October Round-Up: Craft Fairs, Confidence & Creative Adventures
It’s been such an exciting and productive month — one that’s truly seen my little hobby turn into a real business! My confidence has grown so much, and I even took a big personal step toward becoming healthier.
Crafting
I was absolutely thrilled that my Facebook group reached 300 members this month! To celebrate (and to say a huge thank you for all the amazing support), I put on a special discount offer for patterns in my Etsy store.
Each month, our group chooses a new creative theme — and October’s was Steampunk, which I was so excited about! I shared a few free patterns for members to enjoy and started working on a steampunk-themed book myself. It’s still a work in progress, as a few other projects popped up along the way — but I can’t wait to finish it!
This month I also worked on several other books, including a detailed Pokémon design, a Pokémon-themed wedding book, and a lion book for an order.
But the biggest event of all was my first-ever craft fair!
I took along my folded books and handmade cards — and I’ll admit, I was super nervous at first. But meeting so many lovely people who had such kind things to say about my work really boosted my confidence. I sold some books and cards, and it was the first time I truly felt like “Yes, my work is good!”
After the fair, I decided to give my Etsy shop a complete makeover — adding finished books alongside my patterns, updating my photos, and rewriting my listings for a cleaner, more cohesive look. It finally feels like a proper little shop, and I couldn’t be happier with how it’s come together!
Photography
After a particularly stressful week, my wonderful partner Marc surprised me with a beautiful bunch of flowers — and they turned out to be the perfect new photography subject!
I set them up by the rain-covered window, grabbed my tripod and macro lens, and spent some quiet time capturing their details. The results turned out lovely (you can see them in the photos here!).
We also went to Light Night Leeds, one of our favourite annual events where the city centre comes alive with light displays and performances. Our favourite act — as always — was Spark!, a group of drummers who never fail to put on an incredible show. You can read all about the night (and see the photos, of course!) right here.
Real Life
This month, I decided to try something new — penpalling!
It felt like a great way to connect with new people without actually having to meet in person. I wanted to learn about different cultures and ease myself back into writing again. I’ve now sent and received a few letters, and I’m absolutely loving it! I already have penpals from all around the world, and I can’t wait to get to know them better.
I won’t lie — it’s also been a bit of a stressful month. Between the craft fair and some health worries, my mental health has taken a bit of a wobble. But things are starting to feel a lot better as we head into the end of the month — just in time for the Christmas rush!
On the health front, I made a big decision and started using weight loss injections. I’ll admit, I was sceptical at first and saw it as “the easy way out,” but after trying so many other approaches, I realised there’s nothing wrong with getting a little help. I’m just starting week three now and already down 5 lbs — feeling motivated and hopeful!
Overall, the biggest change this month has been a boost in my confidence. The craft fair really opened my eyes to how far I’ve come, and for the first time, I feel genuinely proud of what I create.
Looking Ahead to November
I’ve got a feeling November is going to be busy — but hopefully a little less stressful!
Our Facebook group’s theme for the month is Winter Landscapes, and I’ve already prepared some patterns that I hope everyone will enjoy. I’m not sure yet if I’ll make a book myself for the theme, but we’ll see how the month goes. There will also be a poll for members of the group to pick December’s theme.
I’ll also be working on my ongoing projects — the steampunk book and the detailed Pokémon design — and probably squeezing in a few Christmas-themed books along the way! Plus, there’ll be plenty of birthday and Christmas cards to make, too.
It’s hard to believe how quickly the year has flown by — Christmas is almost here again already!
I’d love to know what you’ve been up to this month!
Pop a comment below and share your latest projects, achievements, or anything exciting that’s happened — I always love hearing from you.
Clare x
I donated a few books to a charity silent auction and one sold for $50! I’m never sure my work is up to par so I was excited when this happened.
Congratulaions! I generally share my books with online book folding communities and found a big shock sharing it outside in the “real world” and how amazed everyone outside of the craft was at them!