Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Pumpkin Patch Arts and Crafts vendors impressed by event
BELLA VISTA — Vendors spoke well of the Pumpkin Patch Arts and Crafts Festival on Oct. 19-21 at United Lutheran Church of Bella Vista.
Norie Allen, a member of the church, has been making ceramics for 62 years. She had a booth featuring practical items such as bowls, mugs, teapots and more. “My product is different because I mix color,” she said. “Every single thing I do is different.”
She said she makes her mugs with handles that have plenty of room so that men with big hands can use them comfortably. She also makes an egg poacher that works in the microwave. She said she used to teach ceramics but is now retired.
Sara Setzer and Jeannie Crim, both of Washburn, Mo., are partners in Sarah’s Expressions and Jeannie’s Jewels.
Setzer said they offer hand-beaded bead work, and she sells fashion jewelry as well. Crim has boot bling also. Setzer said they use mostly natural stone and polished Czech glass and crystal. This was Setzer’s second year at the event.
Patty Lambert, a Mary Kay representative, was impressed with the event.
“It’s wonderful,” she said. “Wanda, the secretary, is a great organizer. The booths are set up with enough room, and the people are coming through. It’s not too expensive to set up a booth. Everybody’s friendly.”
Linda Ryan is owner of The Seed Guy, an heirloom seed business based in Bella Vista. She said the business has a “big online presence” with almost half a million followers on Facebook. They sell seeds all across the U.S. and Canada, she said. She has been in business 12 years.
“We’re pretty proud of our seeds,” she said. “They’re non-GMO; that’s the whole point. They’re fresh from the fields, not something that sits in a package.”
Laurie Lopez of Centerton is the owner of Laurie’s Sweet Treats, a jam and jelly business. She has been making jams and jellies for six years and has more than 100 different flavors.
She said she tries to use fresh, local produce when possible and trades fruit and peppers for jam. She said her flavors include “everything from sweet chocolate to hot ghost peppers.”
Cynthia Adamson of Janesville, Wis., learned about the craft festival through her mother, who is a member of the church. She brought a selection of colorful paintings inspired by the northern woods of Minnesota. Several of them featured birch trees that appeared to be three-dimensional.
She said she has been a lawyer for 36 years and just started painting in February. The Pumpkin Patch Craft Festival was her sixth show this year, she said.
“It’s my happy place to be able to paint and to do the creative side of the brain instead of the logical side,” she said.