The weekend leading up to my trip to Ecuador, I was working furiously manning my Homemade Gourmet booth. Serving samples, sharing cooking tips for making “4 Meals in 4 Minutes” and encouraging people with unique family traditions for twelve hours a day left me wiped out. My weekend would not have worked with out the extra help from my family. They were amazing helpers and stepped up SO MUCH! My daughter was the main sample maker and server. Who wouldn’t buy from someone who shared, ” I made those just for you this morning.” 🙂
Knowing that many booths around me were calling my name, I finally got away for a few minutes and captured some inspiration to get me into the holiday mood. Yes, there were plenty of ways to be inspired for the holiday festivities, and this was from only 1/10 of the aisles.
These Domestic Diva aprons are right up my alley. I will learn to sew them some day.
One of the neat things about this holiday market is seeing the entrepreneurial spirit at work. My first year in business I had a booth close to the following two ladies. One decided to start her own candy business by making candy lollipops. Four years later, her business is booming.
This young mom began by sewing and embroidering cute accessories. Now, she has expanded her booth and had her machine on site to personalize gifts. The front of this “fairy shirt” had the personalized name, while the back sported the wings. Precious!
I love to find Do it Yourself ideas and this candle yielded perfect inspiration. I find glass bowls like this at thrift stores all the time. Float some ornaments, add the candle beads (found at craft stores) and you have a beautifully unique gift.
I am fairly traditional with my Christmas decorating, but it sure would be fun to mix it up a bit. If I had a sun room, I would do something like this in a heart beat.
Do NOT throw your pineapples away! Isn’t this such a beautiful candle holder idea?
One of the most popular booths was a baked goods booth that an Amish couple ran. They charged $8 for a loaf of bread, $8 for a small bag of cookies and they sold out by Saturday. Now, that’s unbelievable!
Another festive food presentation. Layer the plates with the pine cones and greenery on the bottom, cheese and crackers on top.
What little boy wouldn’t love a John Deere tractor under his yellow and green tree?
And since basketball season is in full swing, it just wouldn’t be right to bypass all the basketball shirts.
GO TAR HEELS! (Although Duke is an amazing school as well.) 😉
It’s always hard for me to think of Christmas before Thanksgiving, but this surely helped inspire my holiday mood.
What a cute little helper! I remember when mine were that young and would be the best sample givers in my Homemade Gourmet booth! It’s great to work side by side with them.
And I also remember how I would pace myself so that when I had the profit I needed…it was time to ‘shop’!
BTW…after Thanksgiving, I am going to start doing a virtual cookie exchange and a ‘kitchen gift ideas’ party…so hoping you will come by and visit and share if you can 🙂
Where can I get that Carolina t-shirt? My husband is a big Tar Heels fan!
Thanks so much for this post! I am far far away from home (North Carolina) this Christmas, and this gave me a couple of ideas for decorating with the little bit of Christmas stuff I have. Thanks so much!
P.S. Was the Amish couple from Yoder’s? That’s an Amish “Farm Store” not too far from my hometown and their stuff is AMAZING! I’d say worth every penny. 🙂
You have made me think in a whole new light… now I’ll be at craft type shows wondering if any of the people behind the booths are bloggers 🙂
Someone gave me a Domestic Diva potholder at one point in time–I love the houndstooth and hot pink! Maybe some day I’ll live up to the name.
Great ideas! Hope your stuff sold well. 🙂
Sorry! I would need the
My two favorite teams are “NC State” and whoever is playing Carolina!!! hehehe! Gotta love my alma mater!!
I just LOVE Holiday Market! I didnt get to make it this year and was really bummed! I hope that your booth was successful Jen!
Jen, that looked like a fun event. Great ideas and holiday cheer. Hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Jen,
That tree was so cute!!! I looked at it several times and wished I had a place to put it. Did you see the snowman punch bowl and mugs? They were by the tree at that booth.