DEBBIE-DABBLE BLOG: 2013

Friday, November 29, 2013

Come along to a Craft Fair in NEPA!!!!!

Yes, I am alive after Co-Chairing our Church's Craft and Gift Fair and being a Vendor at it also!!

Did I almost lose my mind?

YES!

Did I have a Melt Down or 2 or 3??????

Yes!!

BUT.........

It was all worth it as it was a HUGE SUCCESS!!

Now you know, I will have this job until I die now!!

This is the Hall during Vendor Set Up........

Many of our Vendors have come back year after year and are like family which makes it so enjoyable.....

Like seeing old Friends and Family!!

Here are most of the Vendors. I am sorry to say that I did not get pictures of all of them but it was a bit crazy at times.......

Mary Ellen's Hand Made Snowmen!!

For a mere $25, one came home with me!!

Meet Miss Matilda!!!

I bought her for my Powder Room and realized that I had no where to put her in there so she has found a home in the Den!

Designs by Keith.......

Kathy's Homemade Baked Goods.......

Kathy formerly ran the Craft Fair but gave it up for health and personal reasons but she was a great Advisor!!

Elaine's Purses and Accessories.......

Sharon's Jewelry......

Scentsy Candles

Place Mats and Runners by Rosemary.......

They are reversible!

Rosemary is my Co-Chair of the Event!

The next 2 Vendors are out in the vestibule of the Hall in front of the Coat Room......

Carol's Floral Designs and other Crafts.......

Diane's Floral and Lamp Designs......

Diane and Carol always want to be next to each other......

In the Church Foyer....

Debby's Avon Products.....

Bill's Pampered Chef Products.......

Back in the Hall......

Barbara's Gift Baskets......

Nothing over $15.00!!!

Christine and Mike's Baked Goods( former Parishioners).....

Ashley's Frame Chic ( Parishioner)

Shirley's Crocheted Items......

We had one Vendor (who I forgot to take a picture of) who was selling nothing but these great lacy looking scarves for $7.00 each or 2 for $12!!! I bought 2 and she almost sold out!!

Painted Glass

I bought 2 votive glasses......

Kathy's Jewelry ( Parishioner)

Upcycled Art Glass Items.......

Various Christmas Items.....

Wyoming Valley Montessori School 6th Grade Fund Raiser ( one Family are Parishioners)

Bracelets.......

Maple Syrup Products......

And Elegant Creations by Debbie ( ME!!)

I can't tell you how many bows I sold!! Joe thought it was one of my best ideas!! LOL!

The Craft and Gift Fair was a GIGANTIC SUCCESS!

The Food Stand almost sold out by each morning . Thank Goodness we saved some Food for Sunday!! More money was made on the Food Stand then ever before!!

I am so disappointed that I did not get pictures of my fantastic Kitchen crew!! They did a great job!!

The Basket Raffle was sold out before 11 am Mass on Sunday!! We sold all 3000 tickets!! I never would have thought it!!!

We had a Banner crowd on Saturday and all the Vendors did well including myself. The crowd on Sunday was also good!

All in all, everyone was quite pleased and most Vendors want to return for the March show and I am thinking we will have a waiting list for our little Craft and Gift Fair.

A little over $4500 was made for our Parish between Vendor Fees, The Food Stand and the Specialty Basket Raffle!!!

I can not believe it!!! Especially when the event usually made under $2000 before.

The Basket Raffle was a HUGE hit!! All 3000 tickets sold and mostly at the 6/$1.00 price bringing in a Total of $2528!!

We will be ordering 4000 tickets for the next one!!! LOL!!

I also had the pleasure of meeting a local Blogger who came to the Craft Fair!! Eileen, it was so nice to finally meet someone who knows me as Debbie-Dabble!!!!! LOL!!

I know in my last post I sounded a bit disappointed and depressed that I would not be decorating and entertaining this year as much as I normally do.

I am over it and back in the Christmas Spirit . I will be finishing the Kitchen and LR tree this weekend.

I am a big believer in the mindset that Everything Happens for a Reason.

And that is the case this year.......

Joe and I will most likely be stepping in to help the family of a dear friend and neighbor who was like a Mother, a Best Friend and a Mentor to me.
Unfortunately, She needs to be placed in a Facility because of severe Alzheimer's which breaks my heart and her sons need to clean out her home in order to sell it. On top of that, the reason why they need to place her is that she was living with her ex-Husband ( their Dad) who passed away last week. They now have 2 homes to clear out and one son lives in Phila. and the other in Arizona.

I am sure you can imagine their sorrow and their dilemma. They want to donate many of their parent's possessions to our Church Flea Market and have also told me to take what I would like for myself.

Their Mom baby sat my children, watched our dogs when we went away, sometimes spent Holidays with us, gave my sons Christmas gifts up to only a few years ago and taught me how to shop at Thrift Stores and Yard Sales , was always my biggest Cheerleader especially when my own family was not and was the coolest senior citizen that I ever knew.

We owe her so much so how can we not offer any assistance that we can to her sons??????

Say a prayer for us as we say our final Good Byes to her this weekend before her son takes her to Phila. to place her in a facility near him.

She will not know us as she does not know her own sons and this will rip my heart to shreds and cause me great sorrow but she would not want me to be sad.

She would want me to live my life with the same zest and gusto that she did........

In her leather pants, boots, fur coat and driving her little red sports car!!!!!!

She lived in Miami in the Winters until her second husband passed away and she stayed her year round.....

We love you, Ellie!!

I will be linking up to these great parties this week:

THURSDAY
Treasure Hunt Thursdays