The weather held off for our annual Christmas Makers Market, and we had a wonderful community morning on Saturday. We were thrilled to have some lovely community minded folk from Rotary helping out on the BBQ. Thanks Kevin (you may know him for his lovely bonsai trees that he has sold at our markets in the past) for suggesting that your Rotary friends might be able to get involved.

We’d also like to thank Nelson Alexander for helping us get the word out about the market with 2 signboards and some coreflutes. We really appreciate having an ongoing relationship with a local real estate agent. We couldn’t possibly do any large and flashy advertising without their help.

Thanks to all the makers that participated on the day including our local CWA. There was a super variety of things to purchase. Lots of jewellery, jam, plants, gorgeous craft and some super recycled bags … just to name a few.

Lots of kids got into our crafty Christmas project that recycled a jar lid into a nature based Christmas decoration. And we had all our community art projects out on display. It was nice for everyone attending to see what Blind Date with a Book is about, and to be able to collect an Honestly letter (sometimes it is hard to make it down to the shops in time to grab one before they all go!).

Thanks again shoppers, seller and crafty kids. Aren’t we lucky to live in such a great local neighbourhood!

As you know, we are busy planning our Christmas Makers Market on Saturday the 5th of December. And … what fun is an outdoor market without a sausage sizzle?

If you are handy with a pair of tongs, and rock an apron, we’d really appreciate your help for an hour. We’ll need help setting up and getting the snags on from 9.30am, and then help with cooking and serving at 10am, 11am and 12pm.

If you’d like to volunteer please email Kalimna here.

After cooking or selling a few sausages you can then of course explore the stalls and hopefully find some lovely things to give for Christmas gifts to the ones you love!

We’re super excited to let you know that we will be holding our annual Christmas Makers Market this year.

If you are a local maker and you’d like to book a stall you can do so on our website. Click here. They cost $20.

If you are a local shopper … COME ALONG!

This will be an outside event on the corner, in the garden and along the footpath at ACC. It will include the stalls (of course) along with a community BBQ and some lovely Christmassy craft activities for kids and their adults.

Put the date in your diary.

Keen to buy a face mask or two? Ours are made by locals (people from Alphington CWA and our craft group) specifically for you - our locals. They cost $10 and come in a variety of colours. You can now visit our online shop to order by clicking here. Or look for the link on our website.

Alternatively you can pop past on Wednesday (5 August) from 12-2pm to buy in person. We have around 100 in stock (thanks makers!) so shop away!

And …

1. We know you think you want black … but remember, a nice bright colour or a fun pattern is more likely to cheer you up!

2. When you head out, try tucking a little piece of lavender or lemon verbena (or some other lovely smelling herb) just inside your mask - to add a spark of joy to the whole experience!

A little in joke for all of the glasses wearers!

Selling masks, wearing masks … giving away our posters! Practising smiling with my eyes.

Good morning. Leanne here.

What a week! I have been living and breathing all things masks, organising people to make more of them, selling them, testing different styles and whether I can ACTUALLY TALK in them without them falling down… trying to buy elastic!!*

It’s a whole new world isn’t it … the first day I wore one I felt quite claustrophobic, but each day I have been building up my tolerance and by Wednesday I wore one for quite a few hours without noticing too much - and walked the kilometre too and from work with one on without worrying about it.

And … at one point I actually forgot that I was wearing a mask … and I attempted to drink my coffee through it. Luckily I remembered at the last minute. Because it would have been a classic ‘Funniest Home Videos’ moment.

At ACC we have made (with the help of Alphington CWA and members of our Community Craft group) and distributed over 180 masks in the last few days. There are still some people who have contacted us whose orders we haven’t yet been able to fill - but rest assured we are attempting to help everyone out! We’ll be in contact as soon as we have stock available.

If you are having trouble accessing a mask at this stage don’t worry too much, remember you can wear a scarf over your face.

My husband, who is very sad not to be going skiing this year, has got out his synthetic skiing neckwarmer-tube-scarf-thing, and is pulling that up over his mouth and nose (I think he’s imagining that he’s on the lifts in the icy wind and snow at Falls instead of in the IGA on Station Street!)

So just be creative!

Or … there’s the no sew option using a sock that’s popped up in various forms in my Facebook feed. I tried it with one of the kids old socks - it was super easy to make. Only one layer, so probably not a great long term option, but an adequate and simple gap filler. I showed my gorgeous children what I had done and they were horrified that I was wearing one of their old school socks on my face. My middle child told me to ‘take a look in the mirror Mum and rethink your decision’ - I laughed and laughed! It was pretty gross. Perhaps I need to get out the Napisan more often …

* If you have any spare elastic lurking in the back of your cupboard that you don’t need please let us know … we can put it to good good use!

Jill modelling the CWA masks - thanks Jill!