Good Morning on this wonderful sunny Sunday - the last one before our first ever Happy Valley Artisan Market at Clarence Mill!!

Phew … well what a few weeks!  It’s been a rush, but we have the makings of a fantastic market on Sunday, 5^th October. 

Adding to the advertising listed in previous blogs, we are now on the Bollington Town Council web-site.  Banners and new posters will be going up this week and I am still busy making the bunting, blowing up balloons and running around like the mad hatter at Alice’s Tea Party.  Good Idea … Hang on whilst I make a cuppa and grab one of my new addictions – a CurlyWurly ha ha!

  

We have 15 traders (small I know, but it is a lack of space … not a lack of interest from local Artisans, Artists and Craftspeople – we could have filled the space at least 3 times – the traders not successful this time will pop up at future markets – so that we keep the mix alive and interesting for everyone). Thank you to all traders who have contacted me for a stall - I am so sorry I couldn't fit you all in ....

This Market on 5^th October will have a wonderful mix of:

Textiles; mosaics; ceramics; pottery; clay jewellery; fine art; wood; paper and glass (something for every age group and such a varied choice of items … the quality is of a very high level).  

All the Traders are local and all items are handmade locally too!  Debra and I have been very strict with the profile for trading on the Market as we want it to showcase the amazing people of Bollington and surrounding areas.

We are also making a provision at the Market for you to give Debra and I your feedback … what you liked; didn’t like and also what you would like to see.  Come and see me in my Gazebo and pick up a Feedback Form and have a chat.  Also, don’t forget to pick up your free raffle ticket; balloon and other info.

It is now up to the successful Traders to make it a memorable day .. with pretty stalls, high class items and fun and laughter ... no pressure then!!

PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT OUR MARKET – THANK YOU 

PLEASE SEE OUR NEW POSTER ... IF YOU CAN GET IT OUT THERE WE WOULD BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL .. THANK YOU

I’m a bit woolly headed today – no, I’m not sat here in a tea cosy, just still feeling the need for plenty of Lemsips and a hot toddy – ha ha.  So today’s blog is a short one – sorry - back to normal next week - fingers crossed.

Had a busy weekend though with Debra and we’ve sorted out advertising, logos and posters .. oh and so much more:

·         I have placed an Advertisement in the Local People Macclesfield magazine and it will be circulated to 22,500 homes before 4th October.  See Link Below

·         I have contacted Inside Magazine - Bollington and we have missed the deadline for October but hoping to get space in November mag.

·         I have contacted Bollington Live and we are getting a write up on the market should be in the November issue

·         I have contacted Macc Express to hopefully get an item on their 5 Minutes of Fame community page - this will be sent in to them after Debra and I get our photos taken tomorrow.  Not sure when it will be printed.  Had to get my hair cut for this one – got to look your best for the Macc Express - never know who may read it ha ha x

·         We will be going live with an advert and a listing on Canalside Radio and the Thread 102.8. – so be sure to listen in and comment me when you hear it!  See Link Below

Debra has created the following Logo – I’m loving it .. but tell us what you think?  (use the comment tab)  the background is white - not sure why it is showing as black on here something to do with GMAIL (I am seriously hating GMAIL today ... make that most days!!) - that's a shame because you won't get to see it properly other than on future advertising etc.  But you can get the general idea.  I will play around and see if I can change it for the next blog xx

AND … IT'S A MYSTERY, IT'S A MYSTERY ...... Debra may have been able to get us a mystery guest to open the first Market on 5^th October .. so make sure you come along to find out who it is and join in the fun xx

I NEED VOLUNTEERS !!!

Anyone out there who is good at writing on balloons please email me on happyvalleyartisans@gmail.com .  Need to get a couple of hundred balloons written on before we then -  YES - get them blown up ready to hand out on the Market.  Balloons and pens supplied!!

I’m not going to do a list of traders – I thought as they are all amazing people, I would ask them to let me have their story of how they became traders and a bit about the unique items they make and sell.  So starting Tuesday, I will be introducing you to the traders themselves – watch this space.  Hopefully, I will get through them all before the market day itself – which is ????? ........................come on you should know by now --- FIRST MARKET IS ON SUNDAY, 5^th OCTOBER – should be fun and can’t wait to meet you there.

Hope you had a lovely Sunday – Suzanne xx

 www.thethread.org.uk/

 localpeoplemacclesfield.co.uk/

Hi Mags

Thank you so much - Please come and say hello at the market.  It will be lovely to meet you. xxx

Hi Fran

We will start putting gazebos up at 8:00 am and the traders will then be able to set up stall.  We are open for trading from 10:00am until 3:00pm.

Please come and find me and say hello - and don't forget to pick up your free raffle ticket from my Granddaughter - the prize is a piece of my handcrafted jewellery.  We hope to get one of the traders to offer a prize each market.

Look forward to meeting you xx

Hi Roland

Thank you for commenting - you are my first - really exciting.

The list of Artisans will be out shortly, I am still getting requests for a stall - Debra and I are going to make sure there is a really good mix of products.  We may be shouting out for the loan of a gazebo soon to make sure we can fit as many as possible in.  We are hoping to find space for 14+ Artisans.

We're Ready Promotions (sung as Spongebob) - well getting there!!

Hello - is it Thursday already?

I must apologise for the delay in updating the Blog.  I need everyone to send me sympathy comments because I have been off work with Bronchial Asthma – never had it before and never want it again – it’s vile.

To anyone who suffers from this regularly, you have my deep heartfelt empathy and respect.  

