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Guilford - They're making bon-bons and fancy breads; whittling bird carvings and building birdhouses. They're primping every unique dried flower arrangement or coaxing shiny leaves from healthy houseplants looking for a home. Others knit, polish jewelry, put final touches on holiday handcrafts and crafts in metal and wood. Some gather vintage "attic treasures" or take in appealing tot's toys of today. A few are even restoring toys for bigger boys, in the way of antique and used tools. Seems like no matter who you speak with at First Congregational Church, they've got a hand in the upcoming Harvest Fair. "At our church, everything presented, in the way of crafts... is made by members and friends of the church," said Gail Thompson, chair of this year's Harvest Fair. The 39th annual fair will be held at the church on Saturday, Nov. 5, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Proceeds from the fair, which drew more than 1,000 visitors last year, are used for church improvement projects. But the fair pays other dividends, noted Thompson. In the church community, members of different Harvest Fair areas work together often, and begin early, to build up enough stock for each annual sale. "The Dried Flower group, when they finish this fair, they'll start again for next year. A lot of people look forward, year to year, to refreshing the arrangement they bought the previous year," said Thompson. Dried Flower organizers Betty Brown and Susan Kukle have a team of dedicated growers and gatherers who not only grow beautiful examples of statice, yarrow, strawflowers, and more; but have been known to hunt down the likes of wild Joe pye weed and goldenrod to arrive at the perfect arrangement. Members of the fair's Attic Treasures department are always on the hunt for the collectibles and antiques for which the "attic" has earned its popular reputation. Visitors will get to mull through a year's worth of stockpiling of vintage clothes, silver, pewter, brass, and copper. Unique glass, crystal, china, even kitchen utensils and the likes of buttons, lace, and linens can turn up together with small furniture and collections. Refurbished and restored jewelry has its own sales area at the fair. With two very popular homemade goods areas, no taste bud will go untempted on fair day. The Candy Group whips up fudge, bon-bons, buck-eyes, and all things chocolate. First Church members have earned a reputation for the goodies found at the fair's Bakery, including homemade pies, plain and fancy breads, jellies, preserves, cakes and cookies. One very unique area at the fair is its Sanctuary Exhibit, a walk-through public exhibit with a new theme each year. This year's theme is "A Celebration of First Church Artists." "We've had wedding dresses, old Boy Scout and Girl Scout uniforms, needlework. This year, we had a call to artists who are members of the church and to friends of the community. We will have 47 artists exhibiting," said Thompson. The pieces are not for sale, but from paintings to sculpture to creations made in copper and more, the art on display will "demonstrate the range of the artistic ability within our community as a whole, as well as within the church community," Thompson added. Another talented church community member, Director of Music Ministries Marry Morreale, will lead a free bell choir demonstration in the sanctuary from 1 to 2 p.m. Money raised from this year's Harvest Fair will likely help underwrite a fire suppression system being researched for installation in the historic church across from the Guilford town green. With every member of the church doing their best to help, and with the continuing support of community members who come to buy, Thompson said this year's event is hoped to be yet another success story. "We have raised a lot of money over the years. Last year, it was [approximately] $17,000, which is a pretty significant number, especially if you're making $2, $3, $5 sales. That's a lot of sales!" This is cache, read story here
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