Catching my Breath

My stand at BCTF

So the "Big Weekend" started on 2nd April at British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate. My dear friend Valleri kindly agreed to come with me and help.  We left Worcester at around 8.30 a.m. on Saturday and arrived at the Great Yorkshire Showground at around 11.30 ish.  We decided not to stop for lunch but to pop into Betty's in Harrogate for afternoon tea as a treat after we had set up - just to be sociable obviously!

We found my stand really easily - N33 (it will be always etched on my heart!) - and proceeded to set up.  I was in the Newcomer's Gallery and everyone was very busy setting up wonderful displays but I was quite pleased with my stand.  I had wanted to be completely creative but in the end I was limited to what furniture I could fit into Chris's Maestro Estate so I just concentrated on practicality!

Betty's was fabulous by the way - although we had to queue and service was, well let's call it "leisurely" - which meant that by the time we had finished we had half an hour to shop! I am still wondering if my dear hubby called ahead and asked them to stall us!  Anyway, it may have been a good thing because I still managed to spend rather a lot in such a short space of time - mostly presents for the kids from Jack Wills! We did pop into Paperchase too which was fabulous. I do love Paperchase.

The Show was fantastic and we met lots of really lovely people amongst whom are Della Clark, a jeweller from Lancashire, specialising in silver jewellery, who was so funny; Kelly McRobie, a textiles designer from Leicester, whose scarves were to die for and Stephanie Earl, a ceramicist and generally lovely girl whose work is so gorgeous you must take a look. It was also great to meet so many lovely visitors who made such lovely comments about my work. 

Anyway I should be working on some more stuff for the Vintage and Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury on Saturday but I thought I would just update you on things.  Must dash!

Maude, Virginia and Hyacinth

I have been so busy getting ready for the British Craft Trade Fair at Harrogate that I realise I have neglected my blog.  So I may be writing this to myself as you will all have left me (and I have no-one but myself to blame!)

Anyway for anyone who is out there I thought I would introduce you to three of my new fairies. Meet (from left to right) Maude, Virginia and Hyacinth. Here they sit on gorgeous vintage tins.  I am really pleased with them. They will travel with me up to Harrogate and then be available to purchase at the Spring Vintage and Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury on 9th April.  

I am just working on some lovely silk brooches which I hope will be ready to bring along to V&H and more framed fairies are getting their passports in order so that they won't be left out!

So BCTF is in TWO WEEKS! And I am getting really nervous - excited but scared.  Once I have set up I am sure I will be fine. It's just remembering everything!! My brain is well and truly scrambled! My dear friend Valleri has agreed to come along and help which is brilliant. (Thanks Valleri)

Another dear friend, Gilly Mound, has a gorgeous exhibition on at Blue-Ginger Gallery, Nr Cradley, Herefordshire. Check out her website www.gillymound.co.uk.  They also have a small selection of my clocks there too.

Anyway, nice to be back! Will try not to leave it as long next time!

Crafts Magazine March/April 2011

Look out for my advertisement in the March/April issue of Crafts Magazine which should be out at the end of this month.

Competition Winners!

Just a quick note to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who signed up for my mailing list over the last few
weeks! It's great to have so many of you on board!

There have been so many of you that I have decided to pick TWO LUCKY WINNERS at random.  They are Betty and Claire. So CONGRATULATIONS you two!! I will email you shortly to ask for your postal addresses and then send your Fairy Calendar off as soon as possible.

Have a great NEW YEAR everyone! and I'll be back soon!

Thermals at the Ready!!

The girls and I are getting ready for our last two Craft Fairs of 2010.  These take place in the centre of Hereford this weekend - Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th December. Thermals are at the ready to protect us all from Jack Frost!!  Apparently there will be an ice rink there too! (An official one that is!) I've checked the weather forecast and Saturday says it will be a balmy 7 degrees!!

It's been really great meeting so many of you "in the flesh" over the last few weeks and I must say thank you to my helpers, Nicky and, of course Evie. Please do come along and say Hello if you possibly can over the weekend.  Plus it's a great chance to buy something completely different for your Christmas pressies.

Plus don't forget to sign up to my mailing list to be in with a chance of winning a fabulous Fairy Calendar!

Cheerio! x

FABULOUS COMPETITION!!

My Fairies of Much Pottering calendars have been a roaring success and before I sell out completely I thought I would give you a chance to win one of your own.

All you have to do for your chance to win one (worth £14.50) just visit my website - www.corinnephillips.co.uk  and add your name to my mailing list before 25th December

All names - including you lucky folk who already receive my newsletter! - will be put in a hat on Christmas Day and the winner will be notified by email and via this blog!

Thank you and Good Luck!

Didn't we have a luverly time the day we went to ....

My stall

Guardian Angel in waiting!

Stallholders all ready and waiting!

Clocks, fairies, cards and sketch books

Just add customers!

... Chipping Sodbury!  Evie and I had a very busy weekend last weekend.  On Saturday we were back at The Guildhall in Bath.  I managed to find some brilliant collapsible shelves at the local flea market the previous week which meant I could put loads more stock on show. So we met some lovely people in Bath and after we had packed up we went mooching around the Bath Christmas Markets which was lovely.  We had pancakes - maple syrup for me and chocolate for Evie - at one stall and bought some fantastic cheese - which was supposed to be for Christmas Day but I don't think it will make it until then!

Then it was off to a lovely little pub in Ford called The White Hart where it was great to have a hot meal cooked for us and then we tumbled into our Four Poster Bed !! and watched X-Factor! And because we had to leave so early they even made us bacon sarnies to take with us - now that's what I call service.

So Sunday dawned and, with bacon sarnies in hand we made our way to The Vintage and Handmade Christmas Fair.  What an absolute treat!  The atmosphere was brilliant and it was so lovely to see blogging friends in person!  I met Donna from The Fabric of my Life, had a good catch up with Viv from Hen's Teeth and Katie from Textile Treasure Seeker and Lizzie from The Washerwoman.  And of course Michele and Jayne who worked so hard to organise it all. Thank you both.

It's made me realise that I must get back to blogging on a regular basis.  Yes,  ... I know you've heard it all before! And before you say it I know I'm a hopeless case!

It was also good meeting all the lovely people who came to support the event. Thank you all for all your lovely comments and feedback.