My employees organized a holiday craft fair and bake sale!
Last November, I blogged about the amazing art show that my employees put together, displaying many of their fabulous pieces of art. Now, I’d like to tell you about another wonderful show held before the holidays – an employee craft fair and bake sale. Initially, the craft fair was scheduled to be held next spring and then the sad news came that our annual company holiday party was cancelled. It has been customary each year at the holiday party for employees to decorate stockings and do a toy drive to benefit the children of the George Washington Carver residences in New York City.
Still wanting to do something for the children, it was decided to move the date of the craft fair up and also invite employees to bake items for a bake sale, raising money for that cause. As it turns out, the bake sale portion of the fair raised over nine hundred dollars, to be used for a holiday luncheon for the children of the residences and also for school supplies and toys. It was impressive how many people contributed to the sale and the craft fair, once again, proved just how talented the staff at MSLO is! Come, have a look.
Hi, Martha,
Your employee craft and bake sale to benefit the children of the George Washington Carver residences in New York City was wonderful. Your talented MSLO staff must have been able to give those children many holiday luncheons, school supplies, and toys. I would have liked one of each of their creations!
Knitting squares for a blanket from yarn donated by Purl was a good idea, too.
Those peonys were beautiful.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 15th, 2009 at 2:55 am
That's amazing! I'd love to work in your offices
Posted by: Aimee | January 15th, 2009 at 3:37 am
That's Awesome! It just goes to show how much a little creativity and compassion can go!! Kuddos to your staff for putting their efforts into a very worthy cause for the "children"....Happy New Year!!
Posted by: K | January 15th, 2009 at 4:15 am
Will you do this again next year? Is it open to the public to shop? I would travel to NYC for this!!!
Linda
Posted by: Linda Crispell | January 15th, 2009 at 4:42 am
Totally enjoyed seeing the creations by your employees!
Posted by: Jan | January 15th, 2009 at 4:56 am
Pretty creative people. The fair and bake sale would have been fun just for the opportunity to visit with such talented spirited individuals.
Hope everyone sold out and left with many more ideas for next year. And may they need more room as well.
Posted by: Margie | January 15th, 2009 at 5:11 am
Check out more picture from the event at "Living on 112", The Martha Stewart Living Radio Blog! http://blogs1.marthastewart.com/radioblog/2008/12/come-to-a-marth.html
Posted by: Naomi Gabay | January 15th, 2009 at 5:35 am
Some lovely merchandise! Now that's my kind of craft fair and bake sale. And all for such a worthy cause...great job everyone.
Posted by: Sherey | January 15th, 2009 at 6:05 am
Oh wow, there are just so many beautiful crafts displayed here! I adore the snowflake ornaments, so elaborate! I'm wondering, as I think a couple others are, was this event open to the public, or just friends of MSLO employees?
Posted by: Whitney Rose | January 15th, 2009 at 7:05 am
Hi Martha, I've said it before and I will say it again, your employees are the best! The variety of crafts and baked goods are superior! I wish I could have been there to enjoy this marvelous event. I would have bought more items than I could afford. I love everything, especially the screw ornaments and the faux bois plates. Were the plates made of clay? These photos of this event and the purpose of the event are spectacular! Kudos to all involved! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 15th, 2009 at 8:05 am
Wow!...what a plethora of creations! It is just wonderful that your employees rallied and made this the success that it was! It's too bad their own party was cancelled, but somehow when we think of others, disappointments can turn themselves totally around into inner gratitude, can't they?! I love the crocheted throw idea, and what a treasure it will be for that worthy family when they receive it and use it in their new home! (It warms my heart!)
(Admittedly being totally unrelated here, but) MARYLAND FINALLY GOT SNOW overnight [where I live, at least] - a 1/2" ground-covering, mind you - enough to shovel the hard surfaces (if you had alot of them - if not, the broom would suffice.) It took me by surprise when I opened the shutters this morning! It was really pretty, though. An arctic blast abounds for most of us in the east, as Martha shared yesterday...even our blogger-friend Trish way down in Florida might suffer a tad bit (no getting your feet wet in the ocean tide for you tomorrow! [giggle] )
I reiterate "thinkspringthinkspring"!
Sunshine!
=^..^=
"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."--James M Barrie
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | January 15th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I'm wondering the same thing that Whitney Rose was because I saw so many great things I would have happily purchased. Everything is amazing as you say and who would have thought an ornament could be made with screws. Why, an MSLO employee of course! I liked the idea of using jewel cases to showcase some ornaments. I put some photos in some of mine and decorated them like a scrapbook page since I don’t use too many for storage anymore. I prefer the albums.
I see Laura Normandin is still crafting dolls and making beautiful doll clothes and Jodi Levine’s necklaces were quite fascinating; I know she loves paper and wow, can she really make great things with it.
