Fibre East 2013

I'm just begining to recover from a busy weekend at Fibre East. The bags are unpacked and the banking is done, so it's time to review.

Firstly, I like the new venue as I can drive there in just under an hour and so didn't need to stay over and it was easy to find and park etc. I was in one of the marquees, but as they were on hard standing there was no tramping about in mud and there was penty of room for everyone to get round and see the stands. There was heavy rain overnight on the Saturday and some water did run through, but I and the people nearby had the put everything up off the ground or in plastic storage boxes, so no damage. Other weren't so lucky and had stuff in cardboard get damp.

I set up on the Friday afternoon, so I wouldn't be in a rush on Saturday morning and would be all ready for the customers when the show opened.  The only thing that struck me was that there were many different rooms and it did take a while for everyone to filter through and I'm not sure that everyone got round it all. My sales were actually down on last year by about a third, which is of course the bottom line and I was a bit disappointed. I did think that I would be up on last year as the weather was so bad then that people must have been put off attending. Saturday was busier than Sunday by a long way. Many of the other traders I spoke to had the same experience.

It must be difficult to find a venue where you can get so many traders under one roof though as at Wonderwool Wales and I think people will get more used to the school's setup for next year.

However, I don't want to sound as if it was a negative experience - I enjoyed the weekend, met some great people, stallholders as well as customers, and was very impressed with the efficiency and good humour of the stewards, not to mention the bathroom facilities!   

Here's some pictures of my stand and I've added the bolero pattern to my Ravelry store (I'm AnneWillow there):

I've been Culled!

Just a quick post - I normally steer clear of being even the tiniest bit controversial, but I'm just going to vent a little.

I've been removed from the one team on Etsy that I really enjoyed being on for not being active enough! They do have a point, I should have made some treasuries to promote team members' work - which is lovely by the way - and been a bit more active in "liking" and "favouriting" their items. I always thought "favourite" items were those that I was actively considering buying, but apparantly not - I should have used it as a promotional tool and not included former team members, not really comfortable with that.

It would have been nice to have had some warning though - I was just settling down to read through the previous day's chat, and maybe post a few comments, when I got an email saying my inactivity meant I was selfish, ashamed of my team mates and was therefore being removed!

I do feel a bit cut off, but of course I'll get over it. I have real life, with husband, family, friends, a job and a business, so I shouldn't be too cut up about an unpleasant email from someone I've never met and am never likely to. Vent over - I feel better already and can carry on getting ready for Fibre East. Set-up is on Friday, so I've got plenty to do.     

Knitting & Crochet Guild Convention

I've just got back from our convention weekend in Derby - what a great time! There was so much to do and every moment had an activity, workshop or talk.

We stayed in the Hallmark Hotel, which was so convenient as it was just two minutes walk from the station. I decided to go by train this year and I'm glad I did. It was the hottest weekend of the year so far and it would have been quite an ordeal to have driven up and back. I don't do well in heat - I'm more of a winter person and love snow!

Fortunately the conference room we were using was air conditioned and comfortable. It was great to meet people I already knew and to get get chatting with new people too. I did a workshop on hairpin crochet - a new technique for me, which was interesting. I'm glad I tried it, but it's probably not for me although you can make some beautiful fabric with it. As well as workshops there were interesting talks on aspects of the Guild's collections of patterns and garments, plus two outside speakers on (loosely) knitting related topics (ceramic tile designs and the olympics sports clothing). I enjoyed these - I don't think the weekend should be exclusively focused on technical details of knitting & crochet, although those are of course the main interest of the members.

We also had an exhibition of items from the collection called "in the nursery" focusing on children's wear, shawls and toys. some very old and all beautifully worked and inspiring.

Last, but not least, was the "show and tell" session, where members brought an item they had made and told everyone how they had made it and then passed it round for everyone to see and feel.    

I'm all unpacked now and can get back to getting ready for Fibre East. I'll dye the last batch of yarn tomorrow and then start getting my checklist of things I need to take with me up to date. At least, as I'll be commutng this year it won't be a disaster if I forget something initially.

