Batavia moms sell crafts, sweets at annual autumn event

The craft show that’s become a Batavia fall tradition offered decorations and gifts for three holidays all in one place Saturday in the field house at Mooseheart Child City and School.

Handmade items for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas helped draw holiday shoppers to the 26th annual event, said Jen Meiring, past president of the Batavia Mothers’ Club Foundation, which sponsors the craft show.

“I think the community really loves it,” Meiring said, adding she’s heard comments like, “Once I see the pumpkin signs, I know it’s fall because the craft show is coming.”

When Meiring isn’t volunteering to keep the event organized, she said she browses booths to get a jump start on her holiday shopping. This year, she bought some necklaces made from recycled pop cans.

The event drew birthday shoppers as well, like Cindy Corrigan of Geneva, who browsed the craft show’s 75 booths with Jamie Schiefen of Batavia.

“I’m looking for a birthday present for my friend, but I haven’t found anything yet,” Corrigan said.

Anything fragile was out of the question, Corrigan said, because her friend lives in Germany, so the gift will have to be mailed.

That crossed off pottery items, including mugs painted with the name and year of incorporation for Fox Valley communities like Aurora, North Aurora and Batavia.

Plenty of non-fragile crafts — quilts, scented soaps, scarves, coffee thermoses, purses made of old blue jeans — were for sale Saturday along with baked goods prepared by Mothers’ Club members.

“All of our members are required to bake, so that’s where it comes from,” Mothers’ Club member Miranda Skonie of Yorkville said about the display of cupcakes, brownies, puppy chow and creative foods like Corn Maze Crunch. “I think it definitely adds something to the craft show.”

The club has about 45 members this year — more than in the past, Meiring said — so the bake sale table was larger and more fully stocked.

But the sweet treats were selling fast, Skonie said.

All proceeds from the bake sale and the craft show’s $4 admission go to the Mothers’ Club Foundation, which in turn donates to charities supporting education, women and children, Meiring said.