Vienna Markets, episode 4. In which I compliment the craftiness of crafters.

I've been spending lots of time looking through our photos, trying to choose just the right ones with which to tempt you.  I suppose that dilemma is similar to what the Vienna vendors and crafters faced as they attempted to showcase their handiwork.  We purchased one of these star garlands.  Ours is punched tin and weathered wood stars with small pine cones.  A nice memento that will always remind me of this special trip at this special time of year, (even if I leave it hanging year-round).  We have it hanging (as displayed at the market) vertically in a corner of the kitchen.

One of the reasons I was originally excited about exploring Christmas markets is because I love Christmas--with all (seriously, I mean ALL) the trimmings.  There's always room for another Christmas ornament or two (hundred), right?  

I don't, however, want to give the impression that only Christmas collectibles were on display at the markets because there were lots of other non-seasonal crafts proudly displayed throughout the city's markets.  I would estimate that a good half of the booths contained holiday items, though, and that's to be expected, of course, at a Christmas Market!

These handpainted, wooden plaques are a very clever creation and beautifully detailed.  It always gives this shopper great pleasure to have the opportunity to personally compliment a crafter, artisan, or artist when fleamarketing such a booth.  I am always amazed, too, at how creative people are.  What a blessing to have such talent and the courage to share it with others!

I was especially thrilled to buy the must-have nativity set from the wife of the craftsman.  A small Polish stoneware bowl is also now sitting by my computer, ready at the wait should I need a pick-me-up caramel.

The caramels are

for emergencies only.

As a jewelry crafter herself, Mari was excited to speak to fellow artists as she searched for that perfect pair of earrings (which she found--twice) or for that elusive edelweiss pin (which is to be unexpectedly unearthed at the Saturday fleamarket in an upcoming episode).

One of these swervy wooden bowls almost joined us for the return journey across the Atlantic, but (believe it or not) I do occasionally exercise a (very) little restraint.  Were I to make a return Christmas Markets trip some day (after a little household purging, of course), I'd probably be able to rationalize the purchase of another wooden bowl.

There's always room

for one more bowl.

If about half the booths showcased Christmas crafts and another fourth a variety of non-seasonal crafts, then probably the remainder tempted traveling and local consumers with beautifully prepared and presented consumable crafts:  gorgeous cookies, colorful candies, heavenly breads (don't forget the cured meats and Christmas cheeses!), and lots of hearty sandwiches, smoky grilled sausages, and beefy bread bowls of spicy goulash.

Still not afraid of

a complex sentence.

I almost forgot about the Christmas Market punch, too! According to the vendors, each season's punch is a unique blend of wine and fruit--the winning combination selected annually by committee.  Lucky committee!  The fruitful blend is served hot in collector mugs at all the markets and is also available in sealed wine bottles to carry home (a perfect, bubble-wrapable souvenir for a favorite sister-in-law and her oenophile husband). The comfortingly warm punch was also available in a "Kinder" version for those of us not wanting to indulge in any post-lunch, alcohol-induced shopping sprees through the markets.

Temptations (savory and souvenir) met us at every corner of every market, but it wasn't until an unplanned visit to an unexpected market while sightseeing at Schonbrunn Palace that I met the man of my (collectible) dreams. More on that fateful encounter next time.