Craft Fairs of the Twenty Teens

I heard it once said that Britain was a nation of shopkeepers. I think of my craft stall as being my little bit of an opportunity to run a small 'pop up shop'. My craft stall has 'popped up' on fourteen different occasions between the years 2013 and 2019. I have been running out of energy on a number of different levels so I'm not sure when my craft stall will 'pop up' again, but here are my reflections on its past appearances.

2013 

There was a bit of a craft craze in 2013 and I had produced enough crafts to put a stall together. I started making my Star Heart dolls in 2010 and my other crafts evolved from there. I looked at various craft stalls in Ealing, before encountering the craft fair in Champers Wine Bar on a Saturday morning. I think it was a slow morning, but I sold a few things and liked it enough to want to do more. 

Unfortunately the Champers Craft Fair folded soon after, the lady running it recommended the URC Coffee Mornings in Northwood Hills or Eastcote / Pinner. I took my stall to the Northwood Hills URC charity coffee morning in December and did better than I had done in Champers.

 
Champers Craft Fair, Eastcote, June

URC Coffee Morning, Northwood Hills, December

2014

I thought I would try my luck at the Northwood Craft Market in 2014. I got there in June. Northwood is quite a nice place, with a large Costa. I go there quite a bit. Doing the craft market was a good experience but not so enjoyable that I relish the idea of going back there. The URC Charity Coffee Morning in July in Northwood Hills was also not so friendly. I did no more craft fairs that year.

  

 

Northwood Craft Market, June

 URC Coffee Morning, Northwood Hills, July

2015

I was in a bit of a state in 2015 but managed to give my craft stall an airing on three different occasions. I first tried the URC Coffee Morning in Eastcote in March, it was quite a good experience, so I thought I would go there again.

The Willow Tree Marina fun day was an interesting experience. My craft stall was outside and it was windy. I didn't sell anything. Amy helped and drew a picture of me, so that was nice. 

The URC Coffee Morning in November was on my birthday. I was in such a state I turned up at the wrong church. I was late getting back to Eastcote but it was fine when I got there.

 URC Coffee Morning, Eastcote, March

 

 Willow Three Marina Fun Day, Hayes, July

URC Coffee Morning, Eastcote, November

2016

2016 was a quiet year for craft fairs, the main focus was on helping Amy through her GCSEs. I did the URC Coffee Morning in Eastcote in April and the URC Coffee Morning in Northwood Hills in December. I think they were both reasonable experiences.

URC Coffee Morning, Eastcote, April

URC Coffee Morning, Northwood Hills, December

2017

2017 was a big year because of my 5B450 project which included a week's holiday in New York City. I also managed to participate in three craft fairs and events. My tenth craft fair was the Load of Hay Market in South Ruislip in April. It was a proper craft fair with inspiring craft work on display, it was also a very pleasant day. 

I was back at the URC Coffee Morning in Eastcote in June and back in the Load of Hay Market in South Ruislip in September. It was a good year for my craft stall despite the dark clouds gathering on the horizon.

 

Load of Hay Market, South Ruislip, April 

 

URC Coffee Morning, Pinner, June

 

Load of Hay Market, South Ruislip, September

2018

2018 was a very difficult year but I did manage one outing for my craft stall at the URC Coffee Morning in Eastcote, which I attended with my daughter. Soon after the Eastcote United Reformed Church became a Hindu Temple.

URC Coffee Morning, Eastcote, Pinner, June

 2019

In 2019 I have been relaxing a lot more and practising letting things go. I don't know if I want to let my craft stall go yet, but I'm glad I have done what I did with it. The last craft morning I did was at the Northwood Hills URC charity coffee morning in May. I had a really good time there and having a good time, however slow and quiet, is very important to me these days.

URC Coffee Morning, Northwood Hills, May