Yesterday marked the start of the 2010 festive bazaar season with a two-day event at Embassy House. Featuring 25-odd vendors showcasing a variety of wares, the event raises money for a number of local charities.
Lured by the prospect of evening bags, I was quite taken by a Kermit-green clutch purse until the vendor kindly explained that it was indeed made of frog skin! She then reassured me that they had eaten the frogs so it was actually made of recycled material. While beautiful in some weird way, I decided it really wasn’t the purse for me after knowing its origin. Wish I’d taken a photo though!
Instead, I opted for a miniature coffee table book about three-wheeled bicycles in Beijing, published by Australian teen Thomas Deighton as part of a school project. Proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Yearn 2 Learn, a new local charity that provides classes for orphans with disabilities.
There was plenty of jewellery, including hand-crafted pieces by women who have been rescued from exploitation and abuse by the Starfish Project. My favourite cashmere was a new brand called Mandarine Coco, which specialises in high quality clothing made from 100% Mongolian cashmere for babies and toddlers. I also found two gorgeous Indian cotton skirts for my daughters from Pooja, who had a stall stocked with a raft of colourful cottons in all shapes and generous sizes.
To top off a delightful hour of retail therapy, Bread of Life Bakery and Lollipop Bakery were both on standby with a delicious selection of treats.
Upcoming bazaars
20-21 September Embassy House Bazaar, Dongcheng District
22-23 October Radiance Bazaar, Shunyi
20-21 November Rotary Christmas Bazaar
27 November German Christmas Charity Bazaar
29 November INN Holiday Charity Bazaar
Know of an upcoming bazaar? Please share details in our comments section below or on our forum.
