Christmas shopper's knee: sales guide pt 1

Catherine Tough at The Workshop sale

In an attempt to avoid recreating last year's 'Christmas shopper's knee' incident (which left me limping through Liberty looking for last minute gifts and then having to explain to the doctor that - no I hadn't been doing any vigorous sporting activities just rushing from one side of town to the other in a desperate search to find the perfect pressies for friends, family, the boy's family and the rest of the boy's family that I may have only remembered in a mad panic before my last chance shopping trip) this year I have decided that a schedule for shopping visits put together with military precision is the only way I'll come away unscathed. 

All while keeping my bank balance as untroubled as possible, I do love a good bargain, and finding cool, original gifts ...so y'know no pressure. 

So here's the first instalment of the finest sales I have pulled together for sensible shopping trips to cover the bases for all those pesky presents, to *hopefully* help fill up the proverbial Santa's sack with no knee nasties

HERE GOES! *straps up knees* *packs up flask of hot chocolate* *grabs oyster card* *and gets shopping*

So Of Cabbages & Kings is a great place to start on Saturday 24th November, in Abney Hall on Stoke Newington's fabulous Church Street. This occasional market is always worth getting to N16 for (and if you haven't yet been to Stokey - a very good excuse to explore!) and will be showing lots of independent crafters including this time the lovely What Katie Does, whose Wonder Cat print (pictured below) is also already gracing the bedroom wall in casa Fay. 

Then starting off a bumper weekend...on 30th November - 2nd December The Cockpit Arts Studio Open House at Holborn is a fantastic way to see the wonderful wares of 165 clever creative designer/makers, some of the interiors highlight include Thornback & Peel, Mary Kilvert and Yoyo Ceramics and a whole host of other creative gift ideas too (the jewellery always blows me away). 

My next pit stop will be Donna Wilson's sample sale also on from 30th November - 2nd December. A must-visit, when Donna annually opens up her studio and sells off her knitted goodies, with seconds, discontinued products and some fun one-offs available for very nice prices, thank you very much. Theo Theo are also just a studio away selling off clever and witty designer pieces to take away at bargain-ous prices too. 

Also on this busy shopping weekend on Saturday 1st December the North London Vintage Market will be holding one of their most excellent Crouch End based fairs. Packed full of quality vintage homeware pieces from 22 nostalgia inducing sellers it is definitely worth a rummage for fab one off Christmas gifts. 

While also on Saturday 1st December in my very own South London the annual Workshop Sale will be held in East Dulwich, with 25 world class designer/makers offering their unique combination of gift ideas with brands like Catherine Tough knitted loveliness and Annie Shurburne rugs selling products at special Christmas pressie rates, it calls itself 'South London's Best Kept Secret' so shhh...

Then on Sunday 2nd December I'll be heading off to Sandown Park for the Wonder Whistle antiques fair, a perfect destination for vintage finds. I'll be seeking out some antique kitchenalia for the boy's mum here, plus maybe sneaking a look for lovely mix and match era crockery for erm me (as a reward for all the hard work shopping??) Anyway moving swiftly on here's a fab video from Wonder Whistle to see why you shouldn't miss it...

Now if that all seems a bit too much for one weekend *checks knees* Cockpit Arts will also be holding an Open House at their Deptford Studio on 7th-9th December so double the case to visit! 

Phew, so that's a good start. Now time to put my tired legs up, have a cuppa and a quick break...before more shopping hints to follow soon...