Some of the other stall holders were moaning that there wasn’t much trade, and that the Beeston fair the week before was much better. All I can say is, it’s made a nice dent in the honeymoon fund, so I am happy enough really. I did, however realise that it really takes it’s toll on you being really nice to people who are picking your stuff over (some with an expression as if to say “you should be paying me to take your stuff”…) all day long. On the flip side, I met some really lovely people (mainly the other stall holders) and chewed the fat with them. I met a lovely old dear, who must have been almost 80 telling me how she used Camay soap as she’d seen an advert when she was younger with Katie Boyle (if you don’t know who she is – Google it!) and she’s used the soap ever since after she saw my make up bags with vintage adverts on them. The next fair I am at I will be theming it a bit – “Domestic goddess” – aprons and stuff for the woman in the home (tongue in cheek of course!) and the rest of the stuff I am going to stick on Etsy at some point. When I get round to it! Anyway, here’s a couple of pics for you – definately looked better the second day!

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Of course, there are art galleries everywhere, large and small, which could provide me with years of endless entertainment but there are also crafts, antiques and vintage shops.

Just on the street of our hotel there was a lovely little shop which sold kitsch fabrics that you wouldn’t see in shops here, then there was the patchwork shop and bead shop and on it goes.

If you love to rummage through antiques there are no end of little boutiques with lovely window displays just calling you to go in. Here’s an example of one we found on the last day…

We also stayed in Brussels and in my ignorance I hadn’t realised that it was known for lace making, like Nottingham. In fact Belgium used to export lace to England.

What I did know is that Belgium makes fine chocolate and beer and now having tried it I can say its definitely true. I know its not strictly craft related but here is a photo of one of the really pretty chocolatier shops in the city. Yum!

Anyone who is remotely into crafts and has spent any time in Mansfield will know Sally Twinkle. This shop has been going for 40 years and is, as they say, “haberdashery heaven”.

Although I say its my favourite craft shop I haven’t actually been in there since I lived with my parents in Mansfield and that must be about 12 years ago now. Finding their website though made me really want to go back and visit, not only does it have so much craft stuff the ladies, or the ‘Twinkle Girls‘, who work there are lovely.

Unfortunately you can’t buy online from Sally Twinkle but you wouldn’t want to, that would take away from the fun of visiting the shop.

One time I went in there to buy hundreds of beads to make a lampshade (don’t ask!) and the lady who served me counted each bead out one by one and was quite insistent that I wasn’t allowed to touch them to help her. It took a quite while and Jez had to go and stand outside because we were nearly cracking up!

The Sally Twinkle website has a fab page about the history of the shop. I didn’t realise that they had a huge fire in 1979 and then a sports car smashed into the window a few years later!

Anyway, check them out at www.sallytwinkle.co.uk.

When you spend £20 at Hobbycraft (which, lets face it, isn’t difficult) they give you a £5 voucher. The offer runs until 24th Feb.

Check it out here on the hobbycraft website.

I had a scare on my way in to work – the Hospice shop I pretty much cleared out is closing for a mont. They say it’s for staff training but I think it’s for the poor old lady that had to serve me with all the crafty goodness I scooped up. So if you were thinking of visiting, it’d not open again until 22nd Feb….x