Monroe
For The Holidays
HOLIDAY BAZAAR AND CRAFT FAIR
Saturday, December 2, 2017
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Hosted by East County Senior Center
THINK SMALL, SHOP LOCAL
Lynnwood resident Katy Penwell stood behind her brimming display of honey-based items at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds Gary D. Weikel Event Center on Black Friday.
Jars and tubes of the sticky, sweet gel, soaps, lotions and salves were piled high on small wooden crates throughout the booth. The owner encouraged passing perusers to take a whiff of the organic, scented cosmetics.
“Everything is made by the bees and for the bees,” she said.
Penwell was among 140 small-business owners peddling their products at the second Olde St. Nick’s Christmas Market on Friday and Saturday. Poppyseed Productions founder Molly Daniels and Rustic Pine boutique owner Andrew Fegler put on the event. The market has grown significantly since its beginning the year before as a storefront filler in the back of Big Daddy John’s, which is no longer in business.
Thousands chose to start their holiday shopping at the site this weekend.
Walking around the long lines of booths, many of the companies started in home studios. Often, the majority of products are sold online or at different markets and fairs.
Daniels said hundreds of people applied for the open slots, which meant she had to turn many down. She said she wanted to spotlight smaller local companies with rare homemade products, or ones that complemented each other.
Each applicant was vetted, Daniels said. The quality of the commodity, professionalism of the business, and the owners’ engagement with their clients came into play. About 100 companies with handcrafted items and 40 with direct sales, such as LulaRoe or Scentsy, were accepted, she said.
Daniels began her production company in 2015. It has quickly expanded and become well known within its service areas. She said she spoke with one owner who came as far as Spokane to sell at
CARAMEL POPCORN
Everyone Loves Caramel Popcorn!
Submitted
by
Suzette Graafstra, Pharm A Save Medical Supply
Pop 3-4 poppers of air corn and put into a paper bag. This is a great trick for easy cleanup!
In a big saucepan:
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup Lite Karo syrup
• ¼ cup or 1 stick of butter
Bring this to a rolling boil, stir for appr. 2-3 minutes then add:
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1 tsp. salt
This is going to create a “foam” that allows it to really stick to the popcorn. Keep stirring and pour over the 3 –4 air poppers of corn that are in the paper bag. Close the top of the bag and shake. Once coated, lay it out on the counter or a non-adhering surface and let cool. Store in an air tight container.
Really... Who doesn't like caramel popcorn! Enjoy...
HOLIDAY DRINK IDEAS
Submitted
by
Bonnie Roulstone Harry’s on Tye
A great way to transform any bourbon stout or moscato for the holidays is to mix it with your favorite cider. A good sweet cider to use is D’s Baked Cider or another locally made cider. Throw in a cinnamon stick and drink in the holiday season.
Holiday Cocktails
-1 ½ ounces of your favorite Vodka
-3 ounces of cranberry juice
-a spritz of lime juice (remember fresh is always better)
-fresh pomegranate
Directions:
Mix together your vodka, cranberry juice and lime juice in a shaker with ice. Place your pomegranate in the bottom of a glass and strain your drink mixture over the top of your fresh fruit. If you are not a fan of pomegranate you can leave it out and the drink is still a holiday favorite.
From our family at the Monroe Monitor, to you and yours!
Wishing you a very Happy Holiday and prosperous New Year.
Brandon, Kelly and Amanda
Think small shop local
Pam Selnes is one of Daniels’ preferred vendors. They have been working together for about two years at other markets and events. Selnes is an entrepreneur for Trades of Hope, a company that promotes and sells Fair Trade products made by impoverished women in 17 countries, including the U.S., as a way of helping them improve their quality of life and move into a position where they can also support their own communities.
Selnes said she started her own business with the company about 1 1/2
years ago. Raising up other women has become her passion. Right now they are marketing many holiday products made around the globe, she said. A few of those sat prominently on tables, including ornaments and decorations for household displays.
“Yeah, it’s been a good day,” she said smiling. “I am happy, I can help a few more women.”
Penwell also said her sales were a success. She said she will likely walk away with nearly five times as much revenue as she has made at similar events. Both women said Daniels is one of the most organized event planners
they have worked with. Her speedy communication and respect for the vendors is spot on, they said.
Tara Meucci of Lynwood and her children Alivia and Antonio came out to the center to do some early shopping. She said her husband tipped them off to the market that morning. She took a break from browsing while her kids decorated mugs made by Becca Otis of Monroe. The owner of 5 Lines Pottery is in the midst of preparing to open up a storefront on Main Street in the historic downtown corridor.
Meucci said she loves markets akin to Olde St. Nick’s. The three family
members frequent craft fairs together. The products are unique, and she prefers to support small businesses when she can, being an owner of one herself. Daniels and Fegler have also expanded throughout the region. They have another Olde St. Nick’s Market scheduled for Dec. 15-16 at the Vasa Park Resort in Bellevue. She said the hope is that they continue to grow the event.
“We would love to have it every year,” Daniels said. “We love it — I think the community loves it. Like I said, people are coming from all over.”
Of Milk and Honey owner Katy Penwell chats with customers during the Olde St. Nick’s Christmas Market at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds Gary D. Weikel Event Center on Friday.
A holiday shopper stops to decorate pottery at Becca Otis’s 5 Lines Pottery booth during the Olde St. Nick’s Christmas Market at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds Gary D. Weikel Event Center on Friday.