I promise to get better prepared for times like this by having information ready at the push of a button – but it will take some practice for me to get to a point where I know what I’m doing – really if anyone has any useful tips on making blogging easier please comment me.  This weekend I need to get better at attaching tabs and pages etc. as they are there on the Blog just not showing – HELP!!! For those of you who know me well – Where’s KIEREN?!

Luckily I had put some time in during the past few weeks on organising media promotions for the FIRST MARKET – soon be here – hope you have put the date firmly on your calendars, in your phone diary and imprinted it on your foreheads so that you can see the date every time you pass a mirror, window or shiny object – really!!

I have set up:

• a Facebook Page – HappyValleyArtisans – please like it and share it to everyone you know and ask them to like it and share it too please.
• a Twitter Account – HValleyArtisans – please follow (Twitter wouldn’t let me use our full title – meanies!)

AND - Please watch out for posts so you can like, share and follow those too - thank you so muchXX

 I have also signed us up for the following adverts:

• Local People Macclesfield is running a half page advert – ready for printing on Sunday and will be distributed to 22,500 homes before 4^th October!!
• Canalside Community Radio / The Thread – are running an audio advert for us (that’s really exciting) and will be done at least daily.  AND there will be a listing in The Thread too!!
• INSIDE (Bollington & Tytherington) - For November (too late for October unfortunately) I have discussed a write up with pictures of our first market – so that should be fun.  Please come along to the market on 5^th October and get in our photo! (if you come to the market and don’t want your photo taking please just let me know – thank you).

They have all been really lovely and offered me lots of advice – so a very Special Mention for them and please like and follow where you can, and of course - A Very Special Thank You

When I feel better next week – yes I am relying on the pills working very soon – I am getting cabin fever as well now – so are Tilly and Spike!!  Dog Walkers Welcome!!

Anyway next week I am going to chase:

• Bollington Live to see if I can get a listing on their event page – left a message but they haven’t got back to me yet.  My message is probably up there in the cosmos! 
• The Macclesfield Express – I sent them an email as requested to get my 5 Minutes of Fame on their community page for the Market and had no response yet – again I may not have done it correctly.

Think I may need to get a book and read up on all this - ha ha ha - seriously where is Kieren?!

 If anyone can think of any FREE listings please let me know asap.

Well I’m off now to have a Lemsip and a nap. 

Have a lovely evening xxxx

Happy Valley Artisan Market: Happy Valley Artisan Market @ Clarence Mill Bollin...

Happy Valley Artisan Market: Happy Valley Artisan Market @ Clarence Mill Bollin...: THE BLOG A big Hello from Me – Suzanne x Wow! This is my first ever Blog!  I am so excited! I find blogging fascinating and lov...

Happy Valley Artisan Market @ Clarence Mill Bollington

THE BLOG

A big Hello from Me – Suzanne x

Wow! This is my first ever Blog!  I am so excited!

I find blogging fascinating and love reading about shared experiences and other bloggers’ days.

With this blog I am hoping to create a shared space for Crafters, Artists, Artisans and Hobbyists to share thoughts, products and events.

Mostly though, I am hoping to reach like-minded people who would like a stall on the new Happy Valley Artisan Market at Clarence Mill in Bollington, or would like to browse our market looking for unique, interesting ideas and products for gifts.

I will be blogging around four days per week and welcome comments and any bits ‘n’ pieces you think may be of interest to arty, crafty people. (Hang on though …. I’ve been warned by veteran bloggers that I may get a lot of SPAM, so I am holding the right to change or delete comments I deem to be unsuitable for this Blog).  If you have any ideas on how to stop SPAM please let me know xx

THE MARKET

My friend (and now business partner) Debra had a dream and I listened, took it on board and ran with it and we now have only THREE Sundays to lift off and our first market.

Before I go into a huge PANIC!!! I’m going to grab a cuppa and tell you the story so far…

Debra has The Creative Space studio at Clarence Mill.  The studio has an amazing outlook onto the picturesque canal with its colourful barges.  The Dream was to have an artisan market with the canal as a backdrop – As she told me about it, I could see it … it’s a nice bright day for our First Market on 5^th October – gazebos standing proud in a slight breeze, tables all decorated and adorned with fantastic items (all hand made by the stall holders). Bunting and Balloons blowing around and happy smiling faces.  Oh! and don’t forget Julie in the Waterside Café at the ready with tea, coffee, cake and lots more for you to buy, all with a warm welcome xx  ….. and there is free parking!

From that vision, I built a business plan and took it to the Management Team for Clarence Mill and …. YES!  Jason from the Team - he said YES!  So between us we have developed the Market with a lot of hard work and a little help from friends.

The Market will be formed by Gazebos against the backdrop of the Canal and the impressive Clarence Mill itself and we hope to create a warm welcome to all.

This picture isn’t the real market of course as the first one is in October, but you can get the general idea

So come along on Sunday, 5^th October to join in the fun, have a cuppa and maybe pick up a gift or two – the mix of products is just amazing and all locally made by local artisans and crafters.  We’d love to meet you and have a chat.  And you could be in our First Real Photo for The Blog and other advertising media. (If you wish to not have your photo in the media, may I ask you to find me on the market and I will give you a badge so that the photographer will not take your photo – thank you so much). There is also a free raffle with the prize being a piece of my unique Seaglass Jewellery – made exclusively with you in mind.

Can’t wait to hear from you … or meet you at the Market … Suzanne xx

WATCH THIS SPACE AS MORE WILL BE ADDED x