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Sunday 21 December 2014

I'm Back !!

My goodness, time has just flown since my last blog at the end of November.  There has been much to sort out for the Market and things have been a little hectic.  Plus it took me a while to recover from the awful weather we had at the December Market - I know that we promise RAIN, HAIL (SNOW) OR SHINE there will be a market - it was though a very tough day from putting up the gazebos to taking them down again we had every element of weather imaginable.  The wonderful Makers (see the photo below) did stick it out until the very end and again created a warm welcoming atmosphere for all our amazing customers who braved the chill, the rain, the hail etc. to bring us a little bit of sunshine on a torrential day.



Photo: Thank you to all the lovely Artisans who stuck it out to the very end in this awful weather. A huge thank you also to all the amazing people who came to support us all in the heavy rain and hail xx despite the weather the atmosphere was as always warm and welcoming xx


It is really lovely to think that in just three months we have built a little community of gifted local makers and that together with really strong local support, the atmosphere at the Markets is exciting and welcoming.  So a really BIG THANK YOU TO ALL!




If any of our Customers are out and about on 4th January, please come and see us at the Market and call at my stall and say hello as I will have some lovely give-aways as a thank you for your support over the last three markets and for continuing it into 2015.

SEE YOU ALL IN 2015 (where did 2014 go - in a blink ha ha xx)

Suzanne xx

Friday 28 November 2014

We are at Winterfest!!

Can you believe it is almost the end of November - no skip that - it's almost the end of the year!

This year has gone so quickly - but November has just flashed by so fast I cannot believe I have not blogged for over 2 weeks.  I'm not sure what I have been doing as I have made nothing new for tomorrow!

What's Tomorrow?!

Winterfest - in the Market Place Macclesfield

We have been invited to provide an Artisan Market for the Switch on of the Christmas Lights and 9 of us (so far) will be in our gazebos ready with some amazing items for you to purchase as Christmas Gifts - or a little bonus for yourself - go on you know you deserve it.

There is so much going on tomorrow in Macclesfield that it is hard to put it all down here - so have attached the link instead.




http://www.winterfestmacclesfield.com/site/whats-on/the-big-light-switch-on/

Hope to see you tomorrow - please come by and say hello to us all - there is so much to see and join in with.

I'm off now to make some pretty things.

Have a lovely Winterfest

Suze xx

Wednesday 12 November 2014

To self-doubt or not to self-doubt - how do you avoid it?

Has it been a really weird start to November for you too?!

We had a really good market – again!  Debra and I are on a high because we have so many wonderful Artisans to share the market with; there was such huge support from the local area – beyond our hopes. And we have many more Artisans waiting to get space.  Feeling blessed!

Yet!  I’m not sure if it is the cold and damp weather or putting the clocks back or what?  I have been having conversations this week with Artisans who are beginning to let doubt set in – when they are so brilliantly creative and doing well at the market and in other outlets.

Other than the usual platitudes on not giving up; you are so creative; your work is so lovely; keep going and show your doubting self how you don’t give up etc ……  What do you say?!?  Please let me know how you cope at times of self-doubt xx

I found this quote below and hope it resonates well with my lovely self-doubters xx




I’ve had a really lazy week too, when I should have been creating for my next events and organising the next Artisan Market on 7th December.  When searching for a “Don’t Give Up Quote” on Pinterest (yes I know – stop pinning and create something! Ha Ha !) I found the following quote which sums me up perfectly:


On a more cheerful note - if any of you are out and about on Saturday, why not pop in and say hello – I am at Tytherington High School Christmas Fair from 1pm to 3pm – Debra can’t make it but I would love to catch up with you xx

Have a happy wintery sunny day – thank goodness the rain has stopped for a while.


Suze xx

Wednesday 5 November 2014

THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH XX

Feeling full of gratitude today ....

  • It is a lovely sunny Wednesday and that fills me with joy!
  • That our Second Happy Valley Artisan Market was a huge success and we really want to thank everyone for getting behind us with so much support.
  • That Debra and I (with some lovely friends and family) survived putting up and taking down 9 Gazebos on Sunday.  And picking them up from and taking them back to their rightful homes.
  • To the Poachers for allowing us to have 2 gazebos on permanent loan - how do you say thank you to such generosity ... if you are in Bollington please pop in, buy a drink and make a toast to their generosity xx
  • To everyone else who has been generous in organising gazebos for us.
  • To our lovely Artisans for continuing support and to all the new applicants waiting for space
  • To Julie and Staff at the Cafe Waterside for the hot mulled wine and hot dogs!!
  • To everyone liking us on Facebook - please keep liking us so that Debra hits that magical 200 and then on to 300 and on and on xx
  • That we have hit 1,500 pageviews on this BLOG!!!  Chuffed to bits .. 

Saturday 1 November 2014

It's Market Eve!

Well we had amazing fun at October's Market and here we are again on the eve of our Happy Valley Artisan Market at Clarence Mill.

Thank you to everyone who has either bought or borrowed their own gazebo this month; to everyone who has leant us a gazebo – the Poachers Pub and George Cann for organising for us to have the loan of two again – huge thank you guys.

We have some familiar faces from last month and some new Artisans all with some spectacular items for sale.  Why not come along and pick up some extra special gifts for Christmas Presents. 

