Just Stopped By....

Thought I'd drop in to wish anyone still soldiering on a very Happy Holiday season..
stay warm, stay friendly, and eat and drink your little faces off, because that is what all this great food and drink is for, to enjoy while we can...
I'm doing my last outdoor market of the year on Christmas Eve..can you believe it? But they are predicting very mild-ish weather (for the end of December) and who knows..there might still be some procrastinators out there desperate for a gorgeous homemade hat or scarf, right?
At any rate, being single, it sure beats staying at home and playing on the 'puter...
See you all next year, with a brave new world and a better attitude, hopefully...

Although It's Far Too Warm...

Although it's far too warm for this summer vampire (I hate hot weather, don't really wake up till late afternoon, do very little outdoor selling, etc.) it is time to start thinking about Christmas Markets..
I know, I know, you'd rather have root canal than think about the 'holiday' right now, but for those of us who attempt to add to our ltttle nest egg through making and selling stuff, the time has come, as the walrus said, to speak of many things...
A friend and I have been busy plotting our strategies together (somewhat)..we'll be doing two fairs on the Island, not 'together' but at the same time, and I also, of course, will be at the Duncan Farmer's Market every Saturday that our rainy weather permits. I've signed up for two pretty major fairs (at least in these parts, they're major)..one called Christmas Chaos, also in the city of Duncan, but a biggie on the Central Island, and another in the suburban area near our capital city, Victoria, also a biggie, located at the Saanich Fairgrounds, on that little penninsula of land to the South.
Many markets in this area are completely ridiculous regarding costs..several are between $700-$1,000 and things here economically aren't much better than anywhere else..yet they do get vendors, who apparently make great swathes of cash..
I disapprove, and won't participate, not only for obvious reasons (I'd need a big bank loan to finace such an expensive three days) but also because these fairs charge admission...I personally, don't get it - why pay money to spend money? Guess that's just me....
So, we'll see you (or not) at Christmas Chaos, Nov 12th & 13th, or at the Saanich Fairground on Nov. 26th and 27th...
Or, of course, any given Saturday, at the Duncan Farmer's Market...from this September to mid-December..
And to all a good-night....

How About a Reverse Grinch This Season?

I spent this moning dropping off a few hats to a Women's Centre, for them to sell in their retail store as a fundraiser, in Duncan, the neighboring town where I sell at the Farmer's Market on Saturdays..
This was, for all intents and purposes, my Christmas presents to be given this year..
I thought I'd share my own Christmas experience for 2010 with my readers, since all of the blogs I read are full of wonderful decorations in the home, ideas about Christmas crafts, recipes, stories about kids, grandkids and families, etc. etc...In other words, the usual..
But I'm different..a single, childless early retiree sneaking up on what is referred to as her senior years, but frankly, psychologically kicking and scratching all the way, like a wet cat in a wringer, and I have to say that it gets to be a bit daunting for those of us who have no families or even friends in their new home towns to share the holiday season with..
Do not think that I am complaining, or giving anyone a hard time for their traditional Christmas feasting and partying..I'm not..the choices I had to make to live here were conscious ones, and I don't regret moving here for a second, but remember the name of my blog...
All I'm trying to say is, for those of you who have insanely busy lives, crowded with people that you love or at least like (or are related to, and have to pretend a fondness you don't feel) that there are many of us out here in the world who don't, by choice or chance, have the same experience of the holidays..
If you could find it in your heart to cut these folks some slack (and I'm betting you all know at least one) it would be a lovely gesture to include them, that is, if they aren't like me and generally turn down such offers, but I'm a tough old nut at Christmas..I know that many people would love the chance to feel part of something..it would add little or no cost to your celebration, but would be a wonderful present to someone who might otherwise be sitting in front of the tube with a beer and a microwave burrito..think about it.
And to all of you who read this blog, whether it's a turkey, ham, tamales or whatever your own 'feast' and party entails (or not) I would like to wish you all the very best of the Season, and an even better New Year to come!

The Last Craft Fair of 2010..

