9th Annual CM Holiday Handicraft Fair

The Charlotte Mason Handicraft Fair is a local tradition for many families in Southern California. As part of their homeschool education, children learn to create handicrafts with their own hands in various forms. Handicrafts increase observation and appreciation of beauty in form, give children the pleasure of creating, and concentrates their attention and increases patience and perseverance.

“Again we know that the human hand is a wonderful and exquisite instrument to be used in a hundred movements exacting delicacy, direction and force; every such movement is a cause of joy as it leads to the pleasure of execution and the triumph of success. We begin to understand this and make some efforts to train the young in the deft handling of tools and the practice of handicrafts.” ~Charlotte Mason, Vol. 6, p.328

This bi-annual fair has also become a time of fellowship for the SoCalCM community and we hope the tradition will continue for many years to come. We encourage you to invite family and friends to come and support these homeschooling families and the hard work their children put into their handicrafts.

THE STORY BEHIND THE HANDICRAFT FAIR

Years ago a small group of Charlotte Mason homeschoolers met for the first Handicraft Fair.

It all began somewhere around Almanzo’s prize pumpkin. After reading about it and the County Fair in Farmer Boy where the children showcased handmade & homegrown items, we thought “Why not have our own fair!?” It paired so well with the CM method where quality handicrafts are as much a part of education as learning to read or math. That year began the first CM Handicraft Fair and it has grown ever since.

RULES

1. All items must be hand-made by the children.
2. Selling is for Charlotte Mason homeschooled children only – this doesn’t mean that you’re perfectly executing CM homeschooling, it just means that you’re not a non-CM homeschooler saying you are just to participate.
3. Selling and bartering between children is welcome and optional.
4. All attendees are responsible for the behavior of their children. Please be respectful of the park and do not damage the premises or leave trash behind. Children must not take or damage any of the items presented at the fair.
5. CME/SoCalCM is not liable for any items bought or sold at Handicraft Fairs, it is your responsibility as a parent to ensure the safety of your child’s purchases and the items they sell/trade/give.

LOCATION

This event will be located on the grassy area closest to Lot O. All cars must park in Lot O or Lot P as indicated on the map below.

REGISTRATION

Single Family Selling Fee – $6.00
Non-Selling Attendees – Free

Irvine Regional Park will collect a $3 parking fee per car upon entry to the park.

1. Submit your payment via Paypal (selling families only, non-selling attendees do not need to make a payment)
 

2. Complete and submit the registration form.

USED BOOKS FOR SALE

Families are welcome to bring their used CM books/CM curriculum to sell.

DISPLAYING SAMPLE WORK

If your child would like to display some of their CM school work from throughout the year in addition to their handicrafts – nature journals, book of centuries, drawings, maps, commonplace books, or others, please do so. Many people are interested in learning about CM and would love to see samples of work and other kids can be inspired by seeing the work of others. Make sure it is clear that those items are for display only.

WHAT IS A HANDICRAFT?

Here is a quote by Charlotte Mason to help parents guide their children in the selection of their handicrafts:

The points to be borne in mind in children’s handicrafts are: (a) that they should not be employed in making futilities such as pea and stick work, paper mats, and the like; (b) that they should be taught slowly and carefully what they are to do; (c) that slipshod work should not be allowed; (d) and that, therefore, the children’s work should be kept well within their compass. ~Charlotte Mason, Vol. 1, p.316

And here is an outline from a lesson in handicrafts to point out some of the purposes of teaching our children handicrafts:

I. To introduce the children to a new handicraft, and to show them how to deal with a new material.

II. To increase observation and appreciation of beauty in form.

III. To give the children the pleasure of creating.

IV. To concentrate the children’s attention and to increase their patience and perseverance.

The following link has pictures from previous years’ Handicraft Fairs:

http://livingcminca.blogspot.com/search/label/handicraft

And here are some more recent pics:

SOME HANDICRAFT IDEAS

macrame
knitting
crochet
rug hooking
embroidery
plastic canvas needlework
cross stitch
felt projects
clay sculpting
jewelrymaking
painting
beadwork
carving-soap or wood
quilting/patchwork
weaving-paper, yarn etc.
braiding/knotting floss e.g. friendship bracelets
lanyards
wax modeling
woodworking
woodburning
carpentry
basket weaving
paper cutting
doll making
spool knitting
applique
smocking
tatting
needlepoint
wire sculpting
calligraphy
ceramics
gardening
robotics
string art
flower arranging
iron sculpturing
leather work
pottery
paper sloyd
temari

This list is in no way exhaustive – there are many, many wonderful handicrafts out there.