St. Regis Christmas Bazaar receives warm welcome

There was certainly something for everyone at the Annual St. Regis Christmas Bazaar last Saturday.

From quilted bowl cozies to healing crystals, knitted hats and handmade soaps, the St. Regis Community Center had vendors galore.

Table after table of ornaments, dog treats, aprons, unique jewelry and custom knives. Even Santa made an appearance handing out candy canes and mingling with the crowd in his good old jolly fashion.

St. Regis Community Council Treasurer, Eileen Wolff put on the show. She said, “Most years I have to contact the vendors to see if they’d like a spot, but this time everyone ended up contacting me. Just goes to show how badly everyone wanted to do this.”

The bazaar hosted over a dozen sellers, and Christmas shoppers came and went throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We’ve had a great turnout,” Wolff noted who was seated at the entrance donning her Santa hat selling raffle tickets for door prizes. “I think the community really needed this, and these merchants they’ve had so much cancelled this year.”

Michelle McCracken from Superior had a table displaying her colorful variety of knitted and crocheted winter hats.

She said, “I’ve been making these since about 2014, most of what I have on the table I’ve created just this year.”

By midday McCracken said she’s made several sales and hoped by the end of the craft fair to a lot less to pack up. She mentioned that she also sells her creations at Whipped Up Café in Superior, and online at her Etsy shop. But if you’re a local she added, “Just track me down and let me know what you’d like and I’d be happy to make it for you.”

A few booths down Mala Marlow also from Superior was selling homemade bowl cozy’s, quilted handbags, and ornaments as well. The cozies she explained, “Go under a bowl you’d put into the microwave and then when you take it out it doesn’t burn you.”

Marlow got into quilting shortly after retiring, needing something to fill her time. But she enjoys making more than just the traditional quilts. “The bowl cozies seem to be everyone’s favorite, and who doesn’t love to just sit in your favorite chair and eat dinner. That’s what my husband does every night,” she said with a laugh.

Michelle Miner came all the way from Ninemile on Saturday to sell her treasures alongside her daughters. Miner is a miner herself, of gemstones and agates which she uses for her beautiful handcrafted jewelry. She said, “It’s been great being able to come out and share what I make with others.”

As the holiday bustle continued, around noon the chili was warm and ready for lunch and the Eagles Nest Band got set up to play live music for the remainder of the afternoon for vendors and shoppers to enjoy.