Kingsclere Christmas Craft Fair

What an eventful day we all had! I organised this Craft Fair to raise money for Naomi House Children's Hospice. The Hospice provides care and support for families and children who are terminally ill, making their final days as comfortable as possible. The fair was also organised to help raise funds for the Church and to let us all have an outlet for our hand crafted goodies too!

The Methodist Church hall is quite a small venue, but we had plenty of visitors who spent well and supported us perfectly. I was a little worried that all the advertising would be for nothing, but I needn't have been concerned.

There were so many wonderful hand crafted items for sale, the lovely people of Kingsclere could not help but buy their Christmas presents.

I would like to introduce the wonderful sellers who came and supported the event...

The lovely Bev, from Bits and Bobs Crafts./>


http://www.folksy.com/shops/BitandBobsCrafts

Such a lovely lady with gorgeous hand crafted knitted and crocheted goods. I have to say that her lovely pieces look so much better in real life than they look in her Folksy Shop. This lovely pink bag got many admiring comments - please click on the photo for a link back to her shop.

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Gemma from Damselflygemma and her friend Jen.
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http://www.folksy.com/users/damselflygemma

I have to say, these ladies have the most wonderful goods. Gemma has such lovely jewellery and her Resin pieces are fascinating. I watched her complete some intricate beading work during the fair and I don't think I could have done anything remotely like it!
Jen had some gorgeous hand sewn bags which proved popular. I loved her little lady bird bags, which she was stitching as she sat. Her lavender bags smelt divine!
These lovely ladies were kind enough to lend me their pen on more than one occasion and offered to watch my stall when I had to get coffees teas etc too.

I was amazed at this bracelet - it is so intricate in real life. Please click on the picture to link back to the item and Gemmas shop.


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Also there were the Hollilands, Jesse, Tina and a gentleman, whom I very rudely didn't catch the name of!
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http://www.folksy.com/users/Jesselu

All were crafting away during the fair and my boys were especially taken with some 'spinners' they had created. These are now going into their Christmas stockings - so don't tell them!

There were some gorgeous hand knitted and crocheted hats on their stall, beaded jewellery and felted goods. I had the pleasure of meeting Cuthbert Caterpillar no less! Please click on the picture to link back to the item and Jesselu's shop.


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Marie from Mushy Makes came and set up a beautiful, colourful stall. I loved her little felt reindeer and Christmas puds!

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http://www.folksy.com/users/MushyMakes

I heard so many positive comments on her items, so I hope she did well. Such a lovely lady and I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Mushy and baby Mushy too! Please clich on the picture to link back to Marie's shop and other goodies!


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Natalie Ofkants of NOfkantsCurios fame was also there!
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http://www.folksy.com/shops/NOfkantsCurios

She had an amazing display of fossils, knitted and crocheted items as well as collectibles and keyrings. There was so much she could have put on her stall, but just couldn't fit it all on! I was opposite and could see how the people crowded round her stall and admired the quality of the goods she had made. Her daughetr also had a small display of jewellery, which sold really well. She also helped out on the Cake stall too, so she had a very busy day.

Please click on the picture below to link to the item and her shop to see more wonderful and varied items...


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We also had some non Folksy sellers too.

There were Cards by Emma Wells. Stunning creations using various design techniques. I am trying to convince her to have a shop on Folksy!

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Not only did she have a craft stall on the day, but she baked for the cake stall and helped me enormously with preparations for the fair. An amazing friend indeed. Her husband was a saint on the day and organised the advertising on a huge screen in the church, the heating and also served all us stall holders tea and coffee throughout the day, whilst making sure everyone in the church had cakes and coffee too. He also helped get the tables (borrowed from our local primary schools)to the Church, aided by my gorgeous hubby!

Please take a look at Emma's designs and give any comments you wish. I will feed them all back to her!

Also there was a wonderful stall selling sewn goods, oils and nuts amongst other items. These were all being sold for Cancer research. I believe the stall raised in excess of £150 for the charity!

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The cake stall was a huge hit, with all the cakes sold being hand made and donated. Three young ladies ran the stall and between them and the coffee and cakes in Church, raised in excess of £190!!! All the proceeds from this will go to the Church to help maintain the roof and other pressing projects.

We also had a Virgin Vie Stall, run by a very talented lady, Emma Rivers. She does wedding makeovers and was a hit on the day.

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The Nail Lounge, also had a stall which was really popular! Mini manicures all round! I think she did really well and all of the ladies (young and all) who had their nails done loved the results. Sandra Watson, who owns the Nail Lounge is a huge campaigner for Naomi House and also provided all the Naomi Hose Merchandise for sale on the day. In total, the fair raised £313.66 for Naomi House. A wonderful achievement.

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The Naomi House Stall, run by Wendy Morgan on the day.

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Oh, I nearly forgot! I had a stall too!

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I did really well and thoroughly enjoyed my day, meeting all the crafters and the public. Please click on the picture below to link to the item and my shop


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During a quiet moment, I went out of the fair with a Naomi Hose Collection tin and roamed the village! I managed to get the boys from the Village Butchers (where I work part time) to come over for a cupper and a browse. Nigel, the owner also donated generously to Naomi House to have his advert running in the church for the day. Thank you so much.

There were so many volunteers on the day, helping with tea and coffees, donating cakes and clearing up afterwards. I would just like to thank them all for being there. I couldn't have got this fair off the ground without you all.

Jacqueline x