Well, I still feel tired after Wonderwool, but am now getting back to normal. The next focus is Fibre East in July. I didn't apply for Woolfest (june), but might consider it next for year.
The yarn I had left is mainly in my Etsy shop now, with a smaller amount kept to take to Farmers' markets. I've got to order some more yarn and have a list of colours that I want to dye. It's funny how the colors that sell well online or in other areas didn't go at wonderwool, but others that I thought may stick went straight away. I was pleased that the new lace-weight yarn seemed popular and I'll be ordering some more in time for Fibre East.
Since getting back I've had several online orders and a busy morning at St. Alban's Farmers market yesterday - my bank manager will be pleased!
Fibre East is at a new (indoor!) venue this year and will be near enough for me to commute from home, which will be great. Nice as it is to stay in a hotel etc. nothing beats your own bed for a good night's sleep.
Monday, 13 May 2013
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
My First Wonderwool
I set off last Friday and had a really interesting journey across the country to Wales. By the time I got to Oxford, the sun had come out and it was a pleasant drive on A-roads to Builth Wells. I had never been to the Cotswolds and Herefordshire before, but was impressed by how scenic they were, especially Herefordshire. As I got up into the higher ground near Hay on Wye, it was almost alpine with rushing rivers, steep wooded slopes and spring flowers in bloom at the side of the road.
I got to the showground in about six hours, including breaks, and got checked in and unloaded very quickly - the organisation was so good and everyone very friendly, which took a bit of getting used to after living in London for most of my life! Down here, if someone you don't know engages you in conversation they're either a lunatic or it's a prelude to stealing your bag!
The hall was huge - a bit like an aircraft hanger - but the shelling was up and I soon found my space and got going on setting up. It didn't take as long as I thought it might, but I had planned the stall layout beforehand and everything was packed in the order it would be needed. (Obsessive? - I like to think of myself as precise and organised!)
I had one moment of surprise when I unwrapped a new dummy that I bought and found it was male and not female. Luckily it was only a torso and was to exhibit a scarf, so I don't think anyone noticed the difference.
Here's pictures of my stall all ready to start trading.
After setting up I found my B&B, The Cedars, and checked in. I was made very welcome and soon met the other guests, who were all Wonderwoollers too! Some were customers and some stallholders and it was nice to chat over dinner. I was travelling alone and thought I might have ended up spending my spare time watching tv in my room, but it turned into a very jolly weekend.
After a hearty and tasty breakfast on the Saturday morning, I set off for the showground. After a bracing walk in the wind and drizzle, I got there with time to visit the bathroom and get a coffee before the show opened to the public. ("easy walk", my aunt Fanny!)
I had one customer virtually straight away - a lady I had passed the time of day with on my way throught the car parks and then had a small moment of drama, as my credit card terminal decided to stop printing. I followed the toubleshooting instructions to re-set the battery, but it then shut itself down and told me to re-charge it, so I was without it for the rest of the day. Doh! as Homer Simpson would say.
However, the customers followed and seemed happy enough to use cash or cheques. People were friendly and chatty and it was nice to spend the day talking about yarn and knitting. The people on the next stall were kind enough to hold the fort for me while I took a break when necessary and all-in-all the day went well. I understand that last year there was pilfering from some of the stalls, but I didn't see any of that or hear of it this year.
I managed to re-boot my card machine overnight and got to the showground earlier. It was nice to have walk round before it opened and take look at the other stalls, as well as seeing the animals. I drove this time so I could load up after the show - much more comfortable. Sunday was busier - contrary to the traditional view that it is usually the quieter of the two days and I was very pleased with the sales. I gave out loads of leaflets and people seemed to like the yarn too. I also met a lady, Cat Thomas, from one of the etsy teams that I'm on, which was very pleasant. She's writing a crochet book, which sounds like a lot of hard work, especially on the illustration and proofreading side, but will be a great accomplishment once it's finished.
Back at the Cedars, the other guests had mostly left, so I ate my dinner in splendid isolation, which was quite relaxing. I couldn't face a long drive on top of a full day at the show, so I stayed an extra night and came home on Monday, after doing my banking in Builth before I set off.
I'm unpacked now, but still feeling tired - the next focus will be Fibre East in July.
I got to the showground in about six hours, including breaks, and got checked in and unloaded very quickly - the organisation was so good and everyone very friendly, which took a bit of getting used to after living in London for most of my life! Down here, if someone you don't know engages you in conversation they're either a lunatic or it's a prelude to stealing your bag!
The hall was huge - a bit like an aircraft hanger - but the shelling was up and I soon found my space and got going on setting up. It didn't take as long as I thought it might, but I had planned the stall layout beforehand and everything was packed in the order it would be needed. (Obsessive? - I like to think of myself as precise and organised!)
I had one moment of surprise when I unwrapped a new dummy that I bought and found it was male and not female. Luckily it was only a torso and was to exhibit a scarf, so I don't think anyone noticed the difference.
Here's pictures of my stall all ready to start trading.
