You don't have to be a student to visit the Trade Fair as it will be open on Saturday 22nd August for visitors (you can find out more and register using the button on the right). In this post Becky Belcher tell us about how the Trade Fair team went about planning the trade fair for this year's summer school.
We at The Birmingham and District Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers are primarily responsible for organising the Trade Fair at this year's Summer School. We want to make the Trade Fair as special and interesting as possible, so we have endeavoured to collect together some of the best names in textile loveliness.
Last year we had a "Six Guilds" event, so that was our starting point when thinking about who to invite to trade at Summer School 2015. We then contacted the tutors booked to teach at Summer School. We wanted to solicit their ideas for which traders would be specifically good to invite, in terms of what students might want to add to their own collections of tools and equipment and fibres, pertinent to their new and developing skills from their Summer School classes. We also thought about traders that we had seen at shows ourselves, and who we thought may be good to have at the Trade Fair.
Then we sat down and made a list ... we wanted choice amongst the disciplines, but had to weigh that against not having too many traders representing any one aspect of our crafts. We sent out packs to prospective traders. Some were already busy, with holidays and other commitments. However, the final list looks good.
Cyndi, Kate, Carolyn and I joined Chris, Abigail and Ann on a site visit to Moreton Morrell. We saw the hall, took more measurements and generally got a clearer idea of how the hall will be laid out. Chris, the convenor, who looks after everything, has been busy adding traders' websites to the blog. This is great as individuals can now order specific things and traders will hopefully be able to accommodate customers and bring things along to the Trade Fair.
Traders themselves are adding short descriptions of their stalls and wares to the blog, almost daily, generating a keen interest, and a "must go to" date in the diary for all fibre lovers. Traders have also donated special prizes to our raffle, which are also being listed on the blog. These tickets will be on sale at the Trade Fair on both days.
We hope to raise a lot of money for the bursary fund, for future Summer School attendees, so make sure you not only get tickets for yourself, but remember to get your friends to order some tickets, too!!!
Becky
