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22 | November 30, 2017 | The Lockport Legend LIFE & ARTS lockportlegend.com Lockport Woman’s Club kicks off holidays with annual craft show Christmas Crossroads brings crafters together in its 47th year Amanda Del Buono Freelance Reporter Although some kick off their holiday shopping on Black Friday, many get into the spirit of the season by attending the Lockport Woman’s Club’s annual Christmas Crossroads Craft Show. Sisters Debby and Pat Blatzer, of Lemont and Orland Park respectively, are among those who attend the show every year as part of their family’s traditions to kick off the season. “We’ve been coming for close to 20 years in a row,” Debby said. “… The vendors all ask if we’ll be here. You get to know the vendors. … We’re actually friends with them now. … This is a family tradition, we always come together. It kicks off the holidays and kind of is our family thing that we do together.” The quality, handmade products available at the show bring the women back every year, they said. “Everything is so well made, and it lasts,” Pat said. The Lockport Woman’s Club’s 47th annual Christmas Crossroads Craft Show took place Nov. 18-19, at Lockport Township High School East Campus, and featured more than 180 crafters with 10,000 visitors attending throughout the weekend, according to the event website, christmas crossroads.com. All of the proceeds from the event are to be donated to local charities and causes, Please see HOLIDAY, 23 Jayla (left) and Jenna Guajardo look at holiday items at Peggy’s Country Crafts booth Nov. 18 at the Lockport Woman’s Club’s annual Christmas Crossroads craft show held at Lockport Township High School’s East Campus. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media Lockport resident Jake Zacharias (right) – of Boy Scout Troop 63 – checks Pat Rieken’s coat. Connie Nickon (left) makes a donation to TLC Animal Shelter while members of Lockport’s Robotic Club (left to right) Nathan Hesse, Jordan Mariniak and Adriana Watson look on.
lockportlegend.com LIFE & ARTS the Lockport Legend | November 30, 2017 | 23 HOLIDAY From Page 22 said Chris Wallace, current president of the Lockport Woman’s Club and member of the craft show’s committee for the past 17 years. “This is our only fundraiser for the year,” she said. “All of the money goes to charities.” Rosemary Gasper, a member of the Christmas Crossroads committee who has been working the event for the past 23 years, added, “Everything that we work for we give away.” Yet, this isn’t the only way the event helps give back. Christmas Crossroads also provides opportunities for local organizations to fundraise and share their causes. For example, Lockport Township High School’s band sold food during the event to raise funds, while the local Boy Scout Troop ran a coat check, and several booths were saved for local organizations. “We have a number of booths we save for charities to have in order to help them as they fundraise and spread awareness,” Wallace said. About one-third of the vendors at the show were new this year, while the majority are regulars at the Christmas Crossroads Craft Show. Jackie Newberry, a Joliet resident and owner of Let It Snow-Men — which offers handmade snowmen décor made out of wood — has been a vendor at the show for the past six years. In fact, she’s been showing her products at the Christmas Crossroads since she began her business. “I think the variety brings a lot of customers, and I like that it’s all handmade crafts,” she said. Chicago resident Sheila Awong, along with her husband Chris and daughter Kayla, has been a vendor at the show with their company Budley Bows since May Xiong paints a clay flower at her May’s Art Clay Flowers booth. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media Debbi Sumner (middle) of The Hook and Eye shows designs to Katie Vertenten (left) and Barb Szpyrka. 2013 and also said the show draws a great crowd. “I hear it’s one of the biggest shows, and it’s welladvertised and well-organized,” Chris said. “And we always have returning customers.” In fact, Jaclyn LaPorte, a Lockport resident, said she comes to get new bows from Budley Bows every year. “I just like craft shows, and it’s for a nice cause, it supports local community members that are here in our community,” she said. After organizing the event for many years, this is the last year that the current committee members will produce the event, according to Wallace and Gasper. Next year, a new group of women will take charge of the event. Although Wallace and Gasper will be on-hand to help next year, they are proud of the work they have done throughout the years and are ready to step aside for new leaders. The Lockport Woman’s Club has also become involved with Wreaths Across America and is selling wreathes to be placed at the Arlington National Cemetery in honor the country’s fallen heroes. Each wreath is $15, and for every two purchased a third will be donated, Wallace said. “ I like the way the magazine is put together—long enough where I know I’m going to be able to read substantial pieces, but not too thick where the reader is intimidated. And the content is compelling (and that’s the key, obviously).” —danny s., of chicago Celebrated by critics and readers, the depth and strength of Chicagoly’s storytelling is unmatched in this city. Don’t miss another issue. Subscribe today. Chicagolymag.com/subscribe a 22nd century media publication
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