After setting up I found my B&B, The Cedars, and checked in. I was made very welcome and soon met the other guests, who were all Wonderwoollers too! Some were customers and some stallholders and it was nice to chat over dinner. I was travelling alone and thought I might have ended up spending my spare time watching tv in my room, but it turned into a very jolly weekend.
After a hearty and tasty breakfast on the Saturday morning, I set off for the showground. After a bracing walk in the wind and drizzle, I got there with time to visit the bathroom and get a coffee before the show opened to the public. ("easy walk", my aunt Fanny!)
I had one customer virtually straight away - a lady I had passed the time of day with on my way throught the car parks and then had a small moment of drama, as my credit card terminal decided to stop printing. I followed the toubleshooting instructions to re-set the battery, but it then shut itself down and told me to re-charge it, so I was without it for the rest of the day. Doh! as Homer Simpson would say.
However, the customers followed and seemed happy enough to use cash or cheques. People were friendly and chatty and it was nice to spend the day talking about yarn and knitting. The people on the next stall were kind enough to hold the fort for me while I took a break when necessary and all-in-all the day went well. I understand that last year there was pilfering from some of the stalls, but I didn't see any of that or hear of it this year.
I managed to re-boot my card machine overnight and got to the showground earlier. It was nice to have walk round before it opened and take look at the other stalls, as well as seeing the animals. I drove this time so I could load up after the show - much more comfortable. Sunday was busier - contrary to the traditional view that it is usually the quieter of the two days and I was very pleased with the sales. I gave out loads of leaflets and people seemed to like the yarn too. I also met a lady, Cat Thomas, from one of the etsy teams that I'm on, which was very pleasant. She's writing a crochet book, which sounds like a lot of hard work, especially on the illustration and proofreading side, but will be a great accomplishment once it's finished.
Back at the Cedars, the other guests had mostly left, so I ate my dinner in splendid isolation, which was quite relaxing. I couldn't face a long drive on top of a full day at the show, so I stayed an extra night and came home on Monday, after doing my banking in Builth before I set off.
I'm unpacked now, but still feeling tired - the next focus will be Fibre East in July.
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Wonderwool - almost ready
Well, since I last posted, the dyeing is all finished - I can't do any more as I've run out of yarn! I keep thinking that I'd have liked to have included another few colorways, but as I've been laying it all out to do my final stockcheck, I think there's actually plenty to make a nice colourful display and, as I've said before, no-one will know what isn't there!
I'm spending the day packing before setting off early tomorrow morning - my aim is to get to the showground about lunchtime and get set up reasonably early. This gives me time to buy anything I've forgotten in the town before the shops shut!
I'll take plenty of pictures and blog about my expeiences whrn I get back next week.
Back to sorting and packing now!
I'm spending the day packing before setting off early tomorrow morning - my aim is to get to the showground about lunchtime and get set up reasonably early. This gives me time to buy anything I've forgotten in the town before the shops shut!
I'll take plenty of pictures and blog about my expeiences whrn I get back next week.
Back to sorting and packing now!
Sunday, 14 April 2013
April update
Once again - time has flown by since I last posted and lack of blogging means that I've been very busy!
I've just got back from St Alban's market, where I actually felt warm for the first time this year! It was fairly busy and I sold a couple of my wooly scarves, plus a mohair, which was pleasing as this was their last outing until September and I'll now move over to summery yarns (cotton and silk).
I've nearly finished my dyeing for Wonderwool - I've used nearly all the yarn I bought and have done what I hope will be a nice selection of colours. It's hard not to dye all colours I like myself, but I've bitten the bullet and done some that I really don't like (lilacs especially).
I'm now concentrating on the labelling and packing - just a little less than two weeks to go. I'm looking forward to it and it will be an adventure!
I've just got back from St Alban's market, where I actually felt warm for the first time this year! It was fairly busy and I sold a couple of my wooly scarves, plus a mohair, which was pleasing as this was their last outing until September and I'll now move over to summery yarns (cotton and silk).
I've nearly finished my dyeing for Wonderwool - I've used nearly all the yarn I bought and have done what I hope will be a nice selection of colours. It's hard not to dye all colours I like myself, but I've bitten the bullet and done some that I really don't like (lilacs especially).
I'm now concentrating on the labelling and packing - just a little less than two weeks to go. I'm looking forward to it and it will be an adventure!
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
March update
How time has flown by since I last posted!
February in St Alban's was very, very wet and so fairly quiet. I moved stalls, as my usual place had a cover that was full of holes and drips were coming through onto the "counter". I'm so glad I did, as it gave way at the end of the market and a huge deluge of water flooded over the stall - it could have been all over my stock! Harpenden was better, although so cold!
March is nearly over now, but it still doesn't feel like spring - we had snow at St Alban's a couple of weeks ago, but a busy market in spite of that. I'm at Harpenden again this Sunday and am just hoping that we won't get rain! That will be my last one there until September - I just go to St Alban's all year round.
I'm getting a bit stressed as I'm getting ready for Wonderwool. I has a delivery of yarn from India held up in customs for a week or so - entirely my own fault - while I applied for an import number from HMRC. It all got sorted out reasonably quickly and I've now got the yarn and am dyeing it, but I'm about two weeks behind my rather ambitious schedule!
