Today is my blog anniversary! Being part of the quilty blog community for the past year has been a real privilege and I’ve learned so much from reading and following other bloggers and being part of the 2015 New Quilt Bloggers blog hop. A big ‘THANK YOU’ to everyone who has read my posts, chosen to follow my blog and taken time to write comments 🙂
My big news for this birthday post is the opening of ‘All Our Own Crafts’ pop-up shop in Festival Place, Basingstoke. I’m so honoured, excited and not a little daunted to have an invitation from Kate and Tracy to be part of their fourth pop-up shop in the busy town centre. I’ve spent the past month finishing projects, making product description labels and preparing display stands for my section in the retail unit. There are 42 artists and crafters sharing a large corner unit within the covered mall.
After a busy weekend, All Our Own Crafts opened to customers on Tuesday. I had my first turn at being one of the shop assistants on Wednesday afternoon. It was lovely seeing people browsing around the shelves and displays; recording sales and wrapping items for happy customers.
I’ve found the selling of patchwork and quilted items to be a patchy experience! I began by selling bunting to raise a bit of cash to invest in more fabrics. Gradually cushion covers and bags were added to the wares I had for sale at craft fairs and school fairs. As a parent I’ve attended school fairs and know I wouldn’t have spent more than £5 on any one item as I and my children made our way around the fundraising stalls and the craft tables. So I’m not surprised that only a few of my relatively expensive patchwork items have been sold at those events. I opened a shop on the on-line craft site Folksy and have had occasional rather than steady sales from there. The town centre pop-up shop might be a venue more suited to the sale of relatively expensive handmade cushion covers and quilts. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes. The shop is open until January and, if nothing else, I certainly hope my stand will prove to be an attractive addition, in keeping with the high quality of handmade items on show.
This has been a varied week for me. On Monday I helped organise the monthly meeting of a craft group at our church. This month we were ably led by two skilled flower arrangers who managed to get us creating Autumnal displays. I have to admit that I didn’t do much ‘arranging’ – for me it was more sticking green bits and flowers into oasis and hoping!
Yesterday I had one of those occasional days out with my camera shy friend, Mary. We caught the train travelling West to Salisbury and enjoyed a gentle walk around the water meadows that surround the south side of the beautiful Cathedral.
Tomorrow I’m getting up early to catch a train to the London Women’s Convention, an annual Christian event. The theme this year is ‘busyness’. It’ll be good to get a Biblical perspective on this seemingly modern topic.
Thank you again for sharing in my bloggy world!
Allison
Hi Alison . I hope your corner of the pop shop goes well for you, it’s the right time of year anyway . Your trip to Salisbury cathedral looks great , and by the way , happy blogversary !
Thank you Helen!
Congratulations on you first anniversary, Allison. I’ve only recently discovered your blog so haven’t really looked at your older posts, but by the ones I’ve read, you’re doing great! Your area at the shop looks great. I like how you used the sheet to cover the shelves. I hope you have great success.
I try to imagine being in the presence of buildings as old as the ones in your photographs. I imagine it as a breath-taking experience when I think of the hundreds of thousands of people who, through the years, have walked, knelt, and prayed in the churches. Both cathedral and church are beautiful
Thank you Nancy! I love to do the same when I’m in or around old buildings. It’s important to find continuity with the past in these fast changing times and knowing people have prayed to the same God in a place for many hundreds of years is a great comfort and just a little window into eternity. I’m going to London today and will be walking past Westminster Abbey.
Happy Blogiversary, Alison! The pop-up shop looks great, and I hope it will be a success for you and all the artists. A few years ago I was in Salisbury, good memories. You live in a beautiful area!
Thank you! We are fortunate to have such good rail links to some very lovely places.
I hope you r pop up shop does well! How fun! I love your pictures of Salisbury. They make me want to visit! Congrats on your Blogiversary!
Thank you Katy. There are so many Cathedral cities to visit! Salisbury is particularly picturesque as the Cathedral Close is large and open.
Congratulations on your year anniversary of blogging! The pop up shop looks lovely, as does your corner of the shop. Selling handmade items does seem to ebb and flow, and it is nice you have found a few outlets like the pop up shop and Folksy.
Thanks Yvonne, and thank you again for sharing so much of your time and experience on the 2015 blog hop ☺
So happy to see you reach your first blogiversary! Let’s hope you have many more 😉
You sure have been busy setting up for the holiday sales – best of luck 🙂
Thank you!
Congratulations on your blogiversary! And good luck with your holiday shop. I hope you do well and have some fun.
Thank you!
Happy Blogoversary Allison ! My first friend when I moved to this agricultural community was born in Salisbury… in 1899 – I can remember the year of her birth because she always used to say she was a year older than the year. She also told me about the Cathedral, nice to see your pictures and remember my friend.
I wish you well in your new venture – it looks really nice and you are all set up in time for holiday shopping.
Thanks Colleen! Looking forward to reading your post-harvest posts ☺
Hi Allison. I spotted your quilts in the craft shop this week and recognised them immediately. They look great and lovely to see them in the flesh! I have enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to lots more from you in future. Love Libby xx
Thanks for taking a look in the craft shop and sticking with my blog Libby ☺
It was great to see the quilt in the shop! Mum was excited when I said all the quilting was yours. She took your leaflet home to show everyone!
Thanks Rachel! I was doing shop assistant duty this afternoon, good to see so much interest in hand crafted items.