Courtesy/Claire Swinhoe
ART News:
The Xi Nu Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi will hold their 38th annual Craft Fair next weekend at, the Crossroads Bible Church.
The event will be held at 97 East Road, in Los Alamos, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event will host over fifty booths including Native Pottery, fine jewelry, handmade crafts, tie dye, wood carvings, photographs, and religious items. “Each year I enjoy visiting with the vendors as well as helping the shoppers,” said Xi Nu member Judy Nekimken. “We raise money to help those in need including Self Help, school supplies for children, holiday toys, and Senior Appreciation Night.
Is this event where you’d like to get your food fix? You’ll find biscochito brittle and all things green chile from Bryan at Jemez Mountain Brittle, gourmet jams and jellies, Dubai chocolates and Royal Iced Sugar Cookies from Amanda at The Enchanted Jammery, a bake sale from the ladies of Xi Nu and more.
You’d like to go, but have kids in tow? Sue Souza, an expert crafter has decided to forgo her own booth for the event to offer opportunities for children. Kids ca craft, while parents stroll through the venue on their own. Souza will have opportunities for adults to craft at our local senior centers in November (LA) and December (WR).
The highlight of every year is a tremendous raffle. The drawings start at 11 a.m. and are done throughout the day with items donated by every vendor. The last raffle item of the day is a beautiful, handmade, holiday quilt. The tradition of the quilt began many years ago and ends the day with a spectacular moment. You need not be present to win.
Mrs. Claire Swinhoe has donated her time and talents to finish the beautiful handmade for the special raffle. This year the story behind the quilt is very special too.
The blocks for the quilt were made by Carolyn Bush, a local senior citizen who passed away a few years ago. The blocks were given to Swinhoe when Carolyn passed away. Claire spent a great deal of time and love finishing the quilt, preserving the work of Bush and creating a new memory.
The quilt top is a lap size and features the traditional Christmas colors of red and green with a splash of white. “It was really nice to work on the quilt and brought back happy memories of Carolyn,” Swinhoe said. “It is wonderful to think that her memory lives on in her quilting blocks and that the winner of the quilt will get to enjoy the quilt for many years to come.”
Beta Sigma Phi is an international service sorority, and the annual event is the only fundraiser for this chapter. Additional chapters in town assist at the craft fair and all proceeds are donated to a variety of community service projects, many in Northern New Mexico. Local recipients always include the Adopt-a-Family program run by the Alpha Zeta chapter.