🍑 FAIR 🍑 THEE 🍑 WELL 🍑

Dear Fair Family,

The time has come for me to say good-bye. This year marks my 21st year attending OCF, and my 20th year selling at fair.

A bit of History about Fair and my time there:

If you’ve never been to Oregon Country Fair, Many of you may think it’s like a state fair. OH MY, It is the exact opposite. 

It was started in 1969 as a Gypsy Caravan Show. A huge hippie festival held on Ken Kesey’s land which he later donated to fair. The Grateful Dead played, there is a huge history of that era wrapped into the threads of this event. 

There are no white top canopies (not even allowed) Fair wants to be blended into the natural state of the forest. The forest is on flood plains, there can be damage to one’s booth due to this.

For example, last year, multiple trees fell and crushed structures. 

This festival is different than every other show I’ve ever applied to - Even if you are accepted to OCF, it’s up to you to find a booth space. Each booth has a Rep. They are not required to share, yet, Many do. 

Fair reserves rotating booths each year to place the top 10 scoring artisans in - those artisans HAVE to share their booth.

That’s how I got in, How I eventually scored a full time position in Booth #207.

I went to fair in 2001 for fun with 2 girlfriends. (the year I started ITD). I was like I HAVE to get into this show, I was told by an artisan there, don’t even bother applying, no-one gets in……

2002 - I was accepted as #7 on that list, first try….I have NEVER told anyone to not bother, I say, it’s hard and competitive to get in, but, you should try. 

I moved around in booths 3-4x until my current booth partner - Alissa Clayworks got a phone call from Neil (the rainbows). He was looking for a partner for the summer. She recommended me to Neil (she had a space already.)

1 year later, Neil invited me to be his permanent partner - a dream come true for any artisan selling at fair. I guess a bunch of FUN, young girls were way more interesting than his current partner 😉 Sally, Neil's wife, became a mentor to many of us through the years as well.

We expanded my booth multiple times. I would trade clothing to Tim (207's handyman and friend) to build it out for me, I paid for all the wood - that’s how it works. It’s your booth, so you take care of it. 

2019 Neil retired from his business, I became Booth Rep, another dream come true.

2020-23 - No fair for me….which showed me a different life. A life that I wanted to live. One with WAY LESS STRESS in it….

2024 - I came back to Fair, I needed a booth partner to share 207. 

The obvious choice was to call Ali, especially cuz I knew she was a little unhappy in her current situation and it would become full circle, give her the gift I was given as a Thank you. Ironically, Aly and I shared for the first time in 2005 - 20 years ago, now I am leaving fair on my 20th selling year. Serendipity…..

The creativity here is unmatched.  From the most amazing craftsmanship I’ve ever seen, to performing arts, to multiple music stages, art parades, buskers, sculptures, food, and much more. 

The count guesstimate for folk to put on this fair is around 15,000 - all who get a very coveted wristband.

There is a huge night time scene at fair - one needs that coveted band to be in at night. Think of it as a gift to everyone who works there butts off during the day to make this event happen. Main stage has special acts every night, and there is something extraordinary around every corner - both night and day. There are multiple different crews that put this event on - water crew, security, archeology crew, trash & recycling, and countless others.

I hope you can understand how major this festival is to folk who go, including myself. 

Moving into WHY….

The 3 years I did not attend Fair due to Covid, it showed me a life I prefer to live.  I’m not that girl who enjoys going as much anymore. I don’t like huge crowds, and the work is relentless for me. 

7 days in a row of 10 plus hr days. 3-4 days of packing before hand (everything is special for this show) and 3-4 days of cleaning when I get home. Fair is extremely dusty, and I have to hose off every single thing that I use for my booth. I also inspect all the clothing that did not sell. I take a wet washcloth and pat down the top of where the clothing gets put on the hanger, as that’s the dustiest, dirtiest part. I will still see fair dust on my clothing for over a month even after doing all this. 

Wait, did I mention, the hours upon hours of sewing….I pretty much start preparing for inventory after the New Year.

I’m sure by now you can see a little bit of why…

BUT....

There was no way I was walking away without being able to gift the booth to another crafter like Neil did for me.

It’s too huge and we all know that doing things the right way can often be the hard way.

Here’s the text I have printed on a postcard to hand out at fair with a bunch of fun photos through the years.

This is my 20th year selling here ~ I could give you over 20 reasons, here’s the top 3.

#1. ✨QUALITY OF LIFE✨

Stress affects our health - plain and simple. I’m not the 23 year old girl I was when I applied all starry eyed, wanting something different in life than I want now.

Now, I’m about to be 48, fully in the hormonal change, and my body is telling me to slow down - I’ve decided to listen. 

The 3 years I took off due to Covid showed me a life I want to live, A life with less stress. My soul NEEDS less stress and that is the #1 main reason why this is my last year.

#2. For me, this show is a 3 day event that takes up almost 2 weeks of time. Not to mention, the ridiculous amount of sewing I do ~ Not good on my aching joints as I grow older. I’ve had multiple neck/shoulder issues through the years. My body physically can’t handle sewing for this festival anymore.

#3. Sometime around ’07 I was offered a permanent position in Booth 207 ~ A dream for any crafter without a space. In 2019, my booth partner, Hand-Picked Rainbows retired. I became Booth Rep.

I pulled Alissa Clayworks into my booth in ’23 after the Covid hiatus, with the pre-tense of, I only had a couple years left in me. I gave her my word, that I wouldn’t quit until I could hand her over the booth - a fantastic opportunity for her and her future partner. One that was I was given, something I wanted to give back to a fellow crafter who takes this festival seriously. This all fell into place this year. 

My business would never be what is today without you all, I recognize & acknowledge that from the deepest depths of my soul. I am forever grateful for this opportunity in life. 

May we all live our greatest & healthiest lives while nurturing our souls to let our love light shine.

I urge all of you to do something to create less stress in your life, because without our health, we have nothing.

“Everyone gets to be young, but not everyone is lucky enough to grow old.”

I want to make this VERY CLEAR ~ I AM NOT GOING OUT OF BUSINESS ANYTIME SOON. I will be focusing my energy into other things for my business. I can’t tell you exactly what yet, When I recover from this year’s festival season, I will work on that. My energy is depleted from preparing and I know this is not the time to make plans, It’s the time to get through this.

Last summer I had an adrenal crash due to being completely over-worked, I am working extremely hard to not let that happen again, as It’s not a fun place to be in. 

With SEW much gratitude to you all 🙏 

Please stop by the booth to say hello and good-bye, to share a tear in the eye, laughter, love, and most of all a HUGE HUG.

Betsy 🧡