Home once again

Well Whitby Goth Weekend was very different for us this year. I'm sure I've mentioned that there is usually a group of 12 of us that make the trip to the festival twice a year and that between trading all day and partying all night for 4 days we're beyond tired when we get back and need a week off to recover.

This time was the total opposite. There were only 4 of us made it to the festival as all our friends decided to save their pennies for the Halloween event instead; me and my husband and my sister and her husband, who were also trading Bride and Gloom, so for a start we were in a cute 4 person cottage rather than a 12 person mansion.

We did our thing through the days. Met loads of Goths in fantastic attire and pimped our wares to all who would stop and look. After trading all day we were able to leisurely wander back to the cottage via a pub (to rest our weary feet) and sit and relax a bit before thinking about getting some food. We could chose a restaurant at ease, take time over our meal and then see what the evening held for us... which in truth was a series of chilled nights - a few beers in comfort.

This is a major contrast to our usual whirlwind of covering the stall, running back to the cottage, throwing some food down our necks while trying to glam up and then racing out to get to the venue and catch up with our mates. This then leads to a second wind and staying up will 3 or 4 am. Not a good start for a second or third day of work.

So while we have enjoyed ourselves we have also managed to recharge the batteries and I can now start thinking about the wholesale orders I have to meet and the tattoo festival I am trading at in Hull at the end of May and it doesn't feel like an uphill struggle.

On a different note, while we were in Whitby an interview I did with Fresh peaches was published. Please take time to have a look: Sock Horror Interview

Whitby Madness

We're off to Whitby Goth Festival tomorrow and I can't wait. I have been running round for days trying to get organised, trying to remember all the little jobs and striving to get everything ready without any traumas but I think we are finally there... there is a mountain of boxes lined up along the dining room wall. All the creatures, books and warding charms catalogued, categorized and packed ready for transportation. All the literature printed, all my emails answered, all my tasks completed (or deligated). I have worked out what I'm wearing for the next 5 days, dyed my hair (and nails and neck and bathroom floor) and packed my crimpers. I think I have everything I need for a thoroughly Gothic weekend.

So, I'm afraid to say that it's unlikely you're going to be able to catch me for the next few days as I am going to be without my internet connection, unless of course you are in Whitby - in which case you will find me in the Whitby leisure centre on east cliffe on Friday, Saturday and Sunday surrounded by a whole plethora of malicious creatures, survival manuals and warding charms. If you are at the festival please do drop by and say hi.

For those of you that are not able to join us in the home of Bram Stokers Dracula you will be able to keep abreast of our antics on Twitter.

So, we leave for Whitby Goth Weekend in 4 days and as usual I'm frantically trying to get my stock together. It seems that no matter how well I plan, or how far in advance I start, I get to the point where I have to throw a couple of all nighters to get everything finished.

I did think I was on top of everything this year, but just when I feel like I'm getting ahead I get another wholesale request (Japonica last week) and this week I've had 2 other wholesale orders to fullfil from PAD gallery and Hex Piercing studio. I really can't complain. It just means that all the stock I've been building in prep for the Whitby Goth Weekend has just sailed out the window.

I'm now looking at the remaining pile of Horrors and wondering whether I have enough or whether I'm going to find myself sewing in the van on the journey to Whitby... again!

And as if that isn't enough, my sister has taken a stall this year. She is trading under the name of Bride and Gloom. She booked her pitch within weeks of opening her own sewing rooms. The good news for her is that she's been absolutely snowed under with work and has had to take on 2 staff just to cover her everyday work. The bad news is that she hasn't had a free minute to get stock together for her Whitby stall and so I've been giving her every spare minute I can to help her out.

So now... do I crack on with my own Sock Horror stock or do I think I have enough together to help my sister?

It's not all doom and gloom though, the Sock Horror stall has some exciting new items for you this year. We are aware that some of you are now in constant fear that you will become victims of their crimes. We can sympathise with the desperation and anger that these creatures intill; that they can travel freely around your homes is a scary thing. Therefore we have paid particular attention to our warding charms;

pin badges and buttons,

specially preserved doldrite eyes as clips and rings,

greeting cards
and magnetic bookmarks

all on offer to help you out in times of need.

I wasn't able to do it...

but I did try; to gorge myself on chocolate till I was sick!

But as I wasn't successful in this task (better luck next time) I threw myself into my second assignment and this time I succeeded. It was teh introduction of Sock Horror into Japonica, a brilliant florist come gift shop in Fleming Square, Blackburn.

Sock Horrors new reside alongside unusual and exotic bouquets and inspiring artworks from other local craftsmen and women in a quirky boutique on a historic street close the Blackburn Cathedral.

I have spent quite a while perusing the wares in Japonica, purchased a few gifts (which will probably never make it to their intended recipient) and still seem only to have seen probably half of the items offered. I warn you, be prepared to lose yourself in there.

At Japonica, like all Sock Horror venues, you may also order fully customised creatures.