Hannah France is a lady who loves to organise. She also loves Christmas… and she has a large and very beautiful home in France. Put these things together and you have the perfect ingredients for a Christmas market in Montreuil-sur-Mer chez Hannah!
Hannah tells us it all started in 2005 when the local Union Commerciale in Montreuil-sur-Mer where she lives in Pas-de-Calais, organised a Christmas market. The event took place in the courtyards of Hotels Particuliers - grand town houses. Hannah got together with some friends in the area and ran a stall in one of the courtyards.
The friends, all artisans, made craft items from wood, knitted goods, cakes and patchwork; Hannah’s family made marmalade and fruit cake – very English recipes much admired by the French. The group found the experience really enjoyable, and – the items sold well.
Hannah, an English and French teacher who runs courses in France (www.hannahfrance.com) enjoyed the experience of the Christmas fair so it was a disappointment when the event wasn’t organised again in the following years.
However, when a couple of years later, Hannah and her husband purchased a Hotel Particulier themselves in the town and following a programme of renovation, Hannah thought it would be great to resurrect the idea of a Marché de Noël Artisinal. The first Christmas market at Hannah’s house was held in 2008, it was very successful and has been every year since – this year will be Hannah’s fifth event!
All the items are handmade, very high quality and reasonably priced. Visitors to Hannah’s house can browse and chat to the artisans in a beautiful setting in gorgeous Montreuil-sur-Mer.
This year’s artisans are very creative and a very cosmopolitan bunch:
Sue Sharp from Britain, a well-known quilter who makes everything patchwork
Helen Howard from Britain who is a champion knitter, cross-stitcher and bakes the most delicious cakes
Mette Regnier from Denmark whose creations out of wood and Christmas decorations are sought after each year
Donna Kerridge from New Zealand – she makes pottery and stained glass gifts from her lovely farmhouse nearby
Jacqueline Fievez from France – her chutneys are the stuff of legends in these parts!
Anita Tuttell from Britain – a very creative recylcler and crafter who will be making candles, Christmas characters from felt, Franglais knick knacks and bags.
The gifts and ideas change every year as the crafters and artisans develop new ideas or new inspirations and you can be sure that everything is unique!
Dates:
First weekend in December – 1st and 2nd December, 2012
Where:
119 rue Pierre Ledent, 62170 Montreuil-sur-mer
Tel: 03 21 06 44 43
Mail: hanfrance@hotmail.com
Looking forward to visiting on Sunday!
me too! – I think I will go Sunday – probably afternoon – may see you there! Best wishes, Janine
I know from previous years —- guaranteed to find unusual and unique gifts!!
Thanks for the commendation Doreen – hope to see you there – I have heard so much about this fair I can't wait! best wishes, Janine