Shoppers don’t have to travel to the city to find one-of-a-kind crafts and unique gifts.
Local bazaars and craft shows can showcase an incredible range of creativity, right in BWG’s backyard, so to speak.
Case in point, the jewelled insects created by Andy McCandless.
His inspiration? “Me, as an eight-year-old kid,” he said.
“As a child I collected frogs, put them in a bucket, and let them go — and caught them again the next day. I’m awed by nature.”
He began creating life-sized and bigger-than-life-size insects and other creatures – rhinoceros beetles, scorpions, frogs – using recycled jewellery.
“Some are wearable. Some are sculptures,” he said. “It’s my escape from work. I’ve never made two of the same thing.”
His art was on display and for sale at Bradford Valley Care Community’s annual Christmas Bazaar last Saturday.
McCandless’ table was set up right beside that of his sister, Kim Chiswell, who brought her stained glass Christmas decorations, suncatchers and lanterns to the show.
Chiswell, who volunteers every two weeks with Community Living, has been working in glass for decades, and teaches the art form to others, including her brother and granddaughter, Kyara. “I love it,” Chiswell said.
Her words were echoed by Marion VanDyke, who has been making quilts, crocheted and knitted dolls, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, and now fabric storybooks, for more than a decade. They are all handcrafted, unique, and affordable.
“I love it. It’s something to do,” Van Dyke said, noting she is down to only three craft shows a year.
“Grandkids keep me busy,” she explained.
There is a definite inter-generational element to craft shows. At Bradford District High School, the Festive Winter Craft Fair displayed works by longtime crafters, as well as students and a new generation of artisans.
The high school’s technology department raised funds by selling cookie mix in a jar hostess gifts, copper jewellery and wooden cheese boards, honey dippers and oven pulls.
“Students make a lot of the jewellery – Grade 9s exploring metals,” said Cherry Perryman. The wooden items “are by Grades 9 and 10, exploring lathes.”
All of the money raised by the crafts were earmarked for “supplies or tools – whatever we need,” said Perryman.
Thirteen-year-old Emily Dahlgren was among the youngest crafters at the fair.
She packed up the Baseball Games Concession Stand that she started during the summer, selling treats and snacks at outdoor games, movies and Bradford’s Music in the Park, and instead sold scrunchies and cloth cases.
“My mom and I make them together,” Dahlgren said.
There are still two local craft shows coming up:
- This Saturday, Dec. 1, the Bond Head Lions are holding its annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Sale at the Bond Head Community Hall, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 40 vendors will be offering everything from turned wood, to baking, handmade jewellery, Christmas décor, quilting, knitting and much more. Admission is free. Food will be available, served up by the Lions.
- And on Dec. 8, the Royal Canadian Legion in Bradford will host a craft sale at the legion hall, at 115 Back St. in Bradford, with vendors, crafters, and gift ideas galore.
