Another Christmas fair season survived at Lost in a Book

 

Well that was a busy Christmas fair season, the thing with Christmas fairs is that they all come at once...

And what am I left with? Well apart from an aching back from lifting boxes of books in and out of the car, and a little flock of legless sheep - who are now destined to remain legless till after Christmas... very festive.

What I do have is a stock of books for my online bookshop, waiting to be posted out for that unique Christmas present. So, if you're too busy or too tired to hike around the shops, why not give yourself  an easy life and order online.

First Christmas fair of the season

Christmas seems to be taking over in the shops and on tv and radio already, and on Friday I'm at my first Christmas fair of the season... time to dig out the Christmas hat and round up the sheep.

Skelton School York Christmas fair Friday 13th Nov. 6 - 9pm 

#LostinaBook

#Christmasfair 

New sheep - wool crisis averted

The emergency wool trip turned up a new wool  - and here is the resulting sheep, slightly different, but different is good in handcrafted...  

So here is the first of the new flock:

So now all I have to do is turn the rest of this ball of wool into a flock of sheep in time for Saturday when I'm booked in at the Guildhall in York's city centre for a Christmas craft and gift fair.

Christmas fairs in York

A very successful day for Lost in a Book at my book signing in York at the weekend in Belfrey Hall on Stonegate in York's city centre.

Lost in a Book in York

The Christmas lights were twinkling in Stonegate and Christmas shoppers were out in force looking for something special, and York never disappoints, with a wealth of independent traders and festive fairs.

It's nice to know that among all the high tech presents getting wrapped up this Christmas, there'll be lots of my books - and yes a quite a few sheep... The sheep all went to new homes at the weekend, so now I need to go on an emergency wool shopping trip in order not to disappoint at my next book signing.

I've also been shopping for bags - and after getting carried away looking at polka dot bags, stripey bags, bags with Christmas trees on... I got a reality check at the checkout, and bought some less expensive ones instead. As an independent author and publisher I have to spend my money wisely, and the place for quality is in my products, not in fancy packaging that's only going to get thrown away...

Lost in a Book New date added

New date added - again:

Christmas book signings - Lost in a Book 2014 

• Sat 15th Nov 10am-4.30pm The Belfrey Hall, York city centre 
• Thurs 27th Nov 7-9pm Knavesmire Primary School - Christmas Shopping Evening
• Sat 30th & Sun 31st Nov Haxby Memorial Hall - Christmas Fair
• Sat 6th Dec 10am-4.30pm  Tithe Barn Nehter Poppleton Christmas Fair
• Sun 7th Dec 12 noon - 6pm Yorkshire Heart Vineyard Christmas Fair 

Lost in a Book had a successful day on Saturday at York's Guildhall, and now I have an exciting new date added for next weekend:

Belfry Hall on Stonegate 15th Nov - it's over 30 years since I worked on Stonegate in a carvery that's sadly no longer there. Stonegate is just one of York's beautiful historic streets, and it'll be a lovely to be doing a book signing there, especially as York gets all festive for another Christmas season.

Christmas fair - Book singing - York

New date added:

York's Guild Hall - this Saturday 8th November I'll be at a Christmas fair in the heart of York, signing books and encouraging everyone to get Lost in a Book this Christmas. What could be better than snuggling up on a winters evening with a book...?

Getting children into reading is one of the best things you can do for their future. Sewing the seeds of a love of books - so why not start up a new tradition and give them books this Christmas.

Christmas countdown in October...?

OK I know it's still October - but I'm already on a countdown to my first Christmas fair of the season...

On November 1st I'll be in Wetherby at the town hall. There's an exciting list of other traders and crafters, which always makes for a fun day - and there'll coffee and cake - what more could you want?

In my little corner of the fair I'll have books and sheep, possibly a few cats (not real ones - they'll be staying at home), and some of my new quiet / busy books, talking of which... I feel another one coming on.

I wonder what I can come up with this afternoon...?  something festive maybe...

