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Behind the scenes
The holiday season offers us crafters endless opportunities to push our wares on the masses.It can get tricky figuring out which show is when, the word on the street about which shows to do (good organizers, bad organizers, buying crowd, I-can-do-that crowd), and just how much driving is too much.
Some consideration even goes into which areas of the country dig what you're selling. We have had one good show here in Charlotte...the holiday one we organized several years ago. Just a short 3 1/2 hour drive to Raleigh and we've had some of the best shows we've ever done.
Some winter shows have already closed the application process (The Handmade Market in Raleigh and Boston Bizarre Bazaar are 2 examples) while some are still open (Baltimore Holiday Heap and Richmond Handmade Holiday are but 2).
It's all a process that basically boils down to two questions for me: Where is the fine line between doing what I love and crossing over into bitter holiday exhaustion? Just how much excitement vs. exhaustion can we lovingly share amongst our little family?
Are you a craft show creeper? How do you plan your show season each year?
Some consideration even goes into which areas of the country dig what you're selling. We have had one good show here in Charlotte...the holiday one we organized several years ago. Just a short 3 1/2 hour drive to Raleigh and we've had some of the best shows we've ever done.
Some winter shows have already closed the application process (The Handmade Market in Raleigh and Boston Bizarre Bazaar are 2 examples) while some are still open (Baltimore Holiday Heap and Richmond Handmade Holiday are but 2).
Are you a craft show creeper? How do you plan your show season each year?
It's official, the little one is now 2. We celebrated on Sunday with
about 10 other kids and (I think) a good time was had by all. Of
course, getting to party time while maintaining [my already
questionable] sanity was another story.
We have general rules for living, nothing hard and fast, but some things that keep us in line with our beliefs. We don't generally buy single use products, we don't usually have processed foods in the house. We love thrift stores and used books and Craigslist. Waste is a topic we tackle with a good deal of forethought. Parties and waste, however, are besties 4-evah.
Yep, we had balloons. I caved and okayed the plastic curling ribbon C wanted to buy for tying up the balloons. There were also paper plates [gasp!], paper cups [gasp!!], paper straws [gasp!!!], and paper napkins [gasp!!!!]. No biggie, you say? People, we don't buy napkins or paper towels, we have piles and piles of rags and cloth for that. It was a hard threshold to cross, but I did it, and I made it out alive!
I was feeling a little Peanut Free Mom when people asked for gift suggestions and my answer included the phrase "which I bet you can find at the thrift store". I went into planning the food with the best intentions of no corn syrup and limited sugar, like a good ol' granola mommy, and did really well until I got to the cake.
Not knowing how many people would be there, I bought several store-made cakes with no, or minimal food coloring in the decorations. Apparently carrot cakes must
have bright orange carrot decorations on top so you know there are, in
fact, carrots in the cake as well. I didn't read the list of
ingredients. I saw how long the list was and put it in the cart anyway. I
bought a variety of juices and made dye-free, no added sugar fruit
punch. There were gluten-free, vegan brownies. Actually, now that I
think about it, all the refreshments (minus the store bought cakes) were
vegan.
Really, though, it all boils down to a little bit of flexibility. Fewer hard and fast rules and lots more magic! That is, after all, what birthdays are about, right? The magic of being alive...can you feel it?
We have general rules for living, nothing hard and fast, but some things that keep us in line with our beliefs. We don't generally buy single use products, we don't usually have processed foods in the house. We love thrift stores and used books and Craigslist. Waste is a topic we tackle with a good deal of forethought. Parties and waste, however, are besties 4-evah.
Yep, we had balloons. I caved and okayed the plastic curling ribbon C wanted to buy for tying up the balloons. There were also paper plates [gasp!], paper cups [gasp!!], paper straws [gasp!!!], and paper napkins [gasp!!!!]. No biggie, you say? People, we don't buy napkins or paper towels, we have piles and piles of rags and cloth for that. It was a hard threshold to cross, but I did it, and I made it out alive!
I was feeling a little Peanut Free Mom when people asked for gift suggestions and my answer included the phrase "which I bet you can find at the thrift store". I went into planning the food with the best intentions of no corn syrup and limited sugar, like a good ol' granola mommy, and did really well until I got to the cake.
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| Just check out that ADORABLE Plastic Foliage shirt the kid has on. |
Really, though, it all boils down to a little bit of flexibility. Fewer hard and fast rules and lots more magic! That is, after all, what birthdays are about, right? The magic of being alive...can you feel it?
Party Time - Excellent!
We're getting all geared up for party time, taking spare moments to finish a few projects that'll make hosting energetic toddlers a little easier. Included in those projects was a child sized iron bench Charlie found on the side of the road on trash day. He used some scrap wood for new slats and voila! Good as new! I think post-party we'll paint the iron a glossy color. He wants to paint the slats a solid color, too, but I like the different colored wood so we'll have to wait and see. Plus with the track record of that project it'll be 2 more years before we even get paint in it's vicinity.
A little peek at the bench as it was happily accepted by our little ragamuffin in her brand-new-to-us, vintage thrift store dress. Success!
I'll see y'all back here on Monday, post juice box excess. Have a good one!
Pass the Party Hat
We're gettin' all gussied up around Chez Sneak for a certain little one's 2nd birthday! She's a fairly girly girl, so we're bustin' out pink decorations galore! There will be flowers ("mels" which I think is maybe "smell"), bubbles ("bubbies"), balloons ("bloos"), and unlimited juice. Oh and dancing, lots of dancing! Playing in the sand box. There may or may not also be a frilly party frock.
This party's gonna be off tha hook!
Here's what I'm thinking: Harvest cake from Roost, Balloons, tissue puffs and straws from Shop Sweet Lulu, Watercolor party cops from Love and Lace, Golden Alligator Pinata from Oh Happy Day (maybe a golden apple?), Big Dipper Waxworks beeswax birthday candles.
What am I forgetting? Any music suggestions?