Where in the world is the Grand Poohbah? Was he lost on an overnight scouting outing? Has he finally gone to that great clubhouse in the sky? Fear not my friends, all is well. But I sincerely appreciate the concern. Your occasionally technologically challenged pal here has just return from four weeks on the road where despite all of his advanced planning he ran into a few too many roadblocks and detours to be able to post in absentia. Sigh. So please accept my sincere apologies for the unannounced disappearance and know that it was completely unintentional. Let me tell you what I’ve been up to and regular club meetings will commence this coming week.

I love a good road trip, I really do - but after four weeks in the car, 15 states, countless drive-through meals and three shows I am happy to be home again. Earlier in the year I decided to take my business, Mahar Drygoods ‘on tour’ and signed up for the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago and Country Living’s Annual Fair a week later. It wasn’t until after I paid my fees and received show confirmations that I realized my scheduling blunder - the shows were actually two weeks apart! It actually worked out for the best though allowing me to visit family in between shows and participate in the Eastown Street Fair in my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI…making the trip more of working holiday. The following gives you an idea of my route:

So, Santa Monica to Chicago in just under four days and then the Renegade Craft Fair which I had the pleasure of working with my sister who came down from Madison, WI and my pal Beth Doherty of Gourmet Amigurumi. I don’t think I had a concept of what 200 vendors looked like, but needless to say it took up several city blocks. We were set up down the center of Division Street in the great Wicker Park neighborhood. The organizers made a brilliant move in partnering up with the Do*Division Street Fair - so the craft fair ran for several blocks and then the neighborhood street fair ran for several more which made for amazing foot traffic. There were so many talented artists and small indie companies that participated like Golden Hen Press, the Small Object, and Circa Ceramics just to name a few. Below are a few shot of the weekend and note the incredibly cute kid - my nephew.

After Chicago, it was up to Madison for the week to visit with my sister and her family, allowing for some quality ‘uncle time.’ Then I took the very cool car ferry across Lake Michigan to visit family in Grand Rapids and to participate in the Eastown Street Fair. My parents and my brothers were great sports in helping me setup/tear down and man the booth. I had the added benefit of sharing the booth with my friend and Mahar Drygoods artist Hilary Seabolt of Lilly Bean Play Food! I regrettably was lax in taking pictures at this event, but needless to say I had a great time and had some very fine barbeque.

And after a nice week of visiting family and friends in MI, my mom and I drove down the beautiful rural town of Morrow, OH - just east of Cincinnati. We set up in a steady drizzle on Thursday and were hopeful that it wasn’t a sign of worse weather to come. This was only the second year Country Living Magazine hosted a fair - last year it was in Chicago’s Botanical Gardens and attendance for the entire weekend numbered around 5,000. Much to everyone’s amazement on Friday morning the sun came out and close to 10,000 people walked through the gates! Left somewhat dazed, the Fair’s organizers really stepped up their game bringing in reinforcements for the food vendors, seating and the all important port-o-johns for Saturday and Sunday. And miraculously the foot traffic increased. Needless to say, at the end of each we had just enough energy to go eat and then pass out at the hotel.

This was really an impressive fair, held on the farm of furniture maker David T. Smith. The grounds were styled to the hilt with straw bales, corn stalks, pumpkins and gourds around every corner and even a tram styled like a vintage train that toured kids around the grounds. Amidst all of the shopping they also held workshops, demonstrations and classes on everything from furniture restoration to broom making. And the food! Despite very long lines we were spoiled with barbeque, grilled sweet corn, Cajun dishes and of course frozen lemonade. We had a great time and if it’s held in your neck of the woods next year I wouldn’t hesitate to attend.

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