And so it rolls around again… ’tis nearly the season for festive fairs.

I have, this year, discovered that starting work in October to prepare for said fairs is not early enough. Not nearly early enough.

Last year I was good and never really stopped making over the summer, when I had fun experimenting with new designs. Then, in September, I stepped up production of the summer makes that had ‘worked’, made more in October and by November I was nicely stocked up, thank you.

This year I had a lazy summer with several short holidays, from which the making mojo never really fully returned before the next one was upon us. Miss Mojo apparently preferred to take it easy and enjoy herself. It was lovely. 

So lovely, in fact, that when September rolled around and lad went back to school, I sort of just continued with the laid-back approach, dabbling when the mood took me and never really getting into making seriously until the end of the month.

I discovered that it’s true what they say – creativity is like a muscle. Use it every day and it grows stronger. Neglect it, and getting it moving again can be painful.

I know that for many, thoughts of Christmas have not yet even begun to emerge. But for me, ’tis nearly the season. and ’tis no good to leave preparing for the season too late.

I had a full on major panic attack last week about how much I had still to do before my big Christmas fairs. The situation is made worse by the fact that back in the far-off summer haze I booked not one, but two weekend-long fairs on consecutive weekends, thus leaving myself insufficient time to restock in-between.

Tears were shed. Hugs were required. Lists were made. And finally I properly knuckled down, whipped my making mojo into action and got on with it.

It feels good to have that urge to create every day again. And for the ideas to keep coming and the makes to start mounting up at last. Some of the new ones are previewed here. I hope people will like them, I really do.

I’m still not sure I’ve got quite enough stock.

But I’m feeling a bit more in control.

The fairs I’ll be selling at are as follows (you can also see the list on the home page of my website, which I’ve finally got around to updating):

It would be super to see some of you at one (or more!) of these events.

And if not, as it might be a bit of a trek for some of you, I am aiming to list some stock in my Etsy shop after my final fair.

If there’s any left, that is. ♥