A snapshot of the lead up to a big show…
The Spring Craft & Design Fair 2017, at RHS Garden Wisley, was my first major show as a creator of jewellery for animal lovers everywhere. During fairs like these, us exhibitors try to give off an air of calmness and professionalism – while behind the scenes we’re paddling furiously like the proverbial duck! So here are a few photos to pop the illusion…
The journey to RHS Garden Wisley
My personal journey to RHS Garden Wisley started in earnest in January when my place at the Spring Craft & Design Fair was confirmed. Three months and a very significant amount of work later (all of which fits into a small plastic box!), the car was packed and ready to go. I have a weakness for choosing events due to their beautiful surroundings and RHS Garden Wisley certainly didn’t disappoint – stunning from the entrance onwards. Even the marquee was impressive!
-
- All packed and ready to go
-
- Welcome to RHS Wisley… getting nervous now!
-
- and the beauty begins immediately
-
- A touch of pride to think that I am part of this
-
- First sight of my marquee
-
- Don’t know why but this reminds me of my grandmother!
-
- And here we are – my tent, my fair!
Setting up my stall
This was my first major fair and the professionalism of the whole event is clear to see. It made the job of setting up a real pleasure (well almost!) and, as an indoor event, I didn’t have to contend with either wind or rain. Although I’ve set my stand up many times before, it didn’t stop me fiddling endlessly before I was happy with the final effect (- which I still do for every show no matter how small!). The last stage was to stash everything that I might need under the table, hidden behind the freshly ironed table cloth.
-
- The statutory selfie next to my pitch – C31
-
- Unloaded and ready to set up
-
- A view onto the garden’s cafe
-
- Do the banners look OK here?
-
- Starting to take shape – just the creatures to go now
-
- Ta Da! My home for the next 5 days.
-
- Finished! My beautiful assistant enjoying a spot of lunch
Enjoying the Surroundings and Gaining A Family
Once the fair had started, I had no time at all to visit and enjoy the gardens or to admire the wonderful creations that the Craft Fair had brought together. So I had a sneak peek of the other exhibits, after setting up my own, and took a few moments to enjoy the gardens – well, until the heavens opened anyway. Here are a few…
-
- View across the canal to the main house
-
- Simply love Simply Rewired’s Hare
-
- The Glasshouse at RHS Wisley
-
- A bad photo of a brilliant photo by Peter Rhoades Photography
-
- Someone else at work at Wisley
-
- Charlotte from Kara Jewellery
-
- Who is lurking in the pool at RHS Wisley
The Craft & Design Fair at RHS Garden Wisley remains one of my absolute favourite shows and I highly recommend a visit if ever you have the opportunity.
One thing I didn’t envisage when participating in this first fair was that, through it (and other events), I would join a wonderfully vibrant, supportive and slightly eclectic family of artists. Having spent years in the corporate sector, I feel strangly at home with my new crafty family!