This is a picture of the very beginnings of the handicraft fair. You may recognize it as Central Park in Huntington Beach. Those kids? They’re in their 20s now thinking about marriage and starting their own families in the not too distant future. This fair grew up alongside them. We used to meet for free – imagine that! Just a few of us and our kids and their crafts. It was so fun that one person told another, and that person told another, and it grew and grew and before you know it a woman from the library came looking for me during one of our fairs. “Are you in charge here?” “You can’t just have a fair without a permit! The cars are clogging up the parking lot!” So one thing led to another and to another and to hundreds of dollars to register things with the park and permits and insurance and all of that.
Now famliies we know and many we don’t come and go in the span of about four hours every Spring and Fall. While I dislike all the forms and things and miss the simplicity of it all, it can never be that the kids don’t have a handicraft fair to look forward to! And that’s what’s kept it going all these years. Did you know people from other states have contacted me to ask how we do our fair and how they can do one like it? I’m happy to share what we learned along the way because I know what a joyful day it can be for students and families educating this way. Of course it will be a little different from ours because each local community has its own flavor.
But the principles Charlotte Mason shared – of creating because we are created in the image of The Creator, of taking time to learn and improve in ability slowy and carefully, of joy in handling materials, of appreciating beauty, of avoiding futilities and throwaway crafts, and of an education that sows into a full life – taken up by multifaceted “persons” is waht makes it magical and magnanimous. She lit a torch that we can carry forward each and every handicraft fair and that is my hope for our little fair. It is worth remembering and preserving.
“Again, we know that the human hand is a wonderful and exquisite instrument to be used in a hundred movements exacting delicacy, direction and force; every such movement is a cause of joy as it leads to the pleasure of execution and the triumph of success. We begin to understand this and make some efforts to train the young in the deft handling of tools and the practice of handicrafts.”
– Charlotte Mason
Handicraft Fair Details
Anyone is welcome to attend and browse the booths and shop without registering for this event. Invite your friends and family, there are always more crafts than buyers! Selling is reserved for Charlotte Mason students. Anyone selling items must register.
Check in: Please check in at the registration table before your students begin selling.
Setup: Begins at 10:30am. Please do not begin setting up any earlier as we are contracted with the park for specific times.
Booth arrangement: Please set up your booth in a way that leaves plenty of room for a walkway. Do not block people from being able to access others’ booths.
Cleanup: Please clean up your area of all items and leave it as clean as or cleaner than you found it. Bring your own trash bags as needed as the park bins tend to fill up.
Selling used books: Adults may sell their gently used living books at this event.
The handicraft fair is for the children. Adults may help their children carry and set up their booth, but they may not prep, make, or sell any handicrafts at any booth at this event with the exception of helping very young children, or to step in momentarily while the student leaves their booth. Any adult getting involved in this way is taking from children who can not compete at the same level and is in violation of the rules and the spirit of the handicraft fair. First violation will result in a warning. Second violation you will lose selling privileges at all future SoCalCM handicraft fairs.
Non-consensual threatening or aggressive behavior towards others is not allowed. We understand children can get out of hand, but if you as a parent do not address aggressive behavior in your children promptly, they will be asked to leave the handicraft fair at the discretion of the administrators.
Watch your children: While this is a public event, it is at a public park that is open to anyone. SoCalCM is not responsible for the safety of your children. You are responsible for the safety and well being of your children at all times.
