Christmas Crafts Sale brings together sisters & old friends
November 28, 2009 by Sarah Jenkins
Shoppers crowd the guest dining room at the Nazareth Motherhouse Saturday morning for the annual Christmas Crafts Sale.
The angel bow ties were created by Sister Leah Smith.
This year the Motherhouse Relay for Life team held a bake sale in conjunction with the crafts sale, and the Motherhouse Gift Shop was open for anyone seeking a wider variety of purchases.
The crafts sale, which has been an annual event for more than 15 years, was scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Sisters Leah Smith, Jackie Kircher and Susan Stoeber work on crafts all year long for the event. They knit and crochet blankets, shawls and baby clothes, create beaded jewelry and rosaries, and invent all kinds of special Christmas decorations — and make and sell some very popular fudge. They are joined in the annual effort by Sister Cecelia Green, who creates a wide variety of woodwork decorations every year.
Sister Jackie Kircher begins work Saturday morning on items for next year's crafts sale.
The proceeds from the craft sale, like those from the Motherhouse Gift Shop, all benefit the Sisters of St. Joseph in their ministries throughout Kansas and in 10 other states and Brazil.
The proceeds from today’s bake sale will go to the Motherhouse team for Relay for Life, the annual cancer prevention fundraiser.
Sister Susan Stoeber, second from right, and a friend chat as a shopper continues to check out items for sale Saturday morning.
One of Saturday's youngest shoppers tries to decide between a Santa that stands up and a Santa that hangs on the Christmas tree.
Sister Esther Pineda staffs the "cash register" for the bake sale to benefit Relay for Life Saturday morning.
There were many hand-crocheted and hand-knitted baby items available when the crafts sale opened, but most were gone by noon Saturday.
Shoppers also had a chance Saturday to browse the Motherhouse Gift Shop. It is usually open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Sisters Jackie Kircher, left, and Beth Stover have a chance to catch up Saturday during the crafts sale.
What a nice array of beautiful handmade gifts! Thanks to those who created and those who helped out with the day. Wish we could be there, but Faye’s idea sounds good to me! Hint!!
Merry Christmas, Aunt Jackie
Wonderful review of the handmade crafts and pictures of the talented Sisters who provided their wares for guests to purchase and enjoy. Another year of abundance of gifts of from friendly faces of community members. Thanks and blessings.
Christine
I like Faye’s idea for the preview for out-of-towners. Looking forward to next November!! Hint! Relay for Life would be very pleased. Looks like ya’ll had a lot of fun. Nice to see the faces of those I haven’t seen in a while. Thanks for all the hard work.
Looks like a wonderful sale! It is fun seeing all the pictures. Almost makes me feel like i was right there. Thanks!
Wonderful potential gifts, I did more browsing than buying and later wondered what I should have purchased.
I wish we were closer too. Great prices for wonderful handmade items. Hint: next Nov.at community meeting: preview sale for Sisters from out of state!
Once again…Thanks! This seemed like a great event. Everyone benefits. I sure wish Concordia was closer.