And so it begins...

Music is playing, conversations are occurring and you begin to see a sense of community pride. This is when I smile and think...yes, all the late nights and early mornings are worth it.  The market has opened and it is a beautiful day to visit Windsor.

I'm so excited...

You are in for a treat this year!  Doris from Avon Emporium has agreed to provide food service for the market.  Every once in a while I am able to find my way to Summerville to savour a culinary experience the likes of which...I can’t even begin to describe.  I’m originally from Digby so...I have been overexposed to seafood dishes; seen one seafood chowder, seen them all.   However; Doris has a seafood chowder...the likes of which...I just go in raptures thinking about... and guess what...she will be serving this dish at the market!  If you don’t plan to go anywhere else, you need to plan to stop by the market to try this chowder.  Believe me, once you have, you will be making regular trips to Summerville as well, just to re-confirm that it is as good as you remembered.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I don’t know about you but now that snow has arrived...I’m starting to get excited about Christmas.  I always say that Christmas doesn’t start for me until this market.  Now that we have snow and the Christmas Market is just around the corner...it is time to start thinking about decorating.  This year, we will have a new participant at the market that will be bringing decorative Christmas pots.  What is more festive than evergreen boughs with Holly? 

Make sure to drop by at the market on Monday and Tuesday to check out the natural Christmas decorations that will be available for decorating the outside of your house.

One of the more entertaining participants at the Christmas Market is Pituco. He was not as big as many of the other participants but what he lacks in height...he makes up in sheer volume.

Pituco is a small parrot with a big attitude and lives at Windsor Pet Services. One evening¸ Angela and Roy, the owners of the kennel went away to a wedding and asked me to house sit for them. Now Angela is a very good dog trainer and is able to produce a very commanding tone of voice. It is a type of voice that if I was a dog and she told me to sit...I expect that my butt would quickly hit the floor! It was late at night and I knew that I was the only one in the house but suddenly I heard...”Come here...come here now!” and it certainly sounded like Angela. (Did I mention that I like to watch scary shows?) I searched and searched and couldn’t find anyone but could still hear someone talking. I finally saw this little body stomping towards me, issuing his command and annoyed that I was not instantly obeying him. He had flown off his perch and needed me to pick him up. Who knew that Angela had taught him to talk and that he mimics her tone perfectly?

Windsor Pet Services will making an appearance this year, they offer boarding, dog training as well as grooming at their Facility.  Mkae sure to stop by for a visit with Pituco and possibly schedule a grooming appointment for your four legged friend in time for the Christmas Season.

Pretty is as Pretty does!

We all love our luxuries and it's a luxury to feel good about it too. Returning for another year to the market is …SLICE SOAPWORKS. These soaps are made with fresh goat's milk, vegetable oils and packaged in corn based wrappers...compost them! This creamy soap is wonderful for your skin and you can feel great using it inside and out!

All the soaps are handmade in small batches with luxuriant oils of palm, coconut, and olive. They use fresh goat's milk from the farm! The colours come from Aussie clays, ultramarines and oxides. These nourishing bars are cold processed with all the natural glycerin left intact. Give yourself a skinfully delicious experience; I know that I plan to stock up for both personal and gift buying pleasure.

Alpaca anyone?

Another new participant this year is Rocaro Alpacas which is a dynamic Hants County Alpaca farm that offers alpaca products for sale through an on-line boutique. Their breeding program has resulted in award winning Alpacas by focusing on both superior confirmation and fibre quality. Alpaca fibre is unexpectedly light in weight, with a soft and silky hand. Because alpaca fibre contains no lanolin it is allergy free and easy to wear next to the skin. Be sure to visit their table... Alpaca Boutique for allergy-free Alpaca wool duvets, 100% Alpaca yarns and other luxuriously warm Alpaca products.

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I hope that everyone will be as excited as I am to visit their table and learn more about alpacas.

Those Special Memories...

One of the driving forces behind this show is Hilda. She is probably one of the shows biggest supporter. In September, she appears at my desk and begins suggesting possible dates for the show. She keeps returning until...I finally get my act in gear and start planning in earnest.

Hilda is one of the most pleasant people that I know. There are people in this world who seem to be genuinely interested in everyone and she is one of the special ones. Even if you don’t buy something from her table...you will be drawn there to spend a few minutes in her company...she is just one those personalities!