Just so you can tick off items on your Christmas List to Santa – below is a list of Artisans at the Market this month:

  • Shiela Cunningham – local Artist with samples of her artwork – why not buy and original painting for the special Christmas gift.
  • Ann Fogg – Shabby Chic furniture restorer with some amazing small gifts too!
  • Jane Ewington – with her beautiful porcelain and ceramics including the famous White Nancy pots
  • Anna Barker – you really have to see her driftwood Christmas Trees and pebble santas.  I have my Santas – now just need one of the Trees.
  • Helen Dewhurst – Textile Artist, I love that you can have art made out of items of clothing too precious to throw out, but that clutter your wardrobe.
  • Fiona Reynolds – Exquisite items of polymer clay jewellery – just waiting to be added to that Christmas List
  • Marie Robinson – Quirky science prints on cushions and other items – including clothing – so different and unique.
  • Lisa Kirk – Sweet little baby quilts and other items for the nursery and older children.  My Granddaughter spent her pocket money at Lisa’s stall.  I expect she will be there again seeing what she can buy.
  • Susan Kay – why not come along and watch Susan and her group spinning and whilst there check out her lovely handmade woollen items made from their own wool – the weather is getting colder.
  • Claudia Tann – amazing textile woven and sewn items – just right for that extra special gift.
  • Sophie Molyneux – Unique crochet jewellery, artwork and other items just waiting to be added to the gifts under the Christmas Tree.
  • Alex will be there with the Balloons again – loved the octopus some of the children were waving around last month.
  • Then of course there is Debra with some amazing framed fused glass White Nancy just ready for filling that space on your wall.  And of course her special Mosaics. 
  • And Me! I’ve some new glassware for that Christmas Toast and some newly designed and handmade jewellery.
 Come along and check us out – see if I got everyone right with the correct items.  There is a free raffle again – last month it was an item of my fused glass jewellery – this month is still to be donated, but it will be amazing.


If you do come along to the market, please find me and say hello xxx

Thursday 30 October 2014

60 HOURS TO KICK OFF FOR MARKET NUMBER 2 !!

I've just been to watch the Fire Walk at the East Cheshire Hospice.  It's a long time since I've done one and it is just as exciting watching it as doing it.  Hopefully they have raised lots 'n' lots of money for the Hospice.  Well done to everyone who did it.  Here's a little picci!!



I think waiting to see if our next market is as well attended as the first one is a little bit like waiting to do the Fire Walk!  I've checked the weather, it's cloudy with a possible shower - praying the wind stays away!  We have done the same advertising - Local People Macclesfield; The Thread and Canalside Radio.  We are also in Bollington Live and the Macclesfield Express this time.  The Banners are going up first thing in the morning - bigger than last time!  We have some new traders - so fingers and toes are crossed that the day is as good as the 7th October was!!  Please come along and join in the fun!

We are still in need of more gazebos so that we can grow and grow.  If anyone has one we could borrow - we will take great care of it and make sure you get it back in the same condition.  We are hoping to buy some more to add to our small collection as soon as we can, in the meantime it is beg, steal and borrow!

The list of traders will be out tomorrow - we have had some new requests and if we can get a gazebo they will be able to join us.

Catch you tomorrow

Suze xx



Tuesday 28 October 2014

NEXT MARKET - SUNDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

Phew!  It’s been a rush but we've done it and Market Number 2 is on its way this Sunday.

Gazebos are sorted (although we have been offered the loan of two from the Poachers Pub we still unfortunately don’t have enough to accommodate everyone) – so sorry if you didn't get space this time, we intend to invest in some new ones for the Market asap!!  The December Market will be the biggest yet and will with luck spread along the canalside under the tunnel!!

We have advertised in Local People Macclesfield again – unfortunately this is more for the December Market as it won’t hit most households until early next week.

We are in Bollington Live

We are in the What’s On pages of The Thread

Debra and I were given a small slot on the Canalside Radio – 102.8 last Sunday and Monday – if anyone heard us please let us know what it sounded like as we both missed the broadcasts.  But it should have helped get us on the MAP.

We have even been given a small mention in this week’s Macclesfield Express with a promise that if we send in photos again they will be printed next week – fingers crossed!  Mike will be out with his Camera again – so big smiles please.  If you don’t want your photo in the Macclesfield Express or any other media please let us know on the day!

Debra and I have been asked to take the Artisan Market to other venues over November and December, so catch us at:

  • Winterfest in the Market Place, Macclesfield on 29th November 
  • Bollington Pre-School Christmas Fair, Water Street Centre on 13th December 
Other events to put in your diary are:

Handforth Craft Fair – 8th November
Tytherington High School Christmas Fair – 15th November
Makers Day at the Heritage Centre Macclesfield - 22nd November
Treacle Market – 30th November
Happy Valley Artisan Market – 7th December (Yes US!)
Treacle Market – 21st December

AND!!!

A BRAND NEW VENTURE – A Produce Market (an extravaganza – with amusements etc) at Adelphi Mill on 21st December.  See Poster Below - this is the advert in Local People Macclesfield this month. This does clash with Treacle now that they have moved from the last Sunday in December to 21st December.  But the area is big enough for both!!  


More on the extravaganza next week.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY CHRISTMAS FAIRS OR OTHER EVENTS THEY WOULD LIKE PUTTING ON THE LIST PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

See you all Sunday - I will put a list of expected Traders on here tomorrow xx