25th Annual Carson High School Craft Fair kicks off holiday shopping in Carson City
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Carson City residents showed up in masses to start their holiday shopping. Carson High School (CHS) played host to over a hundred crafters, artisans, candy makers, knitters and even more happy shoppers at this weekend’s 25th Annual Holiday Craft Fair.
There was surely something for everyone at this weekend’s craft fair, which featured around 150 booths with over 125 vendors, according to show coordinator Cathy Barbie. Santa made the rounds, of course, along with great food from CHS Culinary Arts, gift wrapping from Band Boosters, WebDesign graphic gifts, AAUW pecans, and SafeGrad sticker sales.
Somewhere in the sea of handmade crafts and goodies was a booth or two that would catch a shopper's eye and coax them into pulling out their debit card.
BJ’s Mills was one such booth. Her handmade wind chimes, topped with vintage teapots dangled in whimsical fashion made of everything from pressed antique silver spoons and forks to cookie cutters and egg beaters.
"What came first? The chicken or the egg beater?” BJ joked as shoppers admired her eclectic spread. When asked what her inspiration was she simply replied, “God gives you the gift; what you create is your gift back.”
Down the locker-lined hallway and in the gymnasium was a booth filled with wooden toys that smelled of cedar. 'The Toy Dudes' is run by owner Steve Simmons and his wife. Steve is a lifelong journeyman and carpenter who picked up toy-making in his retirement. His creations include (but certainly are not limited to) cars, airplanes, dinosaurs, trains filled with circus animals, bird houses and beautifully intricate wall hangs.
“It amazes me what you can create with a piece of wood,” Simmons said. When complimented on his craftsmanship he replied, “It’s easy when you enjoy what you’re doing.”
The annual craft fair is one of the fundraisers that Carson High Safe Grad uses to raise the $30k for the Senior Class graduation celebration each year, and they certainly raised funds during the quarter-century milestone that was hosted Friday evening through Saturday afternoon.
Another booth selling wares was "Ohellobird." Handmade bird seed feeders made to look like Christmas cutout cookies are made by Lindsay Fena. Her bird feeders come in the shape of hearts, pumpkins, snowflakes, gingerbread men and of course, the Silver State. If cookie size is too small for you, she also offers large wreath-shaped feeders made from what appears to be a bunt cake pan. Those who supported Lindsay are giving the gift of life to Nevada’s beautiful birds during the cold winter.
If you missed out on this year's craft fair, be sure to mark your calendars for the 26th year! To learn more about the craft fair, click here.
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