Cheerful Chelsea Celebrates Christmas: Blogmas: Penticton Christmas Craft Fair

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Blogmas: Penticton Christmas Craft Fair

On November 8th I attended the Christmas Craft Fair & Sustainable Living Show in Penticton as hosted by Make it Okanagan. I arrived just under 40 minutes until 4 p.m on that Sunday afternoon which is when the Craft Fair was scheduled to end.

I had never been before an

d I was awe struck by the event itself as well as how many people were there. The Christmas Craft fair was host to over 150 stands featuring Artisans, crafters, artists,
entrepreneurs and independentbusiness owners.

The event was host to over 5,000 people stopping by the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre [PTCO] for some Christmas Shopping through out the Two day affair between November 7th & 8th.

Even though we were short on time my mom and I were able to power walk it through a vast majority of the stands although we missed a fair bit we still had plenty of time to stop, visit and shop.

First we visited Great Bear Bites which is owned and operated by our friend Tracy. Who runs the operation including Production & store front for Great Bear Bites in O

liver. Tracy also spends her time as a Young Living Essential Oil distributor and making fabulous handmade, healthy and safe alternatives to everyday products such as Sunscreen, bug spray, Moisturizer, lip balm and deodorant.

Next up I came across a stand called Tree to Me Farm market & Fruit stand that held a variety of sweet treats including an abundance of Jams & jellies. After having tried Rose Jelly during the Meadowlark Festival I asked the lady running the stand if she had any and ALAS SHE DID!

So I bought myself a jar of a delightfully pink jar of Rose Petal Jelly [click here to buy it] that was made locally in the nearby community of Keremeos at Tree to Me which is an incredibly unique establishment as it is a Farm market, a fruit stand, Cafe as well as Bed and Breakfast. Talk about an all in one establishment.

After more walking around we came across a little booth that was called Skin Smart Organics. Which

specialized in all natural skincare products that are locally made in Kelowna B.C.

What caught my Eye was their signs more than anything in particular their sign that first made me think more about how I spend my money during the Holiday.

Which helped me find

out about the Initiatives like BC Buy Local Week Shift your Shopping Shop Small Saturday and inspired me to make my own Holiday Shopping pledge which you can view in my blog here.

Anyway at Skin Smart Organics my attention was drawn to their Smart Mist line where I chose a bottle of Smart Mist 100% Floral Rose Water which you can purchase right here for $12.00.

As mom and I continued on our fast paced Journey to see as much as possible who did we see but Yinet from Osoyoos with her booth selling her beautiful handcrafted Fairy View Jewelry line. I have seen Yinet

represent a true Entrepreneurial spirit starting first by opening her clothing Boutique Fashionate . She now runs both businesses quite successfully managing her store which features the Fairy Jewelry Line whilst also working in the Farmers Markets/Craft Fairs focusing on selling her hand crafted Jewelry. On top of making Jewelry and running Fashionate she is also a wonderful mom to a sweet little guy.

I was lucky enough to have been given a pair of earrings from the Fairy Jewelry Line for my Birthday which was last week. Now I have an excuse to buy some more exquisite pieces to match my new earrings!

As we cont

inued to wind our way along the craft fair we came across this quaint little booth called Simple Pleasures which specialized in Pure Beeswax Candles and Essential Oils. So I bought myself the perfect combination of the two and purchased an adorable handcrafted and hand dyed beeswax candle in the shape of a tree scented with Pine essential oil! My adorable Winter themed Candle from Simple Pleasures was hand crafted in Peachland which boosts the motto of being the "Jewel of the Okanagan."

During this fabulous craft I got to witness so many things in such a short amount of time. I got to take a sneak peek at a 3D Printer as well as a Live swarm of bees in a wooden glass paneled Bees Nest.

I only wish I had gotten there earlier and had more time to browse the extraordinary amount of talent found within the abundance of all the different products.