Christmas Craft Fair

December and I have been very busy the last couple of weeks, making items to sell at a local Christmas themed craft fair.

Some background: about three years ago a friend (who is a prolific and skilled crafter) was visiting us and discussing her plans for the craft fair. December overheard the conversation and, later that day, started talking to me about her desire to design and make a Christmas tree bauble to sell at the fair. She was just 7 years old at this point.

I suggested that she drew some pictures of what she wanted it to look like and then I showed her how to make up a paper pattern, from which she could produce a more sturdy cardboard template to work with.

We went shopping at a nearby craft  shop and December chose the materials that she needed to make her prototype. I helped where requested with what stitches to use and some cutting out.

At this point I approached my crafty friend and told her what was occurring and asked whether she would allow December to share one of her tables at the fair, to which she readily agreed as well as giving advice as how to best market the decorations.

This fair was a great success, December sold over half her Christmas Robins and decided that she was going to make more for the following year's fair.

The following year the fair was much quieter (not sure why) and so only two Robins sold.

Last year December designed two new decorations to sell at the fair, as she thought that one reason she hasn't sold so many the previous year was because she hadn't added to her range.

The fair was a disaster. It was even quieter than the previous year, the table she was sharing was busy with a broad range of crafts and nothing sold. December was devastated. It took quite a lot of positive encouragement to convince her that it wasn't her fault that none of her items sold (helped by various friends and family buying most of what she had made when they visited pre-Christmas).

So, this year I was not expecting December to be interested in making anything to sell at the fair.

In late September my crafty friend told me that she wouldn't be taking part in the fair this year due to pressures of work and offered one of her usual tables to December. We (that is December and I) discussed her offer and December decided to give it one more go, so my friend informed the lady organising the fair who contacted me to confirm our plans.

December designed two more new decorations and in late October we went shopping for new supplies to make them up.

The fair is this Friday. I would say that December is, at best, ambivalent in her expectations of success and we have had several conversations where she has wondered whether it is worth proceeding.  She has asked me to make some preserves to put on her table at the fair which I have done - Whisky Marmalade and Boozy Berry Jam!

She is 9 years old and loves designing and creating craft projects. The Christmas ones are extra special to her, particularly as she likes to earn money so that she can buy Christmas presents for her family and friends.

So, I'm hoping that there will be a good turnout at the fair on Friday and that she has some success.

Thoughts from the Shower #8

I've had a few conversations with December over the last week or so about Advent Calendars, specifically her asking why I don't buy chocolate filled ones.

It occurred to me this morning that one of my reasons is that once the chocolate has been taken out there is nothing behind the door, except the plastic packaging. 

Following this line of thought, I found myself wondering whether the empty plastic behind the door is representative of the overly commerial approach generally taken towards the festive season nowadays?

I Climbed the Tor!

I unexpectedly found myself climbing Glastonbury Tor. I know, that sounds like something you would plan to do - rather than find yourself doing by accident! However, given my physical limitations I had resigned myself to the fact that after our family visit to the Chalice Well (a beautiful, tranquil place) I would sit either in the car or on a bench and wait for my husband and daughters to climb the Tor.

Lion's Head Fountain, Chalice Well Garden

However, as we were leaving the Chalice Well a chance conversation with one of the friendly volunteers meant that we found out about a road we could take to a spot with disabled parking which would cut the walk from Glastonbury to the top of the Tor in half. At this point all I thought was how great it was that I would get a closer view of this special monument.

When we arrived at the parking spot it was deserted (probably because it was lunchtime on a Sunday!) so we had no difficulty parking. We all got out of the car and put on warm coats, hats and scarves as the weather was looking like rain was due and the wind was cold and then, well, and then my feet led me through the gate into a field with a concrete path leading up towards the Tor. To my right I saw what looked like a large granite rock which, upon closer inspection, I realised was a milestone for Wells. 

As I turned around I saw this view:

I really thought that the heavens were going to open and that we were going to get soaked, so it was rather odd that when I next stopped to look around I found myself here:

At this point I had a discussion with my husband as to whether it was sensible for me to attempt the climb (seeing as my feet seemed pretty determined to lead me up there!!). I had both my walking sticks with me, the rain wasn't yet falling (in fact, the clouds were thinning by now) and, the deciding factor, June and December were well ahead of us and already scrambling up the steeper slope.

So, off I went. This was taken about half way:

I had to keep stopping to let more agile people pass me by (and also to rest) and just after I took this photo I realised how vertiginous the path was (and that it would look even worse going back down!). So, I dug in and slowly, determinedly, made my way to the top.

I felt very emotional on gaining the summit, as this was somewhere I had wanted to visit for a very long time and had thought it was beyond me.

My husband enjoying the view from the top

2015 has been a difficult year for me health-wise and I am so glad that we decided to stop at Glastonbury on our way to see family in Cornwall. Our visit to the Chalice Well and gardens followed by the Tor gave me such a strong sense of personal achievement and, through the tears of joy and pain, I felt as though a weight had lifted from me.

Baking with June

In my October copy of Waitrose Food magazine June noticed a recipe for Campfire Brownies (Campfire Brownies recipe link ) and asked me if she could make them.

I had a look at the recipe and found that it would be very simple to make it gluten free so agreed.

I should explain that the main reason June was attracted to this recipe was that the brownies were covered with marshmallows! Here are the photos we took:

Brownie mix about to go into the oven

Part-baked brownie before marshmallows added

Brownie with marshmallows before going back into the oven

Cooked brownie and just-started-to-melt marshmallows, waiting to be cut up

I am sure you can imagine that, once the cake had cooled enough, it was eaten very quickly! The only change I made to the recipe to make it gluten free was to use Dove's Farm Gluten Free Plain Flour instead of standard plain flour. The brownies that I was able to box up kept well (but were all eaten within 3 days of baking!).