It goes without saying you need to like crowds if you visit the Fabulous Places Christmas Market. If this was a rom’ com’ film, you’d be able to swirl about the Roundhouse in Derby with Hugh Grant on your arm (still would) with no one but a hot buttery mince pie seller in sight; oh and there would be a light flurry of snow outside.
As it is, the smart money has you standing in a long queue at 9.25am (opens at 10am) and feeling a little cold because – although there’s no romantic blizzard/Hugh Grant in sight – it’s freezing because you are just in your shirt sleeves (don’t take a coat; you’ll regret it once you are inside).
The other thing about attending Christmas fairs in real life is they always seem to happen in November; it doesn’t matter how many hand-painted shabby chic signs there are proclaiming ‘it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas’. It really isn’t. This fair was held on November 11th. It’s hard to feel Christmassy when the wood is still smouldering on your bonfire.
Right, that’s enough of the bah humbug stuff. Even in mid-November but there are ten fabulous reasons to visit this Christmas Market. So sharpen-up your elbows as tomorrow is another day. If your really don’t like crowds – avoid the peak times between 11am-2pm.
If you are very lucky you can even get up close and personal with a mince pie (sorry, Hugh Grant is otherwise engaged).
You can meet the makers
The Midlands area is blessed with some wonderfully creative folk – and not all of them have a real-life shop. You can make your eyes bleed looking at the Instagram feed. But there’s nothing quite like seeing the merchandise and being able to chat with your heroes and heroines of the hand-made world. Take Stacey Gray MacDonald, of Darwin and Gray. Stacey has an on-line paper and textile design business but there’s nothing like picking up a bespoke cushion and giving it a cuddle is there?
You can plan your Christmas tableau
Remember when Christmas decoration meant a simple tree, a holly wreath and granddad’s old fishing sock over the fire? These days, we have trends, themes and colours for every room and garden. If you are planning your Christmas tableau – don’t even go there with your big purple baubles, so last year. This is the year of Arctic chic. The Christmas Market was awash with creatures from The Poles…penguins, polar bears and…yet more penguins and polar bears. Rustic and gingham is still popular and 2017’s version of tinsel is simply twine bedecked with stars made from old musical scores. Got that? Good. It is going to be a white Christmas this year…with a little bit of sophisticated silver. Get all the inspiration you will ever need at the festively themed stall of The Alphabet Gift Shop.
You can indulge your inner child
At one stage I heard a lady at the market moaning about the market having ‘too much children’s stuff’. I cannot remember when I stopped liking toys, teddies, dolls and fairy dresses – I cannot remember because it hasn’t happened yet.
My only regret is that my SON is 20 and, as my friends mostly have boys, I have never had occasion to buy a pink tulle ballerina skirt with matching handmade wand. Not an occasion I’d like to share. If you do buy from the market for girls big or small; you’ll be sure you’re buying something bespoke. These ethically sourced, organic clothes and toys are by Acorn and Pip.
You can fall in love with crafts
My friend Juliette is a felter. She can take a lump of matted wool and turn it into something wonderful just by stabbing it with a sharp needle. Last Christmas, she didn’t give me her heart but she did give me a felt version of my dog Eddie. She claims it’s an easy hobby and you’ll certainly find lot of inspiration for you own craft projects at the Christmas Market (some of the stall even have DIY craft kits). But if the whole ‘handmade goddess’ thing isn’t for you…check out these felted snowmen (The Greenery) or the linen goose (made by Joy Interiors) on neighbouring stalls 34,33.
You can buy gifts – no one else can buy
Okay, so I am not saying the lovely crafts people who run Glosters will break the mould after making one piece. But they’re artisans who do make bespoke, hand-crafted pieces you won’t find for £4 in Ikea. Nothing marks you out as a fabulous gift-giver more than buying an artisan gift with a loved one in mind. If that loved one is your good self – even better.
You can support a local business
I do know quite a few crafty people. With hand on heart, I can honestly say they put in far more than they ever get back. Everything they produce is a labour of love – so they’re not going to send a dress out with a drooping hem. You can be fairly sure that these pieces will cost a little more than something mass produced in China – so get your money out and put a smile on the face of every person who sews/felts/card-makes etc at the kitchen table. Like the talented Jo of Derbyshire-based Bowbeaus (above and left) who handmade pretties – the wands in particular – were going down a storm with the yummy mummies.
You can do your bit for the environment by buying vintage
There are people who look at rusty tins cans, buckets, watering cans and advertising boxes and think ‘junk’. These people are usually husbands. There are others (me) who look at these things and see treasure – but knowing how to style a galvanised bucket is another matter. Fortunately, there are fabulously talented people at the Christmas Market who can up-cycle old vintage pieces and show you how to style them in your vintage home. Look out for the following stall-holders with their to-die-for displays; Amanda Hamilton, Lavender Grey, Joy Interiors, Le Chien Et Moi, Bridgemont Decorative Antiques and Harry & Frank (see above).
If I haven’t mentioned you; it’s because I didn’t see you, sorry.
You can meet people who may inspire you to become a maker
This time last year Charlotte Toyer was a mum with a passion for sewing. Soon ‘Lotta’s House‘ became a little snug for all her projects and voila – a business was born. What caught my eye about Charlotte’s stall were the soft, pastel hues which unite the whole range…Charlotte has such a distinctive style which is refreshing in a world of ‘copy cat’ crafting. Charlotte was on her first market after launching just a few weeks before. You never know, next year it could be….YOU.
You can personalise your wares
We are the vain-glorious, selfie-loving generation. Nothing put a smile on our faces like a personalised gift. The Nottinghamshire company (above and left) makes Beau-ti-ful gifts and a lot of them can literally have your name on them.
They’ll even do ‘family list’ pictures etc which always amuses me because – on my list – hubby would be at the end after Einstein the goldfish (now deceased). Check out the other stalls for personalised jewellery, ceramics and illustrative designs including a talented artist who claimed she could do a jolly cartoon of my terror terrier Eddie. It’s still making me smile to think of him at his ‘sitting’ for his portrait (hope she’s got lots of glue/treats).
You can feed your faces
I have saved the best bit about the fair until last. There are oodles of stalls selling food and drink – much of it locally sourced and produced. Even better, a lot of the generous stall-holders will let you try before you buy – so I sampled a soupcon of cake, biscuits, Hartington Stilton, cracker with dip and chocolate covered coffee beans without spoiling my breakfast. If you’re so inclined you can wash the whole lot down with alcohol – punch, Prosecco, cocktails, gin – or a tame fruit juice or frothy coffee. Look out for stall selling wood fired pizzas, churros and gourmet burgers. Yum.
The Fabulous Places Christmas Market is on tomorrow (November 12) from 10-4pm. Entry is £2.
Photo (right) a selection of children’s clothes handmade in Derbyshire by Busy Little Things
