Early Christmas Gifts

I attended two craft/artisan markets last weekend, the last ones for 2017, and I received two Christmas gifts!

The first event was the Crafty Affaire Holiday Market on Saturday. Here's a pic of my booth, because I've learned booth pics are a thing that people want when you apply to participate in these kind of events. :)

My badge kept falling off the dress, so I finally just pasted on my boot where it attached quite nicely.

At the end of the night, Mona with Glasea gave me this beautiful hand-blown glass ornament wishing me success with my new business! :) I thought it was a very sweet gift and it even has a bit of an hourglass shape

That night, one of the bags I use to carry parts came apart. Good thing I had a sewing repair kit with me! Here's me doing emergency sewing repair in my car.

I used a running stitch to put the bag bottom back together, then added a layer of knotted stitches to secure the seam firmly. (I'm not sure what the technical term is for the hand-stitch I use for this; I think it's form of backstitch or chain stitch. Basically, you're running the needle back through the stitch to knot each stitch. I know it's very secure for a hand-stitch.)

The next day was the Women's Winter Faire on Sunday. No badges to worry about at this small show.

The vendor closest me was My Chocolate Tree and I couldn't resist buying a small assortment. Later in the day, Nina opened a box to mix and match chocolates for a customer. She shared the leftovers from the box with other vendors, so I got to try a pretty little Brandy + Sea Salt chocolate with an embossed bronze top and a Lemon chocolate with a fancy fan design on top at the show. She gave me a Orange + Grand Marnier one too and I saved it to enjoy later that night, after the show.

Nina and I talked with each other throughout the day and at the end of the night she gave me more chocolates! Here's the combination of what I bought and was gifted, minus the bits I already enjoyed. :)

When I got home I checked out her Instagram and found out she was a Paris trained chocolatier! I decided I should give that Orange + Grand Marnier chocolate some serious attention, because these were finely-crafted fancy chocolates. I felt I kind of just munched down the ones at the show because I was hungry and chocolate!

I had the Orange + Grand Marnier with a little spring water and treated it as a mindful eating exercise. It was delicious and complex and great!

I look forward to enjoy the rest. I've carefully sealed them and stored them in the fridge according to her directions, so I can enjoy them slowly over the next month.

I had some great conversations with people visiting the markets and other vendors. It's good to hear so many people like the dress design and our mission to create clothes for women with curves.

Some women have expressed interest in clothing styling advice, so starting next year I'll be posting style tips for all shapes.

If you have a particular question or topic you'd like me to talk about, please let me know.