On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23-24, non-profit organization Quality Crafters held its annual Christmas in Windsor Craft Show. The event featured more than 100 vendors selling handmade items.
Seller Pam Hillhouse, the owner of the Grammy Pammy, a denim rework booth, has participated for about 10 years. “I have been a seamstress since I was a little girl,” Hillhouse said. “When I joined Quality Crafters … they said, ‘You know, you need to do a booth.'”
Seller Linda Sandoval, makes an array of different products for craft fairs. “I have cross stitch pictures, I have ornaments, a lot of diamond paintings, I do homemade jams and baked goods,” she said.
The event allows for people to buy good quality gifts for their loved ones for Christmas and to support local. Sandoval said, “Everything’s homemade or handmade. Cross stitch is a lot more involved .… everybody in here has unique items.”
This uniqueness is what makes these items special. “Because it’s my creativity, you know,” Hillhouse said. “I find certain fabrics … and then put it all together.”
With massive events like these, sellers must prepare a large stock of inventory to sell. “I spent a lot of time in front of the sewing machine,” Hillhouse said. “(For) finding the little blank jackets and stuff …. I have an outlet where I can find some …. at a pretty good price.”
For other sellers, this is just what they enjoy doing. “I’m retired, and so these are just all my hobbies. I love baking, cooking. I’ve written cookbooks. I’ve written two cookbooks and I love crafts,” Sandoval said. “It’s a good way for a retired person to stay busy and do something that people might take home and enjoy.”
The event lets vendors directly interact with customers. “I love interacting with people. Just the social side of it. You hear some amazing stories,” Sandoval said. “It’s fun to be out around a lot of people that like your products.”
Learning how to properly sell at these events comes with time. Sandoval said, “I’ve done craft shows for quite a few years … but each year you learn.”
Making sure sellers are confident in their products is crucial. “Try to find something specific that you do really, really well and just fill with that. Don’t try to do things that you’re not familiar with,” Sandoval said.
The event gave back to the community, donating some profits from booths and all of the entry fees to local charities.
