Bringing Down the House (or Closing the Shows in 2014)

2014 has come and gone and we are almost one month into 2015.  Gene and I were vendors at many bazaars, festivals and shows held throughout Central Oregon during the 2014 Christmas season.  We also attended the North West Regional Lavender Conference in October.  Gene and I attended different classes offered during the three-day event and then would meet up and discuss what we found interesting, met people who taught us a lot and just as enthusiastic about lavender as we were and ate, and ate, and ate.  What did I take away from the Conference:  a satisfaction of meeting the wonderful lady face-to-face I buy the fabric from to make my handmade products (sachets, pillows, etc.), beginning the (long) learning process about how lavender affects our body ("sesquiterpenes" and "monoterpenes") and learning while watching a demonstration of extracting lavender oil from frozen lavender buds.  You'll have to ask Gene what his take was on the Conference:  it is positive but his classes and what he took away are different from mine.  This is the second lavender conference Gene and I attended.  It was well worth the money and time involved in attending and we were sad to see the Conference end.

Gene and I at the NW Regional Lavender Conference:  10/24-26/2014

One of the "big" shows we attended was the Central Oregon Holiday Arts and Crafts Show held at the Fairgrounds in Redmond.  Gene and I felt the show culture changed in 2014 from 2013 in that there was a lot of liquor this year:  wineries, breweries, even a vodka vendor.  We offered three new products:  Hardanger Pillows, Provence Lavender Wands and Printed Sayings on Lined Linen Pillows.  It was enjoyable talking to people who recognized hardanger.  One precious lady told me that she framed and hung over her mantle a piece of hardanger curtain her mother made many years ago.  The Provence Lavender Wands sold out before the first day was done.  It was fun listening to the guests laugh and talk with each other as they showed and read the individual sayings printed on the lined linen pillows.  The pillows sold quickly and I learned other sayings people would like to see printed!  One young lady asked for one that had "Best Friends Forever".  I thought this was an excellent idea!  I need to listen to the young more often.

Food Stuffs and Ornamental Dolls

Totes, Dried Lavender Buds, Silk Scarves, China

The Holiday Market at Centennial Park is one of our favorite and one of our last shows of the season.  The City of Redmond's Chamber of Commerce contracted with the Redmond High School students to make several small replicas of buildings--a church, a schoolhouse, a livery stable--and place them around the park for vendors to rent.  They have electricity to them and were decorated with festive garland and twinkly lights.  (Spaces can also be rented for vendors who have canopies or tables.)  Our thanks to the Chamber staff for their helpfulness in scraping off the ice on the walkway, putting deicer down by our booth and the courtyard, constantly asking how they could help, stopping by and making sure everything was o.k. and that we were happy. 

The weather the day before the market opening had been terrible--wind and rain--and Gene and I looked at one another, shook our heads and told each other there would be no way for the market to be held the next day.  Even though we would be inside, we were concerned no one would show up because the weather was just too nasty.  But, true to Central Oregon weather, the next day was bright and beautiful, the sky was as blue as could be and steady customers throughout the day.   

Holiday Market at Centennia Park:  12/6,13/2014

doorstops, printed sayings on pillows, moth repellents,
white-on-white hardanger pillows, drawer sachets,
colored hardanger pillows

honey, our daughter's  much sought-after lipbalm, hydrosol, lavender travel sachets

crochet ornamental Christmas dolls

quilted ornamental Christmas balls

All in all, 2014 was a very good vendor year.  To all of those who stopped by and visited, thank you.  To all of those who purchased our products, thank you.  To all of those who expressed an interest in visiting our farm, we look forward to seeing you again.  Because of all of you, you enhance and energize our lives--Gene and mine's--and we thank you.  We wish you all a Happy New Year!