Houlton Craft Fair keeps shoppers coming back

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    If you live away during the year and come back for the Thanksgiving holiday, one event that has become an annual tradition for many families is the craft fair held at the Gentle Memorial Building on Main Street in Houlton. Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
HAPPY CUSTOMER — Finding a special gift for Christmas this happy customer thanked Sonya Johnson and her mother Debra Garibotti for wrapping up the surprise. Johnson specializes in wine bottle spoon rests and cheese and bread servers.
    Marie Carmichael, recreation department manager credits the original idea to former Houlton Pioneer Times reporter, Kaye Trickey who suggested a gathering of artisans in one large place 27 years ago.
    Carmichael said, “From that first year, it has grown and continued to be an event that everyone looks forward to.” This year we had 52 crafters selling their wares and eight to 10 new ones that joined us.” Both floors of the rec center were filled.
    From those individuals the consensus was the same, that business had been very good. Friday was the busiest day, but Saturday was steady.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
LET ME HELP YOU — Eve Rice of Mt. Chase, jewelry designer speaks with a customer at the annual Thanksgiving craft fair held at the Gentle Memorial Building. Rice and her daughter Nicole Drew create unique one of a kind designs.
    Many customers that may have just looked on Friday came back to buy that special gift the next day. There was a lot of variety including food items such as cheese, breads, honey, maple syrup and sweets. While others sold hand knit or crocheted sweaters, hats, jewelry and ornaments. One of the favorite booths sold a variety of fresh Christmas wreaths and centerpieces and there were even white birch reindeer for your lawn or porch and one reindeer made out of horseshoes welded together.
    There were vendors selling homemade jewelry, children’s terrycloth bath cover-ups and American Doll clothing. Folk art and primitive decorations are always a popular item to buy for oneself or to give as gifts.
    This was the fifth year for Sonya Johnson of Cumberland to sell her wine bottle spoon rests that can also be used as cheese and cracker trays or for bread. Johnson has her own shop called, “Sonya’s” and says she can sometimes use a customer’s own special wine or champagne bottle to make the tray.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
WELDING ART FORMS — Seasoned welder, Steve Daniels of Crystal listens as Pat Burgher of Mars Hill explains her idea of a bird feeder. Daniels uses new and recycled iron and steel to create many useful household items such as paper towel holders, sturdy shovels to remove ashes from stoves and fireplaces, candle sconces, pie or plate servers and plant hangers to name a few.
    Her mother Debra Garibotto joined her this year with accessories from her own business, “ No Wine-ing Without Me” located at 535 Ludlow Road. Garibotto carries gifts and wine and beer-making supplies.
    Garibotto’s mother and Johnson’s grandmother, the late Mrs. Lew Bone participated in many of the craft shows in the 1990s, selling knit items.
    Eve Rice and her daughter Nicole Drew from Mt. Chase creates beautiful sterling silver jewelry with gemstones. They offered earrings, pins and a variety of pendants made with argentium sterling that resists tarnishing. Eve’s husband David makes the silver bangles and cuff bracelets. These handcrafted jewelry pieces are one-of-a-kind designs that Rice sells her from her home and select boutiques in Maine. She and her daughter also host jewelry parties in private homes.
    Rice said, “Give us a call at 528-2651 if you would like to have a party or come to Mt. Chase to see our jewelry.”
    “We also make unique jewelry for brides and their bridesmaids and a first piece of jewelry for a new baby daughter or granddaughter,” added Drew.
    Their business is called “Jewelry from the Earth” and located at 39 Bald Eagle Lane.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
HOW ABOUT THIS ONE? — Natalie Foster, formerly of Monticello shows Vickie Porter, 4 of Hodgdon some scrapbooking ideas at the local craft fair held at the Gentle Memorial Building.
    Pastor Wayne Robertson of the Wesleyan Church has always loved working with wood and in his limited spare time he creates many country accessories. His most popular piece was a hutch made from old barn boards. He sold the two he made and would have had more available, but he was out of the barn boards. So if anyone has some they would like to get rid of just come to church on Sunday or give him a call at 532-3647 and he would be happy to take them off your hands.
    While Pastor Robertson is busy building his wife Brenda is busy baking; she sold 27 dozen cinnamon rolls on Friday and could have sold more.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
HAPPY AND NOT SO HAPPY — Twins Julia, left and Olivia are all smiles, but little brother Jacob is not so sure that a photo shoot is fun. They are the children of Mike and Jessica (Sullivan) Bassi from Bangor and stopped by the Houlton craft fair while visiting family.
    Another new crafter joining the fair this year was Steve Daniels. Daniels was born in Mars Hill, but lived out of state most of his life. He and his wife moved to Crystal just a few years ago and he started the Pine Tree Welding Service. With more than 30 years of experience, Daniels does large welding jobs, but also likes to create a variety of items from new or recycled steel and iron. Among some of the items he had for sale were small, sturdy shovels to clean the ashes out of a woodstove or fireplace, a dinner bell, plant hangers, pie or plate stands, paper towel holders, racks for towels or magazines and candle holders or sconces. He can usually create whatever the customer needs. One lady that stopped by his table wanted a bird feeder tree. Something that would have a variety of arms at different levels to hold several feeders, but low enough to refill without using a ladder.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
CHECKING IT OUT — Shopping at local craft fairs is a fun activity for good friends Ruth Townsend of Houlton and Arthlene Westerdahl of Littleton.
    Daniels said that he sometimes uses old tools or items that he finds such as digger lags that were often thrown into the woods where a digger or harvester lost a bed. With this in mind one could have a special item made from something a parent or grandparent may have used many years ago.
    Daniels’ shop is located at 151 Crystal Road or call him at 463-2002.