What to expect if you visit my Warminster or Winchester Christmas Stall

Below is a taster of what's on offer and on display at the upcoming Christmas markets for Driftwood and Debris!  The first is a table top sale at Warminster Civic Centre (17th November 10am-12 noon) and the second is in Winchester at Winchester Handmade Christmas Fair 1st and 2nd December (10am-4pm).  I look forward to seeing you there!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Today I bought a Christmas tree.  Not for Christmas, you understand, but to display my Christmas handmade wares on.  It is a cheap and cheerful affair but I am hoping it conveys the beauty of my products adequately. 

Another busy and productive Sunday has whizzed by and my little workshop is teeming with goodies.  Stars of varying sizes are drying and more are awaiting adornment with either leftover paper (from books or wrapping) or organic and ethically sourced driftwood and shells.  The wood we collected last week is still drying above radiators and by the fire - soooo much quicker when dried out in the sun and wind!

 As those of you who follow me will know, I have signed myself up for a daunting 2-day stint at Winchester Handmade Christmas Fair on 1st and 2nd December....Yikes!  As a precursor and rehearsal for the 'big event' I have taken on a 2 hour stint on 17th November at the Warminster Civic Centre - it's a fund raising event for a nearby village school with a hint of Christmas about it.  The Fair runs from 10am - 12pm and should prove a good dry run for the Winchester show.  It will require me to get my 'house' in order 2 weeks before the main event and give me enough time (should I need it) to replenish any stock.  I will post more details as soon as I have them and naturally welcome any feedback.  TTFN!

Look Before You Lepe?

Wow!  What a productive weekend us Horgans have had.  We made the most of Saturday's gorgeous October sun and whizzed down to Lepe beach, grabbed a cup of coffee (for the grown ups) and water and snacks (for the littles), and then trundled along the beach looking for driftwood, shells and all manner of other debris that might be useful in my creations.  We managed to secure quite a haul in just over an hour (it normally takes me at least 2 hours on my own).  My team were happy, cheery and uncomplaining and I didn't even have to pay them!

Some of my Team at Lepe Beach

The purpose of this latest visit to the beach is to ensure I have enough 'stock' for the upcoming Winchester Handmade Christmas Fair on 1st and 2nd December.  I am aiming to create a range of desirable driftwood and decoupage goods with prices ranging from £1 up to £40 or £50.  Pricing the goods is the trickiest part of this project since one has to take account of time, fuel, packaging and basic costs such as hooks, ribbons, varnish, glue and so on - not an easy task I can assure you!  I have made some truly gorgeous things and just hope the customers/shoppers think the same.  There are stars, hearts, mirrors - all varying in size and embellishment - all divine and made with love.

Christmas!!!!!

Just ordered last lot of star shapes for my driftwood and decoupage Christmas assault!  Booked a trip to the beach en famille this coming weekend and then busy making gorgeous goodies like an elf possessed.

I am pinning a lot on the Winchester Handmade Fair and hoping the Etsy shop will take off.  I clearly need more than just likes and pins to make a living and would appreciate shares/tweets/recommendations if anyone should feel it appropriate.  My creations are getting better and more polished by the day and I have some delightful vintage decoupage creations to show off soon - until then ttfn!

Staying 'on point' is proving a bit of a struggle...for me at any rate!

I am the worst person for distractions.  Especially if the distraction means I don't have to get on with the job in hand.  No wonder my children drive ME to distraction with their own little daydreams and butterfly thoughts and musings...they take after their mum! 

That said, I have knuckled down (here and there) and got creative with my stars and am ready to showcase a couple of examples on my little Blog here - which you are more than welcome to share to as many people as you see fit.  My Etsy shop has many more products than a few weeks ago and I am adding new products weekly (when I am not 'distracted' by my lovely family). 

Christmas time at Driftwood and Debris

My new job is, naturally, impacting on the focus of my new business but I should soon get into a routine and then production and (hopefully) sales should grow.  Wish me luck!

Just over 100 days to go until...yup, Christmas!

I know it's only September, but a friend of mine reminded me (via FB) that there are just over 100 days to go until Christmas.  One part of me is thinking "That's still about a third of a year...ages!".  The other part is thinking "Oh my goodness (and worse, I confess), I have done next to nothing in readiness for what should be a busy old time for me, next to nothing!...Yikes!".

Now, those of you who have been following me will know I have taken on 2 days at the Winchester Handmade indoor Christmas Fayre.  Not one, no!  Two...I have no idea what will sell and so am panicking slightly (Okay, a lot!).  I have a fair amount of driftwood products made and ready and plan to make more but I am itching to push my decoupage hearts and stars which are gorgeous and epitomise the 'debris' side of my business - upcycled wrapping paper, pages from books, old maps and so on.  I am finally using up bits of paper I have clung onto for years because "I knew they would come in useful one day!"

https://www.etsy.com/listing/109024372/five-pointed-tartan-christmas-star-10cm

So, I am plodding along creating gorgeous hearts and stars and hope that others think they are equally gorgeous.  They are keenly priced and available to view or buy in my Etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DriftwoodandDebris

Etsy Shop is Now Open for Business

I am delighted to announce the opening of my Etsy Shop.  It's a great forum for all things hand made and crafted and I'm hoping it will prove a useful vehicle through which to sell my lovingly made driftwood and decoupage products.  Please feel free to forward the link below to anyone you think may be interested.

Driftwood and Debris Etsy Shop


A little disappointed this week since I was expecting to hold a workshop but it was cancelled just 3 days before it was due to take place.  Grrrrr!!!  I had the materials all ready to go and now they are sitting in my workshop ready for another day - at least they won't go off or perish I guess.  On the plus side I got to take my kids to Wilton House in the afternoon and the sun shone the whole time we were there!

Yesterday I received 50 blank MDF stars which I am going to 'pretty up' for Christmas with my new-found decoupage skills using left over wrapping paper and anything else 'christmassy' I can lay my hands on.  I'm hoping to sell them on at the Winchester Craft Fair and maybe the local school Christmas Fayre in a couple of months time.  I'll post some examples up when they're done!