MINERAL WELLS - For the past 13 years, the craft show sponsored by the Chesterville United Methodist Church Ladies Aid Society has attracted large crowds to Mineral Wells Elementary School where it is held.
Judy Knopp, show coordinator, said in 2011 they sold more than 1,000 tickets and they were expecting that number to be surpassed this year
"Last year we had more than 1,200 go through and I think we've done better than that today," she said. "We are just a small church and want donate the money to the volunteer fire department, the family crisis center, House to Home. In our community if anybody gets burned or needs help we can help them."
Article Photos
Photos by Jeffrey Saulton
Doug Guinn, of Walker, exhibits his wildlife photography.
This year she said there were 120 crafters at Saturday's show, about the same amount as last year showing a variety of crafts.
"We have all kinds of things, we have food, and holiday decorations," she said. "This show is seen as a holiday show so many of the crafts lean toward Christmas. There's jewelry, woodworking, broom making, primitive items."
When the show began, it filled the gym at Mineral Wells School but has now grown so much that a few are outside.
"We've always been at Mineral Wells School," she said. "When we started we were in the gym and now it's all over the school."
For the past five years Joanna Wheeler, of Ravenswood, has been selling items she crochets or sews. She said at a young age she learned her crafts from her grandmother
"I go to a lot of shows," she said. "They are a lot of fun and you make a lot of friends. I have done crafts my entire life but started going to the shows about five years ago."
Doug Guinn, of Walker, was showing his wildlife photography taken in various locations
"The bears were in Tennessee, the deer, turkeys and butterflies and the barn are here," he said. "The covered bridges are in Washington County."
Guinn said all of his photos, while digital, are not computer manipulated because he has had buyers remark they will not buy photos from photographers who use computers to enhance the computer.
"I have a digital camera, but I have manual focus. I don't have a computer or Photoshop," he said. "What I take is what you get."
