Crafters gather for holiday fair

THOMPSON FALLS – Crafters from all over the area gathered at the Thompson Falls senior center, Saturday, to sell their wares and bring out an early local start to the holiday shopping season.

Crafts of all shapes, sizes and descriptions were available at the craft fair with something for just about anyone’s taste. There were people selling baked goods, hand made soaps and herbal remedies, a variety of needle-worked items as well as upholstery; one vendor was even making and selling hand made chainmail jewelry.

“You have an amazing array of talented people,” said Tammy Dean, one of the coordinators of the craft fair. “[They] come here to share their talents, not only with each other, but the community.”

The vendors came from all over the area; Dean recalled there were people ranging from Trout Creek to Paradise in attendance most years. There have been vendors from as far as Hot Springs in the past, though they have been more rare.

The vendors rented their tables for the fair and were able to keep all of the proceeds from their sales. All the money from the table rentals went toward funding the senior center’s operation and events.

The Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce was also giving out the forms for their annual holiday scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt is being held all week with the winners to be announced Saturday evening, after the end of the community’s holiday kick-off activities.

This was the 18 annual craft fair for the center. Dean recalled they always hold it one week before the Holiday Bazaar at Thompson Falls high school. They also hold a spring bazaar themed around Easter crafts and ornaments.