So the season of fairs and mellow fruitfulness has come around again all too fast, and once again I am busy as a bee.

Don’t get me wrong, I love doing fairs. There’s nothing quite like putting your work out there in front of people and seeing their reaction to it first hand. (Apart from, obviously, when the occasional person forgets that two feet of thin air and a trestle table between you and them doesn’t actually prevent you from hearing their less-than-complimentary comment!)

I work much better when there is some external impetus to get – and keep – me going. I sometimes find it hard to motivate myself, or else the creative muse temporarily deserts me, but the prospect of having wasted my money paying for an empty stall, not to mention letting other people down, is just the kick up the bum I find I need.

This year I am currently busy making for a new pop-up shop opening imminently. It is a new venture by Rhea, owner of Handmade Nottingham, with whom I have sold my work before.

The new pop-up shop is going to be much bigger than the existing shop, and in a new location right in the middle of the main shopping action in Nottingham – and I really want it to do brilliantly, so I have been thinking up new work to supply it with.

My summertime experiments with paper clay have yielded a waddle of penguins…

And now I finally have the measure of it, I’ve been loving working with velvet.

I’ve taught myself how to hand sew with it without shredding my finger-ends trying to push the needle through. I’ve learned how small an aperture I can get away with to still be able to turn a piece right-side-out. And I’ve discovered the wonder of Fray-Stop. My relationship with velvet is transformed!

I love that it’s like fur, but on a miniature scale. Perfect for these miniature velvet bears, which come in little boxes to give as gifts…

I’ve also made velvet bear-face brooches, which come in little organza bags…
And I’m busy making mini pixies, which can hang up or sit on a mantelpiece…

But perhaps my favourite new thing are my little bumblebees, made from the same vintage cotton velvet curtain as the bears, plus some black vintage ribbon (which came on it’s original cardboard reel!) with faces of the finest soft, white cotton material (originally curtain lining) and tiny grey organdie wings.

I love the way they look hanging up – like they are buzzing around in exactly the dozy, bumbling manner from which bumblebees take their name… “bumble” meaning to hum, buzz, drone, or move ineptly or flounderingly.

This year, as well as the aforementioned pop-up shop, I am doing only three fairs, all in Nottingham –
Sherwood Christmas Craft and Food Fair on November 17th
Mapperley Makers & Vintage Market on November 18th, and
Lady Bay Designer & Maker Market on December 9th.

If you are anywhere near Nottingham on those dates, do come along to any or all!

Some events aren’t running this year and of those that are, more than one event is being held on the same date – and unfortunately, I can’t be in two places at once. I’ve also been a bit out-of-the-loop about which events are happening, having gone on holiday around application time and consequently have ended up missing the deadlines to apply for some things.

Never mind.

I might even have time to make some stock for my Etsy shop!

Even with only three fairs to make for, I will still be busy as a bee between now and Christmas. ♥