A Christmas party is always nice but doing for others is even nicer. You have wonderful employees! Trish
Posted by: Trish | January 15th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Another fabulous idea by your staff. All the crafts were beautiful but I especially liked the doll coat and the peonies. What a great way of giving. The knitted blanket that your staff is creating looks awesome =)
Posted by: sushi2 | January 15th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Such creative employees!! Would love to see them featured in crat segments on your show.
Thanks for sharing
Posted by: Lonnie | January 15th, 2009 at 11:14 am
WOW! What a fun and festive event. I love craft show/fairs they seem to inspire me. I especially enjoyed Morgan Levines flowers and Steffi Lynen's hand screened prints. I think you should challenge your readers/viewers to a craft show. Somewhat like your cup cake contest.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Miriam Dickinson | January 15th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Just finished watching the news, plane in the Hudson River. How close are your offices from the Hudson River? So happy everyone was able to get off safely and quickly. Robin Roberts says she saw the plane come down from her apt. high rise and watched it land, mind boggling!
Wow, that pilot did a great job! Kudos to the Ferry lines for responding so quickly. Bravo to all the passengers and crew for keeping calm and getting all off.
I was most interested in the tool man and his tools, wish he had more time given for his segment on today's show Martha. Bring him please won't you please?
I couldn't craft to save my life but love to see other people's talents come alive in this area. A fun way for your employees to share and do a good thing for other folks and have fun at the same time, and show off their talents too.
Sometime you should host an employee craft auction on Ebay that viewers could bid on what your employees make then give it to a NYC charity. Like what you did with the Christmas stuff and the NFL.
Pam from California
P.S It is 77 here today wonderful!
Posted by: Pam From California | January 15th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I want to work for you! What a creative staff!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | January 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Sorry I have very poor vision sometimes I make errors. I meant in my post please bring back the tool guest to your show again for another show and tell.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam From California | January 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Hi Pam,
The Starrett Lehigh building is less than 20 blocks south from where the plane landed in the Hudson River. Thank goodness all the passengers were rescued from the freezing cold water and what a fabulous job everyone did in their rescue efforts.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 15th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I love it! I wish my employer would have a craft fair. Though I suppose a law firm isn't exactly the place for a craft fair.
Posted by: Christina (apronstrings) | January 15th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Hi, Martha,
It is a good thing that all were rescued from the waters of the Hudson. Many lives were saved by the actions of the pilot and the rescuers.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 15th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Great job on the crafts fair. However, I am responding to a question Martha asked yesterday, if any one knew where she could find an expandable gate for her pets. I just don't know how to contact her, so please pass this information on to her. She can find the gates in a catalog called Taylor Gifts. (800) 829-1133, or http://www.taylorgifts.com. The catalog key is TCF813, page 58. Martha is an inspiration and help to so many people, so I hope this, in turn, will help her. Babys R Us might also have what she is looking for. Thanks.
Posted by: DeeBirkenstock | January 15th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
So many unique items! I can't help wondering how much more money would have been raised if a number of tickets would have been available for sale to the public--I would have gladly paid $20.00 for a chance to peruse the merchandise!
Posted by: Sheila | January 16th, 2009 at 3:01 am
Oh, to have attended that sale! I love Laura Normandin's work. I always have!
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | January 16th, 2009 at 4:05 am
Hi -
Thank you for posting the photos from the craft fair. I am so inspired by all of the wonderful creations. I particularly enjoyed Marcie McGoldrick's ornaments. Would Marcie be willing to post instructions on the website? I would love to make them to donate to our church bazaar next year.
Thank you!
Posted by: Christy Donahue | January 16th, 2009 at 4:21 am
How fun...and such awesome stuff! I'd love to check out some of them if they have shops online or on Etsy.
Posted by: Cakespy | January 16th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I'm impressed that so many of your employees have the time to produce a unified body of craft in addition to (this is the notion I have) working hard for your organization. Very attractive items and generous employees.
Posted by: jw | January 16th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
What an absolutely fantastic way to involve children and employees. Marcie is very talented, would love to take a class to learn her instructions! Thanks
Posted by: Lyns Ponech Zoratti | January 16th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Love, love, love this post!
Crafts are my favorite leisurely pastime hobby. And I'm sure for many of your bloggers, too.
Martha, I think you would get lots of participation holding an "MSLO Bloggers May Craftfair" to help raise funding for a needy organization.
You could provide us with a deadline date and mailing address to ship our handmade crafts. And for bloggers that are short on time, they can probably enlist a family member or friend to participate.
Gloria
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, Maine | January 17th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Martha, you guys should think about taking all the craft items leftover from TV segments and shoots and putting them for sale on eBay to benefit causes you believe in. Can you imagine the amount of money you could raise that way, using things that you don't neccessarily need any longer? It would also be a great positive PR move for you.
Posted by: Scott | January 17th, 2009 at 5:15 am
I can only imagine how fabulous this must have been. I 'd love to win the golden ticket into there! Oh - the inspiration!
xoxo
Posted by: Emily Paben | February 6th, 2009 at 10:30 am
niceee.
Posted by: Joseph | March 13th, 2009 at 4:28 pm