Yo Momma's Aprons & the Common Ground Country Fair??

 Well, I'm seriously thinking about it. 

We made our biennial pilgrimage to Unity this weekend to walk and walk, talk and talk and eat and eat. If any of my readers aren't familiar with the Common Ground Country Fair, I'll summarize in a few quick words: sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA, as it's more simply called) it’s "an event like no other, that brings together so many people from so many walks of life, all in the spirit of celebrating the rural and agricultural traditions of Maine.
Want to learn how a basket is created from log to finished product? You can see that here. What to see to yarn spun, rugs hooked, sheep sheared, solar water created, bees habitat(ed), sheep herded and on and on? You can see all of that here and more. It is a celebration of life and community and is an experience not to be missed. So, we don't miss it. You can get a taste of what it's all about by taking this Virtual Fair Tour.
Next year Zoe and I are thinking seriously about applying for next year's three-day event. There are many crafts people and small business owners exhibiting their goodies and I think my aprons and Zoe's jewelry a prefect fit. A few of my fellow Marketeers are already hard at it and feel it is an event quite worth the time, effort and exhaustion.
Any hesitation I feel is due to the fact that I will have to have a lot of aprons. Actually, more than a lot and the thought how to build a deep inventory of aprons while maintaining my market presence and craft fair participation is daunting. But right now I'm feeling like, "What the heck? Jump in and give it a try."
How to have enough aprons for some unknown percentage of the gazillions of people who will pass by our booth and will want to buy one? 

I need a plan. Gotta think about that.

Yo Momma’s Apron Strings at the Yarmouth Clam Festival

Aprons on display.

Holy Aprons, Batman!

That ClamFest was one heck of an experience. Prior to this event, Zoe and I sold our wares at local Farmer’s Markets and a very few (two, I think) holiday craft fairs, which were nothing to prepare us for what we were to encounter at one of the premiere craft fairs of the state. We had been given advice and warnings that this is a non-stop, hectic three days and to be prepared, whatever that meant. Well, we found out exactly what that meant and if it wasn’t for the advice and aide of our two neighbors: Allison Bramhall  (festivefish.net) and Arlene Reny Mayhugh (handmade stoneware and pottery), we would have had a much more difficult experience.

All was going along swimmingly until we discovered, upon putting up our brand new, super-dooper King Goliath canopy (I wasn’t going to take any chances with nasty, rainy and windy weather on this 3-day adventure) that the company had sent an extra canopy top instead of the sidewalls. ARGH! With thunderstorms predicted for the next day we scrambled to come up with a solution. To make a long and stressful story short, we managed to get our sidewalls in time to safely enclose our tent in time for the last overnight. In the meantime, we used our extra top and borrowed sides (thank you, thank you Karen Marsden of Bowdoin Baking Co.) to keep our aprons and jewels safe.

A sampling of Zoe's lovely jewelry.

So, my impression? I loved it. Will I want to do it again next year? I definitely do want to do this again. When I hit my bed after that first full day my inclination was to answer no to that question. I was totally exhausted and the thought of two more days was daunting. However, I somehow gained my sea legs and was able to zip through the rest of the fair. Due in part, I certain, to generous the hits of Zoe’s iced coffee.

I do want to mention again how grateful we are to our immediate vending neighbors: Allison and Arlene. Their gentle advice and loaning of a bit of this and a piece of that helped to see us through that first bumpy day and their welcoming spirits made us feel at home and in the company of friends. 

Zoe and I are forever grateful.

Next up: fabulous finds at the ClamFest. 
Stay tuned.

Sunny and warm for the L.L.Bean Freeport Community Market

...and I'll be there.

It feels like it has been weeks (two, actually) since I was last at Market so am grateful for a sunny Friday forecast. What could be a more prefect setup for a market day than:

1.  Sunny and warm
2.  Beginning of the holiday weekend
3. A perfect location on the L.L.Bean campus

Zoe, in her Anne Bonny's Booty role, will be joining me and bringing along her stunning jewelry.

Be there or be square.