Every weekend in December, the House of Fairytales colourful, fairy tale tent in Victoria Park will welcome thousands of visitors to the UK’s first ‘Make it Market’.

Jo applied to HoFT with only three days to go to the deadline, and said: "I wasn’t very prepared, and it was late at night, but I decided to give it a shot and just sent off a few ideas for workshops, along with images of my work."

The organisation describe themselves as "a parallel world of learning and imagination that travels through time and space".

"They got back to me straight away and requested a phone interview," she said. "They were incredibly friendly and approachable, and I decided straight away to get involved, even though it meant I spent a whole evening researching cheap Megabus tickets to London!"

Jo will be selling her delicate porcelain butterflies, and antique French lace porcelain jewellery, along with her fine art prints at the market.

She will also be running textile arts workshops for children – to go with the theme they will be making a Pirates Treasure Purse, for storing gold doubloons, bones, teeth and fairy spells.

Earlier this year Jo was selected to show work at the Design Museum's annual exhibition: Design Factory, as well as in Morley Gallery in London after winning Inspired By..., a competition for people in part-time adult education.

"I have always wanted to sell my work in London, and to do so by being invited to be part of The House of Fairytales is the best possible option.

“It makes it more creative, fun and less of a ‘craft cattle market’, as I'll be in a fun theatrical environment, with lots of other artists and craftspeople,” says Jo.

The Make It Market will be buzzing with activity from roving reporters for The HoFT Examiner – a children’s newspaper – to guest curated live shows on their Media Planet Stage.

“The selected artists are all running exciting and unusual workshops, that complement the House of Fairytales ethos and encourage people to make their own Christmas a very creative experience.

“Its not just about having a great opportunity to sell; its also about inspiring an upcoming generation of craft makers and artists,” Jo explains.

We’ll be hearing more from Jo in January on her return from the magical House of Fairytales, so watch this space...

– Find out more about our BA (Hons) Craft and Material Practices programme