Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-political, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses. 

Taken from their website - smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com

This year, I was lucky enough to bag myself a space - a FREE space, right bang in the middle of Carlisle City centre.

It was a very chilly, -1 when we arrived at 8.15am.  The atmosphere was already buzzing with the stallholders all busying themselves setting up their stalls.

We were given a gazebo style tent - thankfully with sides, as it held the cold back a bit, but see-through sides so we could still see out.

Half an hour later we were set up and ready to rock.   I have loads of layers on - due to having quite a nasty cold that has taken me off my feet for a few days, Hubster insisted I dressed up warm.  I have never worn Long Johns before, they were surprisingly comfy.  And warm.

There was load of international food stalls, I promised myself a load of Olive bread, but sadly, for some reason, the artisan bread stall didn't show up, so I had a Moroccan Potato Tajine instead, with couscous.  Not sure what it tasted like, or even smelt like, as both my nose and taste buds have disappeared.  But the texture was good - and it was very warming as it slipped down into my belly.

My view from deep inside the cosy tent.  Looking out onto the bandstand who played Christmas music for us to tap our feet too.  Before that we had the Salvation Army band playing Christmas Carols.   If only I hadn't been full of Lemsips, I would have gotten myself a little merry on Mulled Wine (from another stall) and had a little dance  :)

All in all, a good day.  I couldn't chat to anyone (voice gone too), but I did a bit of croaking and sign language and got by.

My lovely sister, Julie, was Ruby sitting, and she came by to see us, with Ruby dressed up as a Christmas Pudding.  Hubster face made my day, our big butch bull-breed dog, with a head like a sledge-hammer, dressed up as a pudding.  Priceless  ;)

Too cute!

The Reghed Knit & Stitch Show

Just last week I heard about the Reghed "Knit & Stitch" show - actually, I did hear rumours a few months ago, but forgot all about it.

So when it was mentioned again recently I mentally punched myself in the face for not organising a table.   Still, it was worth a phone call, just to see if there was room for a little one.

And there was!   Whoop  :)

So, on Sunday morning, we packed up the car and off we went,

The table was half the size we usually get, but I wanted that as I wanted to see if I could manage a little one, and we did by taking a grid-wall stand and using some boxes to lengthen the display a little.

And we got to share our "back room space" with a bloke in a Kilt ;)   aka Mainsforth Alpacas.

I didn't overload the table with packages this time, I pulled them out of boxes from underneath as people requested them.   The white tableclothes were provided and I must say, look better than my usual burgundy, so I will be investing in one of those.

Then just after lunch, Hubster returned from 'stretching his legs' to tell me they had "Veggie Scotch Eggs in the Deli".

A what??

"A Veggie Scotch Egg, but they only have one left".

Well, I nearly knocked the table over trying to get out - forgetting in the meantime to ask where the Deli even was in the building.  So I spent a good five minutes running about Mr Bean style, trying to find this elusive Scotch Egg.

As you can see, I did, and I ate it all, despite already having had my healthy, low-calorie packed lunch just an hour or so before.

Yum, next on my list of things to try and make I think  :)

All in all, a good day.  We met a good few people that follow us on Facebook  (big wave if you are reading), sold some stuff, chatted about Alpacas a lot (interesting creatures those) and made a bit of money, 10% of which was donated to The Manchester Dogs Home appeal.

Thanks for coming, if you did, and hope to see you again soon  :) 

If you have never been to Reghed, it is definitely worth a half-day out, load of things to see and do there.  It is just a few minutes drive off the M6, junction 40.

Marbles - little balls of beautiful glass

The last two days have been spend at The Sands Centre in Carlisle, at the first Carlisle Arts Fair.

I was there accidentally as there was a spare table, so a blagged myself it, but Hubster was there with his marbles doing his very first fair.  He sold quite a few of his rounded pretties.

I thought you might like to see some photos of his stand, taken when I could actually get in as he was often surrounded by people.

The displays were plastic boxes covered with white tissue paper and an LED battery powered light underneath.

You can find his Facebook Page HERE if you would like to see more  :)

Carlisle Art Fair

Today (Saturday) and tomorrow (is it too obvious to put 'Sunday' here?) is the first 'Carlisle Art Fair'. Held in The Sands centre, a rather nice roomy venue with lots of light' centrally based in the City and with good parking right outside.

Hubster was going with his marbles, so I thought I'd tag along and help him sell them.

When I got there there was a couple of no show exhibitors leaving some empty tables. So I cut a deal and blagged them for myself & within half an hour Hubster had rushed home to pick up my stock & I had my stall set up.

Daddy L offered to watch it for a little while whilst I had a wander around the other exhibits.

Let me share a few with you, click on the links which will take you to their own websites.

A lovely lady that does the most wonderful small art pieces on.......... TEABAGS! 

Evelyn Sinclair / Artist

Some fabulous glassy goodness.

Clare Adie / Glassy Lassie

The most amazing sculptures, so much detail you need to see them in the flesh.

Malc Spour / Artist, Sculptor

Some wonderful wall hung and ornamental ceramics.

Peter Wareing / Ceramics

Really clever & unusual wooden clocks.

Mark Hamilton/ The Small Heavy Iron Table Company

Loads of fabulous art works, including these from Oliver Pearson. Breath-taking pieces of work.

Oliver Pearson / Fine Art

Handmade books & cleverly folder book art.

Elizabeth Shorrock / Mixed Media Art & Handmade Books

Instrument making! The smell of planed wood is delicious, don't you think?

Reiver Instruments

Ceramics and general prettyness.

Amanda Mercer / Ceramic design & loveliness.

Come and watch Irene paint a lifelike Collie dog. Such skill.

Irene Hilson / Artist

Or watch Peter working on his wonderful hand driven sewing machine using reclaimed materials.

Peter Dowden.

But hey, don't take my word for it about how good this show is, come on down and see for yourself, I've only featured a very small amount of actual stalls in this post. 

10.00-4.00 Sunday (remember to come and say Hi :) )

Craft Fair in Carlisle Town Hall

Last weekend (or was it the one before?) I did my first craft fair as Sooz In The Shed.

I was very lucky and got given two tables as the person next to me had not turned up, so I could really spread my stuff about - actually, I think I might have to book two in the future!!

It was held at Carlisle Town Hall, above Costa Coffee, the entrance being through the Visitor Information centre.

It was a right miserable day, the whole day was peppered with downpours of heavy rain, hail and just generally yukky weather, so there was not many people about.

Having said that, we did ok, made our table money, our lunch money and a bit more beside.  I talked to a lot of people, gave out a lot of cards and attracted lots of comments as I sat with some French Knitting - everyone remembers knitting with a French Dolly Bobbin apparently.

I am going to book onto one in Penrith next, on the 16th August at the George Hotel.  Maybe I will see you there?   :)