In a wonderful effort to kick off the beginning of the winter holidays, the Redlands Joslyn Senior Center opened up their doors to the general public in order to host their first annual holiday craft fair.
Beginning bright and early in the morning, the multipurpose room was filled with pleasant chatter and differently decorated tables, dedicated to displaying the handcrafted wares of the participating seniors. Every vendor there was eager to share their homemade products, and discuss their work with others. No booth was quite like another; one could indulge in some baked goods, find a festive pair of earrings, pick up some intricate paper party favors for a holiday-themed event, or choose a delicate watercolor bookmark to take home. With a plethora of products there was a useful and beautiful piece to be found for everyone.
One of the residents and partakers, Gina Martoramo, who specializes in cold porcelain sculpting as well as watercolor art, attested to the importance of being able to have and be apart of an event like this, “We [resident seniors] are retired, so we find things to occupy our minds...This event is very important. It takes us out of our comfort zones.”
Indeed, the craft fair allowed the participants to practice, display, and sell the products of their own hobbies and pastimes, while simultaneously receiving something back from it. The seniors earned 100% of their own profit, benefiting greatly from the fruits of their labor all while getting to create and partake in the activities that they love -- the recipe for a successful holiday craft fair.