Christmas fete, what would you buy?

[BarleySugar]

Having just come back from a meeting of our garden club, I would be interested to find out what items you would be willing to buy from a Christmas fete (and possibly the price you would be willing to pay)
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It has been decided we should have a stall, and we met to discuss what we should sell/make. Ideas included bird food hanging items (as shown in the GYO Dec issue, ), cards and gift tags made from last years ones (I was always happy to use ones the children made, but not sure if I would actually pay for them), lavender bags, jams, chutneys, table decorations using assorted evergreen material, edible tree decorations (gingerbread biscuits), cookies, individual Christmas cakes and bought sweets and biscuits packaged by ourselves in gift packaging. Oh, and I planted up some bulbs in ceramic pots a while back that will be ready to sell.

By the way, if anyone reading this works with pre-school children, could you comment on any health and safety issues that might arise from children making their own table decorations with parents present. Basically the equipment consists of cheap non-biological washing powder mixed with water, foil dishes, conifer cuttings, tinsel and a candle. It is a thought that parents might be more willing to pay for an item for Granniy's table if it was made by their own little darling. We used to do this activity at mother and toddler groups 15 years ago, but I think I heard there were regulations which prevented it now.

Some ideas seem more 'commercially viable' than others, bearing in mind the WI will also be having a stall, and also thinking about what I would personally be willing to pay money for.

Comments invited,

[bluemoon]

Not necessarily what I'd buy, but here's what goes fastest at the various fetes that my mum's church holds, in order of preference; Cakes, Jams, Marmalades and preserves (especially the 'secret recipe' whiskey marmalade, jealously guarded by one old dear), 'craft items' such as lavender bags and herb pillows, table decorations (Christmas only), pot plants and herbs in winter, bedding plants in spring, soaps and perfumes (donated by people who have usually been given them as a gift because they're not keen on the scent, you'd be surprised how many of these you can get hold of if you ask around and I swear there's a gift boxed set of Yardley 'Lily of the Valley', that's been at every one since about 1986, it just keeps coming back) jewellery if it's nicely presented, tangled ropes of fake pearls aren't attractive. In addition to the cake stall you also need somewhere which sells tea and coffee and homemade cakes for consumption there and then. A bran tub is always popular and Christmas obviously needs a Santa.
The bird feeders are a fab idea which they haven't tried and if I've time I might make some for the Christmas fete, but this year's is next week.

[Two_Sheds]

as a complete novelty, what about grow-your-own wheat (or grass).

Sow some seed (take it out of bird seed mix) and sow it in a little pot of compost. Print a nice funny label off the computer.

It grows really quickly on a warm windowsill: I grow it for my guinea pigs so they have fresh grass in winter.

[Seahorse]

I don't know the 'rules' on things like little ones making table decorations but I've been to several local craft days in the past couple of years when my children (youngest would have been 3 the first time) have made things (whilst I was there). These were organised by the heritage centre, who I'm sure will be very clued up on H&S and I've never had to sign a waiver to say I won't sue if one my my little darlings eats glittter or anything.

When I go to the sort of event you describe, I often just want to 'show willing' and buy something, so things that are edible generally get my vote - at least they don't end up in the back of a cupboard!

[Pumpkin Becki]

What about 'grow your own' kits. A few seeds in an envelope, a flower pot and a plant label nicely presented (with growing instructions of course)?

[Nicos]

I always head for the home made decorations- not the string of pasta quality, but things made from dough - or stones painted and decorated as santa- or dangly things made from twigs ,wood and fir cones etc...there are some really talented peeps out there- I wish I could do that sort of thing!

...almost free to make- just a bit of time and a bi of paint/glue and a tremendous artistic flair!!!!

[pipscariad]

Basically the equipment consists of cheap non-biological washing powder mixed with water, foil dishes, conifer cuttings, tinsel and a candle.

I'm very intrigued at this one, what are you planning to make (sorry I'm so nosey!).

All your ideas sound great - our school is holding its christmas fair next Friday, and we'll be doing all of the above, plus lots of crafts that the children have made in class (no help for you though that one). There are some fantastic fudge recipes on the Vine, I'm sure that would disappear quickly! I'm planning to make some chutney for ours, although it won't have time to mature, so i'll have to hope that folk keep it until Christmas before eating! (By the way, my main role is that of an Elf, the things some folk have to do , get roped in for that every year as I'm police checked. At least you won't have to don a silly hat - unless you want to of course!)

Good luck with it, you have some great ideas there.

[ginger ninger]

What about small balloons blown up to about 4" round, covered in old wrapping paper mashay, then made into bobbles for the Christmas Tree sold for £1.00, my niece made some of these over 20 years ago and I still have some left.
You could also tie cinnamon sticks together with tinsel and hang those on the tree as well.

[northepaul]

as a complete novelty, what about grow-your-own wheat (or grass).

Sow some seed (take it out of bird seed mix) and sow it in a little pot of compost. Print a nice funny label off the computer.

It grows really quickly on a warm windowsill: I grow it for my guinea pigs so they have fresh grass in winter.

How about 'Grow your own Bonsai' ? You would just need a small pot and tree seed instead of grass??

[BarleySugar]

Thanks for the ideas, Kissykit and I will try a few things out over the weekend, and pass some on to the others as well. We still have some chestnuts we collected, some bonsai chesnut trees sound a good idea
Pipscariad, the washing powder is mixed to a stiff paste with water and put into a deepish foil dish. The candle goes in the middle, bits of conifer, tinsel, fir cones etc, are pushed into the washing powder. When this dries out it is solid and holds everything in place. It starts to harden reasonably quickly (don't use too much water), so the kids can usually move the decorations a few minutes after they've finished, and the tinfoil bowls help. Actually they can make pretty good centre pieces for a fraction of what you could pay for a professional one, and they can be customised to whatever colour theme etc you have in mind. Kissykit still loves doing them at 17, and is intending to pass the 'craft' on.

[janeyo]

I went to one recently and if you paid a nominal fee you child got o decorate a plain photo frame (3 in a pack from wilkkos for £ I think) with glittery sparkly thigns.
I got my 2 to make one for grandma for xmas, just got to add a photo of each of them and it makes a lovey gift.

They also had plain white tiles and you could draw on them with special paints and then take it home and fire it so it stuck.

[janeyo]

I buy cakes, cards, jams and preserves when I go to them mostly.

[janeyo]

You can also have a child size table set up and have some plain rich tea biscuits. The chicldren get to decorate the biscuit (for 50p or some such like) with different coloured icing sugar, and sprinkles and mini marshmallows etc.

*off to audition for Blue Peter lol

[janeyo]

Guessing the number of items in a jar always goes down well as does guessing the weight of a cake.

[pipscariad]

Thanks for the ideas, Kissykit and I will try a few things out over the weekend, and pass some on to the others as well. We still have some chestnuts we collected, some bonsai chesnut trees sound a good idea
Pipscariad, the washing powder is mixed to a stiff paste with water and put into a deepish foil dish. The candle goes in the middle, bits of conifer, tinsel, fir cones etc, are pushed into the washing powder. When this dries out it is solid and holds everything in place. It starts to harden reasonably quickly (don't use too much water), so the kids can usually move the decorations a few minutes after they've finished, and the tinfoil bowls help. Actually they can make pretty good centre pieces for a fraction of what you could pay for a professional one, and they can be customised to whatever colour theme etc you have in mind. Kissykit still loves doing them at 17, and is intending to pass the 'craft' on.

Oo, thanks Barleysugar, that sounds worth a go , it was worth asking! My 3 come over all creative as soon as Christmas looms, and this sounds just up their street.