July update

July already and I'm getting ready for a weekend away in Derby for the Knitting and Crochet Guild convention and AGM. It should be most enjoyable - workshops, talks, a show and tell and plenty of knitting and crochet chat, all in a plush hotel. I would have liked a pool too, to get a swim in before breakfast, but that's just me being picky!

Then in two weeks' time, there's Fibre East. With the change of venue, I can now commute from home in under an hour, so no need to stay over anywhere. Both hotels in the nearest town had terrible reviews on tripadvisor, and I mean terrible - you'd be better off sleeping in the car than staying there -  so I think I've dodged a bullet! I've been dyeing plenty and have just got one more colour to go. As ever I would like to have done more, but I think you just have to stop and make do with what you have. No-one will know what I haven't brought anyway.

I'm taking a new colour, Storm, that went well at Wonderwool, picured here. One skein is in the Etsy shop and I've got four more of a new dyelot to take with me to Fibre East.

There's been a lot of talk on Ravelry about theft at shows, both of stock (yarn and kits) and even a display shawl. I know people will steal anything, but it's very hard on small businesses where losses have a high impact on profit and it seems very personal. I know I'll be keeping an eagle eye on my yarn. From doing the markets, you do get a "nose" for people who don't seem "right". I always make sure I engage with them as soon as they come to the stand and never leave them unattended. They usually get the message and clear off. I had a scarf stolen at St. Alban's a few years ago, when I did let myself get distracted by another customer - never again! I started my working life in Selfridges department store and the training I got there has always stood me in good stead.    

And, yes, even as late as the seventies, it was pretty much like the TV show!

June Update

As usual, lack of blogging here means that I've been very busy!

June at St Alban's was, like May, reasonably busy after a quiet start. I didn't sell any of my cushions, new or older, which is a shame as they're fun to make, but I can't spend time making something that doesn't sell well. I did sell three of my cotton scarves though, so I'll have to get going on replacing them for September. I've put the remainder in my etsy shop until then, but so far not many people have even looked at them. I often find this - things that sell well at the markets just sit on etsy and vice versa!

I've started dyeing for Fibre East now and have done a couple of solid colours so far -cranberry red and duck egg (a pale turquoise). I'm dyeing the variegated ones next week to replace those that have sold out. I rather over-estimated how much I would sell at Wonderwool, so I've got a reasonable range already put by. The mini skeins went well ,so I'll try and build up a stock of them.

I went to the Kaffe Fasset exhibition "A life in Colour" last week as a birthday treat for my mum. It was truly inspiring. I hadn't realised that he also quilted and his use of colour is what really sets him apart. I would like to quilt, but I just need more hours in the day to do everything! I have seen his books on knitting and tapestry, but to see the items "in the flesh" and close up was wonderful. I will have to get my tapestry out again! How lovely for him to spend his life doing something that he finds such a pleasure - something to reflect on for us all.

I also went to Hampton Court for a day out with my husband, I loved how the tudor and later parts of the building meshed together. it was so big, it must have been like a self-contained village when it was operating as a palace. Sadly it was too windy and cold to look round the gardens too, but they alone would take a full day - we will have to go again to see them.

Back to winding and skeining silk now!  

Fibre East is coming

Still cold and almost wintery here, but my next parcel of silk has arrived from India and I'm getting ready to start dyeing for Fibre East at the end of July.

Mainly I'll be doing some old favourites, that I sold out of at Wonderwool, but I've got a couple of new colour combinations running around my head, that I'll be trying out, plus some other colours that customers asked for.

I've also got St. Alban's Farmers' market in June (9th) to make some stock for - I've got a couple of new cushions to take, plus I'm trying to get some more colours in my cotton scarves finished. As usual the "summer" is upon me before I'm really ready!

I'll be away from the market in July and August, so I should really think about getting stock ready for Christmas!

In the meantime, I'm going to the Kaffe Fasset exhibition in June with my mum as her birthday treat - we're both looking forward to that, it should be so inspiring.

Busy again - into May

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.