Random Acts of Kindness

If we are being honest here, and I hope we are that's the kind of relationship I'd like to have after all, I am a cynic.
I know, I know it's hard to tell. oh, did I also mention that I have a tendency towards sarcasm??
No really, it's true.
There was an incident many years ago when I first moved to California the land of touchy feelies and therapy. I was working in a quaint little Inn in Northern California which also housed a restaurant where I was the sous chef. Now there was a bit of a dichotomy happening here, on the inn side we had a lovely group of sweet, friendly, cheerful staff and in the restaurant we had well...chefs.
I was elected to do the brunch for the inn's patrons and thus had to interact with the sweet and cheerful people first thing in the morning. No surprise that it wasn't long before I was sitting in the managers office having a discussion about my lack of "perkiness". Yes, the word "Perky" was actually used and yes I was incredulous and of course cynical and sarcastic about the whole thing.

Here's some cake, which frankly has nothing to do with this post but cake can be perky, can't it?? I'm trying to make up for lost time here. Besides, I need a photo somewhere in here.


It surprises me as much as it must you that this post is in fact about kindness. I spent many years in the food business working with all manner of cynical and sarcastic people, well other than that aforementioned perky group that is. I reveled in it, I felt at home and enjoyed all the hell that came along with restaurant work. These days I do tend to lead a more mellow kind of lifestyle and I have come to know a whole different kind of world with the crafters/designers/makers/artists that I regularly encounter these days. It really is a culture shock to me that this group of people are so kind and helpful.

I am regularly amazed and humbled by how much fellow crafters support one another. I am not sure if it's due to the common goal of a handmade revolution or just the nature of people who create stuff in general but never have I met a group of people who are more thoughtful.
Something happened recently, when I was a stall holder at the last Made in the Shade Spring Jamboree in Glasgow, that put these thoughts into the forefront of my mind. By the way should you even encounter the opportunity to be a part of Made in the Shade in any way shape or form-do it. Anyway, here I was at MITS with my ever present helper, the Peanut. Now the Peanut is a fabulous helper and in fact was also marketing her own stuff in the start of a five year olds crafty empire, but the Peanut can only take staying behind a stall for so long before she needs a little break. This break normally takes the form of looking very carefully at all the other stalls and then returning to ours with her eyes shining with excitement over a potential purchase, usually something gothy or sparkly.
This time it was fascinators, some both gothy AND sparkly! The Peanut found excuses to return to one particular stall many times to fondle the gorgeousness that she'd found there. I am pretty sure she asked questions as I did get regular reports about said stall, how much things were, how she hope they sold some stuff and how much she though that they actually had sold. I myself am pleased to say that I was constantly busy so I never got a real chance to look at the fascinators, though I would have loved to.

A few days after the jamboree I received an email from Sara at Margolily who was the stallholder with all the pretty things that the Peanut had so admired. She was writing to ask if she could send Peanut a surprise in the the mail so I sent our address. Soon after that a box arrived addressed to the Peanut and inside was an absolutely stunning blue sparkly hair band adorned with rich blue feathers and an extravagant butterfly! Well, you could have scraped the Peanut up of the floor after that! Enclosed was a card from Sara thanking the Peanut for making the fair so nice for her. It is impossible to get a photo of the Peanut lately without her doing absurd poses, so I just went with this.


I personally didn't meet Sara, she didn't want anything, she didn't even send a business card or a return address. It was a complete and pure act of kindness towards a small girl who clearly adored her work. I thank you so much for your kindness Sara and there is nothing cynical or sarcastic in that.

Easter!

I love Easter. I'm not religious and I will be really honest and say that it's all about the bunnies. Well, lets be fair to the chicks and lambs as well. Awwwwww, lambs!
Yup, it's all about the cuteness and the chocolate. One thing I really don't understand though is the British version of easter. Now I know that I am a foreigner in these parts but I have been here for 8 years and you'd think I'd have figured out some of this stuff by now. BUT, I really don't get the giant chocolate egg thing. I just don't see the appeal of a big hollow egg, especially on that is branded with a regular chocolate bar logo and often times even containing said chocolate bar in the package. I don't get how this is special when you can go to any local shop on any day of the year an get that same chocolate bar. I won't even get started on rolling an egg down a hill, what the hell is that all about??

Yeah, yeah it's a "tradition" and all but I grew up with the easter basket so that's what we do. It's a basket which is filled with "grass" (that's shredded tissue for the uninitiated) and lots of sweets, chocolate and easter themed goodies. The easter bunny brings it in the night and often times even sets up a little egg hunt for the morning. Every year I struggle with this as the easter basket isn't a concept that people are all that familiar with here. So every year I have trouble finding things to go into the Peanut's basket. This year along with the sweets and chocolate I have made a few things. I do a basket for the Peanut and her good friend, Petal's daughter.

The big gift is these rabbit sisters, the girls will each get one.


Also some rabbit purses with felt carrots inside. Peanut the 5 year old goth will get the black one of course.


I also felted some eggs. At the last fair I did these sold out and I even got a custom order for more!


As for baking, I had big plans that a migraine put a stop to but I did manage these completely absurd chick cakes that got taken to the shop today. There were just a couple left at last check and people were ooohing and ahhhhing over them when I brought them in so they can't be that bad! They are vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream, coated in toasted coconut and decorated with almonds, sweets and sugar balls.

Ok, Ok, I should have done this post ages ago! I have been busy though, no I really have. I am feeling the need to justify that comment after reading an interesting article on slowing down. It was all about trying to lead a less stressful lifestyle, which I completely agree with. However, it did stand out to me that they claimed that adults tend to try and keep busy or at least say they are busy as a way to feel important. Me, I just feel tired!

I don't actually think that busyness has to equate stress though. My husband and I moved here to Scotland from San Francisco because we both wanted to slow down and live a less stressful lifestyle. Granted expatting is one of the most stressful things you can do but once settled (which we are after 8 years!) it is a less stressful lifestyle. We both still work and do all the normal daily life kinda stuff but it somehow seems less pressured here, a fact that we appreciate.

I have had three Sundays in a row of craft shows where I also had baking. This has meant lots of getting stuff together and marathon baking sessions every Saturday. The first show was a no goer in a gorgeous venue that unfortunately, no one knew about!


This was followed by my first ever Glasgow Craft Mafia show. I am so impressed with the quality of work from everyone as well as how kind and welcoming they are. There's a vast range of talents as well. The Peanut spotted these babies from Miso Funky She could take or leave a bar of chocolate but can sniff out a pink doughnut from about a mile away.


We also met the lovely Bronwen from Rhubarb Crumble (yum!) who is not only charming herself but also makes these brilliant nostalgic notebooks out old ladybird books.


The following Sunday we (the Peanut and I) were at Made in the Shade. This is an event that I absolutely adore and everyone really gets into the spirit by dressing up and going all glam. The soundtrack is great retro kitsch and the vendors are an amazing creative bunch. It is an event more than just a craft show.

So, this week I rest. Well, I do have to make two rabbit plushies, approximately 150 cupcakes, 8 more whole cakes, two wool sheep and whatever else come up. After that I'll rest...I think.