Welcome to Winterfaire 2016

[ysabetwordsmith]

The Winterfaire spreads out as far as the eye can see. Some booths show streamers of red and green, while others sport blue and silver. All of them offer treasure after shining treasure. Music fills the air with lyrics of Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, and Yule. From the Wordsmith's Forge comes the bright chiming of words being hammered into literature. Delicious scents of hot chocolate, spiced cider, peppermint, baking cookies, and gingerbread tantalize the appetite. Smiling, laughing shoppers amble from booth to booth with lists in hand. Vendors grin back, calling out, "Come try, come buy...!"

I know a lot of artists, writers, musicians, crafters, and other talented folks who make some of their living from their creative endeavors. I don't always have the money to support them as much as I'd like, but what I can do is set up a virtual faire where vendors can offer their wares to an audience that likes crafts, literature, and small businesses. For those of you doing your holiday shopping, here's an opportunity to buy something made with love, something unusual or unique, in a way that helps make it possible for creative people to go on creating wonders. And there will be no traffic jams, stampedes, or gunfights at the Winterfaire! Enjoy the seasonal offerings on LiveJournal.


Vendors: If you have goods or services suitable for holiday gifts, please put up a booth by replying with a description of what you sell, an estimate of your price range if possible, and some kind of contact information so shoppers can reach you. If you have a website (Etsy, DeviantArt, personal, whatever) showcasing your work in more detail, include the link(s). If you have holiday freebies, such as downloadable greeting card imagery, you're welcome to promote those too. For ease of identification, I recommend titling your reply starting with "BOOTH:" followed by the name of your business or type of goodies.

Shoppers: If you're looking for something specific and it's not posted yet, feel free to ask. Someone else may know where to find it! "SHOPPING FOR:" and the topic would be a good title.

Everyone: You may help promote the Winterfaire by linking to this post from your own blog or site. If you have a similar holiday-networking post, you may link to it in a comment on this post.

Participation Perk: I'm offering poetry for participation, beginning with verses of "Picking Up the Litter" (31 verses) from the Berettaflies thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. (You may also direct your verses to any unfinished linkback perk poem: "Thinking River Thoughts" or "The Marble and the Sculptor.") Because, you see, all of these activities will unlock a verse each time someone does them:
* link to this Winterfaire page to boost the signal
* comment posting a Booth of your wares/services in the Winterfaire
* buy something from a vendor listed in the Winterfaire
* host a similar holiday market in your own blog or other venue
Dreamwidth will notify me of comments to the Winterfaire post and links to it elsewhere on DW; for everything else, you need to TELL ME in order to get credit for it.

Similar Markets:
Do you know of another indie holiday shopping post? Let me know and I'll link it here.


Happy holidays!

Comments

BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[corvi]

(This booth consists of a single wooden bookshelf holding a dozen copies of a small black and white artbook. The shelf is draped with spicy-sweet Western Redcedar branches and flame-bright sprigs of Sitka Rowan berries.)

Oh hey, I've never had anything to sell before. This is fun! I've made a small (4" x 6") book of science, poetry and cut-paper art about the plant life of the Pacific Northwest called A Hidden Alphabet. Copies are USD $15 each, which includes shipping inside the US. If you're outside the US, drop me a line and I will figure out how much it costs to ship to you, though if you're outside the US, you are probably unfamiliar with most of these plants anyway. This book would probably be most enjoyable to someone outdoorsy who has lived in the Pacific Northwest.

Here's an example page:

---

ᚊ Salmonberry

Salmonberry bushes grow in damp soil along salmon-run streams. The salmon are born in streams, but they spend most of their lives in the sea, and upon their return they are made of sea-stuff. The nitrogen of their bodies is the isotopes found in the sea. When bears eat salmon and leave bones to decay on the stream bank, the sea-nitrogen becomes part of the soil, and of the salmonberries.

I am made of an ocean I have never seen. I am homesickness for a place you have never been.

I am this promise: the sea exists, even if you have not seen it. It sings against the shore and waits for you.

---

You can see all 24 plants of the hidden alphabet online here, posted in reverse order, blog-style - use the arrows at the bottom to go back a page. I would be delighted to hear if any of them spoke to you; that's more important to me than selling physical books. :)

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[ysabetwordsmith]

:D This is so awesome. I love the imagery of the distant ocean, and how big a part it plays in the whole west coast ecosystem, even far inland.

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[ysabetwordsmith]

Also I just posted your new verse.

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[ysabetwordsmith]

My partner Doug pointed out that you have no link where people can purchase your stuff. And unfortunately you can't edit comments after they've been replied to, so you'll have to add that in a comment below.

