Officially, I’m self employed, but without my support network I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. I’m very lucky to be surrounded by such great people.
For the most part, yes, it’s just me, but when it comes to the events everything changes and suddenly I have a big team of people who are there to help me bring everything together. Here’s a little behind the scenes when it comes to event time… our little lady, Lily, stays with Granny when the events are on, hubby is a key event team member leading up to & during the events, my sister helps run the pop-up Tea Room along with my friend who I went to school with. My niece is the most amazing pot washer (much to my Sister’s disbelief!) and my Mum comes to stay with us to look after our old dog Molly while we’re not there. Lily and hubby help make up the VIP bags (at Christmas there are over 180 of them!) and Lily is very excited for the day she can wear an event team t-shirt and help at the events. There are lots of of other people involved too, 15 event team members helping me across the event on the day, Birds in the Attic comes in the style the VIP Area, the Roundhouse Events team and the many Stewards who look after the car parks and security across the event.
2017 was a fab year, it definitely had its ups and downs, but that’s part and parcel of being self employed. Late nights, stressful moments, print not arriving on time, the wind (hurricanes) playing havoc with my promotional signage… all the little things that happen and are resolved with a little time, help and cofffee!
2017 started is a great way for us. As a special birthday treat for Hubby, we went on an adventure to Dubai. Such an amazing place and we had the best of times including a day in the dessert. We will definitely go back at some point, but before that we have a few American adventures in the pipeline!
This year was my busiest work year to date. Three big Home, Food & Gift Markets, Styling Workshops with Birds in the Attic, the printed Derbyshire Guide, two Food & Gift Events for the Walled Garden and 4 Business Workshops.
For the last couple of years I’ve been collaborating with Klara (Birds in the Attic) to present styling workshops. Klara is a stylist and together we have formed the School of Styling and in 2017 we presented Summer & Christmas Styling Workshops. They have been received so well and we are excited to be planning for 2018. Watch this space!
This year I’m celebrating being self employed, running Fabulous Places for 10 years! 10 years! I can’t quite believe 10 years have passed since I left my career as a PA. At the time I knew I needed to follow my new venture, it felt right and from that moment my life changed. I’ve never worked so hard, stayed up so late working to meet a deadline and over the years I have turned my hands to pretty much everything! When you are self employed, delegating isn’t an option so you end up having a go at things you never thought you would be able to do.
If, like me, you’re spending the first part of January filling in your spangly new diary, here are some dates! There will be other announcements, but these are the confirmed dates for 2018.
18th January – Creative Business Workshop, Haarlem Mill, Wirksworth
4th March – Spring Home, Food & Gift Market, The Roundhouse, Derby
1st July – Summer Home, Food & Gift Market, The Roundhouse, Derby
10th & 11th November – Christmas Home, Food & Gift Market, The Roundhouse, Derby
Here are a selection of photos from 2017 that sum up the year perfectly:
The Spring Home, Food & Gift Market, The Roundhouse, Derby
The School of Summer Styling, Derbyshire
Summer Home, Food & Gift Market, The Roundhouse, Derby
The Handpicked Guide to Derbyshire, a printed guide to my home County
The Christmas Home, Food & Gift Market, The Roundhouse
Photo Credit: The Mrs Project
The School of Christmas, Derbyshire ( a collaboration between Fabulous Places & Birds in the Attic)
The entrance of the Christmas Market at opening time (Photo credit: Roundhouse Events)
Here’s to 2018… year 10 and hopefully my most exciting year to date!
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