Return of the Penguins
Popular items from last year return to St. Bernard Bazaar
Tuesday is craft day at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista. The women start arriving at 9 a.m., carrying their lunch and extra supplies. They spread out around the Parish Hall, each finding the project that suits them.
Sewing machines are stationed along one wall. Like their operators, each sewing machine is different. Various brands and eras are represented by the donated machines. Towards the kitchen, a table is dedicated to painting wine glasses, another woman is painting pine cones.
“I like doodads,” Dianne Krolikowski said as she glued a button to a Styrofoam Christmas tree form. She explained that she never learned to sew. “You won’t find a needle in my house,” but she still contributes.
The women, mostly members of the St. Bernard Women’s Club, spend one day a week for most of the year working towards the annual Christmas Bazaar. That’s why you may overhear a spirited discussion of Santa Clauses after church on a hot July morning.
Besides sewing, gluing and planning, there’s always some socializing going on each Tuesday, Women’s Club president Patty Carter said. This is the 29th year for the bazaar.
Working women meet on Sundays, Carter said, while some of the knitters and crocheters work at home.
No one knows what the big seller will be on any given year, Carter said. Last year, it was penguins. The penguins were so popular that this year they made extras and none of them will be sold ahead of time, she said.
The penguins stand about 12 to 18 inches tall and — because they are weighted — they can stand alone. Each one is different and each one is named. Jeannene White saw her first penguin in a craft store window in Tulsa and bought the pattern.
All the crafters look for new ideas year-round, she said.
In the church’s arts and crafts room, bins of donated material is available to the crafters, but the penguins are special. Each one is made of black-andwhite-patterned materials, so it had to be purchased. Their accessories were donated, even the tiny top hats that some of the male penguins wear. Carter expects to sell out quickly.
Another item that should be popular, she said, is table runners with matching centerpieces. Most will be priced separately so no one has to buy both.
Some of the women collaborated on a quilt this year. It’s a contemporary design in gray and white, Carter said. It will be part of the raffle. There are other raffle prizes, too.
The winner of last year’s auction won a refurbished doll house, but because her granddaughter had been a patient at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the winner immediately donated her prize to the hospital, Carter said.
Treasures and Trinkets is also part of the annual bazaar. Donated, gently used jewelry, purses and household items are for sale in that section of the bazaar.
There are always Christmas trees for sale, Krolikowski said. Some are large trees, donated by residents who are downsizing. Any trees that are pre-lit are tested before they go on sale.
Both breakfast and lunch are available for the dedicated bazaar shoppers, Carter said. Breakfast is cinnamon rolls and lunch is chicken soup, chili and sandwiches. There’s also a bake sale so shoppers can take home treats. Like the craft materials, the food is donated.
All the proceeds from the bazaar are donated, Carter said. The Woman’s Club helps support international missions, as well as more local causes such as the Bella Vista Courtesy Van, Village House and the Children’s Shelter. This year they will also donate to Helping Hands, the Samaritan Community Center and the Women’s Shelter.