Chat n Snap

My younger daughter and I attended the Sasha Chat n Snap yesterday organised by Dee of Sasha Village and we had a great day.  The event ran in her local village hall in Hertfordshire with Sasha enthusiasts from all over the country attending.

We arrived 30 minutes before the official 11 am start and had plenty of time to set up the few items I had made to sell, chat to others as we set up and admire each other's dolls and accessories.  Sale start time wasn't until 12 noon which meant later arrivals still had time to set up.  We were pleased to be between Gill and her wonderful knitting and Chris M and her variety of accessories and dolls.  Early on we made a beeline for the dolls which Angela was selling (she had brought about a third of her collection) and were attracted to the early 70s sexed baby boy she had for sale, as I've been looking for one for some time.

My girl helped set up our stall, prowled around all the others spotting items she wanted us to buy and chatting to people.

I had made some Garden Games sets, inspired by the prototype set I had created for Lorraine for the Simple Summer Swap, with the addition of a fourth game.  It has taken some development, a lot of drilling, sawing, sanding, filing, painting and gluing (and a lot of pleasure, I have particularly enjoyed using the pillar drill in our small workshop).  Each set contained 1 rope ladder, 1 skipping rope, 1 quoits set and 1 croquet set (which was the most time consuming to make).  I had no idea how it would be received at the CnS, so was gratified to sell 3 of the 8 sets I had made and take an order for a garden quoits only set.  My daughter had made 3 of her lolly stick chairs (with my help) and although we succeeded in dropping and breaking one during the day (oops) she sold the other two (one was a direct trade with Chris M who had a felted hat my girl liked, and proceeded to spoil her with a few other items).  I had also made two hobby horses, inspired by the one I owned as a child.  Neither of these sold, however there was plenty of interest (maybe the price was too high) and I did sell one of the 5 skipping ropes I had separate from the Garden Games sets.  I need to calculate how much postage and packing will be for the unsold items.

Theresa pointed out to me that the baby boy for sale had eyes very similar to those of a baby boy doll who had been painted by Sara Doggart, we compared the eyes and I decided to buy him.  We immediately went to Michelle who was selling the Sashapotomus outfits and bought the new baby his own onesie with a VW Combi on the front (we had already bought one for baby Mabel).  My girl took him to the playpen where travelling baby Drake (just back from Spain) was playing, took possession of the camera and experimented with photographing our new baby.  She tentatively named him Joey, but when we got home and checked the name book, we chose Leo as his new name (Angela had not named him) and I had personal reasons for favouring this name.

The 3 shop fronts which Paul had made for display were a big hit with everyone, as were the boys polishing the car they were too young to drive.  One of the shop fronts was raffled (along with a few dresses), we didn't win anything though.  Buffet lunch was available for donations to the Alzheimer's Society.

I will write separately about the other items we bought in addition to baby Leo.  I had a number of good conversations with people during the day, it was lovely to catch up with people I had met at the festival last year or at Dawn's house in June as well as meet others I hadn't met before.  I wish there had been more time, it was all over too soon!!!

I would like to thank Dee, Paul, their family, Gill and her daughter and everyone else who helped organise the event - it was a fun way to spend the day and I hope Dee has the energy to organise another similar event in the near future.

Nicholas James demonstrates DollMum's Garden Games set

Baby Mabel watches Nicholas James and the Garden Games

Theresa's Sasha with the chair made by DollMum's daughter

Laura, Reuben, Miranda, baby Leo, baby Mabel amongst the other Sashas

Drake and Leo in the playpen

Drake and Leo in the playpen, Leo's new onesie

Drake standing up in the playpen

Leo sporting his new Passion for Sasha hat

Hattie holds baby Leo

Leo in the swing

The three shops and the Gregor graffiti wall

Admiring Hatties dress and hat shop

A lovely tribute to the late Jean Jenson, who died 2 days before the CnS

The Christmas toy shop

The baby boy with Sara Doggart eyes

Toddlers and some other happy Sasha and Gregor dolls, with a bicycle

Baby Mabel proudly wears her Mabel Lucie Attwell smocked dress I made

Drake and Leo in the playpen again

Hattie's dress and hat shop, after the shop front was won