The 28th Annual Memorial High School Craft Fair held on Saturday, November 11th, was a great success and exceeded all previous attendance records with 3,000+ visitors!

My high school alma mater was decorated for the holidays and looked so festive up and down the crowded hallways....in the cafeteria where my booth has been for the 3 years I've been a vendor.......

....to the gym, where I can never leave my booth area to see, but my daughter, Alyssia, visited the show and was nice enough to take some gym pics as well as many vendor pics of their wares that are posted later in my blog.

My first customer, Liane, thought that my "show special" price of $5 for my holiday gourd ornaments was a bargain and purchased one.  I thought they would go like hotcakes, but alas I only sold one other to my "actual neighbor" Elaine.  Well, I'll have a good supply for the next show.

Customers are so good to allow me to photograph their smiles and purchases. Heather bought a new heart I made recently which was a Purpleheart wood heart and a Spalted Tamarind heart inlay.  I sometimes use interesting and contrasting wood as inlay besides pearl or abalone and Michelle bought one also that is a Big Leaf Curly Maple heart with a Bocote wood heart inlay. 

Ernie is a long standing customer of mine who buys a bag no matter what exactly he is looking for and always tells me "keep making those bags!"  I asked him for specifics on what he is looking for this time and I am going to email him fabric choices for him to choose from.  I encourage people to reach out to me and ask something specific they are looking for.  These bags are usually one-of-a-kind, but I certainly can try to find a color or design for someone.  Stephanie and Kris were my customers of the day for purchasing quite a few bags and a heart.  She asked how could she have missed me the year before.  I'm happy the delightful couple found me this year.  

Being at my old high school right in my neighborhood, I definitely see many familiar faces and Ms. Chabot is one of them.  She has been my vendor neighbor for a few years now at Memorial and she is a fond memory for me of my childrens' wonderful teachers from Hallsville School.  This year she got to reconnect with Alyssia and you can see the love between the both of them and also what a tremendous, lasting bond that forms with teacher and student.

And thanks to Alyssia, I am sharing great pictures of other vendors items to give a taste of the talented artisans at this show.  Please reach out to them if you are interested in their wares and check out their websites/information.

These dazzlingly beautiful glass blown ornaments and figures are made by the brothers, Richard and Jaye, of G Treasures. They can be reached at jayedagosti@comcast.net or 603-218-9518 and 9517.

These fashionable and fuzzy warm handmade hats and accessories were made by Creations by Pauline.  She can be contacted at 603-432-5845 or at paulineelliott61@aol.com.

 And this vendor, Bird Carvings from the Wild, is after my own heart with these hand-painted, hand-carved and very realistic wooden birds. Henry and Sue Boudreau's contact information is 631-666-9517, 631-334-1041 (cell) and www.woodcarvedbirds.com .

I love this idea by Hannah's Essentials of using flat slabs of granite as a sort-of cutting/mixing board for cheese etc. Lisa Dickerson can be reached at 201-230-6351 and lisanbruce3@optonline.net.

Recycled Time makes new and useful again all kinds of unique items by turning them into clocks.  Wow!  They are made by Phyllis Hanel and the email is recycledtime@yahoo.com. 

Many vendors hand-work to make wooden items as well as myself and this intricate wood turning is a stunning example.  Willow Vale Woodturning by Al Lanseigne has many varied pieces of beautifully turned and finished wood and can be reached at www.willowvalewoodturning.weebly.com, on Etsy, email:  stickball13@comcast.net, and phone 603-362-6468.

There are also these fun and different items.  Amanda and Ashley's fun button magnets are made with every design and popular icon imaginable....just about!  They can be reached at dblacreations@gmail.com, phone 603-486-6122 and on facebook at facebook.com/DblACreations.  Then there are the Christmas cards, etc. made from aluminum cans!  A fun and ingenious idea by Irene E. DuPont, who also had for sale her book, Spanning Time, about New Hampshire's covered bridges and the Old Man of the Mountain.  She can be reached at iirenee13@aol.com or cell 603-377-9017.     

I am signing off with this picture of my beautiful daughter looking so festive because my favorite holiday season is coming up and I am so excited!!!! I hope to see everyone at the many holiday shows and I will be busy as an elf making evergreen arrangements and holiday cheer!

Contact/message me if you find any mistakes so that I can correct them.  Thanks.