Hilda makes hand crafted throw pillows and somehow manages to create a special message with each piece. This year she will be introducing a new item she has developed...decorative wall hangings.  the descriptions sound ideal if you are like me and your New Year's Resolution is to try to convert your home from functional to functional/decorative.

If you get the opportunity...stop by for a chat with Hilda and a tour of the precious memories she creates through her talent.

Christmas to me...is the smell of cinnamon...

Every year I look forward to sitting down at my desk with a cup of coffee and one of Doris’s cinnamon sticks. Now I know that I could probably eat them at any other time of the year...but this has become a Christmas tradition for me and I look forward to this moment when my busy world... stands still for a minute.

The days leading up to the market are always busy and the first morning is beyond hectic. I try to get there before anyone else so...a very early morning and no coffee or breakfast for me. I get myself through that period with the promise of sitting down for a mid-morning break with a coffee and one of the cinnamon sticks from Avon Emporium. There is nothing to compare to the flavour of this treat as it melts on your tongue, add a coffee with that and...Life is complete.

I once over heard Doris speaking to a person who asked her if they could have the recipe for this delicious treat. I heard her reply ...”Sure, I can give you the ingredients, but I can guarantee you that it won’t taste the same.” “You see, I always include a secret ingredient in everything I make... something that is not easily reproduced”. “Everything I make... I make with love and that is not an ingredient that you can purchase”. I heard that and agreed, there are not many treats to compare to those cinnamon sticks, add her secret ingredient to the mix and you have something special indeed.

Fortunately Avon Emporium will be participating at the Christmas market again this year and I am looking forward to when I will find a quiet moment and enjoy the delicious treats prepared with love by Doris.

I see feathers in my future...

We will be having a new participant at the show...so guess what...this allows for more shopping pleasure!! Tacha has shared some pictures of her work with me and I hope that you will all be as excited as I am that she will be participating in the market this year. As an active participant in the Alternative Craft movement and a member of Halifax Crafters, Tacha Reed is devoted to up-cycling in all its infinite forms. This desire to make what was old new again led to her creation of a line of felted critters and 3-D wall hangings crafted from natural and re-purposed materials, aptly called Woodland Wool.

Never one to limit herself, 2010 saw collaboration with folk rocker Christina Martin, and the birth of Pretty Things Merch, which includes edgy and elaborate one of a kind feather earrings, brooches and fascinators.

This past summer Tacha opened her own shop, Flying Cloud Boutique in Ellershouse. Making its home in a customized 1955 airstream camper Flying Cloud offers a carefully selected collection of Nova Scotian Art and Artisan creations ranging from jewellery and accessories to house wares, clothing, children’s toys, all natural beauty products, ceramics, art prints, gardening decorations and more!

Make sure to stop by the mall on November 28 and 29 to welcome Tacha to Christmas at the Windsor Mall.

Like most women...I love jewellery!

Every year I am asked about the Christmas Market and how I became involved. My short answer is... "it’s the only way I can get my Christmas shopping done". I joke that I screen participants as to whether or not they are carrying what I want to give out as gifts. This way I bring the vendors to where I work and it saves me from having to run around to other shows looking for that perfect gift. I always hope that others that work in the mall feel the same.

One item that I enjoy is jewellery and one of my favourite jewellers will be at the show again this year. She creates stain glass sets that are simply breath taking and I always receive numerous complements whenever I wear one of her creations.

While visiting the Windsor Christmas Market this year...make sure to visit Dena's Stained Glass Jewellery display. I dare you to try to walk away without purchasing one of these beautiful works of art.

The Planning Process...

Every year after a show, questionaires are distributed to the venders to get their thoughts on how the show went and in what areas there could be improvements. I try to review the results and incorporate them into the next year's planning process. Often it is the usual complaints, not advertised enough, not as many people as last year (one person always says this every year, but numbers have gone up every year!). Most of the comments have been very helpful and have contributed to making this a better show every year. The venders are the ones who are on the floor and attend a lot more shows than me so who better to learn how to run the best show?

Over the years, I've played with the days and hours of the show based on vender feedback. I may have to re-look again at the dates to see if the dates should include a week end. Further feedback from venders would be appreciated on this thought.

