Being the sort of Bookshop Boss I am, I am a very hands on creative type (well that’s what I tell myself!) and as did many people I once had delusions of Blue Peter and Magpie style Grandeur – that is to say I believe I can build anything out of cardboard rolls, double sided sticky tape, and cable ties – and to demonstrate this fact on Monday I duly did do some cardboard technology work using a cut off end of a spare cannibalised card unit to make some units for the counter.
Now I admit that by the end of the day though they had things in them they were still a work in progress and were waiting to be covered with coloured paper, spud prints or sticky back plastic to make them look somewhat better – but hey that was the next days adventure and I was justifiably pleased with them as they had doubled the stock I could put on the tops and the darn Bingo Dabbers and Bingo Markers were no longer falling over anytime someone even looked at the counter! Oh and the packs of playing cards and the Biro’s and Pencils were also once again visible to the human eye of someone taller than the average 3 year old.
Good stuff I thought and pleased I was (probably because no minions were on site to scoff at the impressive feat of design genius!), and then along came my friend Mark H from off the Materialise It stall further up the aisle – now for any that haven’t been to visit in person Materialise It is an absolutely must see stall, especially for all those Sci-Fi fiends like me! Marks stall sells Sci-Fi collectibles, models and toys. Yep Millennium Falcons abound, Yoda and wookies astound, Daleks and Doctors aplenty, Battlestar Gallactica surrounds and Marvel Characters stand out! yep you name it and it’s probably there, and along with these are cool posters, signed Photo’s and lots extra as well – oh and its also the place to get a Chess set as well.
So anyway Mark comes in to say good night sort of thing and looks at the fantastic cardboard creations and gets this look on his face like he just smelled curdled milk! and with that points out all the lovely backing left over from the new bookcases and says you can do something with that to make units, to which I start thinking veneer, the curdled milk look at this point is more a sneer!
See Mark is pretty good at turning out incredibly complex dovetailed drawers and pine shelving units from scratch – me? not so much!.
So anyway the next day Mark comes in and gets some of my nice shelf backings and about 40 minutes later brings down this work of art!
Now isn’t it just fantastic – safe to say that though i had been proud of mine upon seeing this little gem I became shamed and immediately consigned it to the rubbish bin, but even better was that today he made me the opposite sides unit as well – purpose built for the items I needed displaying! 
The man is a genius and an artisan and not just a cool sci-fi dood – my shop may replicate the TARDIS in being able to stretch the dimensions and fit in more than it should, but Mark is definitely a strong contender for talented Dr’s Companion, definitely an Adric in the making (though hopefully without heroic but sad ending at the hands of a cyberman).
So Mark, thank you! and all of you out there go visit him next time you’re in – honestly he has some of the coolest things in the Market – after our own stuff of course!, including two daleks on top of his stall and looking straight down the aisle to the main doors by us.
OK gushing over for now – minions are on half term so I am having to do all the work again!
So anyway just to remind everyone Lent and Easter are nearly here so please get the orders in for Palm Crosses and Paschal Candles – they are all in, but we have already gone through 30 bunches of Palm Crosses, one box of Paschal Candles – and I don’t want it to be like Advent when two days before the start, and one day after the sets are gone, lots of people start showing up looking and getting upset.
As a small Independent business I can only get in what I am pretty sure will sell, so if you let me know you want it I can ensure it will be here, but if not then you do risk it not being in stock at the last knockings.
Oh Easter Cards and Mothering Sunday Cards are also in stock – as are the Church Group bundles and Packs of Crosses and bookmarks etc.
Today I sent off a CBC order for gifts, rosaries and other Communion and Confirmation items, these should be in early next week.
On other fronts Sherrilyn Kenyon’s ‘Dream Hunter’ has been in and sold out, and is expected back in later this week, as is ‘At Grave’s End’ by Frost.
Westerns seem to be doing well at the minute, Louis L’Amour, William Johnstone and lots of other Key Western Authors are in stock and selling well.
Oh and the sale is ongoing with orange cross 50p books still available and new books at £1.25 or 5 for £5 still available – come by and see, and remember if you cant come in person then please use our Amazon affiliate sites to buy your stuff!
http://astore.amazon.co.uk/unicorntreechristianbooks-21 Our Christian Book Ashop
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http://astore.amazon.co.uk/lincolncentralmarket-21
Our everything Ashop.
Please support us however you can and we would love it if you would link to our Ashops or help promote them, or any of our sites or activites if you can, and remember come by and visit and don’t forget the bookshopboss likes coffee with caramel shots!
see you in shop in the morning!
Just as you get through the door we are utilising all the available space and have used the back of the card/book display unit to make a Prayer Card/Bookmark/Postcard/Card display area. (watching blue peter really has paid off in the long run!). The Cash desk is just opposite it and this unit can be seen from the other Shop entrance as well. 
Just as you get through the door we are utilising all the available space and have used the back of the card/book display unit to make a Prayer Card/Bookmark/Postcard/Card display area. (watching blue peter really has paid off in the long run!). The Cash desk is just opposite it and this unit can be seen from the other Shop entrance as well.
