On Sunday afternoon, I made my annual pilgrimage to the Waterfront Festival in Gloucester. Though it may not be quite as exciting as it was when Daphne, the owner of the former Nature Island Botanicals, used to be there selling my favorite handmade bar soaps and body butters, it’s still fun to see what’s new and who has come back again. That’s Daphne below in 2019.
I managed to do a little shopping, as usual.
There was a new vendor this year from upstate New York, Goodway Bakery, selling scrumptious rum cakes. They gave out samples of all the flavors, and it was tough to choose. I bought a banana rum cake. I was disciplined enough to put it in the freezer to save for an occasion rather than going home and devouring it! Goodway is a charitable organization that supports a Christian school in the Troy NY area.
Next, I bought this year’s bar soap at the fair. The Chickadee Company artisans were local folks, and they sell at a few farmers’ markets nearby. So if I like the soap, I can get it again fairly easily or I can just shop them online. They had a lot of handmade soaps and candles to choose from. I picked Frosted Sea Glass in pastel colors that hopefully won’t run down my shower insert and need to be cleaned off like my current LUSH soap! The soap contains fragrance notes of Seafoam, Ocean Air, Vetiver, and Moss. It’s a subtle scent that smells like the outdoors in summer. $10 for a 5 oz. bar.
The last item I bought was a pair of earrings from an artisan who crafts jewelry from nuts and bolts. Literally. The Lush Industrial earrings are silver-tone dangling earrings with the final drop made from metal and brass washers! They’re not too long and very lightweight. A terrific purchase for $16! The artisan also makes hardware jewelry that communicates messages in Morse Code! Amazing and very unique. She makes bracelets and necklaces as well as earring. Check out Lush Industrial online.
I ran into my friend M. and her cousin at the fair. I was happy to hook up with them! They made up for the gloomy weather and the $25 parking ticket that I received from the local police!
Last, we stopped at a natural skincare brand, Beeline Skin Care, based in Henniker NH. Although I didn’t buy anything (my friend M did), I was sorely tempted. The products were beautifully packaged and marketed. They are sold on their gorgeous website as well as at gift shops, farm stores, and garden stores throughout the U.S. A percentage of the price goes to support bees.
Hi, Allison – So I guess that’s what happens when we try to park at a seaside Farmers’ Market: I got a parking ticket last year when I was at one. Sorry that happened to you, too! – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Oh, no, sorry you got snagged too! Not fair since we were trying to help small business people, craftspeople, the local economy. Boo