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.