PUT A BOW ON IT

PALMER — Warm mittens, jalapeno brittle, earrings of recycled glass, a Christmas wreath made of dog biscuits, handmade ornaments, specialty soaps, jellies, artwork, books and baby blankets — if you can find all of these things and a whole lot more in one location, it must be holiday bazaar season.

The Valley’s Christmas shopping season kicked off Saturday with the Alaska State Fair Holiday Bazaar at Raven Hall. It continues there from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. Admission is $1 for those 12 and up and includes a door prize ticket.

The annual event is a magnet for vendors and shoppers alike as it gets the local holiday craft fair season off to a festive start, and highlights many crafters who display the “Made in Mat-Su” bright yellow moose logo.

Mike Borgford, president of Made in Mat-Su, said the group, which started about two years ago, helps promote not only local crafters but local manufacturers — refuting the notion that Mat-Su is just a bedroom community.

“There’s hundreds of people producing products out here,” Borgford said.

By pointing out to Valley residents those merchants who are producing here, it allows the money to stay in the Valley, Borgford said, and is good for everyone.

The organization helps producers market their product, including at shows like this weekend’s Holiday Bazaar.

“For those of us who do this for a living … we’re always looking for the best opportunities and venues to sell our products,” Borgford said. “Eventually we want to have a show for all local vendors.”

That would suit shoppers like Nancy Wolff and Marta Kopperud, both nurses from Palmer. They were at the show Saturday morning with their young children.

“It’s a nice break and it’s nice to support the community,” Kopperud said. “It’s even better if it goes back into the local economy.”

Wolff said it was the start of her Christmas shopping, as she stopped to buy glass from Borgford’s Raven Glass Works.

“It’s just a good day to come out with the girls and no husband,” Wolff said with a laugh.

Trish Ryder of Midnite Sun Crafts and Gifts and her husband, Bill, have been selling at the event for eight years. Ryder said she likes it because it is a community show.

“It’s pretty much the same vendors every year,” Ryder said. “A lot of wonderful products. There are a lot of really gifted people out in the Valley.”

She said the show generates good traffic and good sales. She said people still have permanent fund dividends to spend and are ready to Christmas shop.

“Sometimes the stuff is just popping off the racks,” she said.

She and her husband produce a wide variety of items — she makes aprons, children’s kuspuks and doggie wreaths, etc.; Bill designs diamond willow products.

“I make what I enjoy and have fun making,” she said. Items like the dog wreaths generate lots of fun stories, she said, like the woman who came back for a second wreath because her dog got up on the top of her refrigerator to get its wreath before Christmas, and another dog that stared with baleful eyes at his for hours.

“The stories just crack me up,” Ryder said. “People come by and say “hi” to us every year; sometimes they buy, sometimes they don’t.”

The vendors say they know some folks will buy today; others may buy at one of the other local craft fairs. There are several coming up (see list). They are fine with the lookers, too.

Over at Klondike Brittle and Candies, Melodie Fair of Chugiak isn’t quite ready to buy, but she is enjoying the event, she said.

“I’ve been wanting to come to this bazaar for years,” Fair said. “It’s nice to meet different vendors because there are different tastes.”

Different tastes are what Varnette Biggs of Wasilla is offering at her brittle stand. Her signature item is her spicy brittle — jalapeno and habanero peanut brittle. It’s her first year for this show but has return customers from other events, like Randy Kuehler of Wasilla. Kuehler bought three boxes — one of the hot brittle and two of the tamer stuff.

Kuehler said his mother used to make brittle and the store-bought stuff just won’t compare. He bought the hot brittle for his son-in-law but as for the other two boxes, “They’re mine,” Kuehler said.

The edibles several booths over caught the eye of Sally Beach of Palmer and her son Ben. Ben Beach is the official taste tester, and he’s given the nod of approval to Laura MacDonald’s Lady of the Lake flavor of her Berry Delightful jam.

Sally Beach said the jam will be on its way to Kansas City soon, where her son is in college.

“Any touch of home,” Beach said. “He gets homesick. Just to know he’s being thought of.”

MacDonald, of Talkeetna, has been selling her jam for more than 20 years. She sells 10,000 to 12,000 jars a year through her gift store in Talkeetna and craft shows like this weekend’s. She uses local berries, rhubarbs and even local apples.

She said a good show is one that focuses on Alaska made.

“I don’t make a fortune here, but it’s a good little October craft fair,” MacDonald said.

The show also draws crafters from other areas. Ray Frank brings his wildlife- and aviation-inspired metalwork up from Ninilchik. It’s his fourth year here. He said he likes the friendly people and the good sales.

Liane Crosta and her husband, Chris, of From the C, live in Seldovia and Wasilla. They sell jewelry and other items made from flotsam washed onto beaches and recycled glass.

“I love this show,” Crosta said. “It’s like the start of the Christmas season.”

For more information on the Made in Mat-Su program, visit madeinmatsu.com.