Renegade Craft Fair November 2014

I had such a lovely market selling at Renegade Craft Fair.  And, comparing to 2013's market, I also mark it a bigger success.  In general I think that the atmosphere and the whole fair has gone from strength to strength in the 3 years it's come to London.  I'm so grateful and happy to of been part of it for the last 2.

I really planned hard this time with the layout of my table.  Last time, I remember, I really did just wing it.  In other markets I'd done, my table had looked good, so what would go wrong?  Well, it was fine really.  But looking at what everyone else had done, really had me questioning my display.

So I thought it out.  I thought about what I wanted, and even made a few bits to bring in the added character I was looking for.  The sign was a real hit :) and it was definitely worth it painting the crates white - each is a different shade of white actually, my Dad had me using up old sample pots they had in the garage!

 Along with this I also streamlined my products.  Having my own little illustration world, I really do tend to keep everything I've done - what if someone sees it at this market and loves it?!  This time, I was strict with myself.  Screen-prints and building watercolour illustrations.  This, i think really paid off.  My stall looked much more complete and finished, rather than the work in progress that was last year.

Big sellers for me this time around were; Cushions - I sold 5 compared to the 1 I sold in 2013.  Watercolour Travel Kit - A brand new item!  But it got so much interest, I was over the moon.  Watercolour building illustrations - It was definitely a good call to have my originals on display alongside the digitally printed postcards.  Christmas cards - Last year, only friends and family bought them.  This year, I sold out before all friends and family could get theirs and didn't have any for myself to send out!

So, thank you Renegade, and London, for a brilliant market!

Renegade Craft Fair 2013

Day two and loving it!

My first London market and it was oh so lovely!  Being an illustrator from my bedroom means that for the most of the time all my work is here, there and everywhere.  It's a rare occasion where I get to see it out on display, all together and at it's best.  Hurrah for markets!  Thanks to the Manchester Artists Book Fair I do get to see my books all out at least once a year, and it's always quite an event.  This year I've had the pleasure of doing a few more crafts markets than in previous years and I'm happy to of taken this step.

This years Christmas cards made their debut - and went down well!

Renegade Craft Fair is really big in the States and slowly becoming more known here in London too thanks to this lovely London venue off Brick Lane (the Old Truman Brewery!).

 It's always useful to have a re-shuffle!  This was day one!

NEW Lucky Dip Bags featuring upcycled and recycled things as well as illustrations!

The lovely Pygmy Cloud!

This is by far the biggest market I've done and the level of work was so high it was hard to know where to look!  I shared a booth space with Pygmy Cloud and we lucked out with a corner space to show off our wares.

There were a lot of fellow makers that I knew from previous fairs, online shopping and social media so it was really nice to have everyone under one roof to be able to say hello!  Also, being in London, it made the perfect excuse for family and friends to visit me at work for once.

Impossible at Rough Trade, Brick Lane

Last Thursday I supported my Cousin Tom of @Un_Frame at Rough Trade just off London's Brick Lane, where himself and Gina were talking with passers by, shoppers and polaroid fanatics alike about the Impossible Project and it's lovely lovely quality that you just can't get with digital cameras.  The Impossible project is all about using polaroid cameras, and one of Tom's loves is using a different film than that intended in a particular camera, or of using old, out of date film.  By doing this, he adds to the unpredictability of the final photo.  Which I quite like as well.  Here are the polaroids I walked away with:  

If you'd like to see/read/hear more about what Tom does you can have a look-see at his blog HERE.  When ever I am with Tom I'm lucky that he randomly takes lovely photos of whats going on, whether it's me at work or whats been going around me.  Do have a look on his facebook page HERE for some more photo updates :-)  Here is a polaroid that he took of me at The Manchester Book Fair this year:

Thank you for reading, are you a fan of polaroid?