Welcome to Winterfaire 2024

[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 or barter or find 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!






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 or barter or offer, an estimate of your price range or other parameters if possible, and some kind of contact information so shoppers can reach you. If you have a website (Etsy, Patreon, 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. Barter also works. Science fiction, fantasy, and fannish things; crafts and handmade goodies; literature and artwork; custom offerings; it's all welcome here. 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. The following linkback poems still have verses available:
"Qui Gatta Ci Cova"
"Pumpkin Spice Prosperity"
"Delight in Another"
"A Sense of Weather Changes"
"Ouroboros Insects"
"The Loving Embrace of Night"
"Generations of Cooks Past"
"Homefree and Clear "
"One Bite at a Time"
"Stars and Diamonds"
"Mishpocha"
"Changing Your Nature"
"Besa"

Linking to this page will reveal new verses in whichever one you request. 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
* promote Winterfaire in another holiday market
* host a similar holiday market in your own blog or other venue
Dreamwidth will notify me of comments to the Winterfaire post; 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.

The 2024 Whatever Holiday Gift Guide Starts Monday! -- by John Scalzi
Monday, December 2: Traditionally Published Authors
Tuesday, December 3: Non-Traditionally Published Authors
Wednesday, December 4: Other Creators
Thursday, December 5: Fan Favorite Day
Friday, December 6: Charities

Should We Have a Gift Shop Page? by Priscilla King on Blogspot


See Winterfaire 2024 on LiveJournal.

Happy holidays!

Comments

Looking For

[fuzzyred]

I'm always looking for pretty yarn; the more colours the better. :) I also enjoy unique jewelry, especially bracelets or necklaces.

I have boosted the winterfaire on my journal. Could I have a verse in Qui Gatta Ci Cova please?

Re: Looking For

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> I'm always looking for pretty yarn; the more colours the better. :)

I highly recommend Le Mouton Rouge. They stock many brands of yarn, from commercial to wool farms to hand-spun and hand-dyed from individual crafters. When we visted recently, they didn't have much textured art yarn but Zauber had expanded their offerings. In addition to the original multicolored Zauberball they now have two new gradient offerings. The Zauber Flower is a big cake of long-gradient yarn, and the Zauber Perlen come in sets of 7 small balls that form a gradient of 2+ colors. I should've bought one of the Perlen sets, it'd be perfect for a wall hanging because the colors are already separated and matched. Good selection of confetti yarn, if you're into that, and some of the hand-dyed skeins that are mostly one color with an end in a contrasting color(s) so you get little dashes of color. Oh, and some self-striping yarn that's supposed to make Fair Isle patterns, but that's always a bit of a crapshoot.

>> I have boosted the winterfaire on my journal. Could I have a verse in Qui Gatta Ci Cova please? <<

Done! There is only one verse left to reveal. Thank you for your support.

Re: Looking For

[fuzzyred]

Oh, that yarn sounds so pretty! I like the balls that are variegated or striped the most, I think. I have bought far fewer speckled or confetti coloured yarns, though I have seen some rather pretty ones when I've looked. :)

Re: Looking For

[ysabetwordsmith]

You can't beat Zauber for multicolor. I did pick up a similar ball from a different company this time, but Zauber always has good color combinations.

Re: Looking For

[fuzzyred]

Oh, that's useful. I'll have to take a look at their yarn; I'm not always great at colour combinations, so good ones already made are very helpful.

Re: Looking For

[ysabetwordsmith]

1) Get the Zauber Perlen, those are sets of small balls that form a gradient.

Alternatively, get a Zauberball or cake and match individual colors in it. Say you want a striped sweater. Start with a Zauberball in multicolor. Then match some of its colors so you might have a blue ball, a green ball, and a yellow ball. Do a solid stripe of each and then a multicolor stripe. Same trick works with multicolor yarn from recycled sari silk.

2) The Vivienne Files is all color coordinating fashion presented in ways that are easy to learn and copy.

3) How to Simplify Fashion has some advice on color-matching.

Re: Looking For

[fuzzyred]

>>1) Get the Zauber Perlen, those are sets of small balls that form a gradient.

Alternatively, get a Zauberball or cake and match individual colors in it. Say you want a striped sweater. Start with a Zauberball in multicolor. Then match some of its colors so you might have a blue ball, a green ball, and a yellow ball. Do a solid stripe of each and then a multicolor stripe. Same trick works with multicolor yarn from recycled sari silk.<<

Ooo, this is a good idea!

>>2) The Vivienne Files is all color coordinating fashion presented in ways that are easy to learn and copy.<<

I really like her blog! I've learned a lot of things about matching colours from her.

>>3) How to Simplify Fashion has some advice on color-matching.<<

Oh, this had some helpful advice too! The bit about not being able to clash neutrals, or using one neutral and one colour, were particularly useful. :)

Re: Looking For

[ysabetwordsmith]

Yay, I'm happy I could help.

