Only seven weeks until Christmas and I'm completely ready, aren't you? Just in time for the Christmas frenzy, my favourite event of the season is this weekend: Studio Fair.
For the uninitiated, Studio Fair is a craft fair is homemade items encrusted with diamonds rather than sequins. It is where craft items go after they've had work done. They are champagne things and pretty things and expensive things you cannot justify purchasing for yourself (I'm talking about beautifully hand-spun and hand-dyed organic wool lovingly sheered from a free-run sheep by fairies). I rarely buy anything at Studio Fair but I love to look.Once, I bought two pictures of pressed flowers at Studio Fair and still love them - and I still remember how much they cost (I'm not telling).
For me, the most exciting part about craft fair season is looking at how talented people are in our neighbourhoods. I love how each of the craft fairs seem to specialize in different items.I love how packed they can get.Since the time that I have moved back to Prince George, I have picked up a few craft fair etiquette tips that I am willing to share.
For one, do not go to a craft fair wearing your ugliest sweatpants and a grubby shirt because you are guaranteeing that you will run into someone you knew from high school.It also helps if you attend the craft fair with washed hair - it goes without saying that you'll feel and smell better when you are giving a casual acquaintance the awkward hug of recognition that you've both like to avoid but can't seem to get out of. Not that it happened to me - it happened to a friend of mine.
A few more points: don't tell the people who are selling the items that you don't like their stuff.Make a mental note to discuss it with your craft fair partner in quiet and horrified tones outside the range of the seller's booth.Also, don't tell the seller that you could make what they're selling for better quality. Just because you may not see the purpose of an ornately crocheted toilet paper cover, it does not mean that other people will agree with you.
Do praise the craftspeople and their work.
Make eye contact and smile.
It is a joy and an honour to be able to browse through hours of your neighbour's time and effort and buy the fruits of your community's labour to pass off as homemade items come Christmastime.
Not that I've done that.
See you there this weekend.
