From Ribbons to Treasured Memories: My Whirlwind Weekend at the Fall Fair
Hello, my lovely friends! Welcome back to my little crafting corner.
If I sound as though I am typing this from the cosiest armchair in the house with a hot cup of tea firmly within arm’s reach, it is because I truly am! I have spent the last two days resting and recuperating, and goodness knows I needed it. We have just wrapped up the Vancouver Island Exhibition (VIEX), and what an utterly splendid, bustling, and heartwarming experience it was.
Now that the dust has settled and my feet have finally forgiven me, I wanted to sit down and share a proper recap of the fair, what I set out to achieve, the wonderful souls I met, and the exciting new ideas bubbling away for the website.
A Little Golden Glory: Four for Four!
This year’s fair theme was From the Ground Up, celebrating grassroots creativity, handcrafted arts, and the remarkable talent flourishing right here in our community.
My primary mission for attending was to get out there and promote the website, but naturally, I could not resist entering a few pieces into the competition. I entered four of my handmade items, hoping for the best.
To my absolute delight, every single one of them was awarded a first prize! On top of that, two of my pieces received Best in Division honours. Winning ribbons is always a lovely boost of encouragement, but the true prize of the weekend was the connection I felt with everyone who stopped by.
Spreading the Word (and the Mini Memory Bears!)
Between catching up with fellow crafters and soaking in the atmosphere, I kept busy sharing what we are building online. By the time the fair closed, I had handed out 195 website cards.
A central highlight of my table was my little mini memory bear project. Memory bears hold a very special place in my heart, and it seems they touched yours as well. I handed out roughly 40 bear patterns to people keen to try making their own. While the foot traffic felt a little quiet in spells, for every person who took a card, at least another couple stopped to chat, browse, or share a story.
I even had a photographer drop by to take photos of me proudly holding a pair of my mini bears, which made me smile from ear to ear!
The Conversations That Made My Heart Sing
What made the entire weekend so memorable was not the ribbons, but the people.

• A potential collaboration with Clay Tree: I had the privilege of meeting participants from Clay Tree, a wonderful organisation supporting individuals with diverse abilities. Their artwork on display was nothing short of phenomenal. We spoke about potentially collaborating so I can share some of my patterns with their group, which would be an absolute honour.
• Connecting with community libraries: I connected with members from the local library network to explore ways we might share ideas and encourage craft workshops across the community.
• Gentlemen championing recycled fabrics: One lovely surprise was the number of men who stopped by for thoughtful discussions about using repurposed and recycled textiles. Crafting sustainably resonated deeply with so many visitors.
• Stories woven into stitches: Time and time again, people stood by the memory bears and opened their hearts. We spoke about lost loved ones and how comforting it is to take a cherished, worn jumper or sentimental scrap of cloth and turn it into a keepsake you can hold in your hands. Those heartfelt conversations are what crafting is truly about.

On a slightly cheekier note, I did notice quite a few youngsters drifting past completely glued to their screens, never looking up at the vibrant displays around them. My gentle motto to the younger generation remains: put down those smartphones, pick up your grandmother’s knitting needles, and let your creativity fly! There is a sense of joy and personal accomplishment in making something with your own two hands that no digital screen can ever match.
Celebrating Wendy and What Is Coming Next
I also brought along a showcase for my dear friend Wendy, an exceptionally gifted artisan whose work is of impeccable quality. I placed a card on the table celebrating local talent and set out sign-up sheets for anyone interested in her patterns.
The response was fantastic! Visitors were particularly keen on her bowl holders, tea towels, and cosy slippers. Seeing that enthusiasm gave me a burst of inspiration during the quieter moments of the fair, prompting two brand new sections for our website:

1. Local Crafting Talent: A dedicated space to showcase gifted makers like Wendy, celebrating their wares and sharing their patterns so our wider community can learn from them.
2. Restore: A corner dedicated entirely to reviving older, well-loved pieces. I will be featuring the rocking chair I refinished, along with a vintage kitchen witch that is over forty years old, which I lovingly refurbished while working on an antique hope chest.

Thank You from the Bottom of My Heart
It was a long, busy stretch of days, but every single minute was worth it. Seeing people light up when discussing handmade crafts reminded me why I love doing what I do.
A special, massive thank you must go out to my wonderful son, whose tireless work organising and building the website made this whole adventure possible.
If you would like to hear my full reflection and catch a peek at the projects, you can watch the complete video here: Connecting Through Crafting: My Favourite Moments from the Weekend Fall Fair (VIEX).
Until next time, keep your hands busy and your heart full!