I Went To A Christkindl

This a  local annual event which I've known about for a very long time but have never attended. I made up my mind that I would attend this year. I didn't really know what a Christkindl was, except that it was of European origin. That entranced me.  History of Christkindl

The weather was cold that day. 40 degrees F (5 C) brrrrrrr. It was also a bit windy. As usual I wore sandals, no socks. Big mistake.

When I arrived at the Christkindl, it looked like the entire town was parked up and down the Main Street. There were traffic directors who informed me that I could park at the local school and take a shuttle bus which would deposit me at the venue entrance. I took their advice. It was that or parking on a side street (where all spots were occupied) and walking a distance in the cold wind, with sandals on my feet, to the venue.

This event was held in a small historic town situated on one of the finger lakes and about 20 miles from my house. The exact location was on the grounds of the Granger Homestead (circa 1816) in Canandaigua, NY. The Granger Homestead is currently a house and carriage museum. Each Yuletide they stage a Christmas Tree Festival in the house and the Christkindl on the grounds. There were actually two events taking place on the same site simultaneously. Today, I'll tell you about Christkindl and in the next blog post, I'll tell you all about the Christmas Tree Festival. 

I didn't know that Christkindl was an outdoor event!!! If I did know that, I probably wouldn't have gone or I would have dressed more appropriately. As it turns out, on my way home, I stopped at DSW and purchased a pair of warm boots !!!

The Granger Homestead is situated on 12 acres of land. The house itself sits far back from the road. The lawns are vast and it was there that a series of interconnecting tents were set up. The Christkindl took place inside the tents. It was warm-ish inside. I could feel heat blowing in. There were approximately 150 vendor booths. The atmosphere was festive, filled with music and happy people.
It was a 3 day craft show. I was there on day 2.

Being a crafter myself and having experience participating in shows, I would not do a show like this. #1 - too cold, #2- too damp #3 too messy (even though in a tent, you still walked on damp grass and set up shop on grass), #4 too many days (for me). However, I loved being a shopper. I could come and go as I liked, I didn't have to lug a stage set to create my shop, into a tent and I didn't have to stay there 3 days and hope people would like what I made. I will definitely go again and dress appropriately when I do. Would you like to come with me next time?

This is what I saw upon entering the grounds of the Granger Homestead..............

wall to wall people

I loved this booth - her esthetic and mine are similar - she creates new jewelry from old

Part 3 and Final Installment of the Genesee Valley Quilt Fest

At this festival, oftentimes you'll see a vendor that has expanded her textile reach far beyond quilts. Pat Pauly is one such. She makes these fabulous hand painted aprons.

There are vintage quilts at the fest also. I took photos of some of my favorites. These were made before computerized quilting machines. All the tiny stitches and patterns were done by hand.

I saved what I consider to be the "best" for last. I have seen this quilt before at a previous quilt fest but I was so pleased to see it again. It is huge and tells a story. In fact, I consider it a historical document of family letters back and forth from Europe to America during World War II.

The quilter used the old letters, a Western Union telegram and a photo of the mama to tell the story.

Because it seems I have been sewing almost forever, you can see why this annual event is a highlight for me.

A Visit to the Lilac Festival

 The Lilac Festival has been an annual event in Rochester (NY) for over 100 years. Actually since 1898. It takes place in Highland Park which is home to more than 500 varieties of lilacs and other flowers, flowering trees, and shrubs. Frederick Law Olmstead designed this park and other outdoor spaces in Rochester, NY. He is renowned as the architect/designer of Central Park in New York City.

It is a feast for the eyes, and a hike of colossal proportions, up and down hills. I guess that's why it's called HIGHland Park. 650 acres of hills, garden walkways, stairways, flowering trees, tulip and pansy beds, shrubs, carnival and street-food vendors, live music, children's entertainment, horse and buggy rides, food trucks, etc. On the two weekends of the festival, there is an arts and crafts show. That was really what I was interested to see.

I made my little venture on Saturday last - an overcast day - the best kind for walking around outdoors. After spending an hour looking for a "convenient" parking space, I parked on a residential street that was actually off limits to festival traffic but I sneaked in and found a spot at the end of the street right next to Highland Avenue and the festival.

I enjoyed browsing the vendors at the art show and seeing their wares and getting a view of what's new and trending in the art/craft market at this time.  

Horse and buggy rides

looking up at a cherry tree in flower

streets are closed to all but pedestrian traffic

Art and Craft Show section

two of the more than 500 varieties

I enjoyed my little Saturday afternoon outing and as far as seeing any art or craft that is emerging into the market, I did not. In one booth, I did see a collection of burlap tote bags of all sizes, burlap purses of all sizes and types. All of them bearing interesting, and sharp graphics. They were undoubtedly new burlap and recently stamped with bright colors in the graphics. A riff on something I sell in my etsy shop but I use repurposed/vintage 100# coffee bean bags with faded blue graphics stating the country of origin of the beans. Mine are authentic. The bags - a real conversation piece and a treasure.                              



Garden Tour

There are several garden tours in my area every summer. I got hooked on them when I was designing a garden for our home. I wanted to have a pond so I paid particular attention to garden ponds and asked loads and loads of questions of the garden owners – do you leave the fish in there all year long? Yes, but you must keep the bubbler going so the fish can get oxygen. The fish go dormant as do the plants. As the water warms up in the spring, both fish and plants begin to awake and begin the cycle again.

The hospitable gardeners who open their garden for visitors to trample through each summer are some of the most generous people on earth. They’ll pull up a bit of a perennial plant and give it to you to thrive in your garden. There are many plants in my garden that were started this way.

I went to two this summer. In my area these garden tours are annual events and are usually fund raisers for the organizations who sponsor them. The ones I attended this season were sponsored by the Historical Society and the other was sponsored by the Science Museum – both vital local organizations.

I happened to miss the one that is my favorite, because of a conflicting commitment. That one is called the Notable Garden Tour – notable, because there are musicians in every garden. This show is sponsored by the Greece Performing Arts Society. This organization believes that gardening is a performing art – and rightly so. Therefore, live music in every garden as well as an artist who is doing some plein aire water color or sketching with charcoals or some other type of easel art. They also provide snacks in each garden at this show. Snacks provided by our local mega grocery. You can see why this one is my favorite.