A Very Crafty Christmas…
This past month has, for me, been all about craft fairs. Both exhibiting at them and furiously bookbinding between them to ensure I have enough stock for the next.
My first fair, at the Hilden Brewery was a real wake up call for me, after having very sporadic sales on Etsy I discovered that there was a real local market for my books! This was only compounded at my next fair at Brookhall, another great success.
I spent the next week engrossed in bookbinding, making 19 books in 8 days despite some problems with my press and plough which I use to trim my books. I didn’t sell as many books at my most recent fair at Friends School Lisburn Prep, but it was still a good marketing exercise - you win some you lose some.
One thing that has really stood out to me is the community and camaraderie of crafters here in Northern Ireland and the way they support each other, even ones that may be trading in competition with each other. I’ve received a lot of help and reassurances from the stall holders that I’ve been placed beside and can’t wait to engage more with the community as time goes on.
I have only two fairs left before Christmas, Wallace High School and Prep (tonight) and The Racquets Club on on the 17th, the last Saturday before Christmas.
Many people have been asking where to find my books outside of craft fairs. I have a few up on Etsy, on BelfastBoundNI, but will be building an online store on this website which I plan to have fully updated by this Saturday (10th December) so as to have time to post orders before Christmas!
If you have an urgent request, or would like a custom order please contact me and I’d happy to oblige!
In and amongst all this I’ve been planning a lot for next year, I’ll be updating you soon with more craft fairs as well as introducing a new range of books, expanding the lines I already have (look out for lots more Marbled Books, Quotation Coptics and Vintage Comic Covers) and I have two rebinding projects coming up as as well as a self printed book to bind!
In the meantime I wish you all the best for your Christmas shopping and hope you find the perfect gift for that hard to buy for person - possibly a notebook! ;)
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