Arts and crafts support Garfield Farm

Jan Alley of Elburn selected a mirror for $30, a lace doily for $1 and a few dishes.

"I don't know where I'll hang the mirror, but I'll find a spot," she said. "And someone made this doily by hand. That's what people did before television."

Alley was one of the shoppers at an arts, crafts and antique show and sale Saturday held amid gentle breezes, crowing roosters and flying barn swallows at Mongerson Farm on Route 38 west of Geneva.

A portion of all sales will support the Garfield Farm Museum, a 370-acre farmstead and inn that is being restored as an 1840s working farm.

The event also runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Mongerson Farm, which is part of the 370-acre farmstead 2½ miles west of Randall Road.

It's the first time the Garfield Farm Museum will benefit from an arts and crafts fair.

"Last year we had a barn sale here," said Helen Bauer, president of the board of Campton Historic Agricultural Lands, a non-profit organization that owns Garfield Farm and Mongerson Farm.

"The barn sale was a load of work," Bauer said. "This time the vendors are doing the set up, pricing and break down, so this arts and crafts show is a lot less work for our volunteers.

"Some of the vendors were part of our holiday market, which we started three years ago as part of our candlelight at the farm event," Bauer said.

The candlelight event is held in December.

"They wanted to be a part of this show and donate a portion of their sales to the museum," she said.

The sale includes antiques such as a spinning wheel, a cradle and a steamer trunk. The arts and crafts portion includes jewelry, doll clothes, photography, pottery and folk art.

Shoppers also can tour the farm museum at 2 and 4 p.m. today. Tours are $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and younger.

Garfield Farm Museum is being restored through volunteer and fundraising efforts. The Mongerson Farm originally was owned by the Garfield family and is used to support operations at Garfield Farm.

For information, call (630) 584-8485 or visit www.garfieldfarm.org.