I'm sure it'll all come right in the end and as long as my stand looks well stocked, no-one is going to know what else I had hoped to bring...... I keep telling myself that and just keep dyeing!
New colour of lace yarn (Lilac blossom) just added to the shop - the heavier weight yarn is being stockpiled for Wonderwool.
February in St Alban's was very, very wet and so fairly quiet. I moved stalls, as my usual place had a cover that was full of holes and drips were coming through onto the "counter". I'm so glad I did, as it gave way at the end of the market and a huge deluge of water flooded over the stall - it could have been all over my stock! Harpenden was better, although so cold!
March is nearly over now, but it still doesn't feel like spring - we had snow at St Alban's a couple of weeks ago, but a busy market in spite of that. I'm at Harpenden again this Sunday and am just hoping that we won't get rain! That will be my last one there until September - I just go to St Alban's all year round.
I'm getting a bit stressed as I'm getting ready for Wonderwool. I has a delivery of yarn from India held up in customs for a week or so - entirely my own fault - while I applied for an import number from HMRC. It all got sorted out reasonably quickly and I've now got the yarn and am dyeing it, but I'm about two weeks behind my rather ambitious schedule!
I'm sure it'll all come right in the end and as long as my stand looks well stocked, no-one is going to know what else I had hoped to bring...... I keep telling myself that and just keep dyeing!
Friday, 8 February 2013
February update
Well, January was a lot busier than I thought it would be! I was looking forward to hibernating a bit and getting on with some personal knitting - mainly a fair-isle pattern hat for my husband in his rugby club colours- but business got in the way - which is good!
I went to St Alban's Farmers' Market in January and was expecting it to be fairly quiet so soon after Christmas, but it was really busy. Strangely, Harpenden market, at the end of the month and after payday, was quiet - so it's difficult to plan! I was fairly busy online as well, selling quite well in my new year sale and making my first lace-weight sale. I've now got a couple more lace-weight skeins in the shop and will be dyeing more as I work through my plans for Wonderwool.
It's just hit me that I have only about 10 weeks to get all the yarn ready for Wonderwool, so I've done a stocktake, made a list and started dyeing. I did the first colorway yesterday - bottle green, a surprise hit at Fibre East last year - and will start stockpiling.
I'm off to St. Alban's on Sunday (10th) - the weather forecast is for rain and sleet, so I can't say I'm looking foreard to being outdoors all morning! I'd feel warmer of course if it was busy - last year was, so thermals on and fingers crossed!
I went to St Alban's Farmers' Market in January and was expecting it to be fairly quiet so soon after Christmas, but it was really busy. Strangely, Harpenden market, at the end of the month and after payday, was quiet - so it's difficult to plan! I was fairly busy online as well, selling quite well in my new year sale and making my first lace-weight sale. I've now got a couple more lace-weight skeins in the shop and will be dyeing more as I work through my plans for Wonderwool.
It's just hit me that I have only about 10 weeks to get all the yarn ready for Wonderwool, so I've done a stocktake, made a list and started dyeing. I did the first colorway yesterday - bottle green, a surprise hit at Fibre East last year - and will start stockpiling.
I'm off to St. Alban's on Sunday (10th) - the weather forecast is for rain and sleet, so I can't say I'm looking foreard to being outdoors all morning! I'd feel warmer of course if it was busy - last year was, so thermals on and fingers crossed!
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Starting 2013
A rather belated Happy New Year to all - I can't believe we're already nearly half way through January - it feels as if the Christmas celebrations are only just finished!
I'm back doing some dyeing again and have added some laceweight silk yarn to my range. It takes the dye slightly differently from the heavier weights and tends to come out a couple of shades lighter, but I'm pleased with the results so far. I've donated one skein to Bianca Boonstra in the Netherlands, who is writing a book of shawl patterns and wanted yarn for the samples. I'm looking forward to seeing it made up - the book should be published later on this year, but I think there will be some sneak peaks on Ravelry. I've got just got one skein for sale at the moment - 123g of winter berries, pictured on the right in my etsy mini.
I've got my first Farmers' market of the year at St. Alban's on Sunday - unfortunately snow is forecast, so i don't know if it will be busy, but I'll get the thermals and heavy boots on and give it a go!
I'm back doing some dyeing again and have added some laceweight silk yarn to my range. It takes the dye slightly differently from the heavier weights and tends to come out a couple of shades lighter, but I'm pleased with the results so far. I've donated one skein to Bianca Boonstra in the Netherlands, who is writing a book of shawl patterns and wanted yarn for the samples. I'm looking forward to seeing it made up - the book should be published later on this year, but I think there will be some sneak peaks on Ravelry. I've got just got one skein for sale at the moment - 123g of winter berries, pictured on the right in my etsy mini.
I've got my first Farmers' market of the year at St. Alban's on Sunday - unfortunately snow is forecast, so i don't know if it will be busy, but I'll get the thermals and heavy boots on and give it a go!
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