Springdale Craft and Trade Fair

This past weekend we took part in Springdale's annual craft and trade fair. Springdale is about a six hour drive from here...so after working on chocolate for the previous couple of weeks, we (or should I say Larry) loaded up the van and off we went. Tyler was unable to come with us because of job obligations and university courses. I think he was just as glad to stay home alone anyway (but mom still worried about him home alone and driving back and forth to work ;)

It was a great show with a lot of people in attendance. We met a lot of friendly people over the course of the weekend. We're already looking forward to next year!

Jake looked after a big part of our sales. As I've mentioned here before, he absolutely loves doing this and is right in his element while doing so. In addition to this, he also managed to get around the stadium and meet most of the other vendors taking part in the show.


All ready to go.... "Welcome to Candy Box Creations" was his usual opening line..



Here Jake is excited about starting. He's giving his spiel to one of the other vendors before the show opened to the public



Jake learns so many practical, hands-on skills from doing events such as these. We count this as an important part of his homeschooling.

We got talking to (or should I say Jake got talking to) the vendors on each side of us. We were pleasantly surprised to learn the couple on one side are the grandparents of a homeschooler we know (well..know of...she is in the next town). How cool is that?

The booth on the other side of us was occupied by a local college. I've never been able to pin down an answer from them regarding admission of homeschoolers to their college....so when there was a lull in the action, I was able to talk to them about this and homeschooling in general. The rep was very nice to talk with. She mentioned she'd never had that question before...but promised to look into it further for me.

We're very thankful to our friends, Soraya and Fred and their five children. They so graciously opened their home to us and put us up for the four nights we were there. (Ohh...and Soraya is a wonderful cook...and her cheesecakes are TO.DIE.FOR!!)

Soraya, Fred and Jael




Jael (as well as all of their children) made quite the impression on Brittney...




and Jake....




As I mentioned, it was a great show. We enjoyed ourselves very much and are hoping to go back next year. On the CFS and fibro front though, I must admit it caused these two ugly conditions to remind me they are still around. I ended up spending a big chunk of the last day, sleeping out in the van. I did help them take down our booth, but on arrival back at our hosts' house, I could barely stand. I was embarrassed but had no other choice...I had to lay down. I went to bed and spent most of that evening sleeping...and right through the night. For the drive home on Sunday, the fibro pain was quite present. Once home, Larry unloaded the van while I rested. I then slept through the night. Monday brought more of the same. I was in and out of sleep most of the day and barely remember the kids fooling around on the computer beside my bed or them saying goodnight.

Apparently, Larry tried to wake me around ten and then again around midnight...but was unable to. (I don't recall any of this either) He eventually gave up and threw a cover over me, where I slept soundly until the alarm went off at 6:00 a.m. I was still fully dressed. More of the same today (and at times like this, I'm grateful for my adjustable bed, laptop and ocean to look at ;))

I'm thinking from now on, I may leave the selling part to the 'experts' and I'll stick to the making part.

Battle of the Sexes

We had two chocolate sales to go to on Saturday (and I forgot my camera....so no pictures).

One was the Farmers' Market and the other a women's breakfast.

Seeing as Brittney and I are the only women, we went to that one. We first had to eat a beautiful buffet breakfast....bacon, sausages, ham, eggs, fresh fruit, muffins, hash browns, toast, orange juice and coffee ...... yes....it was rough but somebody had to sacrifice and do it....who better than Brittney and I? *wink*

Jake had been excited for a few weeks....declaring it "The Battle of the Sexes". He was determined his team would sell the most and win.

He was rounding up support all week....telling everyone he met.

Saturday morning came, we headed off. Larry and Jake dropped us off and continued on to their show. Jake was on pins and needles all morning....but had his game plan down. Larry even left him alone, at the booth, while he scooted back across town to pick Brittney and I up.

After the shows were over, we headed home to tally up the money. Jake could hardly contain himself as Larry counted......................















and the winners were:


















The Women!!!

I kinda felt bad and was worried Jake would be so upset. He tried so hard and is very sensitive. I do believe, out of the four of us, he worked the hardest. As I pointed out to him though....it was two totally different venues. Ours was a one time deal....theirs is a regular weekly event. Ours had 200+ women, with only 6 vendors....the market has several vendors (many of them food) from which to choose.

Surprisingly, he was ok with it all. He congratulated Brittney and I, shook our hands and patted our backs....with one warning,

"Just you wait until next year.....things *WILL* be different."

