28 November 2009

So the Yule Market has come and gone for another year...and it was, as far as I can tell, a resounding success. This is the fourth one I've been to and it seems like we had a large number of people through the door this year (probably more than the last two Yule Markets combined).
It was really excellent to see the vendors selling to customers rather than to other vendors.

I'm really not sure what we did differently this year for advertising that made such a difference. I know Facebook was a valuable tool as was the listing in "What's On" in the Journal (and both are free!). I also want to thank Janie who took and distributed a stunning number of information slips about the Market as well as Jennifer who took time to put up posters.

The hall we had it in was good too (thanks to Dina for finding it). I think we're going to have it in the same hall next year.

Two comments we had were: why was there no concession? And why were there so few signs?

The first, about the concession: I did have someone lined up until Wednesday, however, he discovered he had to work today and couldn't make it. I am going to approach a number groups in the community to see if anyone wants to do this as a fundraiser next year.

With regard to the signage...well, I'll be honest. I did my best with the time and resources I had. I realize how I could have done better, like, for example, figuring out that by late November the ground is too frozen to stick a wooden stake in. Also, fluorescent green and yellow letters really aren't all that visible on a white background. That being said, many many people were able to find the hall even though it was on a one-way street.

If anyone out there has any other constructive comments or feedback to help make next year's Market even more successful, please drop me an e-mail.

24 November 2009

So we have official confirmation that Kriket will be facilitating Fireside Chat this coming Friday November 27th!

I'm not sure exactly what she's planning to talk about but I know Kriket and I know she always has interesting things to say.

Fireside starts at 6 pm and runs to 8 pm. There will be tea. If you plan to have some, we request that you bring your own mug.

With respect to cookies...in light of the fact that the cookies cost about $19 each for Fireside (more if Ed buys them - he's a lavish kind of guy) and there's been $6.85 and $4.76, respectively, in the dish for the last two Firesides I'm thinking maybe I'm doing something wrong here.

Effective immediately, Fireside is going to be "potluck" rules. If you all want cookies, please feel free to bring them. If you want to have tea, again, please feel free to bring it. We'll provide the hot water and the plates for the cookies.

24 November 2009

So the Yule Market is coming up this weekend. We have 14 confirmed vendors including:

Helen Yuhasz …..................jewellery, cards, runes, chakra stones
Creations by Lara............... jewellery, journals, Yule decorations, scarves
Janies Jewellery Design.... silver gemstone jewellery
Urban Goddess …...............fairy doors, Celtic goddess effigies, altar objects
Divine Treasures ….............psychic readings, bags, jewellery
Chris Wityshyn …................altar boxes & trays, pendants, Yule ornaments
Brambles & Broomsticks... handpainted ceramics, spell jars, broomsticks
Levanah's Workshop ….......altar cloths, meditation cushions, robes, shawls, cloaks
Gordon Bailey.....................altar boxes, small altars, beeswax candles
Paleocreations …..............crystal knives, fossils, crystals
Mojo's Creations................spell kits, Goddess prayer beads, spell candles, jewellery
Mystic Spirit Design ….......jewellery, wands, amulets, altar pieces
Demedriana …....................sea glass pendants, ribbon gypsy scarves, gold wire crochet necklaces
Luna Forge.........................weaving, copperwork, silver jewellery

All of this stuff is handmade by the vendors and I guarantee you're going to find something there to like. Please come out and support the artisans of the local Pagan community!

It will be at the Westmount Community League (127 Street and 109 Avenue) this coming Saturday November 28th from 11 am to 5 pm. Any further questions please call Chris at 780-454-0187.

11 November 2009

Greetings everyone...

Three items of news today:

1. We *are* open today regular hours (11 - 6 pm). As far as it stands now, we plan to be open statutory holidays except for Christmas and New Year's Day (the former because we have family out of town who requests our presence for festivities and the latter because...well...do you really want to shop with a hangover?) If this ever changes we'll be sure to let you know.

2. We would like to welcome Elowynn to the Store. She will be reading cards here today (Nov 11) and Nov 21. There is a good chance she will be taking over Remie's days (Mon, Thur, Fri) while Remie is in the Phillipines for the winter. We'll keep you posted as this develops.

3. We hope everyone takes a minute of silence today to remember the sacrifices of those brave souls who came before us (and also those who are still today putting their necks on the line) so that we can live free of tyranny.

6 November 2009

So we're working on processing and putting out something like six orders (coming, as soon as I can get them done, to a store near you...). I'm putting price tags on a new line of stick incense from Satya called "Romance" and I read the back of the box and (as Dave Barry would say) I swear to you I'm not making this up, it says: "For Fragrance Purposes Only". Which is made ever more baffling by more text on the box that says: "Rekindling your thirst for fine fragrance". The final clincher is: "Creates a space for you that you would never want to leave."

Now...is there some other, alternative use, for stick incense that I'm not aware of? Do I even want to know?

2 November 2009

Hello all...

I hope your Samhain was a beautiful and profound one...

Thank you to everyone who participated in our micro-sale. We will have more scrying mirrors in shortly as well as a number of other awesome things just in time for the Yule gift giving season!

On a completely unrelated note: a few weeks ago I purchased some textured soy protein "minces" (think the consistency of "Grape Nuts" cereal). I had no idea how much I was buying and ended up with a very large amount (this stuff is very light in its dry form). It is not in the original packaging (we have mice) but was transferred immediately after purchase into glass bottles and will be put into a brand new clean Ziploc baggie for anyone out there who wants it, free of charge. Just call me at the Store and let me know if you can use it and it's yours...