Getting crafty at third annual craft fair

Nearly 40 crafters sold handmade artwork, jewelry, clothing, holiday gifts and more in Bishop Stang’s cafeteria on Sunday, Nov. 9 for the St. Julie Billiart Church Ladies Guild’s third annual craft fair.

Organizer Anne Cabral said holding a craft fair fundraiser had been something that she always wanted to do.

Three years into the now annual event, she said that “it’s just kind of flourished.”

Tim Cummings of Lakewood Honey Bees in Dartmouth was selling honey he harvested from his beehives during the craft fair.

He said that this was his second year participating in the event, returning because “it was really a lot of fun to do and [there’s] a good group of people here.”

He noted that he also thinks that the Ladies Guild is a good cause and that he wanted to contribute to it.

Cabral explained that proceeds from the event will go toward supporting the Ladies Guild and the community work they do.

Angel Oliveira began crocheting five years ago and had a wide variety of items for sale at the craft fair. Ranging from chickens to Spider-man and Pokemon winter hats to a bouquet of flowers that turned into coasters, everything for sale had been handmade by Oliveria.

“I like to be creative, and I would look at other people doing [crochet], and I said I could do it,” she said.

She added, “What I usually do [is] I look around, I see something … [and] if I look at it, I can do it.”

Oliveira first started selling her crochet in the Ladies Guild’s craft fair last year, returning because she had had “such a great time.”

Cabral said shoppers were “in and out all day,” noting that on Saturday, Nov. 8 — day one of the craft fair — there was a steady flow of people until around 2 p.m.

For the first time the fair was held in Bishop Stang’s cafeteria, moving from the school’s gym.

“It’s really worked out well,” Cabral said. “It’s cozy but comfortable, and I’ve had a lot of positive feedback.”