Oh my......

Doing what he does best

Jake talking to a shopper at the St. John's Farmers' Market.



Answering questions and showing pictures where necessary...


We've been busy with the St. John's Farmers' Market these Saturdays. As I've probably mentioned quite a few times...Jake loves to sell and this no exception. He's up early, has breakfast, makes us some sandwiches, helps load the van and ready to go by 7:45.

It's about half an hour drive to the market, but when we arrive, he helps unload the van, finds out where our table is and then helps to set up. After pinning on his name tag...he's ready to go.

It's become a game of sorts for him. He would never let me 'pay' him, nor would he let me give some chocolate (always insisted on buying it from me)....but after me suggesting I put him on commission (and an explanation of what that was exactly).....he thought that sounded like an excellent idea. Sooo....commission it is. Mostly Larry and I stand back and let him go....he does most of the talking (with me answering some of the chocolate-related questions) and Larry overseeing/checking Jake's math skills (adding up purchases and making change).

It's become a great learning tool for him....and enabled the rest of us who aren't so outgoing, to step back into our comfort zone. Next Saturday though, we have two shows. Jake and Larry will go to the Farmers' Market. The other one is a woman's breakfast...so Brittney and I will attend that one. Time for Brittney and I to step back out of our comfort zone. Jake doesn't help much.....he's declared it battle of the sexes and is pumped to see which team sells more. Time will tell ;)

We were on tv!

Well....sorta....lol.

There is a CBC program called Living Newfoundland & Labrador. It showcases various things happening in and around Newfoundland. They did a segment on the St. John's Farmers' Market and as some of you may remember, we were a part of that market for a few months.

I say we were 'sorta' on tv....because while we weren't interviewed, you can see us in the background (and...quite frankly...that will be the closest we will ever make it to being on tv lol). After they stop panning around the room and show the interview, we can be seen in the background. Our table has a red table cloth, dh has a blue shirt on and I have a light pink one on. Brittney and Jake can also be seen (at one point Jake gives me a hug lol).

Anyway, you can see it here

Check out my Chocolate Blog

I've created a new blog for my chocolate items.

You can check it out here... at Candy Box Creations

What I've been up to this week.....(click on pics to enlarge)

Here are some pics of some of the chocolate items I've been making this week.


Trinket Box...made in Dark French Chocolate
Box is made completely of chocolate




After packaging, with chocolates


Same item, different colour of flower




Dove Box .... made of White Chocolate
Box is made completely of chocolate




Sewing Kit....complete with spools of thread, pkg of needles and scissors
Made completely of chocolate





Pool Anyone?
Pool Table, complete with pool cues and balls



Ready for packaging



Gift Box
made completely of chocolate



Wreath Box
made completely of chocolate



Fan Box
made completely of chocolate





Angels
made with white chocolate and filled with hazelnut cream



Bell Box
made completely of chocolate



Tool Box complete with chocolate tools



Miscellaneous Suckers



After packaging



Golf Balls
made with white chocolate and filled with hazelnut cream




Almond Barks...This is marble almond bark ...made with milk and white chocolate

All gone....oh no

Wow...I've used all 55 lbs of the chocolate....it's all gone!

I can't believe how quickly I've gone through it! (and No....I did not eat it ;0)) Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining not at all....but I am pleasantly surprised.

Also, in addition to that,......We're expanding.....of sorts lol.....we have two sales to be at on Saturday morning. Brittney and I will go to the WOW Christmas Breakfast (which is a Christmas Special/Women's breakfast put on by one of the local churches). We set up a table in it last year and were asked to participate again this year, which we gladly accepted. It was a wonderful breakfast, a good time for Brittney and I to get out together as well as a chance to sell some chocolate.

While we are there, Larry, Tyler and Jake will go to our regular Saturday morning booth at the St. John's Farmers' Market. Yes, you read that right, Tyler will be joining us this weekend. As Brittney and I will be done at our venue well in advance of the boys, Larry will need to leave for awhile in order to pick us up. Tyler has agreed to help Jake man the booth while Larry is bringing us back to the Farmers' Market. Selling is not really Tyler's cup of tea (sometimes it's hard to believe him and Jake are brothers who have grown up in the same home), but we asked if he would help and he agreed. We've been teasing him saying instead of coming right back, we're going out for coffee or lunch or whatever and leaving him to sell for the last two hours (*grin*).

