Little St Nick

For most of the world, the holiday season starts on Black Friday. In my world, it starts the first weekend in December. It goes back to a long standing tradition at my "home" church, Trinity Princeton (http://trinityprinceton.org/events/view/114) The first weekend is devoted to the annual parish St. Nicholas Bazaar.
I can't speak of it's current state, as I'm seven years removed from it, but back in the day, it was the kick off to December madness.
Leading up to the Bazaar were a variety of events to make it a successful Outreach project. One night we decorated wreaths for sale. They were live wreaths, and people would donate the ribbon and doo dads to decorate them. It was a wonderful learning experience on how to make a wreath look pretty, balanced and symmetrical. I remember I made an amazing Victorian themed wreath, with mauve and silver decorations. To me, it was the start of something big, because I love love LOVE decorating wreaths since then.
Another fun event leading up to the actual bazaar was decorating gingerbread houses. Some of my favorite holiday memories with the Princess were gingerbread house nights. There was one woman who was the royal frosting (the "glue" that holds the house together) queen who had it seemed an army of kitchen aid stand mixers lined up, making the frosting. I got to use my pampered chef gingerbread mold (which disappeared after a move) and have the heavenly scent of gingerbread waft through my home.
One of the hallmarks of the bazaar was the bake sale. There were some pretty great bakers at that church who raised my level of cooking and baking. One woman made her own lemon curd, which when dropped in dollops on pound cake is quite nearly a slice of heaven.
People donated stuff and it was designated for Junior Shoppers. All items were priced at a $1, and you had to be 12 & under to shop there. The HS youth group & adults helped wrap the treasures.
In another room, St Nicholas himself was there for photographs and candy canes.
My contribution to the bazaar day was running the Children's craft area. For a small fee, parents could drop off their child and we'd make a craft together. For a number of years, I worked with this pretty awesome lady, Zulema Traylor (http://www.towntopics.com/nov0707/obits.php#obit2) and I was so saddened to learn of her passing several years ago. She was so patient & caring with the kids, most of whom were not parishioners but from the community. One year she came up with these decorated taper candles-a project I still make today.
There was a group of dedicated draftees, the Parish Originals, who made seasonal crafts each year for sale. My contribution was a plastic canvas nativity set that I made several years in a row. I remember feverishly stitching one on my honeymoon to get it done in time! I still wear my gingerbread boy apron when I'm doing holiday baking, which I bought sometime in the mid 1990's. It is a tangible connection to a very different time in my life, which made me who I am today.
There was a silent auction, and I began collecting crystal serve wear over the years thanks to it!
The evening before was a dressy event-the preview party. People brought appetizers, had some wine and perused the goodies. One of my favorite ministers, Kit Sherrill, was larger than life and would encourage a carol sing along, with another parishioner accompanying him on piano. There was a live auction as well, and one year the Princess got a pair of guinea pigs for Christmas as a result.
Since it's the bazaar weekend, and despite the fact I'm 1300 miles away, I'm there in spirit. The gingerbread apron will come out again. I will start with baking delectable goodies. My go to appetizer, bruschetta, will be made by the gallon, and this year I will again decorate candles with the little man, in honor of little St Nick.