Ah, the endless stretch of damp, grey days that stretch between New Year’s Day and the first warm, flower-scented morning of spring. Call it the winter blues, S.A.D. (seasonal affected disorder) or just the blahs, it can take hold of the best of us. It happens even to those crafty, creative types who spend the winter holed up in their workshops stockpiling handmade treasures, all the while dreaming of colourful markets packed with people in the warm summer sun.
In an effort to temporarily alleviate this malady and give folks a chance to crawl out of their dens and recharge their well worn batteries, the crew in Honeymoon Bay present their first ever, Cabin Fever Craft Market. It takes place on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10a.m. to 2p.m. at the Honeymoon Bay Community Hall.
“This is just a great time of year to be doing this,” said market contributor, Sharonann Dube. “It’s been a long icky winter and this just gets folks out of their rut.”
The indoor market will see most of the same exhibitors who are familiar at the summertime Honeymoon Bay Outdoor Market. There will be woodwork, handmade chocolates, quilts, herbal products, pickles and jams, crafts, as well as a host of homemade bread, pies and other baked goodies.
“This is just to break the ice after a long winter break,” said organizer and HB Market manager, Bob Riddler. “It’s a little different in that the Outdoor Market is strictly homemade and all local and there will be some other vendors with different products here.”
Some of the old-time vendors are changing up their product lines as well. Dube, known primarily for her jewelry, will be marketing a new series of fairy items, sure to delight the Tinkerbelle wannabes in the crowd.
“Also, part of my booth this year will be for cancer, all the different colours that represent the different types,” explains Dube. “Half of the money for those things will go to cancer research.”
Organizer, Bob Riddler is expecting the hall to be pretty much full with vendors occupying 25 to 30 tables. He’ll have a selection of his trademark barn-wood creations on hand.
“I’ve got potting sheds and benches and things all made from re-claimed wood from old barns and buildings,” said Riddler.
So for a breath of spring, or at least a taste of the joys of the seasons to come, check out the market in Honeymoon Bay this Saturday.