Golden Voices Choir benefits from 11th annual show and sale

Christmas was in the air on Saturday, Sept. 29, during the 11th annual Wellington-on-the-Lake Craft Show and Sale, with many visitors shopping for holiday gifts and Christmas decor.

Sale co-ordinator Sandy Fox said the event included about 30 vendors, with the only restriction being the amount of space available in the community recreation centre. She said business was brisk.

“It has been steady since 9 o’clock this morning when we opened our doors,” Fox said. “A lot of people were walking out with bags, so I think the vendors are happy.”

Money raised through the vendor space rental all goes to the Golden Voices Choir of Wellington-on-the-Lake. Additional money came from the sale of tea and baked goods made by choir members.

Fox said about half the vendors were local, while the rest came from out of town. She said all items sold by vendors had to be homemade. The assortment of crafts and gifts covered everything from tote bags and purses to knitted items, jewellery, woodcrafts and clothing for all ages, as well as handmade Christmas items such as wreaths, table runners and other holiday decor.

Grant and Joanne Benham shared a booth, with Grant selling note cards featuring his paintings and Joanne marketing her quilts and elegant, one-of-a-kind capes. They made the trip from Wilmot Creek, near Bowmanville, to be part of the show.

“We did this show years and years ago,” she said. “After about five or six years, we’re back. They do a nice job here. It’s well run and set up. It’s a pleasure to do a show like this.”

Author Robbie Hanna Anderman came all the way from Killaloe, east of Algonquin Park, to promote his book, The Healing Trees: The Edible and Herbal Qualities of Northeastern Woodland Trees. He said he had already sold two copies by lunch time and that interest had been strong.

Sisters Suzanne Simzer and Janne Tarbat, both of Brighton, joined forces to sell Tarbat’s handmade neck warmers and hats. “

They are unique and very practical,” said Tarbat. Shoppers agreed.

Both types of apparel were rapidly being scooped up by eager buyers who might have been spurred on by the chilly temperature Saturday morning.