Monday, February 26, 2007

London here we come!

Well, the nerves have really set in now - two weeks and counting until the Country Living Fair. This time in two weeks we will be driving down the M6 in a trusty Transit into uncharted territory. Minor angst trying to work out stock storage for the Fair - a) there is very little storage when you get there, b) we have discovered that I can't drive the transit due to an unfortunate little issue of an 'IN10' (Driving without Insurance) on my driving licence (don't ask - husband forgot to reinsure car, man drove into back of me, I had to produce insurance docs at police station - whoops! not insured! - 6 points and £250 later, marriage just about got through it) - anyway, the upshot is that I can't hire a van for five years, so husband is having to drive there and back. He will then have to leave the van at Heathrow while he comes back home to look after the children while I'm away and then pick it up when he comes back down the following Sunday to help me pack up, and then drive me and (hopefully very little) stock back to Scotland. Anyway, all this means that I won't have the van near me to act as a warehouse for stock and just a 1m x 2m space on a floor at the Business Design Centre - so, if any of you come to the Fair and find Twice on Stand G1 looking slightly empty, you'll know why!

We're just put the finishing touches to the stand infrastructure - this picture shows the first dress rehersal. Very pleased with how it all looks. In the forefront are our wonderful new Cot Quilts, which we are launching at the Fair. I am so pleased with how these have turned out. I have been thinking about them for ages - I wanted to find a way to use vintage patchworks in a different way - and this really works. We take the patchwork and back it with vintage blanket and then edge it using the fabulous Scottish natural linen that we use whenever possible. I think they will be a real heirloom piece - each one is very much a limited edition, with no more than two in each patchwork - I know I would have been thrilled to have been given one for any of my babies!

It's a glorious day in Scotland - I really feel we are through the winter now. It is light when the children go to school and light when they come home - it's always such a good feeling when we come blinking out of the dark into proper daylight - a palpable feeling of having got through it again! And the first daffodils are just about to come out.

Caroline

3 comments:

Jane said...

It looks really lovely - what a bummer about the van - why don't you give the organisers a call & explain the issue & get put on a waiting list for extra space. I say this as it worked for a stall across from us at the Scottish show last year. They say there is no more space but on the day there often is.

I am always delighted that despite the fact there are lots of people making things with materials they all look distinctive - Primrose Hill's stall looks completely different from Spiky Pebble looks completely different from me looks completely different from you. It makes it so much easier to collaborate!

Good luck.

Primrose Hill said...

Caroline, you'll do fab! Your trial run looks superb. Bummer about the van, as Jane said, see if they can get you some extra space, that would certainly help the situation. Can't believe we've only got 3 weeks to go, I'm really panicking now, so much to do, so little time left! Always the way!

Good luck with it all, you'll go down a storm with all the "Boden Babes"!

L xx

Twice said...

Thanks Lisa for your encouraging message - I think we can both empathise with the other's current situation - frantic labelling fiddling and working all the hours available! Good luck and let's compare notes afterwards. And, Jane, thanks again for your tip re storage - has been actioned!
Caroline x