I'm back, and even before I unload the car I wanted to give you The Hopetoun House Christmas Fair. Before you even reach the house you have this fabulous view of the Forth bridges.
Then this view, Hopetoun House in all her glory.
This has to be the most wonderful location for a fair. it is just so special.For just a few days once a year you feel part of this magical place.
A mere blip in time for such a place as this, but it is oh so special just to have that tiny part of it.
These are just a few snaps of the ground floor of the house. We were in the servants area. In fact our coffee area was the old butlers pantry.
Spot the coffee makings in the little wax work set up they have. A tad spooky to have your cuppa with these guys looking on.
A snapshot of life in days gone by.
And now some snapshots of life right up to the minute. Here are the stands of friends old and new. Sue Quinn makes THE most amazing bears and little woodland creatures. Idgy was helping me on my stand and spent more time with Sue and her hubby than she did with me. Needless to say one of Sue's gorgeous furry creatures came home with us.
My Brazilian friend Cristiane who makes the most amazing jewelery. We have known each other for years and always do swapsys with our goodies each year. This time I got a gorgeous pendant to add to my little collection.
Lesley of Cottage Clutter had a great show. Her standlovely and Christmassy you just wanted to get in there and find all the goodies.
These great mosaics are made by Carole, a blog reader! You guys turn up everywhere. I love these plaques, you can use them in the house or in the garden.
This is down in our little burrow where we have four stands together. Totally Tartan is Julie 's fabulously colourful and cosy stand. Don't you love those pooch pillows!
Moira's Barefoot Books. A magnet for the child in all of us. So much info and learning all wrapped up in colourful fun.
As ever Carey's stand for Rustique Interiors was just amazing. She puts so much work into her into her set ups. You are welcomed into her cosy, comfortable world of tweedy patchwork, hand painted clocks, naturally scented soaps and quirky furniture. As ever Carey's stand is the rightful star of any show.
And her's mine, last but not least. Looking a tad bare, but I did take these pix yesterday on our last day. The show was really busy all weekend, we only really had time to spare on Sunday when the public were enjoying coffees and teas in the main hall. It was at this point that a certain silliness took over down in our burrow.
Moira (Barefoot Books) had been telling children stories using one of the seriously realistic puppets on her stand. She had been carrying about this goat puppet all day, he was highly popular with everyone, old and young alike. We decided that his popularity was his downfall, the goat must go. First we kidnapped him and left Moira a ransom note. A search ensued and Moira got her goat back. Hours passed, the goat got more popular by the minute. People were coming into our burrow and asking 'where is this marvelous goat puppet we've been hearing about'. Enough was enough.
The goat got it!
It is not all serious selling and hard work at these fairs. There is fun, friendship and just a dash of frivolity. Hopetoun House is a fun fair.
Karon x