren't my thing, but (raises voice to normal again) interesting people with creative flair are. Some folk take forever to work out what their personal aesthetic is and stick to it so the fact that you have such a strong style will give you an advantage on sites like Etsy. Go for it girl!!

    Well done to all re. the money raised :D

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  27. Hi Ada,what an amazing amount you all made,Your stall does look so lovely,I wish I could have come along,Love it all and especially pyrex. The children grow up so quick dont they? An Etsy store sounds great~Go for it!

    Have a fabulous weekend,love JulieXxxx

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  28. Such gorgeousness! I had an Etsy shop some time ago. After talking with a few, you may do best by selling your supplies. The vintage fabric and wallpaper you have is very hard to come by in the US, so I think it would be an easy sell at the right price (and shipping expense) and if you can just get noticed by people.

    Unless things have changed, listings on Etsy come up based on how recent you posted it. You are charged money per posting. If you want to come up often in the searches on Etsy, you post often. Does that make sense?

    Anyway, I think it is definitely worth a go. Having lived in the US, I was always looking for what you have and found nothing (I made children's clothing & looked for fabric). So I think there could definitely be a market for what you have. If you sell the fabric & wallpaper, it won't take much of your time (vs selling crafts). In the end, why not?

    If you have more questions, email me (Laura): happyhomemakerUK@gmx.co.uk

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting my blog and for your advice Laura, much appreciated, Ada :)

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  29. You should be so proud of yourself....well done!

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  30. Thank you all so much for your advice. I will give it all a lot of thought. I think Etsy might be good, definitely for my wallpaper and perhaps some little makes and treasures I pick up on my adventures! Ada :) x

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  31. All looks delicious and lovely Ada - don't dilute your own style Ada, as I say to the children:'keep ploughing your own furrow' (they look at me a bit quizzical mind you!!!). Roll on the Batty Backpackers!
    Best wishes
    Jenny

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  32. That is just great how much was raised! I LOVE your stall, there are so many things I would just love to buy! I think Etsy or Ebay would be a great idea.. do share a link if you decide to do either. I just adore the vintage wallpaper sets (well everything really!).
    Magie x

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  33. Well done Ada for raising so much money for the Macmillan nurses. This organisation is very near to my heart as my sister is a Macmillan nurse albeit just retired now but I have always felt so proud of her and I must say its a marvelous organization. They were wonderful with my mother and helped her cope up to her passing. Great to here you have been successful at the fair althought you didn't sell all that you wanted to but never mins! Its all experience you'll have to cultivate them to the Vintage way :-)

    keep well

    Amanda :-)

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  34. Those brooches are very sweet and I'd snap up a printers tray in a trice if we were on the same hemisphere. You just have to find your own tribe to sell to. Thanks for the award!!

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  35. Your stall looks lovely. I would have bought something. You should definitely think about an etsy shop rather than ebay. I've got one although it is currently unstocked. I'm sure you'd sell lots of your lovely vintage things on there. I'd certainly love some of your wallpaper if you were selling it on etsy. Fiona x

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  36. I can't believe no one wanted some of your vintage vibe to take home with them, I would have x

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