The 2012 Have Yourself a Gothic Little Christmas was my first! I had been waiting years to go and I finally did this weekend.
And, it was not what I expected. At all. Here is a quick video tour of the show.
Some of the "Gothic" elements were, well, quite blasphemous. In fact this was the first item we saw at the front of the show. I am not religious but even I was shocked at this Goth version of Mary, Joseph and Jesus.
These Drop Dead Gorgeous Barbies by Horror Lovin Tees made me laugh at first. I adore counter culture, especially if it has a point. But how does this fit in the show exactly? Would Goths buy these?
I know the show also carries "Medieval, Steampunk, Fantasy, Fairytale, Victorian, Anime..." and Geek content but to be honest, a lot of stuff there was horror and punk.
I thought there would be a lot of crafters making unique items for Christmas, not stuff you would put in your house that would mock Christmas.
I do not celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday but seriously? Yes, an evil Santa is kind of funny and ridiculous but making fun of the celebration this festival was supposed to be about seemed off and kind of wrong.
So, I started focusing on the things I did like. Turns out, almost all the food I saw there was for dogs!
Then I realized, oh yeah, maybe they think Goths just don't eat? But, do they have dogs...???!!! I just don't get it.
There were all these treats by cutopia but I was nervous that they were for dogs or were maybe soaps... They are an apparel shop so who knows?!
I did love their cupcake apron but not goth, not geeky, very foodie... Oh I was so confused! They had a Batman one just behind it which made more sense. I was so surprised the show definitely was more appealing (yet confusing) for me as a foodie than someone who adores all things gothic.
I absolutely loved Susan Pfeiffer's crafts, definitely an alternative crafty feel to it which is exactly what I wanted to see at the show. Especially those skulls!
And the foodie in me loved these hats that she makes to order. I may end up ordering something, they are so cool!
This was one of the few truly "Goth-oriented" pieces I saw. There were some clothing booths that looked interesting but I loved this purse and wanted to buy it but it was a clutch. I don't do clutch. Bummer.
Marina Smith, the Founder and President of the Jules Verne Phantastical Society, had her Arcane Angel work at the show.
Marina is absolutely talented and brought her Steampunk work to sell.
This was closer to the kind of jewellery I wanted to see! Beautiful, unique and would make a fantastic present for the artsy person in your life. I did not see a lot of unique jewellery at all, except for Marina's pieces.
The dark and macabre elements confused me. There was some geek content but I thought there would be more. My friend Emily saw whips... Not what I was expecting at all. Were they mocking the idea of a Gothic Christmas? Truly, I saw very little there that a Goth would like. A lot of stuff I would never see anywhere but Goth? Not to me, sadly.
so...basically you want a craft fair that caters you your indidual, specific wants and to hell with everyone else...?
ReplyDeletePretty sure the description of the show said, gothic, medieval, steampunk, fantasy, fairytale, victorian, macabre, anime...not just goth.
my booth may have not seemed goth to you. It seems you wizzed past it really fast and failed to notice a lot!But if you would have looked closely. My cemetery pouches were a hit. I also slaved at making skull dresses with fantastic black lace. Last time I checked, HP Lovecraft was part of the deal. Hence my Cthulhu mask. I'm just saddened you pouted to the point of not featuring the beautiful capes, leather wings and corsetry across from my booth. Human food was scheduled for this even, but the vendor failed at showing up due to a mishap. I honestly think you ignored a lot of goth products to make your article spicy....
ReplyDeleteIt was clearly stated that this years show had Added Geek Content. The quality of items was great . Our event page also states that we are a craft/retail show, as each year our sponser is normally a retailer and they are at the show. GLC has been promoted as a show that carries alot of various things including goth. All of the things at the show are not typical of what you find at other regular shows. A number of really good artists were missed in this mini video tour, like Shawn Orne of Niyan Arts, Zombbit, Leather n Roses, Indigo Lily,Shenstone Pottery, Amy Laloon pottery...and more.
