Benton fundraiser offers variety of handmade crafts, food

BENTON -- For the past 12 years, the annual Winter Wonderland of Treasures Sale in Benton has promoted its variety of handmade crafts.

And there's a good reason for that, according to event organizer Judy Scherer.

"When people come to a craft show, they want to see crafts," Scherer said, adding she limits the number of direct sales booths to only three to five of the total 55 vendors.

This year's fundraiser by St. Denis School will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the St. Denis Parish Center on Highway 61 in Benton. It will feature handmade crafts, specialty-food items, direct-sale items and more. Admission is free.

"People want to see a variety, and I go to great lengths to find vendors who may have neat things and different things people want so that we don't have 15 of the same booths," Scherer said.

Some of this year's vendors will sell wooden ornaments, tutus, embroidered pillow cases, baby items, handmade purses and jewelry, personalized T-shirts and blue jean aprons.

"Anything and everything you want, we'll probably have it," said Scherer, who sells handmade quilts that are both hand-sewn and machine-sewn.

New this year is a Scott City vendor who will serve a variety of flavored coffees and cappuccinos and also selling those by the pound, Scherer said.

"The booths with food go over really good. There are homemade chicken noodles and candies, and we do have people making food and selling pecans," Scherer said.

Animal puppets made out of wool, homemade Barbie doll furniture and clothes along with several religious items will also be available, Scherer said.

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