Though the weather outside is frightful, there is a cure for the wintertime blues. Think spring by attending the Blair County Chapter of The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s annual spring craft show on March 8 at the Ramada Inn in Altoona from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We have crafters coming from locally,” said show committee member Addie Beck. “They are coming from Bellefonte, Boalsburg, Indiana, Spruce Creek and Morgantown, Virginia.”
An array of crafts will be displayed at the show. They include: carved bowls and spoons, painted wood, handmade soap, herbal lotions, decorative paintings, miniatures, painted gourds, copper sculptures and other new crafts that will be coming in. Approximately 21 crafters are scheduled to take part in the show.
After perusing the tables and displays of crafts, food will be available to purchase, with the proceeds going to Relay for Life.
“The Ramada Relay for Life team will have refreshments,” added Beck. “It all goes for cancer research. They manage to get donations from all around.”
Beck has been a member of the Blair County Chapter of The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen for approximately ten years. The organization currently has about 25 members. Other activities for the group include juroring craft entries at the Keystone County Fair and planning another craft show at the Ramada Inn tentatively scheduled for Nov. 2.
“We’re a group of people; not all are crafters. Some are just interested in the crafts,” explained Beck of the making of The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. “The crafts must all be made by the crafters, no imports or kits. Everything must be made by the crafter.”
The Blair County Chapter of The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen has years of experience in organizing and holding craft shows for the public. Past shows were held at the Jaffa Mosque, Logan Valley Mall, Hollidaysburg High School and the Casino.
“We did a show at the Ramada in October, and it was successful,” said Beck. “We decided we wanted to do a spring show. They’re very nice to work with.”
This is the first spring craft show that the organization is having at the Ramada Inn. For more information contact 943-2601 or 944-4425.
