winter fair
Our annual Waldorf Christmas Fair is fast approaching and we are in full production mode over here. Last spring, I participated in my first ever craft fair at the school and I truly loved it! But, the crafting in preparation, however, I did not. I felt stressed and frantic trying to get things finished and I found myself feeling frustrated most of the time. I learned a lot- prepare well in advance! Advice that I gave myself that I seem to have promptly forgotten this time around, ahem.
I almost didn't apply for this winter's fair. With my plate very much full to begin with, crafting seemed an impossible task- especially an abundance of it. I was prepared to say no, to pass this year in favour of lots of knitting and crafting for my own family. Early fall was a blur of "too much" and I had decided that slowing it down was more important than anything else. But, in the end I found myself handing over my application knowing that come the day of the fair, I would be wishing I had just gone for it. A bit of a leap of faith.
In doing so, however, I did make myself a deal. If I committed to the fair, there would be no craft prep stress allowed! There would have to be joy in the process this time, otherwise it just isn't worth it. And you know what? It's working! Somehow, I'm managing to stay present in the moment, and I'm loving the end result even more. Coco gets busy next to me crafting little felt balls and playing with embroidery floss. She'll look over at my work and say, "cute, ma!", and we laugh together. It's been a wonderfully new experience to be at "work" next to her, creating side by side. It's a little window into evenings knitting and quilting in the future, I hope. Watching her become so focused on her handwork, or washing her dishes over and over, I'm reminded that it's when you find the joy in your work that it becomes fulfilling. Producing crafts under pressure or feeling overwhelmed takes all the pleasure and purpose out of creating beautiful handmade things, and handmade things made with love hold a different energy, if you will, than things made with only the end result in mind.
Knowing, too, that some of this handwork will be packaged up as humble gifts for those we love, invites a hint of festivity in the air.
I look forward to sharing more of my Winter Fair crafting over the next week or so. What are you crafting up in your home this week?
