Rita Van Winkle, Here...

Not really asleep, (I wish!) just overloaded with  holiday markets and work..such is the life of a seasonal worker, which, of course, with  crocheted hats, etc. is what I am in Fall and Winter..
Just completed my last indoor holiday fair, now, two more outdoor markets before Christmas (weather permitting..)
It's been really cold everywhere, and here is no exception..my last outdoor market, two weekends ago,  was -7 Celsius (yes, I am insane) and not many customers braved the cold to stop by, but I did okay and got some custom orders I would have missed otherwise..
My last indoor market was in a local boutique hotel, right on the ocean, with a big picture window  behind me, and I amused myself between customers by watching some sea lions who were either  lazing on the dock, or swimming languidly in the bay...brrr! A wonderful venue, a new one for me, and I'll definitely do it again..
All in all this year, I've done too much running around and  too many overpriced venues that did not provide a decent return..my advice, if anyone is interested, is try everything once, but if it doesn't work out...?  Stick with the tried and true, which of course, in my case, is the outdoor markets I attend..but be prepared, weather-wise..to be honest, I'd rather be cold than boiling hot in  humidity (our summers here) so  don't mind too much right now..
To all and sundry, have a wonderful holiday...and a hopefully peaceful New Year.

Only In Canada, You Say....?

"Winter's day
In a deep and dark December...."

It's  an odd sort of feeling, that first fall of snow, especially when  Winter seemed as if it would never come..a sweater was enough
The big warm  coats were out and hung and ready, but no need...until  yesterday...
Here's the front and back yard...

I put up the brand new artificial ( :-\ ) tree..doesn't look too bad, but  do miss that  fragrant wafting of pine throughout the house.. as a renter with a newish carpet, I have no choice...*sigh*

A rather touching arrest was made here in Canada...the police found the lair of the
"Great Maple Syrup Reserve" thieves...oooohhhhh...this is front page news in the media, and actually, I am ecstatic that this is the sort of thing that makes headlines here....
Happy Holidays to everyone!

The Seasonal Craft Fairs Wind Down...

My holiday craft fair season is winding down, and it hasn't been what I could have hoped...
The flu followed my back problems so missed one three day fair, which, according to fellow crafters, was awful..no one wanted to pay admission, so few came, even fewer bought..
I broke my own rule on this one, which is never to spend  more than $100 per day for market fees, and never  vend at a fair that charges admission...
So, glad I missed it..an expensive lesson to learn, but then, the ones worth  learning so often are...
My next one is this Saturday at a smaller community venue...looking forward to it, a new one for me...at the Mill Bay Community Hall..
Mill Bay is a tiny but lovely town on the East Coast of Vancouver island, near where I live, and its coastline is where I go and walk when the weather is  much nicer than it has been lately...a gorgeous place..
If you are local and reading this, stop by, it's a free one...
In the mean time, here are two of my latest hats...

Is it just me, or do I seem to  have a real tendency this season to go for the purple side of life? These are both  done with multiple yarns  and both are of the purple/lavender/pink/fuchsia family...the adult hat is a medium and the child's hat sized for a 2 or 3 year old...
And what are you all up to?