ReplyDeleteHorrorish themed items involving Santa are tongue in cheek, Santa has become a symbol of what is wrong with the season. I think thats self explanatory. Corporate greed and the exploitation of the symbology, metaphors abound in "killing off Santa themed items".
The ONE item with a religious bent ( a black and white manager scene) was purely the individual artists expression and perhaps had more to do with color schemes in a goth style household for Christmas then anything irreverent. Im Catholic, I was not offended. Everyone is entitled to their opinion though.
Thank you for giving us your impressions, feedback is a valuable thing when done fairly. The nature of your page is to report on all things Gothic, this years show wasnt purely gothic but I hope you enjoyed the unique items you did get to see.
We are still fairly new and working towards what we will morph into so to speak!
Thank you Suzie at Hexed for your time in coming out and your imput, we do value it !
Yes, the subtitle did pretty much say everything else but that was not the name of the show. About Wa'Ou, it is a shame I missed your booth, I went around a few times and talked to a lot of people. I would have loved your cemetery pouches and Cthulu mask. I did my best to check everything out but I must have missed you. That's a shame the food didn't show up.
ReplyDeleteI would never ignore something intentionally or lie. I went with a large group of friends and some of them were clearly offended so I had to address that part of the show. Every time I share my experience and I don't make it appear to seem "perfect" I get blasted for it.
This was our experience and I said a lot positive about the show. Which you both seem to ignore to make your comments negative.
Thank you so much Gothic Little Christmas for your thoughtful and helpful comment! You're right, not typical items at all. I really did try and get a glimpse of everyone but as you know, it was very busy. I really did my best. It is too bad the one religious item was front and centre when you walked it. As I said, I'm not even Christian and it just seemed in bad taste for the theme of the show.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad I went, I will expect more unexpected stuff if I am here next year.
Suzie, we will work very hard towards making GLC even more fun next year, and I would be pleased if you came as my guest. I promise there will be more than doggie cookies to eat :D
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I look forward to it so much and thank you for being so awesome. I really appreciate it. You worked really hard, that was obvious and the turnout was amazing.
ReplyDeleteSounds like it was really quite different than you were expecting, Suzie. I love the video and pictures and getting to see what it was like, and definitely see more of the darker elements of Gothic over romantic elements.
ReplyDeleteIt's great that there was a great turn out, that's excellent to hear :)
I'm sorry to hear the show wasn't what you were expecting. There is that old saying, you can't please everyone all the time.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, more and more craft shows are scheduled to please the masses. Knitters, painters, and soapers oh my. I'm sure my grandmother would have loved all the choices as more and more crafters vye for spots in all the new shows. "Have Yourself a Gothic Little Christmas" is anything BUT the usual - it caters to the UNUSUAL. And not just the Gothic community, but just about anyone who doesn't wanna shop at a crowded corporate store filled with screaming (bored or spoiled) children. Nor does it cater to the mundane.
Am I Gothic? Nope, not even close. But even I know Goths aren't all about Emos dressed all in black wearing too much eyeliner. It's about being different, and embracing that. Some would consider my daughter Gothic. In fact one of the artisans approached her and asked if she'd model for them - she is *not* what you would picture when you think "Goth Chick". But she LOVES going to the show each year. And as for the Cutopia apron you showed in your video? *laughs* My daughter is downstairs, sewing away as I type. The Goths I know - some are into Elmo, Hello Kitty, Rainbow Bright, and yes even My Little Ponies. The Goths I've met are just as varied as the vendors and their product was.
Gluten free dog treats? Why not?!? So many humans are having dietary issues these days, and so are their pets. And for the record, the Banana Bonkers from Krazy Kritter Kookies are really very good - or so I've been told by someone who ate my dog's Kookie. Menh, they were curious.
You buzzed by so many wonderful vendors who really would have been more to your liking. Michelle was also at the front entrance, Eternal Elf Creations - she has some beautiful chainmaille pieces. Pete's Gothic Art, he is a great guy - stunning work. As is Shawn (Niyan Art)- both a great guy and a talented artist - but different style from Pete. Check out their pages on facebook. Romantica Nocturnis travels in each year for the show - beautiful Victorian inspired pieces. IndigoLily had fascinators, and corsets, and wings. Cutopia also had corsets. There were Cthululu pillows! And STUNNING leather masks that screamed to be taken home to decorate someone's wall. That artist is from Montreal, if I heard correctly.
