Crafting Through the Seasons: Devens & Wakefield Festival Highlights!
Hello, dear friends and fellow lovers of handcrafted beauty!
It's always a joy to connect with you, whether online or in person at the wonderful craft festivals that fill our spring and summer calendars. Recently, I had the pleasure of attending two fantastic events, and I'm excited to share a little bit about them with you.
Devens Craft Festival: A Sunny Surprise!
Despite some iffy weather predictions, the Devens Craft Festival on Saturday, May 31st, turned out to be a delightful day! We started with a bit of a drizzle while packing up, but by the time we arrived at Verbeck Field, the rain had mostly cleared. Setting up was smooth, and to our delight, the sun made a strong appearance around noon, staying bright until about 2 p.m.
The atmosphere was wonderful, enhanced by a fantastic guitar player whose music added a great vibe throughout the day. Food trucks and other entertainment kept everyone happy. While it was a shame to see a few empty spots (it looked like about 30% of vendors couldn't make it), the spirit of the day remained high.
I had some lovely conversations and made a few good sales. It warms my heart when familiar faces return! A mother and daughter who bought from me last year stopped by again, picking out more purses as gifts. They shared how much they loved their previous purchases and were so glad to find me there again – moments like these truly make my day. I also had a great chat with a fellow sewer from Minnesota. We bonded over the universal frustration of Joann Fabric stores closing, especially when it comes to finding those elusive zippers! We ended up exchanging some helpful online resources, which was a real treat.
As always, I cherished the opportunity to connect with other vendors and visitors. The day wrapped up a bit sooner than expected around 3 p.m. when an announcement about approaching thunderstorms prompted a quick pack-up. Thankfully, I managed to get everything loaded into the truck just before the skies opened up again!
Festival by the Lake: Sunshine, Smiles, and Perfect Picks!
What a truly fabulous day it was at the Festival by the Lake in Wakefield! Moving the event to Sunday to dodge the rain was an absolute genius move. We were blessed with glorious sunshine, beaming smiles, and so many lovely visitors. I had wonderful conversations, received countless compliments on my fabric accessories, and sent many happy customers home with their new treasures.
One particular highlight that brought a smile to my face was a woman on a mission to find the perfect water bottle bag for her very particular mom. Her eyes lit up when she spotted the one with the Pickleball paddles – she snatched it right up, a true moment of finding "the one"! Then, two other ladies each grabbed a zippered tote and a water bottle holder, only to circle back later to pick up even more as gifts. You've got to love it when your bags find their people!
The tantalizing smell of food filled the air, the music kept the energy high, and the entire day had that wonderful, feel-good vibe that makes these festivals so special. I'm already looking forward to the next one!
Thank you for being a part of the Betsy Platt Originals journey. It's your support and enthusiasm that make crafting these timeless pieces so rewarding.
Warmly,
Betsy