TJ’s annual Craft Fair spices up the holiday season once again.
Artwork by Rebecca Holt
It seems every year many people want to begin their holiday shopping even earlier. So why not start at TJ’s Craft Fair, where shoppers not only get to finish their shopping early but they also get the chance to buy homemade gifts for their friends and family? “A lot of people like to get their holiday shopping done when going to the Craft Fair,” said Chris Holman, a TJ Partners member.
This is TJ’s 20th year having the Craft Fair, and this year the fair will be held on Saturday, November 21 from 9-4. Susan Freeland, a TJ Partners member, is putting the Craft Fair together. “Members from the TJ Partners will also be helping at the Craft Fair,” said Freeland. “Students from DECA, NHS, and ROTC will be helping out too, to get their volunteer hours.”
Individual vendors pay TJ Partners to rent booths and sell their handmade crafts. “Many of the vendors are people with small businesses who work from their home to make homemade crafts,” said Holman. This year TJ reached a full capacity with a total of 109 vendors.
A few of the homemade products that vendors will be selling are hand sewn and knitted clothing, glass ornaments, jewelry, wind-chimes, candles, metal and wood sculptures, home decorations, and seasoning mixes for soups or dips, and there will be many more items for sale.
Sheila Skubal, a TJ Partners member, is running a café. She will be selling sloppy joes, water, soft drinks, and much more. The seniors are also selling baked goods to raise money for After Prom.
The Craft Fair is held to raise funds for the students here at TJ. “The money TJ Partners makes from the booths go to the teachers,” said Freeland. For this to happen teachers must apply for grants. The money goes towards student awards, as well. Any profits the vendors make they keep; all they have to do is pay to rent a space.
Shoppers don’t want to miss this opportunity to start their holiday gift-buying and get the chance to purchase beautifully handmade gifts for friends and family.