Re: Looking For

[kerravonsen]

Maybe something to keep in mind for next year, but I make custom Marvel-themed jewellery for the Marvel Trumps Hate charity auction in October. My auction listing this year: is here.

Re: Looking For

[fuzzyred]

Oooo, I will keep that in mind!

BOOTH: Priscilla's Bookstore & More

[(Anonymous)]

Dreamwidth readers don't know me. I am, primarily, a writer for hire. I do poems, fiction, research/ nonfiction, and song parodies.

My booth is also stocked with books, new and old, and with handknitting. There is a Gallery post on my blog that shows photos, of varying quality, of the sweaters. I've not been displaying them since the COVID panic so they're still available. The post mentions blankets and shows photos of hats, dolls, and bedsocks. I don't keep those in stock long enough to bother with photographs. You can order them, and also cotton dishrags and washcloths, in colors of your choice.

https://priscillaking.blogspot.com/2020/12/gallery-knits-you-can-still-buy-from.html

Almost half of my blog consists of book reviews. The purpose of those reviews was originally to sell books I'd read and wanted to pass on. I've sold my copies of those books. If and when I have a physical store again, I'll be able to order more physical copies of them for local people. Meanwhile, since you're reading this on the Internet you might as well just buy the ones you want from Bookshop or Amazon or directly from the authors, but in real life I still sell books and identify as a bookseller :-)

And everyone is free to weigh in on the question,

https://priscillaking.blogspot.com/2024/12/should-we-have-gift-shop-page.html

Re: BOOTH: Priscilla's Bookstore & More

[ysabetwordsmith]

Thank you! I have added your gift shop page to the list of winterfaire events.

BOOTH: handknits, writings, and writing support

[ysabetwordsmith]

Cat_sanctuary posted over on the LJ Winterfaire:

As everyone on LJ has had time to know by now, I knit. Is it time to update this post?

https://priscillaking.blogspot.com/2020/12/gallery-knits-you-can-still-buy-from.html

Not really. I've not displayed the sweaters, so they're still around. I can't keep blankets, hats, or dolls for long, so people have to order new ones, which means they can choose colors and materials.

I am a hack writer. I do poems, research/nonfiction, fiction, and song parodies.

I also do proofreading, copy editing, and book reviews. Eventually I plan to have a physical store where it will be feasible to sell new books.

[kellan_the_tabby]

... have I seriously not done a proper Winterfaire post since 2019??

A big grey van pulls in, towing a purple vardo; an orange cat sits on the driver's lap, peering out the window, ears and whiskers perked forward. Upon parking, several people, a number of cats, and an appallingly large black dog with white toes pour out. The people set about putting up a booth; the animals mostly scatter to find someone to pet them, except for an extremely tiny tortie, who climbs up atop the vardo & surveys her domain with hauteur.

Very soon the booth opens. It's sturdily built from frames of reclaimed pallet wood with canvas stretched between; each panel has a window in the top half, shutters open. The double doors are also wide open in welcome; the sign above the doors reads The Vagabond Tabby.

Intricate candle lanterns are visible through some of the windows; others hold displays of brightly colored soap, delicate faery home decor pieces, & the occasional cat. Comfortable-looking padded benches flank the doors.



Inside, a plush carpet covers the ground; to one side a few chairs are gathered around a brazier, and a small table holds the makings for tea, coffee, and hot cocoa. On the other side are more wares: leather pouches and straps, racks of earrings, pendants, necklaces, and pendulums, and jars and bottles of various herbal salves, salts, and oils.

The dog is flopped next to the door, wagging his tail for everyone who comes in, & there's always a cat or two occupying one of the chairs around the fire. Come in, have a seat, there's warm drinks for everyone!

(Verse: pls pick something that's close to being done! Thank you for reminding me of this!)

[sporky_rat]

A++ salves and soaps.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I appreciate the vote of confidence.

[kellan_the_tabby]

<333

BOOTH: Fluid Visions

[kerravonsen]

You want t-shirts and mugs with fabulous art on them? Or beautiful prints of said art? Come right this way, to https://fluid-visions.com/ and/or to https://www.redbubble.com/people/kerravonsen/

These two print-on-demand shops are slightly different; the Redbubble shop is the older shop; while I am in the process of moving everything to fluid-visions.com I will keep the Redbubble shop there until the move is complete. The items available in each shop are not identical, since they are manufactured by two different companies -- Redbubble for the Redbubble shop, and Printful for the fluid-visions.com shop. Both of them ship from your local country, so fear not.

Re: BOOTH: Fluid Visions

[ysabetwordsmith]

Wow! Those are pretty.

What linkback poem would you like a verse of?

Re: BOOTH: Fluid Visions

[kerravonsen]

Thank you!

"Stars and Diamonds" please!

Re: BOOTH: Fluid Visions

[ysabetwordsmith]

Now complete!