Talk About Committed!

We've mentioned before how we have a combination of crafters - those who have been with us from day one, some who have joined us along the way, and each year we find some new and wonderful people. Well, today, I'd like to introduce you to the ones that have been faithful since the beginning.

Cari Newbold (Lauri's sister) started crafting with us way back when she was still a way cute teenager making clothespin Christmas ornaments and bow earrings. These days she's a mother of eight!, still way cute (even pretty much the same tiny size - no fair!) and making great stuff with her own darling daughter M'kynzi. This year they are making our favorite awesome earrings and bracelets, gorgeous caramel apples, and colorful "froofee-toos" - tutus for your budding ballerinas. Cari and M'kynzi both have such a sense of style, are wonderfully humorous, and they would do anything to be of assistance - and have done so considerably for us over the years.

Annette Emmer (Charla's sister) has done all sorts of beautiful things for the show, from dolls and hobby horses to beautiful hand-painted serving trays and hand-pieced table runners. She's a talented artist and this year will bring beautiful notecards and paintings - both watercolor and acrylic. She's been a great help at check-out for several years now also. Annette is a quiet tower of strength, doing so much in the background to make the show successful. We don't know what we would do without our sibling's assistance - KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU!

Charla's sisters-in-law Kathy Buhler and Diane Wiscombe have always been along for the ride, occasionally hosting boutiques of their own, also. I wish I had pictures to share with you of Kathy's amazing pecan logs, caramels, and dipped pretzels! Oh my . . . they are so amazing . . . mouth-watering . . . you ABSOLUTELY MUST try them all. The pretzels are standard additions to Christmas stockings at my house and I could not make it through a single day of the boutique without a fix of one or two of her caramels. The pecan logs sell out every year - we have women who call before the show even starts asking for us to set some aside for them (same with the pretzels). And, her prices are so, so reasonable! Kathy does a lot of other fun little items also - scrapbook pages, barrettes, etc. She's so organized that she always gets a plethora of great things done. But I have to add that above and beyond all the talented things Kathy does, she is one of the nicest people you could ever have the pleasure of knowing. Diane is another prolific crafter. Some of the things she contributes include rubber stamps, bath salts, great neighbor and teacher gifts, and stocking stuffers galore. But ladies (and you brave gents who are courageous enough to come), if you have any teenagers at your house, you will be a BIG hit if you bring home one (or more) of her giant peanut butter cups! We have several teens who come just to grab a handful of those. For several years we had an itty-bitty teenage gal (who has since gone away to college) who would come two or three times a day - every day of the boutique - to grab another of those tasty giants. She assured us she was eating them all, but we couldn't figure out where they were going! Anyhoo, in addition to her talents, Diane is such a friendly soul with a wonderful laugh.

And last, but not least, of our stalwarts is a dear friend from our old neighborhood, Linda Tabish. She has many talents, but for our show she specializes in one INCREDIBLE thing. Chocolate-covered turtles! These are not the chocolate turtles you see with nuts sticking out as heads and legs. These actually look like little chocolate turtles. Linda uses only the highest-quality and best-tasting chocolate, caramel and nuts. Yet another Christmas tradition. My husband and father-in-law, especially, would be completely happy if they found nothing else in their stockings! We don't feel like the boutique is complete without those yummy confections. And we love to see and visit with Linda again.

Just a quick reminder - the first giveaway will be ending soon, so don't forget to comment on that post!