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[corvi]

Oh right, oops. First-timer mistake. Thanks to you and your partner for pointing that out. I've sold at local art festivals, but this is my first timid venture into selling online; I figure your readers are more likely than most to be interested in a weird little art-science-poetry book. :) It would help if I said how to get money to me, though.

I don't have a sales site. I am set up with Square for credit card or bank card processing, so if someone wishes to buy a book, they should use a Dreamwidth mail to send me their email address and mailing address. I'll have Square send them an email invoice that can be paid by card, and mail them a hardcopy book.

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[alatefeline]

WANT. After my next paycheck I am SO coming by your booth.

In the meantime, does the booth-keeper feel like talking about the gorgeous flora of the PNW?

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[ysabetwordsmith]

*snicker* "I study SALMON."

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[corvi]

Always! :) What's your favorite plant friend?

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[kellan_the_tabby]

<.< >.>

...so how do you feel about the concept of barter?

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[ysabetwordsmith]

For reference, Winterfaire is barter-friendly, alt-currency-friendly, policies to be set by booth keepers.

Re: BOOTH: A Hidden Alphabet

[corvi]

Oo. I looked at your shop, and I think your October Country soap would make a great holiday gift for my partner, who likes fancy soaps but prefers cozy baked-good scents (chocolate, pumpkin, cinnamon, that sort of thing) to the sadly way more common flower scents. I've never seen a soap that was chocolate and pumpkin before, that's awesome and I can't wait to see my beloved's reaction. Would you be interested in trading a book for October Country soap?

BOOTH: coloring books, digital pages, skeleton ornaments, ACEO prints!

[ellenmillion]

I love that you host this!

I have a range of fantasy coloring books for grownups (by many talented artists!) here: https://ellenmilliongraphics.com/coloringbooks.php

I also have an Etsy shop with my own artwork as digital page downloads, skeleton ornaments, and more: https://etsy.com/shop/ellenmillion

And for this weekend only, I have a Black Friday ACEO print sale at Sketch Fest: https://www.ellenmilliongraphics.com/sketchfest/sketchfestaceos.php

Re: BOOTH: coloring books, digital pages, skeleton ornaments, ACEO prints!

[ysabetwordsmith]

You're welcome! Your two new verses are up.

[callibr8]

I have copy written for a custom knitwear booth, but don't know where I could upload example images. I know that Etsy charges a certain amount per listing, and I'd rather avoid that overhead. Any suggestions?

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

There are websites that host photos for free. I've seen people paste photos into DW posts, but I have no idea how they make that work; I can't; I use links.

If you can't find an image hoster, I can put a few on my LiveJournal scrapbook and tell you the links.

Re: Hmm...

[callibr8]

That makes sense... I'll see what the terms of service for Tumblr, Flickr, and Shutterfly are. Good thought!

[thnidu]

Try Photobucket.

BOOTH: The Vagabond Tabby

[kellan_the_tabby]

Welcome to The Vagabond Tabby! This weekend, in honour of all the shopping madness, you get 25% off of All the Things! (It'll show up in the cart.)

Here's but a single example of my many wares...



divine luna face soap

i stuck all the stuff that makes my face happy in this • i admit it’s sort of pink • i think we can all cope • cos it works really, really well

no detergents • no fragrance oils • no petroleum (save it for driving with) • keep it simple with coconut oil & shea butter • straight-up, crap-free, gets-you-clean soap

Kate, feel my face! It’s soooo soft!
— Gwen

ingredients • saponified coconut oil • glycerine • shea butter • water • berry extract • white oxide • lavender, rosemary, & chamomile essential oils • green tea extract • oat flour • kaolin clay • activated charcoal • orchid ultramarine

size • 3 oz • 90 mL

handmade • natural • crap free • guaranteed

$4 • buy it here

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

I also have wodges more soap, lip balm, healing salves, cool jewelry I make from things I pick up off the side of the road, & a smartass cat. He's not for sale.

Here, check out the jewelry:



Come buy, come buy!

Re: BOOTH: The Vagabond Tabby

[kellan_the_tabby]

I also posted to Twitter, that being generally more useful than my own blog; count it as you like.

Booth: Chanter's Wares

[chanter1944]

One particular booth sports a royal blue and silver awning and canvas walls in the same shades, all patterned with stars, bells, and the occasional snowflake. A handful of candles flicker cheerfully from a small shelf to one side of the counter, the mingled scents of peppermint, coffee, dark chocolate, faint candle wax, clean wool, nutmeg and snow are in the air, and from a little further back--yes, that radio just announced the hour in Coordinated Universal Time. Mind the antenna. Presumably, it's the owner whose cross-country skis are leaned against a support pole at the far corner of the setup. Said owner, a short, plump woman in a knitted, cat-eared blue beanie and a fleece as royal as her awning and fairly chattering with buttons, is making doubly sure her curtain of brown hair is well out of range of those candles every time she flings it back over her shoulder.

