That was disappointing. Well, at least you saved some money, right?

I quit going to craft shows after a few disappointments. Used to love them. Maybe I'm changing, not the shows.

I quit going also. I don't need more junk. I want pretty and practical, original, or something homemade. I've avoided 'made in China' or another country as much as I can. I feel like I've been to a dirty flea market after I check out some of these events.

It has gotten ridiculously expensive to rent space in the bigger shows. My niece that makes beautiful jewelry sets up in several of the big shows in various states. The cost has more than doubled this year, she is having to cut back on the shows she attends. She is dependent on her etsy store and her Facebook page to help compensate. I had no idea how costly it was. A show she did last year and cost $500 for a space this year was a thousand. This is a very big show but good grief she would have to sell a ton of jewelry and charge much higher prices just to break even. That's knocking out many of the vendors. Plus she has to hire at least one person to be with her to make sure people are not stealing when she is busy with a customer and believe me that happens often. One gets the attention of the vendor while their partners browse with sticky fingers. Sad situation.

I find the craft shows lately are very disappointing. Not many people that I would call actual crafters. So much Tupperware, Mary Kaye, book sellers, etc. The days of knitters and sewers are long gone I am afraid to say, such a shame.

I am not a craft show person but there used to be one just before Halloween that I never missed. Everything had to be hand made and you had to apply to a committee to participate. The vendors could sell similar items as someone else but they could not be actual copies. They had to have a uniqueness. I used to go every year and buy hand painted ornaments from lady and ceramics from another along with various edible treats. We didn't have a lot of expendable income at the time and I would budget for them.

Then they loosened their standards. Crafts from kits and things that looked like a child did them in school appeared. It got bigger, they made money for a couple years and it died. Still miss that show.

I had not gone to any in years so yesterday stopped in at the Senior Center....granted, not really a craft show. Lots of knitted and crochetted slippers afghans, hats,etc. and plenty of cute "hanging bags' for walkers and other bags and quilts. Also fabric, nicely displayed; someone's "stash", do doubt. Some dolls and lots and lots of cute Christmas decorations. Maybe the "knitters and sewers" are now in the Senior Center (free tables) and Assisted Living places? Some jewelry too. I bought Jam and Peanut Brittle (for DH), but they also had cookies and candies home-made. No books or "vendor" type stuff.

I really think that there is a "movement" in the country, of folks who have grown tired of "collecting" stuff. I have plenty to sell. I would wish my young grandchildren today would bring unusual "edible" or "enjoy it now" kinds of products as my collectibles overflow. (and, yes, I do have paper files of pictures, poems and crafty things they have gifted me over the years....they are priceless to me....and will be to them when they are "disposing of Grandma's stuff". I would tell them to write a journal and keep their memories in it...a journal will bring back memories that you"ll be glad to remember, instead of the cute windmill salt & pepper shakers that collect dust. Well, those things will keep MY memories alive....not theirs, unless I have shared MY memories of those salt and pepper shakers. OOPS...think I got off track!

I've seen so much overpriced and mediocre stuff that I've lost interest. I believe I'm not alone in that view and agree with what others have said. I think many have tired of sellers offering goods seemingly made by amateurs without any particular talent.

Years and years ago, the Swap Meets on Saturdays at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Southern California were a lot like a craft fair. It was lots of homemade stuff, and old stuff that folks were clearing out of their attics and garages. You could find some great stuff. But it slowly turned into something totally opposite. Acres and acres of brand-new, boxed items that folks bought at some discount place and were attempting to upsell.

At a craft fair, I don't mind the made-from-a-kit things, because, after all, someone had to make it by hand. The kit simply provided all of the necessary "ingredients" for the project. At least it shows more effort than buying a discounted box of cookware and then reselling it.