All that hard work done, it was time to set of for the show...
Saturday:
We started off early and after a sleepless, anxiety driven night I was less than equipped to make the drive and travel sickness got the better of me. Not the best start to a weekend show, but one I seem to be getting used to as a result of the last few years of treatment. We took it slow, stopping a few times as we went and eventually got there with about three-quarters of an hour to set up. Fortunately Darrin is a trouper and really rallied round for me. I found that throwing myself into titivating the stand really took my mind off my anxiousness and nerves settled… that and some hellos from stall holding friends. John and Frances of www.lakesidecrafts.co.ukare always great to stumble across… huge hugs all round! And what was even better… we had the stall next to them!!
Here are a couple of pics of the stall…
My hand dyed tops...
Darrin’s batts. Aren’t they wonderful… he really helped me out this time. I had found myself wiped out of stock after the last show and had to start from scratch, so without his training put to good use there was no way I would have had batts for the show without him taking some time to help. Thank you D, as ever you are my best friend and hero xxx Maybe at some point in the future you can give up the day job and come work with me?
I took some video of the sheep run down the high street and will get that ready for the podcast next month at www.dreaminginfibre.blogspot.com. They had Alpaca head up the show… they were just the most darling things… didn’t want to run down the high street at all… preferring instead to sit down or play dead in the road! Still the sheep were better behaved this year and didn’t take a detour into Boots the Chemist!! Instead they formed a close huddle of gentle trotting past the on-lookers towards their pen, being closely watched by a very well trained sheep dog.
Things got busy back at the stall and so I missed the Fashion show in the afternoon and the sheep dog trials up at the Tor, but from what I hear they were a really great display.
Darrin and I worked very hard to field woolly enthusiasts’ questions and show off stock… so much so that I lost my voice on the way home! Still it was a great first day and we had to cut more stock when we got back… which is one of the few times I’ve had to do that in the past, so a good sign that my new direction is suiting my customer base. A relief and a real boost. Thank you!
Sunday:
Woolly hat day was a slower affair, but definitely fun.
Darrin stole my Precious Rock Cheviot Hat… good job I’m spinning up yarn in colourway Africa for a second hat, eh?!
I also wore my Flower Girl fascinator… not quite a hat, but let’s face it, it was hot, hot, hot and no-one wants a full hat on in that weather!
Other events, like the flock blessing up at the Tor and final sheep dog trials took place on the Sunday, which made it a great day for tourists and families… and a chance for me to shop. I’ll show you my buttons on the podcast!
All in all it was a wonderful event… next year is a three-day bank holiday festival and will hopefully see a lot more wool, as well as other family-focused events, so definitely worth a visit. I have put down a deposit for the stall and will make a note to bring much more stock.
A big thank you to all that came to see me and thank you to the organisers for inviting me to come along.
Sara x