Entertainment or no entertainment has also always been a hot topic. Some love it...some not (depending on who it is I guess). Some always suggest every year that I should provide entertainment so never noticed that it had been (maybe they hadn't considered it entertainment?). Back ground music was a request that I was able to supply a few years ago and seems to be popular with everyone.

The latest change has been the addition of Santa Claus pictures.  It seems to truly make it a Christmas market. It has brought out a whole new group of buyers and has truly made this show more than just another Christmas Show.

I guess the main thing that I have learned over the years from doing this market is that it would not be possible without all the advice and support that I have received from the venders that participate every year. You can change the dates, add or subtract entertainment but the most important ingredient to a successful Christmas Market... are the venders. So Thank you to all who participate!

Shop Local...

Shop local seems to be the buzz word of the year. It seems like every day there is a News piece on the importance of shopping locally within your community. It not only benefits the local economy but is also encourages a healthier lifestyle.

This year we are very fortunate to have local farms participating in the market. So not only are you able to shop locally but you are guaranteed that the vegetables that you are purchasing have been grown in Nova Scotia.

So make sure to stop by the market on November 28 and 29, 2011 and do your part for our shop local campaign.

The Hants Regional Development Authority is pleased to present…the 7 th Annual Christmas at the Windsor Mall on November 28 & 29 from 9 am to 4:30 pm.

Come and explore at the two day Christmas sale with handmade crafts, stained glass, wreaths, jewellery, and baked goods.

Ho Ho Ho! Santa Claus is coming to town!


Santa Claus will be visiting with children on both days.  Therewill be opportunities for pictures with SANTA, just in time for Christmas

And the process begins again...

Every year, I find that I go through a period where I ask myself should there be another Christmas at the Windsor Mall; after all it has been running for over seven years now. Maybe it’s time has passed? And then...the magical day arrives...all the tables are set up and people are starting to arrive to shop. Music is playing, conversations are occurring and you begin to see a sense of community pride. This is when I smile and think...yes, all the late nights and early mornings are worth it.
Plans are now in place for the next Christmas at the Windsor Mall for November 28 and 29, 2011. If you would like to participate please make sure to have your signed contract and deposit into me by no later than November 18, 2011. For more information, I can be reached at admin@hantscounty.com.

 

The second day is beginning...

 Last night was the first time that we offered an evening at the Windsor mall Christmas  party. Thank you for those who attended. It was a night for meeting new people, catching up with old friends and enjoying a chance to slow down and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. Family, friendship and the Spirit of Good Will.

Yesterday was a fantastic day. There seemed to be more foot traffic than any other year. Hopefully things will be even better today. We have a great selection to choose from this year so things can only get better.

A lot of our loyal participants have returned brining a whole new selection of items. Paulette is one of our very loyal participants and returns every year bringing with her new recipes for us to sample. This year she has made Sweet Potato Squares which are so moist that they just melt in your mouth.  I look forward every year to see what new baked delight she will be brining for me to experience.

Another loyal participant at this market is Harvest House. This is a community drop in centre for teenagers looking for help and guidance. Many who visit Harvest House had very little or no family support. Many had burned their bridges and arrive some looking for food, shelter, or just needed friends and a supportive community. Donna Eldridge is the coordinator of the centre and has such a warm personality when you speak with her that you immediately understand why anyone would feel comfortable dropping by the centre for a visit.

I've been shopping...

Every year I work on this market and sometimes wonder if all the work is worth it.  Then the big day arrives... I think in some ways it may be like giving birth, once you hold the child in your arms, you forget everything else.

I love to shop and I think I select the tables that are here by what I am looking for every year for Christmas.

This year...I’ve hit the jackpot!

I have spent more money in the first day than I have in the last six years that this market has occurred. I justify the expenditures as Christmas gifts...yeah Merry Christmas me!

And so it begins...

It is early in the morning before everyone has arrived and things are set up and ready to go. I like to arrive early before all the chaos to enjoy a few quiet moments before all the activity begins. All the tables are set out the night before with their name tags in place and everything is made ready for the next day.

The success of this show every year is due to all the help and support from all the fantastic people that work behind the scenes. The show wouldn’t happen without Darrel, Sandra and Angela, organizing tables, electricity etc... Thank you for all your help.

A special thanks to Richard Cole for picking up the tables and making sure that they were all set up in place.

The market has now opened and everyone is excited about the imminent arrival of Santa Claus.

Make sure to come by for a visit and enjoy a visit with your  neighbours.