While I have some of the logistics of our so-called expansion worked out, there are still some things to iron out. I'm gonna need two of everything .... double the amount of chocolates, an extra table cloth, extra display chocolates, an extra order book, and extra cases to carry the chocolates.

As I mentioned off the top of my post....I've used all 55 lbs of chocolate (or at least I will have by tomorrow). I have some more on order....which they're supposed to deliver to me on Wednesday....and they had better....or else I'm gonna be in trouble. Usually, the chocolate comes next day.....but not this time, just when I need it right away ....it's a six day wait.

Keeping my fingers crossed that it shows up on Wednesday.

19 degrees C

(that's 66 degrees F) here on The Rock today!

Unbelievable for this time of year --- in this part of the country (so much for the 15' year-round snow banks we were warned we'd encounter here). As you can see, Larry enjoyed sitting outside on the deck. The kids enjoyed riding their bikes without heavy coats and I even had shorts on. It's been a couple of great days. I'm ummm....hoping...this will continue on and on into the Spring. I somehow kind of doubt it, but hey, I can always hope, right??

My chocolate didn't think too much of the warmer temps though. The warmer weather makes it difficult for it to set up properly. I always get nervous when warmer temps are forecast and I have a sale coming up. Fortunately, I was able to work today's batch ok. It was tense there for awhile...but all is well.

Chocolate Sale

From this......55 lbs of chocolate



To this. Larry and Jake pricing chocolate









I decided to take part in a Farmer's Market today in St, John's.

As most spaces at the market are pre booked, remaining spaces are available on a week to week basis only. This leaves a bit shorter notice than I'd like. I make my items fresh and the short notice means a lot of work in a short period of time. But....I made it!

Events like this are not really Tyler's cup of tea. He opted to stay at home. Brittney wanted to come --- not only to help but also to look around at the other vendors' booths as well (read: to shop). Larry likes to be 'out in front' too whereas I prefer making the chocolate items (hmmm wonder who Tyler takes after?).

That leaves Jake. For those of you who know him, you know which position in our family business *he* prefers. Yep, you guessed it.....salesman. As soon as he found out I was going in the sale and that he could come, he was over.the.top with excitement. This is putting it mildly too...the last few days have been a challenge for me keeping my cool while I helped him keep himself calm. He loves people and when I asked him what he thought of selling, he replied, "Are you kidding me??? I love it.....it's exciting.....it's unique.....it's awesome!!!"

This excitement soon earned him the title of Chief Salesman...and I must say, he lived up to that title. He was up at 6:00 a.m., dressed, had breakfast and ready to go, long before the rest of us. When we arrived there, he helped set up and wrote out name tags for each of us to wear. His of course, had his first and last name as well as both middle names.

When the sale started, he promoted, explained and sold a lot of chocolate. I mostly stood back and watched. He calculated total purchases in his head and did pretty well with the change. Larry was there to oversee, and while Jake needed some help calculating change, he did very well figuring out total amounts of each purchase.

Brittney did well too, explaining about the chocolate....the different types, the fillings etc. She enjoys working with/meeting/talking to people too and also does well with this skill. There were a couple of tense moments though when she accepted some money from a customer......Jake saw this as his job and his job alone. He didn't like her intruding on *his* territory, he was not impressed and let her know too. I'm pretty sure others could tell as well.....Oh my...

It was a good day though. We enjoyed some time working together. I feel they learn so much from these events and I count them highly in our homeschooling experience. Math, handling money, social skills, working as part of a team, operating a business, communication/language skills ........the list goes on.

At the end of the day, I was going to pay them ....in chocolate (what else). They both said no, they didn't expect anything because they wanted to come along and really enjoyed the day. Jake went on to say I needed to make a profit and it wouldn't help if I gave chocolate away for free. So....back and forth we went trying to figure something out. I wanted them to have something for free, he wanted to pay and I didn't want to do that. Eventually, we were able to work out a deal that he thought was acceptable....he chose something he liked....I gave him a discount and he paid the rest. At first I suggested he could have it half price....he thought 25% would be best.

He drives a tough bargain, eh? ;0)

More Chocolate....(click pics to enlarge)

Tool Box...with tools!

Christmas Stockings full of goodies

Chocolate Piano

3-D House

Dove Box made of white chocolate

Nut Barks

Trinket Box

Trinket Box packaged with chocolates

Chocolate Box

Truffles

Golf Bolfs



As I wrote about here, I am a chocoholic. I always have been and, most likely always will be.

