I've done the draw on the pair of tickets for the Country Living Fair at SECC in Glasgow.
The winner is……..
G
Email already gone out to you G. hope you'll come and say hello when you come to the fair.
Tonight is our local charity Christmas fair in the village of Dunlop. I'm preparing stock and books to take for that. Table fairs always throw me a bit on the display front. You'd think after all the years I've done this that I would just throw a cloth over the table and magically a fabulous display would materialise before your very eyes.
Hmmm doesn't really work that way. For some reason I always feel I have to try something different each time. then when I set it up I wish I'd gone with the look I'd used before. When I first started doing fairs I spent ages looking for things to use as props and risers (you want to have things lifted off the table to get more height and interest to your display), in fact I probably spent more on display items than I sometimes made at the fairs themselves.
Nowadays I tend to have a set of old props that are just part of everyday life at home, being used either in the house or in HQ on a day to day basis. They just get wheeled out for a bit of excitement every now and then. The same applies to the props on TV. My herb set is really straight from HQ where the Italian biscuit tin of rosemary and sage. terracotta pot of thyme, and jugs of mixed herbs are all just part of my scenery.
So tonight it'll be the jolly red tablecloth, old wooden crate to carry stuff, upend and use to hang things from and add height to the table. My trug from the garden and a couple of little rosemary plants that look like mini Christmas trees. Throw in some books to sell and Christmas ornaments, sleep sacks, tea towels and bags, et voila, Christmas on a table.
That's the theory anyway. There is still all the basic stuff that I am notorious for forgeting – bags (yep forgotten them a few times and had to beg off other stand holders), cash float – had to rush home for that one, even the stock to sell. I once managed to drive through to Stirling for a fair only to realise when I got there that i'd left a huge carrier of stock at the front door.
So for even the smallest fair, there has to be the check list. Stock, decor, props, bags, pen, paper, cash, and staff (well me and the able bodied assistant Idgy who adores doing fairs and playing shop).
Now must check the time of the fair so I at least get there before it opens……..
Karon x
Good luck at the fair tonight. It really sounds lovely. Let us know how you did. Have a great weekend!
Patti xxoo
Aren’t little villagey fairs the best!
Jane x
Have a great fair, Karon and Idgy! Take some photos for us who aren’t there…
I hope the village fair went well and that you and Idgy had a lot of fun. Looking forward to hearing all about it, and seeing the photos.
thank you so much – looking forward to it. xxx
I’m just having a good blog catch up this morning, hence the odd comments along the way! So pleased that I am not the only one who has these issues with setting up, I can identify with all you said! Glad you had a good time at the show and all the best for the Country Living Show too.
I have put together a basket of ‘essentials’ which, as long as I remember to take the basket itself, will contain all I need for a show or market, however if I forget the basket then I’d be lost!
Take care
Sarah x