Christmas Fairs and Book Signings - York 2014

Christmas fairs and book signings: Lost in a Book

• Sat 1st Nov 10am - 3pm Wetherby Town Hall - Charity Christmas Craft and Gift Fair in aid of children's heart surgery fund.
• Thurs 27th Nov 7 - 9pm Knavesmire Primary School - Christmas Shopping Evening
• Sat 30th & Sun 31st Nov Haxby Memorial Hall - Christmas Fair
• Sat 6th Dec 10am - 4.30pm  Tithe Barn Nehter Poppleton Christmas Fair
• Sun 7th Dec 12 noon - 6pm Yorkshire Heart Vineyard Christmas Fair 

...there'll be books, there'll be sheep - and a few other things yet to be made...

Book signings and Christmas fairs... and sheep

It's that time of year again, and dates for Christmas fairs are filling up, mostly in November and into December, I probably should get back into sheep production to save a last minute rush - last year I seemed to spend every night in November knitting extra sheep to keep up with demand, and this year I have a few other hand made items in mind...

Sheep on the loose... this is what happens when Downboy the sheepdog isn't around

Christmas book signing... there'll be books, there'll be sheep...

While bedlam ensues on the high street  this Saturday I'll be enjoying the Christmas  party atmosphere at York Flea Market , so why not come along and buy a unique gift for someone for Christmas, and enjoy some festive food and drink.

There'll be books - there'll be sheep. one sheep free with every purchase of But I'm Not Sleepy while stocks last...

Book signing at Christmas fair this weekend near York

This one has to be one of my favourites of the year - a Christmas fair in the beautiful Tithe Bran Nether Poppleton near York. 7th Dec 10am - 4.30pm

And what's more - tomorrow is Support Small Business Day, and my business can be fitted into a fewer boxes and bags, although I did invest in a crate on wheels this summer so that I don't enter every event staggering under the weight of my books and a flock of sheep... well they are only small sheep, but sheep can be quite unruly, especially without the help of a sheepdog...

Lost in a Book, knitted sheep and book signings...

Well on Friday I got totally lost in a book, and all mundane jobs and worries went out of my head, in favour of editing ready to  get a print quote for my next book. There are a lot of photos despite my best efforts to edit some out, so I think I'll be taking a deep breath before opening the quote, and hope I don't have to edit out any more.

Meanwhile... sheep production is back in full swing to promote But I'm Not Sleepy at my Christmas book signings - the next one is in the beautiful Tithe Barn in Nether Poppleton near York on Saturday 7th Dec 10am - 4.30pm There'll be one free knitted sheep with every purchase of But I'm Not Sleepy, while stocks last.

Book signing

Another week another Christmas shopping evening - this week it's at Knavesmire Primary School in York. Thursday 7 - 9pm where I'll be inviting everyone to get Lost in a Book this Christmas.

I have new stocks of Lost in the Christmas Post - the second print run arrived just in time for the Christmas rush...

Successful book sigings

I had a very good weekend signing books. My little flock of ten sheep have all gone out to new homes with copies of But I'm Not Sleepy, the book that inspired them.

The customer of the day on Saturday had to be little Annabelle, who went away in her buggy cuddling her new sheep and saying "Baa", her copy of the book tucked into the shopping tray of her buggy for later :)

York Flea Market proved to be an interesting and successful day, and one I'll definitely be going back to.

Whixley Winter Craft Fair was a lovely traditional village craft fair with an array of hand crafted gifts. I met some lovely people who share my passion for books, and enjoyed browsing and buying my books, many for Christmas presents.

So what next...?
Back to basics with some proof reading - and then tonight I'll be knitting more sheep for my next event on Thursday: A Christmas Shopping Event in Wilberfoss.

Christmas fairs

It's November, which means it's Christmas fair season.

My first event of the season is next Friday 8th November 7-9pm at Huntington Primary School in York, where we'll be getting festive at a Christmas shopping evening. I'll be signing books and inviting everyone to get Lost in a Book.
I can't imagine a Christmas without a book to disappear into at some point...

Book signing dates, York area... come and Get lost in a Book

Shopping evenings and Christmas fairs 2013

Get Lost in a Book at:

8th November 7-9pm Huntington Primary School Christmas Shopping Evening

17th November 11am - 4pm Whixley Village Craft Fair

21st November 6.30pm Wilberfoss & District Playgroup &Toddler Group Christmas Shopping Evening

28th November 7-9pm Knavesmire Primary School Christmas Shopping Evening

7th Dec 10am - 4.30pm Tithe Barn, Church Lane Nether Poppleton Christmas Fair