Heck, *I* was a vendor at GLC, and even I missed half the awesome product that was there (and I was there all day, both days...).
Perhaps next year you'll have more time to wander through slowly. Enjoy the show. Walk through *at least* 3 or 4 times. I know one person walked passed me 7 or 8 times on Saturday, trying to take it all in.
Paula Sepp
Out of the Broom Closet
So, what I'm getting out of your little (and horribly shot) video and post is that everything that you don't personally like should be shunned from society.
ReplyDeleteWhich kind of leaves me thinking.."What were you thinking?" You went to a craft fair named "Gothic Little Christmas" and yet you are appalled by GOTHIC CHRISTMAS DECOR!?!?!?!?!?! WTF did you expect to find?!
What makes you the judge of what's to be there and what's not? Yeah, I get it, you didn't get what you were hoping for, you didn't read the flyer. You're idea what's cool isn't the same as everyone else. Holy crap! You mean people don't agree with you!? Wow! Come back down to earth for a flipping minute.
This year is my second year going to this show and I am in no way shape or form goth. I went last year purely because a family member had a booth there. This year I went because I wanted to. Oh yeah I and had fun and bought some lovely things. Oh but wait.. I didn't by "goth" stuff. Does that mean that I shouldn't have been there? That I shouldn't have spent my hard earned money on pretty things to support the little shops? Oh the horror! I'm a bad person.
Most of the stuff there wasn't my style, but that doesn't give me the right to beat it down and talk sh*t. If you don't want a goth Mary and Joseph don't get a goth Mary and Joseph.. simple! That doesn't mean that the guy right behind you isn't digging in his wallet because simply MUST have it.
As much time as you spent taking pictures you seemed to miss all the effort, time and talent it took these people to make all this. Did you even take the time to talk to people, to look closely at the artwork (I looked,*gasp* a lot of it was incredible) or is it your life's purpose to have everyone and everything conform around you?
I guess next year the organizers need a list from you, so they can please the one person who has the sunlight shining out their ass. Just a thought, but if that's the way the world works then I'm sending my list in too. I want more rainbows, pink ribbons and lollipops. For real, get your head outta your ass.
P.s. I heard Goth Jesus called Zombie Santa and told him to leave you a severed cats head in your stocking. (goth enough for you?)
Hey now Anon, let's keep things civil here. Opinions of all sides of the situation are great, but let's leave out the personal stabs. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteFrom one Anonymous to another...
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous.
It's amazing to me how you rant and rave about someone's opinion while stating : "You're idea what's cool isn't the same as everyone else. Holy crap! You mean people don't agree with you!? Wow! Come back down to earth for a flipping minute."
Perhaps we should say the same to you. Your message of anger, unfound conclusions and uninspired raving is doing no one any good and just creates an incredible negative energy... far more so than the original review could ever have. You are obviously taking this overly personally and reading into it far more than what is actually written. Perhaps you should take a page from the comment from Gothic Little Christmas and be civil and give some constructive comments instead of showing your hate and purely reactionary anger. Next time that you leave a comment on someone's page, you may want to actually take a breath first and think about how what you write actually reflects on you, instead of what you're commenting on. That and you seriously need to take a chill pill.
~~~
Suzie, I'm sorry that the show didn't live up to your expectations, but I think you did find positive things to say as well as point out the things that you found confusing/disappointing which is all we can ask for in one person's review/opinion.
Shannon - you are right, we shouldn't make this personal. But when someone does make it personal, they should be called on it... otherwise, how will they ever understand that flying off the handle, exaggerating someone's words/meaning and attacking someone so viciously is wrong?
BTW I adore Eternal Elf Creations and wrote about her here for Hal-Con. I respect vendors and their efforts to do their own thing.
ReplyDeletePerhaps "Goth" has become just a generic term for anything alternative. If so, fine. I personally see it differently.