Art and Craft Fairs

It is the time of year when you cannot move round our way for Christmas Art and Craft Fairs (or "Fayres" as they insist on calling them.) Now I am in two minds about this phenomenon, on one hand I think it is good that people are getting creative and there is a resurgence of local kitchen table and cottage industries, probably helped by the recession, and we are encouraged to forsake the big stores and buy local, but on the other hand I find the tables laden with scented candles, knitted animals and jewellery made out of junk all a bit generic as though everyone has been reading the same craft magazines and buying their supplies from the same on line retailers. The same stuff pops up with depressing regularity and it is rare to find anything truly original. A lot of the "art" on display is of the twee animal variety that will probably end up in the children's bedroom. Is it the same round your way? Do you have views on the booming home made craft phenomenon? I have been to several of these so far and have managed to limit my present buying to under a fiver in most cases, and have of course bought locally.