insideKENT Magazine Issue 30 - September 2014 | Page 25

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

A UNIQUE A-FAYRE
Combining a love of bespoke interiors, homeware and lifestyle products, A Unique A-Fayre
will provide the chance for 27 handpicked creative exhibitors from the local community to
showcase their products, whilst raising money for The Heart of Kent Hospice, on Sunday
28th September 2014 at Barham Court, Teston.

A Unique A-Fayre was created by Emma Gregson
in 2013, who had long been planning a way to
raise funds for The Heart of Kent Hospice in
memory of her late mother. A keen supporter of
handmade, Emma had come across a variety of
high-quality local businesses within the creative
sectors that seemed to have few viable outlets
for their work. A Facebook plea for a venue
designer went out, and Emma was put in touch
with Amanda Jane Wedding Design and Events.
The ladies now organise the popular annual event
using their local contacts to support this special
cause.
At any one time, The Heart of Kent Hospice
supports up to 350 patients, plus their families
and carers. As a charity, the services offered are
free of charge; however, this does mean that of
the £3.8 million cost this care incurs each year,
the hospice itself has to raise over £2.7 million
from the community that they serve. As a
consequence, it relies on the fundraising efforts
of local businesses and the community to continue
to provide the unrivalled care that it does.
A Unique A-Fayre is committed to ensuring
that all of the proceeds on the event day go in
their entirety to the hospice. The event has
secured the support of other local firms to provide
graphic design, printing, advertising, event styling,
children’s entertainment and live music.
Exhibitors include – to name but a few: Blue
Chromis Glass (kiln-formed glassware); Kate
Towner Ceramics (hand-thrown ceramics);
Charlotte Baker Jewellery (silversmiths); Blooming
Briony (textiles); Deborah Woodward (artist); Lion
Tamer Prints (printers); My Fayre Favourite
(restored and upcycled jewellery); And Sew to

Thread (fabric furnishings); Wellingham Herb
Company (organic skincare); Romney Marsh
Wools (woollen products); Lella’s Cupcakes
(artisan cupcakes and tray bakes); Westerham
Pet Bakery, and more.
A Unique A-Fayre will also be hosting a
tearoom, with home-baked cakes, teas, coffees,
a vintage sweet stall (donated by Just Lovely and
Amanda Jane Wedding Design and Events), and
a traditional ice cream van. Music on the day will
be provided by The Sennockian String
Quartet, with complementary craft activities,
balloon modelling, magicians and face painting
for the little ones.
The event will also hold a charity raffle, with
high-quality prizes donated from a wide range of
exhibitors and other creative businesses. In
addition, a silent charity auction will be held for
five handcrafted quilts, alongside a Disney Fairytale
Collection Limited Edition Doll set. With only
6,000 of the latter made worldwide, the set is
highly sought after and has been kindly donated
with a certificate of authenticity from Disney Stores
Europe.
Other prizes include a handcrafted leather
iPad folio (St Leonards British Leather
Accessories), a lifetime subscription to a
lampshade-making tutorial (Quincy Lampshades),
a pick-your-own wild flower bouquet worth £50
(Blooming Green Flowers), and many more.
A Unique A-Fayre is also supported by the
award-winning Kings Hill business, Saks Hair and
Beauty, which will be providing a pop-up salon
on the day, complete with hair and beauty
demonstrations and treatments. The team will
also be offering hair and beauty advice, with

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complimentary goody bags and aftercare
products.
A resounding success in 2013, A Unique
A-Fayre attracted over 450 people and raised
£1,521 for The Heart of Kent Hospice. This year,
on 28th September, it hopes to raise even more
in its wonderful new venue, Barham Court, Teston.
Entry is by donation on the door, and the event
will run from 11am-3pm. Free parking is available
to visitors onsite.

www.uniqueafayre.co.uk

www.hokh.org