The neat black-on-white sign adorning the booth's display is mostly text: "Chanter's scribbling. Already-written stories and poetry in several universes, both original and in association with the Schrodinger's Heroes project. Prices listed below; commissions possible on request. Please heed warnings where appropriate, as they are intended for audience safety and well-being." For whatever reason, that otherwise plainly-done sign bears a colorful symbol at each of its edges. To the left, a deep orange bell. To the right, a seven-color rainbow (indigo is in there.) Above, a maple leaf in summer green shading. Below, a blue star crossed with a blooming purple lilac branch.

My list of currently sponsorable works is over here, including summary and pricing for each piece. Over thisaway. Commissions are available on request, just ask.

Re: Booth: Chanter's Wares

[ysabetwordsmith]

Woohoo! I love the descriptions. :D

Your new verse is up.

BOOTH: Chrysalis Custom Knitwear

[callibr8]

Colorful, whimsical items abound: sturdy felted trivets and cozies for everyday use are spread out on the table at the front of the booth; soft, fluffy scarves tumble over one another on a display rack to the right of that; warm, cozy shawls and capelets are draped on hangers along one side wall. Bright colors and rich textures invite you to come in and browse, pet the yarns, ask questions about the merchandise. Welcome!

Re: BOOTH: Chrysalis Custom Knitwear

[ysabetwordsmith]

Awesome stuff is awesome. \o/ Your new verse is up.

BOOTH: Starcat Designs

[stardreamer]

The Starcat logo at the front of the booth glows with the magic of the Faire, as if it were a real constellation. Inside are tables with displays of stone and glass bead jewelry, inexpensive sterling-silver earrings and pendants, and also small gifts for the home: several sizes of mortar & pestle sets, tote bags, wooden boxes, a selection of carved stone animals, and beaded bookmarks. Tinsel garlands twined around the roof beams, strings of tiny LED lights, and glittery paper snowflakes add a festive air, and above one unobtrusive spot between two tables dangles a sprig of mistletoe.


Prices on the stone and glass jewelry range from $15 to $400, but most items are in the $20-to-$150 range. Most of the sterling-silver earrings and pendants are $20; some of the fancier pieces are $25 or $30. All gift items are $20 or less, except for the largest sizes of mortar & pestle sets and the herb-chest boxes.

Items are available for visual examination and purchase at the Starcat Designs website. On orders of $125 or more, shipping is free. I will happily answer questions either here or thru the website.

Note: I'm having a holiday sale! Items featured on the front page of the site are 15% off.

BOOTH: Instant Attitudes

[stardreamer]

The Instant Attitudes booth is a little shabby and shopworn, although some attempts have been made to spruce it up a bit. Across the back is a hanging display of T-shirt designs, while the trays on the front table contain a wide variety of bumper stickers for customers to browse through. The proprietor, whose gender is ambiguous, looks tired, but is still making a valiant effort to keep up the seasonal cheer.


Instant Attitudes sells T-shirts and bumper stickers designed to appeal to a geeky and educated audience. Examples:
- I don't judge people by their race, religion, color, size, age, gender, or ethnicity. I judge them by their grammar, spelling, syntax, punctuation, clarity of expression, and logical consistency.
- A mind needs books like a knife needs a whetstone, to maintain its edge.
- They got the library at Alexandria - THEY'RE NOT GETTING MINE!
- The Ways are many; the Light is one (with an array of religious symbols from around the world)
- Steampunk means never having to ask, "Is this period?"
- Alcohol and calculus don't mix. Never drink and derive.
- I don't want to adult today. I don't even want to human. Today, I want to cat. (with line-art of sleeping kitty)

T-shirt price is $19 ($22 including shipping) for sizes S-XL; 2X and up slightly more (reflecting the price difference of the blank shirts). Sizes up to 5X are regularly available, and 6X is available by special order.

Bumper sticker prices start at $2.50, with price breaks at 3, 12, and 20 stickers. We sometimes get orders in which it's clear that the whole office, or the whole gaming group, has gone in on an order to get the bulk pricing.

The payment structure is... a little antiquated. There's no shopping cart, although there are PayPal purchase buttons on the T-shirts. For bumper stickers, we advise sending an e-mail with the list of what you want so that we can check availability; then we'll send you a total price with shipping and a PayPal link; we also accept checks and money orders by mail. If you live outside the US, please contact us about any order before sending payment -- international shipping costs are wildly variable.