I've been working with chocolate for about 13 years (eating it......well...that's been much longer ;0) ) What started out as a hobby, has now become a part-time, home-based business.

I still remember the first time I saw a chocolate mould and the melting wafers....I thought...."hmmmm.....I can do this". I immediately bought a mould, some melting wafers and hurried off home. Much to my amazement, it worked and my creation actually turned out!

From there...I moved into selling a few pieces --- suckers, novelty items and boxes made completely of chocolate. Although fairly happy with my creations, I was only using the melting wafers purchased at the bulk store. While this was ok and I was selling some......I longed for the real stuff --- pure, silky Belgian and French chocolate is what I wanted to work with. After all, as a true chocoholic I needed the real stuff and wouldn't be happy until I could use it (and then of course, eat it).

After unsuccessfully trying to locate somebody who would actually teach me how to work with the real stuff, I finally realized I'd have to find out for myself. Off to the bookstore and library to peruse the multitude of books. As with many things one book directly contradicted the next book....very confusing. I took several notes. Again though, much to my amazement, my first creation with the real, pure, ooohhh so smooth chocolate worked out! Ecstatic I was....Some of my customers did not understand the change in price, they were happy with the taste of the imitation chocolate.....but to me, nothing comes close to the real, pure stuff. Mmmmmm

After I had learned the technique, I did find a baking school that offered some courses. Larry and I enrolled in these and while I was there to make sure I'd been doing things properly, I think Larry was there to see how many of the creations he could eat lol. Oh well....I enjoyed his company lol. I was glad to know, everything I had learned through the books and on my own was right.

One added benefit of doing this is the flexibility it offers me ---- and I love flexibility (one reason why we homeschool). I can homeschool as well as make chocolate and the two fit beautifully in around each other. I can arrange my day the way it works best for me like. So whether I'm making truffles for a wedding or suckers for a birthday party or batches of almond bark for a fundraiser....I can mix it up and pour it before we start homeschooling, let it set up while we do our schooling and then finish it before lunch.

The kids love helping me with this venture too....helping me sell at a sale or taste testing a new product or learning about chocolate.....it ties in beautifully with homeschooling. They've learned a bit about running a business, making change, interacting with customers and even making a sales speech (this one is Jake's speciality lol)

Chocolate also allows me to be creative, without really being creative. I've made 3-D houses out of chocolate, a 3-D piano, golf balls, tool boxes, gift boxes made completely of chocolate....the only real limit is the imagination.

So while chocolate started out as a passion for me, it then turned into a hobby and eventually into a business. It's also taken me places I never would have thought of on my own. Over the years, I've been asked to teach a workshop at the local community college, been invited to do demonstrations at various women's groups (sometimes this takes the form of a demonstration, sometimes it's more of a workshop where they create things), the opportunity to do a Valentine's Day workshop with some homeschoolers, provide a chocolate making opportunity at birthday parties, provide hands-on experience for my children, participate in sales, weddings, fundraisers...the list goes on. Whenever a new opportunity is presented, I try to rise to the occasion. I'm not sure how successful I am but I always have fun with it.

I'm always looking for new suggestions, challenges or bookings for local events....so I'd be interested in hearing any ideas you may have!

CHOCOLATE......mmmmmm (click pics to enlarge)

I confess ---- I'm a chocoholic, plain and simple. Always have been and most likely always will be.

Honestly though.....what could be better than chocolate? The ...oh so .....silky and smooth texture of Belgian or French chocolate --- nothing compares. A bowl full of melted, pure, chocolate looks just like satin.....and it just gets better from there. The possibilities are endless - from truffles to boxes made completely of chocolate to houses made completely of chocolate (my dream house!!!) to almond and nut barks to golf balls to angels to suckers ----the possibilities are endless!!!!

The only thing I like better than eating chocolate, is working with it. It allows me to be creative without actually being creative. There are just so many things that can be done with chocolate ---- the only limit is the imagination. Experimenting, inventing and creating with chocolate --- it's like therapy for me.

Working with pure chocolate is much different than working with melting wafers that are bought in a bulk store. Working with various varieties of pure chocolate requires a lot of patience as they are not very forgiving ---- everything from temperature to working conditions must be precise. But..... the end result is so worth the extra effort.

Hmmm......I need to cut this post short.......I hear my chocolate calling my name ;-).