Mud Pack for Cars?

Well, last weekend was a bit of a washout... Did you see the weather, huh? Our new tent was brilliant, though. It kept us dry through the downpours while others got drenched. At least 3 other traders asked us for the tent manufacturer's details. 

So as you can imagine the ground was sodden and quickly churned up into a quagmire. Lots of cars, vans and even 4X4s at the mercy of the towing carts, everyone waiting patiently to be saved.

I looked after the stall on Saturday and when I returned home, in my wee car caked in mud, Dave made a few mocking comments about women drivers and being pulled out of the field by a tractor. I was none too pleased as I thought I'd done particularly well compared to others who were stuck fast as soon as they tried to pull off.

Sunday's weather was a bit sunnier (still with the all too frequent passing downpours!) and a bit busier. Dave helped to man the stall so to cheer myself up I went to get some sinful dark chocolate fudge from Laura's Chocolates  and did a bit of Welly Watching!

And lastly, my pair! I love my lime green wellies

At around 5pm I packed away the stall and Dave dismantled the tent. The car was loaded up and we tried to set off. Dave pulled away with a smug grin and all was going well until we got to the bit I needed to get towed out of.... yep, Dave got stuck too. I didn't say anything, just enjoyed the moment! 

Lots To Tell

This past week (and a bit) has been very hectic and full of ups and downs. On Monday last week I gave a talk about Barony to Logiealmond WRI. I was asked to be a speaker a few months back and all of a sudden there I was infront of a room full of people (isn't it funny how quickly time passes when you are worried about something). Well, I have to say a huge thank you to eveyone for making me feel at ease. It was a great night and I may have spoken for a bit too long once I got into it. Afterwards we had tea, sandwiches and homemade cakes, lovely. A special thank you to Helen for keeping calm before the talk.

Logiealmond WRI

That weekend, over Friday 5th to Sunday 7th, David and I had a couple of large shows as well as supplying a table for a charity fundraiser in Bridge of Allan.

On Friday 5th I set up shop at the Dundee Flower & Food Festival. It was a bit of a slow day (Fridays usually are at these 3 day shows) but by sheer luck I was placed beside Jo Cound, a photographer friend from Crieff Market. Jo's work is mainly of the natural world. Some of her pictures have appeared on magazine covers and loo roll packaging! Don't tell Dave but I did spend much of the day looking through Jo's stall and chatting away. The picture below is one of my favourites and I've told Dave I'd be very pleased with Santa if I found it under the Christmas tree this year...

Bell Cap by Jo Cound

David tended to the stall in Dundee for the rest of the weekend. I wasn't at Dundee on Sat & Sun, I had a stall at Glamis Game Fair and Countryside Festival at Glamis Castle with 3D/2D. What a great time I had & nearly sold out of all my stock. Now that sounds great but I have a view that if I'm running out of stock then I've not made enough! It's great when I have regular customers come up and say 'I was hoping you'd be at this show'.

To add to this busy weekend we had 'Crafty' friends staying over on the Saturday night. Sean & Gillian are known as Hamilton Taylor and are very talented glass workers. Instead of me telling you all about what they do you can visit their webpage. Sean & Gillian live in Glasgow and it's a bit of a trek for them to drive home and come back to Glamis the next day so we offered them a bed for the night. After a long day at Glamis we all headed off to have dinner out (no way was I able to make a 3 course meal in the middle of a show weekend!) and what a joy it was.

My African Delta trinket box and handmade glass beads by Hamilton Taylor

Busy, Busy, Busy!

It’s been a week and a bit since my last post, due to the amount of soap making and summer craft fairs/shows we’ve attended. I’d better give you a quick update.

Friday night, the 18th, David and I headed North for the Inverness Highland Games. We chose the easy option of a Premier Inn for our ‘keeling over and passing out from exhaustion’ sleep over. We got to Inverness around 10ish and tried to check in. No reservations in our names!?! We’d gone to the wrong Premier Inn! Found the right one 10 minutes later, so, not so bad. Saturday and Sunday we set up shop. Struggled with the wind which tried to blow the tent over regularly, but we survived unscathed.

Ewer & Basin by Len Whatley, Crieff Ceramics, made especially for Barony's first Trade Show.

Monday was delivery day. First soap delivery of the day was made to Len at Crieff Ceramics. It was a glorious day so when I arrived Len was outside enjoying the sun and having a wee tea break. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to take him up on the lovely offer of a cuppa… maybe, no definitely, next time. I had to shoot off back to Gloagburn Farm Shop at Tibbermore to delivery their first order. I’ve loved going to Gloagburn for a few years now, and it’s only a few miles down the road from us. I love their café and all their quirky gifts in their shop. I sure Barony Soap will fit right in.

So without sampling any of their yummy raspberry meringues (which I have done on several previous occasions) David and I drove off into wide blue yonder, well Blairgowrie (it could’ve been – I haven’t been to Blair in ages) to deliver the last order of the day.

400 bars - various types - of Barony Soap were delivered to a team heading off to the Interceltique Festival in France as part of a VisitScotland campaign. A bit coals to Newcastle, I know, but some had a distinctly Scottish lilt to them (whisky, heather and oatmeal soaps). Along with a few other companies Barony Soaps were asked to supply products made in Perthshire. It was my friend Lisa at Primrose Hill Interiors who passed my web page details on to the organisers. Thanks again Lisa. Be sure to visit Lisa’s website and blog. She’s a dab hand at this blog thingy (unlike yours truly who’s just started).

So the weekend just past we had three shows, the Comrie Fortnight opening, Arbroath Seafront Spectactular and Hopetoun House Summer Fair. Today I will be making up orders for Tuesday’s delivery to Scone Palace and Buy Designs in Alyth. Next show is Perth Show on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd of August. Hope to see you then.