Well, at least, my last craft fair, as far as participation goes..
This fair, or market, is at Providence Farm, another wonderful organization here on Vancouver Island..not only do they have locums from all over the country, learning about market gardening, but they help those who need it most..
Providence Farm also has therapeutic horseback riding, and sells their produce at my Saturday Farmer's Market..the two pictures above, and the one at the right, are all from their website...
I really appreciate the fact that so many of the craft fairs I participate in are benefit events for organizations that give back without being preachy, or demanding anythng of those they help..
Saturday is supposed to be (dare I post this?) sunny and clear! After the early winter weather we've been experiencing, it would certainly be nice not to have to struggle down the highway in pelting rain or chilly fog, dodging black ice for 20 miles...
So if you are in the neighborhood, stop by and say hi..

And for my First Event...

Pictured to the right of this note is the poster, for my first craft fair of the season..a benefit for the "Cowichan Women Against Violence"
Last year's fair was the first, and a wonderful time was had by all..this year we've moved to a larger venue.so if you are in the neighborhood, looking for fabulous homemade gifts and prefer spending your money to suport those who can use your assistance, please come by...
Looking forward to seeing you there!

Busier Than a Cat Covering Poop On a Marble Floor!

Pardon me for the vivid metaphor, but crocheting like mad for my Saturday Market and my two craft fairs for this month, one of them a three day affair...
Meanwhile, can't seem to keep these baby bearcub hats in stock..thought I'd share them with you..
My customers find them perfect for baby gifts for showers, or holiday gifts for those already born, and needing some coziness in the chillier season..
These are two I have just listed in my Artfire shop, and I'm making more..I also do custom ones for people who have their own ideas..let me know if I can do something for you, as a personal gift to your loved ones..

Thrift Store Find and Holiday Cheer...

Today I'm going to combine my nicest find of the week with what I've been up to, which is applying for holiday fairs...
Some of you do the Thrift Store thing, some tag sales, garage sales or all three..
I pretty much confine myself to thrift stores, since all the good sales are on Saturdays, when I am usually at my Farmer's Market, or it's raining, in which case, it all gets cancelled...
Today thought I'd claim bragging rights on this little dolly daybed frame- well, that is what I am assuming it is..as you can see from the picture it is as wide as a door (27 inches), and about 29 inches high..the filmy curtains are all attached to the ruffled canopy, and the whole thing can be removed, or left tied open as here..
Now those of you who have been paying attention know that I am single and childless, so what is this lovely item's purpose...at first I thought about using it as a plant stand..then realized if I make a little "mattress" for it, it will be perfect for a baby hat display..right now, I have them stacked in a big basket, but it makes them hard to see, so this will be perfect for spreading them out, and it is very cute!
What did I pay for it..well, let's see, the white enamel finish is perfect on it, and believe it or not it all folds up flat (perfect for setting up/taking down at a craft fair!)..oh, it was, um....$2.50!
I'm on the books for three holiday fairs, so we'll see what else is going on, but I think that is more than enough, along with my Saturday weekly Market...really, I can't understand how anyone gets bored with retirement, I'm crazy busy!
Any good finds lately?

It's Holiday Fair Application Time..yippee?

There is nothing so frustrating in the world as a volunteer who isn't interested in volunteering..
Last year, I had so much trouble just getting volunteer 'organizers' to respond to me by e-mail that I was literally tearing my hair out..why is it that small town benefit-type fairs, which are mostly all I can afford, are run by people who are at best, disinterested, and at worst, totally incompetent? And, when I had the temerity to try and volunteer myself and all my experience with fairs (30+ years) I was rather bluntly refused..
Last year was one disaster after another, and the only way, seemingly, I could get into most of the ones I was trying for, was by phoning the 'co-ordinator' (and I use the term very, very loosely) and enduring several minutes, in one case running to half an hour, of what bitches everyone else on the committee is, and how they have to turn away dozens of people not in the 'catchment' area (shades of enrolling children in school) and how they can 'squeeze' me in, no, we can't let you pay by credit card, or personal cheque, you have to drive the 45 miles to where I am (at home!) and drop off the application and money..oh, okay, send the application and you can pay on the day of the craft fair..and that one in particular turned into a financial disater as well.
It was my first year, and of course, in trying a bit of everything, I found out what worked, and what didn't..and most of them didn't..
I had two fairs that were expensive to enter, and they had almost no visitors, and I sold literally nothing..
Thank goodness for my Duncan Farmer's Market..which now even has a Facebook Page, so getting very sophisticated around these parts..
At this juncture, think I'll stick to the tried and true two or three fairs, plus the Duncan Market, and leave the others to those in their own darn 'catchment', thank you very much....
Anyone out there in blogland have any holiday craft fair stories, wonderful or otherwise?