Sometimes the anecdotes we gather don’t all fit with the photos chosen. Here’s a longer version of what we found at December 2’s craft events, photos online in the archive Dec. 13 edition, page 11:
St. Lawrence Old Tyme Christmas Bazaar
Diana Whelpley bought Scrubbies from Nancy Novack at the St. Lawrence Women’s Group-sponsored Ye Olde Tyme Christmas Bazaar. The popular pot scrubbers are hand-crocheted from tulle or nylon net.
Crafts bring in the most per item, while Grannie’s Attic (mostly holiday-themed household rummage sale) occupies more space. The two aspects contribute the most to the proceeds of the sale. A $1,000 raffle is usually covered by the sale of raffle tickets. There’s a children’s raffle at 50-cents a chance, of donated items coordinated by Jacqueline Dekker-Travis.
They put on some games, a Santa appearance, a meal deal and a Country Store, where you buy a piece of candy with a number on it, which corresponds to the item you would take home.
Holiday Craft Hop – clay and crafts
Starting with 25 pounds of clay on a vintage kick-wheel, Joel Cherrico made mugs in a matter of minutes…after 12 years of practice, the last seven of which he’s been a full-time potter. Cherrico said it’s all about knowing the center. He holds a Guinness World Record of 159 pots thrown in an hour. (There’s a great long interview with him, at http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-pots-thrown-in-1-hour-by-an-individual.)
Cherrico’s Dec. 2 demonstration, which went throughout the afternoon in the American Craft Council (ACC) office, was an attraction during the Holiday Craft Hop co-hosted by ACC and RSP Architects. Sixty-one exhibitors sold jewelry, clothing, ceramics, accessories and foods on four floors of the former brewery at 1224 Marshall St. NE. December 2. The sale started with a members’ hour 11:00 to noon which pretty much packed the hallways.
Dad & Kiddo
The Island of Misfit Makers, at the quieter Food Building (compared to ACC), we visited about 12:30 Saturday, Dec. 2, Jim DuRose of Dad & Kiddo Pottery, sat with their wares. Kiddo is Jes Shimek, who re-kindled her father’s interest in pottery about 15 years ago. She’s a photographer, and took a teacher’s advice that she should engage in another art to keep from burning out. They’ve shared a studio under his home garage in Fridley. They feature bowls with a built-in hook that keeps your ball of yarn from escaping, and a chip and dip bowl.