Wanda Grayson said she has participated in the Shakertown Christmas for several years and has always enjoyed it
“It is wonderful,” Grayson said of the event.
Grayson and her husband work together to create a variety of crafts. Most of the crafts they will be selling at Shakertown will be Christmas crafts.
“I'll be bringing lots of hand painted, handmade Christmas ornaments and seasonal decorations, including lighted snowmen,” Grayson said. She works on the ornaments throughout the year, getting started on new ones right after Christmas. She had about 800 ornaments made at the start of the season.
Grayson will also be selling some of her hand-painted jewelry and other items she has painted. She said she paints little snow scenes on sea shells and paints Santa faces on keys to create a “Santa key.” These keys come with a note explaining that you can leave the key outside your house for Santa to use to get in.
“I'm big into recycling,” Grayson added, “so a lot of my items are made with recycled materials. I make Santa Clauses out of shotgun shells.”
The Graysons stay busy this time of year as they travel around to various arts and crafts shows, but she does not mind.
“I love crafting,” Grayson said.
Grayson said in addition to the items she has already made, she can create custom designs. She said she once had a request for a ballerina Santa Claus. She made a few, thinking she would probably only sell the one that was ordered, but ended up selling them all. Now her ballerina Santas are a best seller. Grayson believes they are so popular because they are not something you see very often.
In addition to making a variety of crafts, the Graysons also garden and sell vegetables and herbs and jams and jellies. Although they won't have those items for sale at Shakertown, Grayson said they will be selling their jams, jellies and other items at the Farmers' Market Craft Show Dec. 8 and 9.
The Turners are the other local vendors who will be selling crafts at Shakertown. Elaine and Lindsay Turner will be selling crafts featuring farm products. They make pumpkin and apple breads, muffins and butters.
Elaine's potpourri and hanging fruits she has made from apples have been popular for many years. This year she has painted gourds that she, Lindsay and son Clay have grown and dried on the farm.
This is their second year to participate in the Shakertown Christmas. The Turners will also have their creations for sale at the Farmers' Market Craft Show at the Extension Office the following weekend.
Esther Schwartz of Countryside Bake Shop in Auburn will be one of the few vendors offering food. She said she has sold her baked goods at Shakertown for several years and usually sells out by early afternoon.
Schwartz will be selling pies, cakes, sour dough bread, cinnamon rolls and other baked goods.
The Shaker Museum will host a special Christmas at Shakertown Holiday Market Preview Party Friday, Dec. 1 from 7 to 9 p.m.. before Saturday's open shopping. Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance by calling the museum at 542-4167.
The Christmas at Shakertown Holiday Market will be held Saturday, Dec. 2 at South Union, just off Hwy. 68/80 about 15 miles east of Russellville. Admission on Saturday is a donation of canned food or money which will be used by the Auburn Rural Fire Department to help needy families during the holiday season.
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