Fair Christmas Fayre at the Horniman – first day highlights!

Our first day of the Horniman Weekend Christmas Fayre is complete- and what a magical day!  I feel so releived that there is another day tomorrow so Not A Single One of You need miss out!Both conservatory and the pavilion are utterly jampacked with the most delightful array of gifts. There is absolutely something for every single person in your life! From luxury homewares, to quirky, affordable handicrafts, from clothing to jewelry to toys.  It was bustling throughout, as people enjoyed the festive treats, the kids activities and two market areas.

I have been running Christmas Fayres for five years but was seriously gobsmacked by the diversity and gorgeousness of these markets! Here is a little glimpse of some of my favourites…

Organic kids clothing from Hardcore Softpaw, pure alpaca items from Alpaca Sol, fairtrade birdy necklace from Just Trade, posh organic mens shirts from Arthur and Henry, wooden duck toy from Top Wooden Toys, palestinian peace bird from Trading for Development and local prints from South London Prints.

Phew, all these plus MANY, MANY more things are available all day tomorrow from 10:30 – 5:30pm. Have a read on the Horniman site for more info.

Hope to see you there!

Christmas Ethical Market in London… just imagine it!

STOP! Don’t buy a thing! Don’t waste all that energy locating unique gifts for all your different family members and friends. Don’t fret about popping to this fair trade spot, or that handmade market. And definitely don’t bruise your conscience by spending your cash on gifts from tax evaders!!

You see, there is a place, a lovely spot just in London where you can get every single gift on your list in one fowl swoop, without needing to worry a dash about the impact on the earth. We have found London’s most ethical traders and we have bought them together to make your life simple and to ease the stress of Christmas consumerism on the planet.

There will be luxury fairtrade men’s shirts, organic vegan beauty products, handcrafted homewares and homemade candles in vintage teacups. There will be prints from local photographers, hand knitted garments and a whole stall of perfect, eco wooden kids toys! There will be organic cupcakes and baking, fairtrade refreshments and uplifting festive music. All under one roof. What a delight!

We hope to see you there!

Saturday 1st December 2012 11-6pm

The Regent Hall
275 Oxford Street
Opposite BHS

and

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December 2012
10:30- 5:30pm
Horniman Museum
100 London Road

Five steps to a Handmade Christmas

I bumped into a friend on the street the other day who was in a rush to post something. She explained in a glum voice “I just had to buy a car and a pressie for my niece as that side of my family don’t like my homemade efforts!” They had openly told her that she can keep her beautiful handicrafts to herself; they thought she was a cheapskate for never buying new items.

I was completely gobsmacked!

In my humble opinion nothing says LOVE better than a handcrafted item. The thought and time poured into a little card, a tiny knitted teddy, or a carved kids toy blows the effort of shopping and picking something off a shelf out of the water!

If you are hoping for a homemade Christmas here are 5 steps to get you on your way:

• Start Now! With just a month to the start of December now is the time to sit down with a pen and paper and sketch out who you would like to make for. Put some music on, get your creative juices flowing and brainstorm the stuff these people love. You don’t have to make any decisions now, but you must get your thoughts brewing!
• Be inspired! There is a fine line between being inspired by something and nicking an idea completely but it isn’t a line that bothers me much. What a complement, if people mimic your crafts! If you are planning on selling them, that is a different matter, and if you are going to blog about it ALWAYS link back to the original idea. Go to your favourite shops and art galleries and jot down the things that inspire you.
• Organise your ideas. I can not recommend Pinterest enough as a way of organising your inspiration. You can have a board for each person and “pin” photos of gifts to each board. If you are new to Pinterest, check out this How To. Search under CRAFT and DIY and you will soon be inundated with beautiful ideas.
• Don’t just stop at gifts. Consider handmaking your Christmas decorations, your cards, your Christmas crackers. You MUST join this brilliant Facebook page – it will show your just how seriously you can take a handmade Christmas!
• Support handmade business. If you love the thought of filling your home with handmade items and giving all handmade but don’t feel you have the time or a creative bone in your body do consider supporting the wonderful handcrafted industry here in the UK. These incredible, unique items are often overlooked for the ease of the High Street but getting along to a local Christmas Fair can allow you to buy your entire shopping list from handmade stalls.

If you are in London stop by our ethical Christmas Fayres with THOUSANDS of handmade gifts and Christmas decorations. We have one on Oxford Street on 1st December and one at the Horniman Museum on 8th and 9th December.

Fair Christmas Fayre online!

Join our Oxford Street Fayre as a Facebook event right here!

Join our Horniman Museum Fayre as a Facebook event by clicking here!

You can find us on Twitter  

Come and say hello, we are well friendly!

These hand knitted sheep are part of a fairtrade nativity that was for sale last year- how gorgeous!

 

Fair Christmas Fayre on Oxford Street

The Regent Hall
275 Oxford Street
Opposite BHS

Saturday 1st December 2012 11-6pm

The first Fair Christmas Fayre was held on Oxford Street five years ago, as a way of bringing ethical Christmas gifts to the crowds of shoppers and of crouse we are back with a bigger an better Fayre!

Each year increasing numbers of Fairtrade, handmade, eco and vintage traders have participated, and each year thousands of shoppers flock through the doors.

Organiser Lucy AitkenRead says “We want to make ethical shopping as simple as possible. By having a huge selection of gifts to chose from, in accessible and family friendly spots, we hope more people will opt for a Santa’s sack that is easy on the planet and the conscience!”

And we love that this Fayre supports the amazing work of the Salvation Army’s International Development work!

Find us here:

View Larger Map

PS- For 2012, Fair Christmas Fayre have added another venue and another weekend – the Fayre will be held in the stunning location of the Horniman Museum in South London as part of a whole festive family festival including carol singing and a Santa’s grotto.

Fair Christmas Fayre at the Horniman Museum

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December 2012
10:30- 5:30pm
Horniman Museum
100 London Road

We are thrilled to be working with the Horniman Museum this year, bringing thousands of ethical gifts to people south of the river!

This year the Horniman have a whole weekend of festive fun planned including carol concerts and a Santa’s Grotto and the ethical marketplace will be a key part of the festivities.

The historic Horniman is set in stunning gardens, with brilliant access by rail, car and bus. The Fayre will be happening in the beautiful Victorian conservatory – the perfect space to highlight the gorgeous products on sale.

Find out more and book Santa’s Grotto here!

Calling all ethical traders!

Do you sell fairtrade/ eco/ organic/ vintage/ upcycled/ handmade in the UK gifts? We would love you to be a part of our Christmas Fayres this winter.

Our first is happening on Oxford Street on Saturday 1st December and our second takes place the following weekend at the Horniman Museum in Dulwich – 8th – 9th December.

Please download our application form

and send it through to fairchristmasfayre@gmail.com as soon as you can to secure your spot.

Can’t wait to hear from you!