AUBURN - The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The 34th annual Holiday Craft Festival at Cayuga Community College on Saturday offered up enough high-quality handiwork to attract repeat shoppers, yet a smattering of tantalizing events t'were certain to whet the palates of those hankering for something different.
Peg Brown, 72, of Skaneateles, a first-timer at the CCC Festival, displayed her cross-stitch quilted pillows. Crafted earlier in the year for the Skaneateles Fire Department show, those remaining joined new items for her booth at the college festival.
Brown, sewing since she was 5 years old, said, “My mom taught me to knit and my grandma taught me to sew.”
Her 25 3-inch-by-3-inch cross-stitch ornaments with little trees, Santas, and penguin motifs sold for $2 each.
“People like to decorate gift packages with them,” she said.
Her oldest daughter, Debbie Masoud, provided 13 handquilted pillows to sell at $20 each.
On the other hand, returning vendor Lucy Steger, of Locke, sold jewelry, lamps, and china that she had handpainted in various floral designs. Her handpainted earrings, both pierced and clips, sold for $5.50.
Lucy has been coming to the college festival for the past four years or so, but she's been painting for 40 years. Steger also restores designs on new lamp globes to replace broken items for customers.
Maomi MacIntyre, of Jordan, asked Steger to reproduce a broken globe on an item of sentimental value that her cat had broken.
“It was a wedding gift from my parents, who are both now deceased,” she said.
Lucy's husband of 60 years, Lewis, kept her company at her booth. He also kept the customers in good spirits.
Lewis said a sense of humor kept their marriage going for all those years.
“If I hadn't had a sense of humor, I might have been shot by now,” he said.
Special treats at the festival were easy to find.
In the cafeteria, festival hoppers found food for the soul as well as the body.
The Barrigar Brothers, Loren and Kevin, of Elbridge, played a mix of rock, jazz, and folk music. “Sweet Caroline,” a Neil Diamond hit, and Elvis Presley's “Don't Be Cruel” were a couple tunes keeping diners content.
Loren,46, a composer, began performing at six years old in Nashville. His finger picking style and his original compositions are reminiscent of Blue Grass. His younger brother Kevin plays guitar and sings, too.
At 1 p.m. Roger Hernandez took over the stage to play a piano arrangement of “New York state of Mind.” People still had their minds on eating.
Stephen Baird, musician and puppeteer, left his station in the main gym and wandered about the halls in his black beret, strumming his guitar and encouraging people to join in.
While listening to music, festival goers munched their lunch.
Long lines snaked past the Italian food prepared by workers at St. Francis of Assissi in Auburn. Cannoli, cream puffs, and hot meatball sandwiches attracted a large noon-time crowd.
The Catholic Charities volunteers, The Irie Jamaican Queen Restaurant, and Poppies' Restaurant provided chicken and chili, among other fare.
Outside in the cold, Hot Dog Kennel and Old Mill Catering, from Phelps, flame broiled chicken for take-out dinners, with salt potatoes and vegetables at $7.50 each.
In Bisgrove theatre, at 1 p.m. Auburn Players Community children performed “Hello Dolly,” “The King and I,” “Peter Pan,” “Sound of Music,” “Annie,” “Oliver,” and “George M.” Debbie Scott, vice president of production for the Auburn Players, said her show was a spin-off from the players' tribute to Sam Kennedy and their 47th anniversary a week earlier at Willard Chapel
Besides food and music, some unusual booths included a free blood pressure screening provided by the CCC Nursing Club and one for Guiding Eyes, an organization that solicits and trains volunteers to adopt and work with seeing eye dogs later assigned to the blind.
Yvonne Rugg, of Camillus, had six-month-old Winter, her seeing-eye yellow labrador “trainee,” sitting in the booth with her. She said there were 16 dog raisers in this area and that the organization is always trying to recruit more.
Eileen Matro, of Cato, also a member of that group, said this territory includes places from Auburn to Oswego and Cazenovia.
Those planning to attend the festival on Sunday will find repeat muscal performances of the same groups. On Sunday the festival is two hours shorter, beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.
If you go on Sunday, the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Auburn Player's “Musical Revue” starts at 1 p.m., Bisgrove theater.
