“Black holdall or suitcase?” the others were asking, nervously, as Mrs S prepared us for our journey to the craft and vintage fair. They breathed a sigh of relief as she assured them we would all be in the holdall.
“Suitcase is ghastly,” Holly explained to me. It’s on wheels – no suspension – and the pavements of Glastonbury are far from even. The holdall swings a bit, but she puts all the really delicate items in there, so we get a smoother journey.”
I nodded. Hardly the way I’m accustomed to travel, but it could have been worse.
I opted to stand on the highest point, beside my wonderful astrologium, and we received many admiring glances. One lady almost paid to take me home, but finally decided her funds were not sufficient.
Jewellery, I noticed, sells very well. So many people bought those little steampunk pendants made from vintage watch parts set in resin. The knitted nightingales, sold in aid of Ukraine, were popular, too. I was delighted to meet a customer carrying a staff who seemed fascinated by my device, but ended up purchasing the last of the time dragons.
I was hoping to offer astrological readings, but the lady on the next stall to ours seemed to have cornered the market and had a constant queue of people wanting to be told their fortune with tarot, angel cards and other such wisdom.
Finally, though, a customer began browsing the books. There were many titles to select from, but on seeing mine, she exclaimed, “Oh – astrology!”
Wizard Widdershins turned to wink at me. I think he meant it as an encouraging gesture, but I found it somewhat inappropriate. Sure enough, though, I sold my first copy and was highly delighted. I’m really rather looking forward to our next fair, in the Town Hall on July 9th. Perhaps I’ll see you there.
Oh, and if you’d like to download a copy for yourself, along with instructions on how to turn it into your own miniature book, for a very modest price, click this link.
Obviously Valentine goodies will be featured – from steampunky stuffed velvet and leather hearts with keys, clocks, chains and more or less anything else that came to hand, to heart-shaped pendants decorated with cogs or crystals.
Perhaps under the cover of those mists we mentioned last time, a selection of tiny bottles has washed up on our banks. (Avalon is, after all, an Isle, if only in name at present.) Each contains a couple of sparkles or tiny gems and a mysterious message, intended only for the eyes of its new recipient. That’s if they can manage to get it out of the bottle… not easy but possible. We’ve tested them.
No peace for us. We’ve been busy replenishing stocks – trying hard to remember just how we made those lines that sold out last year and, obviously, inventing new ones. Once again, we’re happy to announce, there are over 100 lines for sale at the 
The first of those is fast approaching – Saturday 12th February (so just in time for Valentine’s Day!) at the Craft and Vintage Fair in Glastonbury Town Hall, Somerset from 10.30.
We have a brief respite now until our last sale of 2021 at Glastonbury Town Hall on December 18th, then a winter break until February. The 
Mrs S has enjoyed herself thoroughly and is kept busy creating new stock in between all the sales. Here she can be seen showing off the Case of the Apothecary’s Shop and some of the Clockton-upon-Teas buildings. We have a very few of those left for the next stall, then we’ll be raiding the recycling box for more packets and bottles to upcycle ready for next year.
Having been gifted many boxes of vintage Swiss watch parts – from the days before batteries, back when the clockwork mechanisms were wound by hand – Mrs S spends many happy hours at her desk, picking out one tiny piece after another and deciding what, in that strange mind of hers, they look like. Here, for example, you might be able to spot a gecko driving a combine harvester, Rudolf the wonky reindeer, a flying griffin, a bird on wheels and a turkey… or not! It’s very much in the eye of the beholder. 
Our current favourite is this little horse. Odd that watch parts lend themselves to such an interesting range of designs, including animals. Mind you, we’ve recently been asked if there’s an otter… even watch parts have their limits!
Steampunk - Shrunk! 