I think at last the menus are sorted. Goodness knows how they became such a mess. I started sorting them Saturday afternoon and it is now ten to midnight Tuesday. No, I haven’t been working on them non stop. My problem has been finding time to fit something else into each day. No longer do I get up and wonder what the day will bring, I already have a schedule of what I need to achieve, around this I fit normal day to day chores and unexpected problems. So, what is taking all of my time? Why am I no longer a looked after lady of leisure? 😂😂As if that was ever the case……

This is the exciting news I wanted to post about on Saturday. I, along with 3 other girls, am now an Events Planner❤️

It all started with a decision to take the wax melts and room fragrances we make at Luxaeternagifts.com along to a craft fair to see how we got on. This was back in September, after weeks of perfecting packaging so it contained no plastic, creating new fragrances and launching new lines including reusable make up remover pads and soap savers. The long awaited day arrived, well actually the day before arrived. We were told to set up then as access to the church would be restricted by a service on the day of the craft fair. Here is where the organisation of the event started to fall apart, if indeed it had ever been there in the first place. The promised parking was not available, public access was awkward, no one seemed in charge and although we did very well from the few people who did make it past the gate keepers in the porch, others didn’t and it was then the idea was born.

We could have done this so much better. Made things a lot easier and clearer for stall holders and customers, but above all else, put out more advertising. So, it was decided, we would event plan our own craft fairs.

Then began a journey of discovery, we needed a name. That was the easy bit. We became Artisan Grafters Craft Fairs. Then began the arduous task of drafting the paperwork. Sorting insurance, learning risk assessments and working out profit margins, as we wanted to donate profits to and work with local charities. Next was the chicken and the egg conundrum, what do we do first? Hire a venue and hope we can fill it with vendors, or connect with vendors and then hire a hall when we know there is interest?

This was where it all started to get real and a little bit scary. It was now early October and things were moving quickly. We had a Facebook group for vendors and we were flooded with applications to join. Everyone was feeling as we did, wanting to get back out there after lockdown. To showcase our wares, socialise and more importantly make some money. We now needed venues. Obviously in our home town, but also further afield. Time was moving on and unfortunately we realised we would not be up and running in time to plan and advertise a Halloween themed Fair.

We jumped straight in with a Christmas theme. We booked five venues across the region and set to work making each one individual. We booked a Santa for three of them, face painting at another and children’s craft at the other. All offer a free gift wrapping service. The charities are mainly food bank related, as sadly this seems to be where help is most needed.

The emails came in thick and fast to book tables at all the venues. Too fast sometimes. We knew a lot of people would drop out, so as the events filled up on paper, we started waiting lists and yes, sure enough once it got close to no refund time, people cancelled their bookings. I became a little suspicious of some people at this point….had they booked to be at our event, because they were holding one on the same day? Were they hoping when they cancelled we would be left with empty spaces? Maybe I was being a bit too cynical, but social media makes it so easy to find out where people are planning to be and I caught a couple of people chopping and changing venues continually.

Eventually everything came together and last Sunday we held our first craft fair. I am pleased to say it was a success. We ended up with a good range of crafts from hair accessories to silver jewelry, wood craft to candyfloss, beads to bath bombs, pinnys to pebble pictures and everything in between. The girl who I bought my Bee pinnys from was there with her husband, who sat just outside the entrance with his guitar singing, which added to the festive theme.

We had a few problems of course. The internet connection was the slowest ever, so the card readers were timing out occasionally. I was in charge of refreshments and was disappointed when I saw the crockery in the kitchen, luckily we’d taken our own paper cups, as there were only 5 mugs the others being espresso cups! The heating took all the time we were there to come up to temperature and I’m pretty sure we left the hall cleaner than we found it.

All in all though, we considered it not bad for our first effort. We bought lots of Christmas presents and made new friends, most of whom we will be seeing on Sunday when we set up our stalls at a big Christmas market in the town.

My job is now to replenish the stock we sold and start the advertising for our next event in just under two weeks. Which will involve many hours in the car driving to people and businesses that have kindly agreed to display our posters and give out leaflets. Then posting adverts to as many Facebook selling and business groups as I can find. Making sure Santa’s costume fits, whilst making last minute purchases for the grotto and wrapping the presents for the children. Nearer the time I’ll be baking for the refreshment table.

Hopefully, as we find our rhythm I shall have time to write, but with less than 6 weeks until Christmas I doubt that very much❤️

Love M. XXX

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