I've been a bit quiet lately, but I haven't been idle! I am putting together a big two-day Christmas market for Kerry food and craft producers. Sales this year have been so poor, that we really need a good event to give us a boost for the holidays. And it's really shaping up to be a great event! Lots of fantastic vendors and the Díseart will be beautiful for the weekend. As Santy himself is too busy to leave the North Pole at this time of year, he has sent two fellas to stand in and make sure boys and girls are being good and are really deserving! Saturday Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh will be present as Dadaí na Nollaig on Saturday and on Sunday Brendan Griffin will be with us. Great fun! Santy will arrive via Dingle Jaunting car at 12pm on Saturday and on 1pm on Sunday. Loads of details to see to in the final planning, but things are going well...
Another craft fair done yesterday and it was pretty dismal for all, if I am honest. Most of Ireland is full of anxiety at the thought of the year's budget being launched tomorrow and are just afraid to spend. We are promised another year of woe and punishment. I am not sure how many more years of this average people can take. The politicians have given themselves raises yet again. It is beyond a disgrace to cut hospitals and creches and people on low income and then to give yourself a €27,000 wage increase (or one for your friends). I am not sure if people aren't too downtrodden to riot at this stage, but most other countries in Europe would be raging. Hard to say if it would actually do any good. It makes keeping a cheery Christmas attitude that bit more daunting, I tell you. I'd love to say that things will bounce back in the New Year, but I think people are largely thinking craft is a luxury and it is just not on the list of things to purchase. As well as excellent value, it must be said that not all craft is expensive. And the negative repercussions of buying overseas imports can be seen as close as our neighbors. We all buy a certain amount of things that are made out of country, but Ireland has lost so many jobs in the last 3 years that it is critical to keep that money in our economy. And if people aren't buying craft at Christmas, then I fear for sales the rest of the year. |
| Tree top angel, Handmade out of pure wool! |
Meanwhile, the craft club is going strong. We made these little ladies last week and were working on felt Christmas ornaments this week. I think the last session before Christmas will be Christmas stockings. I am making these angels for hampers for Bluíríní Blásta Cafe for the next week. It's all go!
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