I Love Bazaars!

Fall is the best time of year when all the Christmas crafty fairs are in full swing. And my favorites are church bazaars! There is something special about a group of ladies getting together to make beautiful handmade items and baked goods to sell – not for their own profit – but to raise funds to help build the church and to donate to local outreach programs to help people in their communities.

And there is something special about the love that goes into creating traditional crafts and baking with time-honored recipes. I love how they bring back nostalgic memories of time with our grandmothers and learning family traditions. I also love how every church has a specialty that people flock to every year. Whether it’s cabbage rolls, candy buckeyes, or delicately sewn table runners; buyers make a beeline to grab them before they’re gone!

Plus many bazaars have a new generation of crafty ladies who create many of the traditional pieces with a modern twist, like fabric device holders and Minion ornaments, using new fabric combinations and characters kids love. The ladies are also perfecting new recipes that will become future classics like Oreo truffles and Puffcorn magic snack.

I grew up in a church that celebrated their 50th bazaar this year, with some ladies that were there from the beginning. Each year I bring a few fabric items to donate and I volunteer to help organize and sell. It’s a day filled with hugs with women I’ve known my whole life, and an opportunity to admire and purchase some of their creations.

I can’t resist the handmade toffee and Cajun pickles, and their famous turkey salad for lunch. One year I found a delicate white hand-knitted sweater for my daughter’s baptism, and my son sleeps with this four-foot long knitted lizard named “Billy” every night.

My family also attends a church where I have been a part of the bazaar planning committee for five years. We organize craft workshops starting in June where we gather together for fellowship and creating crafts – some with our sewing machines and others with our glue guns – all for others to purchase and enjoy.

But the real gift is seeing all our hard work come together on a weekend in November when everything is beautifully arranged and the church becomes a feast for the senses – Christmas treasures to see, tasty foods to smell, and the excitement of winning raffle prizes.

I love looking around as I volunteer for the weekend finding unique gifts for family and friends. The kids’ teachers have received many bazaar buys for gifts over the years like Post-it note holders, pom-pom bookmarks, and sock cupcakes. And I always find perfect hostess gifts of tasty treats for holiday events.

We all laugh at how we’re our own best customers as we ooh and ahh at the donated creations that arrive the week before. We are amazed at the talent and creativity of people in our church community. And we feel the spirit of Christmas fill our hearts knowing the money collected will go toward helping people in need.

So if you haven’t had the chance to experience a church bazaar in your area, trying looking one up, and see what special treasures you can find. Better yet, create some crafty items to donate to your church bazaar and become a part of this fantastic community!