Today I’ll be appearing alongside the amazing Kirstie Allsopp, on Channel 4 show Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas. I’ve been keeping this secret since the end of August, ever since they called to tell me I was selected for the show and the Table Setting Challenge.

But let’s start from the beginning!

How did I get selected?

I actually received an email last year (2017) asking me if I was interested in taking part. I did apply and then when they started the selection process, I pulled out as we just moved to Hampshire and it was too much to deal with. This year, around July, I got contacted again by Raise the Roof Productions and I applied.

They introduced new challenge categories this year and I decided to go for the Table Setting.

I had to fill a form, send a mood board with my idea and I had a couple of phone interviews. At the end of August, on the last day of my summer holiday in Italy, the production called to tell me I was selected. I was over the moon and terrified at the same time!

The Filming PART 1- The back story

At the beginning of September, one of the Directors come to my house to film the back story and I had to decorate my studio (aka my Kitchen) with Christmas decorations.

I was so nervous to talk to the camera as it felt so unnatural! They asked me lots of questions, while I was making macrame snowflakes and preparing some of the items for the challenge. It did help to do something while I was talking.

Preparing for the show

The challenge required me to make 3 macrame items on the day, including a central piece for the table.

My theme was A Bohemian Christmas using many recycled or second-hand items.

I naturally dye the table cloth with avocado stones and my great-aunt napkins with onion skins (you can find the tutorial on my IGTV).

I visited few secondhand shops to buy glass jars, cutlery and vases.

A few days before the competition day I went to a wholesale florist to buy eucalyptus leaves and red berries.

About one week before the filming I panicked! I had a vision in my head but I wasn’t sure it was going to look good enough! So I called my stylist friend Felicity, I went to her house and set up her dining table. By practicing in front of someone else and getting their positive feedback, I felt much more confident and relaxed. Felicity was great and she gave me a few tips, lots of reassurance and I felt ready to face the challenge.

The day before filming

In October, the day before the filming, I traveled to Devon with all my roll of strings, a bunch of eucalyptus and few outfits!

In the evening, at the hotel, while I was having my dinner, I asked two ladies sitting next to me if they were there for the show and sure enough they were taking part to the table setting challenge too.

We clicked straight away with Hazel, a florist from London and Laura, a paper artist from Hasting. We chatted and laughed the whole evening but we also wondered who the fourth person was and what craft would she/he be using. By 10.30pm we were back in our rooms trying to get a good night sleep.

In the morning we agreed to meet early for breakfast, we were very excited and nervous at the same time, speculating about the location, space, timing, Kirstie….everything!

Just as they were about to pick us up at 9 a.m., we discovered that Caitlin—a calligrapher from Scotland originally from Boston—was the fourth person in our competition. Caitlin,s flight had been delayed, and she arrived at the hotel very late the night before. We were ready for the day ahead!!!!

The Filming PART 2- the Challenge

The location was full of amazing history, art, and quirky items, and totally fascinating.

When we arrived on set, the crew introduced themselves and fitted us with mics. Then they led us to the huge kitchen where we’d be filming.

We had to wait a bit before starting because Kirstie was finishing up the Christmas Pet Present challenge in the room next door.

We took out our materials and props out of our suitcases, prepared our tables and waited. Our challenge would last for 5 hours including toilet and lunch break.

Then Kirstie arrived, chatted with us and I can tell you: she is funny, warm and smiley as you see on TV. We all got ready and started!

When we started, I was pretty relaxed. It was lovely chatting with the girls and the crew (while they were filming us). After one hour, I realized that I needed to seriously speed up my pace, so I started to chat less and move my fingers faster!

After 3 hours, I was still finishing my very long table runner! I started to panic a bit as I could see all the other girls were starting to set up their tables!

Once I finished the table runner, I had to work on the macrame covers for the vases that I was going to use as candle holders. I used an extra 30 minutes on the table runner, realizing that I had to simplify the design on the vases to remain within the time limit. Because of it, at the end, I made up 3 very simple patterns.

Lastly, I was going to teach Kirstie how to make small Christmas trees to add on top of the napkins.

Sitting next to Kirstie was surreal but totally fun. She asked many questions about my background, my work, she made jokes and we laughed.

Then was the end of the 5 hours and we had to leave the room!

The result

We ran into the room next door, exhausted! Not only that, but we needed to use the bathroom and eat some chocolate!

Meanwhile, the crew filmed the table settings and then called the judge. We had no idea who it was, just in case we might know them. While we waited, Kirstie popped in with some bubbly, and we all cheered together. She took a photo of us on the sofa before we did a bit more filming (pretending to worry about the result—it was so much fun).

After that, they invited us back into the kitchen, where we met Pip, our judge, and Kirstie to film the final part of the show and hear the result.

Do you want to know who won…..well you will have to watch the show here

Enjoy!!!

The best part

The best part of the whole experience was meeting the ladies in the table-setting challenge. They are super inspiring, fun, and creative women. I now have three new friends! Since the filming, we have been in touch regularly, talking about our businesses, life, the show, and everything else. We are planning a reunion and some collaboration for the new year.

I don’t know about the other participants, but it was about having fun and exposing our work to a wider audience.

The worst part

Sure! Here’s the sentence transformed into a more active voice:

They didn’t allow us to use our phones during the challenge to take any photos or videos, so I don’t really have any behind-the-scenes material. Most of the photos of the table setting are from a replica I did back home a few days later.

FANCY TAKING PART NEXT YEAR?

If you like to take part next year, the best way to know when the application is open, is to follow Raise the Roof Productions on twitter or Kirstieshandmadechristmas Instagram. Usually this happens around July,

You can start preparing in advance and get into the Christmas mood.

I would recommend that you check all the categories and pick 2/3 in which you love to take part. Think about what you would like to make and put together a quick mood board. This way when the application process opens, you have already done most of the work!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me here.

Good luck!

NOTE: I made the macrame mustard-colored necklace I’m wearing on the show.

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