cribbage boards, quilts, letter frames and more on display
Rebecca Leonard
News Correspondent
TEMPLETON The sun was out and so were the people for the 41st annual Templeton Arts and Crafts Festival on the town common this past weekend.
“The weather is just great,” said event organizer, Darlene LaClair.
According to Ms. LaClair, the two-day event received a lot of volunteers — from the high school and even some college students.
Parents were also welcomed to work for their college-bound children. Their hours will go toward scholarship money just like if their child had worked.
Vendors from all over the area showed up to sell their handmade merchandise.
Bruce Roberts of Fitchburg displayed his crafts from Custom Cribbage Boards. The boards are twice the size of regular cribbage boards.
This was Mr. Roberts’ first year at the Arts and Crafts Festival. He has been selling his boards and oversized pegs at the Rietta Flea Market in Hubbardston on Sundays, but this year he chose to bring his wares to Templeton.
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| News staff photo by REBECCA LEONARD Bruce Roberts stands with his custom cribbage boards. Mr. Roberts handpicks the wood, drills the holes and stains the boards himself. |
“People love it because it’s unique,” said Mr. Roberts.
For Kathy Becker, this was her fourth time selling her dog and cat treats at the event. Emmett’s Edibles is a gourmet dog treat company where all of the treats are handmade and made from human-grade ingredients.
Ms. Becker brought with her 10 different kinds of dog treats and her one cat treat flavor.
“Cats are more finicky, so I had to decide which one would be the most popular flavor,” she explained.
There aren’t any additives or coloring so every treat is good for your pet, she said. For those pets that are on a strict diet to lose weight, they can still have treats. Ms. Becker’s pumpkin treats are low in fat.
Ms. Becker’s treats can also be bought at her online shop.
Chuck Shaw, owner of KC Kreations, has been part of the craft fair’s talented group for two years.
The business sells photo letter frames, which allow customers to create any word out of 20 variations of each letter of the alphabet.
Mr. Shaw’s favorite aspect of being part of the craft festival is “meeting the people and spending time with his wife.”
The Templeton Cultural Council had organized for The Tropical Sensations Steel Drum Band to perform in the gazebo.
Arlene Ricard of Gardner said she watched them last year and they were very good. So good in fact that she wants them to come closer to home.
“I’ve been trying to get them to come to Gardner,” Ms. Ricard explained.
While the vendors were selling their goods, Holly Ault was busy inside the First Church of Templeton explaining the different types of quilts that were entered in the 11th Annual Quilt Show.
Members of the congregation and the town were welcomed to enter their favorite handmade quilts into the show.
“It gives people the chance to show off a little bit,” said Ms. Ault, the wife of pastor William Ault.
The first year of the quilt show was the summer after Ms. Ault and her husband became a part of the congregation.
“Members of the church found out about my interest in quilting and got me to enter into a smaller fair that June,” explained Ms. Ault.
After that she was asked to hold a quilt show for the August Festival. She laughed as she explained that she threatens to stop doing the event the next year but “they won’t let (her) stop.”
Ms. Ault said quilts vary in completion time — from a few weeks to a couple of years.
The annual quilt show sees 15 to 20 quilters every year, and Ms. Ault receives two or three new people interested in showing their work.
“They don’t have to be from the congregation to enter their work. I like that it gives people a chance to display it,” said Ms. Ault.
The winner of a people’s choice vote wins two tickets to a Saturday Supper, which takes place for six months on the second Saturday of each month.
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