Crosslake Artisans' Fair to feature more than 30 artists demonstrating, selling their wares
CROSSLAKE -- The ninth Artisans' Fair with more than 30 artisans will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday on the Crosslake Historical Museum grounds across from the Corps of Engineers campground in Crosslake, sponsored by the Crosslake Area Historical Society.
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As in other years the artisans will demonstrate their crafts as they sell their wares. There will be carved and turned bowls by Allan Hochsprung and Bob Carls. Chris Christianson does all sizes of wooden chip carved boxes. Andy Anderson will show how to recane chair seats.
Dan Coleman of DFC's Cutting Edge will sharpen knife blades for $1, $2 and $3.
Two craftsmen who have been at the fair all nine years are Al Millman, a smithy/iron worker who comes dressed as a frontier Smithy, and Harvey Roggencamp, who specializes in diamond willow furniture and home accessories.
Bee keeper Mary Kay Williams (left) and products her bees produce have been at past Artisans' Fairs, and will appear this year also.
Patty Shroeder and Marilyn Trachenko will offer braided and hooked rugs. Trachenko is known for her vivid use of color. Shroeder designs rugs specifically for individuals' homes -- their colors, subject matter or style. Both will bring many completed rugs and will take orders.
Diane Fulton will bring a loom and will sell her hand woven runners, placemats and napkins. The Pine Tree Quilters will display and sell quilts.
Pressed and dried flowers and leaves by Amy Sharp's Nature Prints and Betty Rechmo's Dried Flowers will be shown. Rechmo will demonstrate her secrets to preservation.
New this year will be primitive wood carver Sandy Sweeney and Ken Anderson, who makes large and fanciful bird feeders. Husband and wife team of Kay and Dick Winter carve fish and will have wares to sell.
There will be a bee keeper, Mary Kay Williams, with the proofs of her bees' hard work. And there will be soap by Mary Hoag.
There will be pottery by Grant Goltz using native clays, as well as candles by Bunny Geiger that are slow burning and hand dipped.
Kids' activities will be expanded this year, featuring corn husk doll making following the corn husking contests and the storyteller and potato printing. A scavenger hunt will be an all-day, ongoing activity.
Paul Bunyan's cousin will be at the Loggers' Camp to teach children how to make and blow willow whistles. A member of the Black Powder Group will be there to show off flintlocks and other early firearms and his knives and throwing prowess.
Family heirlooms can be researched by a pair of antique experts with more than 50 years of experience.
The day also will feature strolling musicians and costumed guides in all the historic buildings. Lunch will be available on the grounds or people can picnic on the banks of the Pine River. Food offered will include beans stewing in a cast iron pot over an open fire.
Parking is free and available in the museum lot, on the street (Route 66, the main street of Crosslake) or in the Northern National Bank lot just north and east of the museum. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children under 12. Babies are free.