2019 Duxford Spring
Wet, Windy and Wabbit! - by Claire
Pretty much sums up the Duxford show, but I’d better give you a more in-depth review. Slightly different from normal, this is a trader perspective.
Setup day Thursday - an even earlier start than a normal working day. Taxi to Liverpool Street ready for the train journey to Whittlesford Parkway. Didn’t get off to a great start with an argument with the ticket seller and no sugar in my tea, at least there was nothing wrong with the bacon baguette. Thankfully Dad was waiting at the station to pick me up so no more travel woes. He had also managed to get the van unloaded the previous day and piled in the hall ready for assembly. You’d think it’d be easy after all the shows we’ve done but we discuss the same things each time and both get ratty with each other. Me because of getting up early (I’m not a morning/day person) and him due to a long drive down the day before. In saying that though, we do manage it and only have small bits to do in the morning.
You’d think I’d be finished but no I help out the stall behind, he’s not yet unloaded and needs help holding steady the cage trolley at the van as the wind is catching everything. Bolts (fabric) are going flying and I also just manage to stop another trolley running into another van, not only that but the rain started. The only down side of being at the airfield is you feel very exposed and you can see the strength of the wind by the air socks. Still we managed it and all was well. Home time for the day, fall asleep watching Tipping Point before heading to the pub for dinner.
Show Days - Early morning start again to get to the hall for the last bit of prep. It’s small bits that take no time at all when fresh in the morning but would take hours the day before. Ready and awaiting customers, it starts and doesn’t finish until 4.30 p.m.
Pub, bed, repeat, same on Saturday.
Sunday a different story, this is my day for going round the quilts in the morning before anyone arrives. It’s bliss, you can get up close and personal and admire the handy work without anyone getting in the way, I say that then bump into none other than Andy from Crafty UK doing the exact same thing. Before you know it it’s show time again. Sunday is always a little quieter but still there’s always plenty to do, restock and top up spare boxes ready for the next show.
I think I did alright, I didn’t spend anything as I’m not buying fabric and trying to use my stash. I’m right in saying that it doesn’t count getting it from my Dad does it? Oops, but still I’ve come to the conclusion that quilting and fabric collecting are two different hobbies.
Show over, pack down, arm lodged in van door, cancelled train, horrible journey home in pain and then back to work on early shift on Monday morning.
Dad had an easier night, back to the hotel before his big premier on Hochanda as the Kilted Quilter on Monday. He was showing off samples (sewn in the travel lodge and cut at the show) and selling panels and flat pack jelly’s before driving home later that night. What followed was a few days of slave labour for my Gran, picking and packing orders, I thought she’d retired but doesn't seem like it, still going strong at 82 (she is an honorary member of SQ and knows everything that happens even privy to the committee meetings) .
So we’re both ready to do it all again this weekend coming at Malvern for a Crafting Live Show, no rest for the wicked.
Note: Wabbit means exhausted!