Circle Craft Christmas market

While it still feels too early to talk and think about all things Christmas, I am slowly giving into the excitement of it all bit by bit. It started at the beginning of November with the rolling out of Starbucks' festive drinks, of which my favourites are the gingerbread latte and the peppermint white mocha. Starbucks also have melt in your mouth peppermint brownie cake pops and an array of festive stocking fillers to choose from. The festive bug has continued on into Michaels and their Christmas bakeware section, which is truly inspirational and I already have a few ideas forming in my mind. I have allowed myself to pick up a festive-themed item with every visit to Michaels. These purchases so far range from sprinkles to cupcake cases to a gingerbread man cookie cutter. This is all brings me, in a roundabout way, to the Circle Craft Christmas market. I love Christmas and I love the opportunity to celebrate it, whether it is with firmly ingrained traditions or through a new avenue such as another exciting market event to explore. The Circle Craft Christmas market is an annual November event held at the Vancouver Convention Centre. It allows for the promotion of some of Canada's art and craft-related talents, a lot of whom I was not aware of until last night. It is wonderful to be able to see people showcase their finished work so passionately and it is evident that they love what they do. While this was a Christmas market, I was not quite ready to dive into all the decorations and what not; instead I was particularly enamored by three stands. Those in question, were two food stands and a pyjama stand. Milsean Shoppe had delicious butter crunch, which I was lucky to sample and, as a result, I may need to purchase some online for Christmas. ChocolaTas had the most beautifully crafted Belgium chocolates presented in tins adorned with iconic Vancouver landmarks and would make excellent Christmas gifts for those afar. I definitely think I will be popping into their store on Granville Island before I head home to Australia for Christmas. Lastly, and the only stall where I made a purchase, was PJ'zzzz. They had the cutest range of pyjamas, especially for children, and I couldn't resist purchasing for myself a pair of pyjama shorts that were decked out in all things Canadian including the names of all the provinces and territories. Not only are they comfy, but a very cute Canadian souvenir that won't be put in a box or shelf to gather dust. I must mention that my market partner in crime, of Pumpernichol card fame, was particularly besotted by The Old Island Stamp Company. I cannot wait to see what kinds of Christmas cards she churns out from her stamp purchases.

My Circle Craft Christmas market purchase  

The best part is that you are provided the option of re-visiting the Circle Craft Christmas market another day for free, which is great if one trip just isn't enough.