My first ever craft fair was ‘The Contemporary Craft Festival’ in Bovey Tracey. It was June 2017 and I was in the StartUp tent for new makers. To think that less than three years earlier I had never made anything out of clay was pretty amazing. And now, here I was, displaying my work on a stand at one of the biggest craft fairs in Europe, That June weekend it poured with rain from start to finish - an endless stream of visitors struggled with wellies, umbrellas, rain coats, take away coffees and paper carrier bags full of glorious hand-made purchases - the rain never stopped, but they kept on coming. People were so warm and encouraging, they gave me fabulous feedback and I sold well.. Then, towards the end of the first day, a little boy appeared in front of my stand. He had bright blue eyes, blond hair and had to reach up on tiptoe to look at my work. ‘Look at these Mum’ he said, ‘aren’t they beautiful’. His mum tried to stop him touching, but I said it was fine, he could pick up any piece he wanted. I had a row of small bowls at the front of my display and he picked one up and.placed it gently in the palm of his hand, I could see he really loved it so I packaged it carefully in a box and I gave it to him. There is something so wonderful when children understand the importance, individuality and joy of ‘hand made’. This little boy and his little bowl set a precedent for me. At every show since that first one I have given away a tiny bowl to a young child who is brave enough, and passionate enough, to pick one up off my stand. I always instantly know who to give it to; sometimes it will happen on the first day, once or twice it has been in the last half an hour of a show, but they always come and I always know. Things which are made by hand are so important and when children understand this, and appreciate it, then we know that there are new generations coming who will carry the hand made baton forwards and that makes me happy..