Donald Teuma-Castelletti
WALTHAM Nov. 12, 2017
An annual craft show in the upper Pontiac has become a labour of love for its organizers and volunteers, complete with all the trimmings.
That’s because as Jane Lamure continues her two decades of organizing the Waltham Christmas Craft Show, she knows she’ll have a full team of family and friends behind her, doing their part and more.
“When I took it over, I corralled all of my family to get onboard,” said Lamure.
Certainly, she’s had plenty of time to fit everyone into their roles. From her mother-in-law running the raffle at the door to her daughter manning the baked goods, that leaves the men in the kitchen – whipping up homemade, hot food to order.
“I have really great volunteers who are 110 per cent in,” said Lamure, laughing. “I’m very, very lucky to have so many great people.”
That’s not even including the vendors she features and continues to have come back every year. One such is Annette Craise, owner and operator of M.A.C.’s Miniatures and Crafts, who had a wide range of crocheted critters, Christmas ornaments, decorative signs and more at her booth.
Having been with the craft show since as long as Lamure has been running it, she estimated, she shows no signs of stopping the Christmas tour. With her selection of wares, including the popular Minion characters that look crocheted right out of the movies, she has plenty of shows to attend all season long, with the week to make even more.
“I don’t just sit and watch tv,” said Craise. “I sit and listen to tv while I do this.”
Next to M.A.C.’s sat a new vendor to the show, and Christmas craft shows in general. Making their debut in Waltham, Suttel Crafts had a selection of personalized ornaments, clothing and decorations on display.
“We’d been doing personalized stuff for families for a while,” said Laurine Martel, one half of the team. “We decided sometime in August to start Suttel Crafts.”
Working with Joanne Sutton, the two were pleased with the morning’s traffic and relieved to be so well received by the other vendors, who were inviting them out to other shows throughout the season.
An artist and entrepreneur herself, Lamure said she continues to organize the show because it’s a way to give back to the small community while doing something she loves, too.
On top of organizing the vendors, she also rounds up some raffle prizes, generally donated by the merchants themselves, with the grand prize being the ingredients for a full Christmas dinner, including a frozen turkey. Visitors could purchase a ticket, or donate a non-perishable food item, which will benefit the less fortunate locally.
“Our biggest thing is to put some cheer back into the community,” said Lamure.
With the Christmas-themed food options, from a Christmas wrap to a ton of sweets and baking to choose, plus the old-time tunes setting the mood, it’d take a real Grinch to disrupt the holiday cheer on this Sunday in the town hall.