In the cafeteria, Barrigar Brothers play 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and
Roger Hernandez plays 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Peg Brown, 72, of Skaneateles, a first-timer at the CCC Festival, displayed her cross-stitch quilted pillows. Crafted earlier in the year for the Skaneateles Fire Department show, those remaining joined new items for her booth at the college festival.
Brown, sewing since she was 5 years old, said, “My mom taught me to knit and my grandma taught me to sew.”
Her 25 3-inch-by-3-inch cross-stitch ornaments with little trees, Santas, and penguin motifs sold for $2 each.
“People like to decorate gift packages with them,” she said.
Her oldest daughter, Debbie Masoud, provided 13 handquilted pillows to sell at $20 each.
On the other hand, returning vendor Lucy Steger, of Locke, sold jewelry, lamps, and china that she had handpainted in various floral designs. Her handpainted earrings, both pierced and clips, sold for $5.50.
Lucy has been coming to the college festival for the past four years or so, but she's been painting for 40 years. Steger also restores designs on new lamp globes to replace broken items for customers.
Maomi MacIntyre, of Jordan, asked Steger to reproduce a broken globe on an item of sentimental value that her cat had broken.
“It was a wedding gift from my parents, who are both now deceased,” she said.
Lucy's husband of 60 years, Lewis, kept her company at her booth. He also kept the customers in good spirits.
Lewis said a sense of humor kept their marriage going for all those years.
“If I hadn't had a sense of humor, I might have been shot by now,” he said.
Special treats at the festival were easy to find.
In the cafeteria, festival hoppers found food for the soul as well as the body.
The Barrigar Brothers, Loren and Kevin, of Elbridge, played a mix of rock, jazz, and folk music. “Sweet Caroline,” a Neil Diamond hit, and Elvis Presley's “Don't Be Cruel” were a couple tunes keeping diners content.
Loren,46, a composer, began performing at six years old in Nashville. His finger picking style and his original compositions are reminiscent of Blue Grass. His younger brother Kevin plays guitar and sings, too.
At 1 p.m. Roger Hernandez took over the stage to play a piano arrangement of “New York state of Mind.” People still had their minds on eating.
Stephen Baird, musician and puppeteer, left his station in the main gym and wandered about the halls in his black beret, strumming his guitar and encouraging people to join in.
While listening to music, festival goers munched their lunch.
Long lines snaked past the Italian food prepared by workers at St. Francis of Assissi in Auburn. Cannoli, cream puffs, and hot meatball sandwiches attracted a large noon-time crowd.
The Catholic Charities volunteers, The Irie Jamaican Queen Restaurant, and Poppies' Restaurant provided chicken and chili, among other fare.
Outside in the cold, Hot Dog Kennel and Old Mill Catering, from Phelps, flame broiled chicken for take-out dinners, with salt potatoes and vegetables at $7.50 each.
In Bisgrove theatre, at 1 p.m. Auburn Players Community children performed “Hello Dolly,” “The King and I,” “Peter Pan,” “Sound of Music,” “Annie,” “Oliver,” and “George M.” Debbie Scott, vice president of production for the Auburn Players, said her show was a spin-off from the players' tribute to Sam Kennedy and their 47th anniversary a week earlier at Willard Chapel
Besides food and music, some unusual booths included a free blood pressure screening provided by the CCC Nursing Club and one for Guiding Eyes, an organization that solicits and trains volunteers to adopt and work with seeing eye dogs later assigned to the blind.
Yvonne Rugg, of Camillus, had six-month-old Winter, her seeing-eye yellow labrador “trainee,” sitting in the booth with her. She said there were 16 dog raisers in this area and that the organization is always trying to recruit more.
Eileen Matro, of Cato, also a member of that group, said this territory includes places from Auburn to Oswego and Cazenovia.
Those planning to attend the festival on Sunday will find repeat muscal performances of the same groups. On Sunday the festival is two hours shorter, beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.
If you go on Sunday, the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Auburn Player's “Musical Revue” starts at 1 p.m., Bisgrove theater.
In the cafeteria, Barrigar Brothers play 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and
Roger Hernandez plays 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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