Holiday bazaar supports DuPage history museum

Hundreds of years ago women would get together in quilting bees, creating blankets and other needed supplies for their families and communities. The DuPage County Historical Museum Guild is kind of like that.

The members meet throughout the year, sewing and crafting holiday gifts and seasonal decor to help the museum by selling their wares.

The 32nd annual Holiday Bazaar is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the DuPage County Historical Museum, 102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton. Admission is free.

The bazaar will include homemade Christmas ornaments, wreaths and greenery, scrapbook cards, notepads and crochet items. In addition to the crafts for sale during the bazaar, the vocal group Beyond Glee will perform from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

For several decades, guild members have dedicated their time and talents to creating sewing projects and crafts for the annual event while building their friendships with each other.

Guild Chairwoman Mary Udelhofen says she feels like her role is small. But, in reality, these women work hard all year long, meeting every other week to work and socialize.

"We can see our contribution in very tangible ways throughout the museum," Udelhofen said.

Throughout the years, the guild has raised more than $55,000 for the museum. The funds support the museum's ongoing work, including renovations to the historic building, purchasing supplies for public programs and events, and accommodating storage needs for the museum's collection.

"The guild is really inspiring," said Michelle Podkowa, manager and educator at the museum. "They are such a great group of women who develop a close friendship and enjoy sewing together. In many ways, their group reminds me of the quilting bees that occurred in the 1800s - sewing together to create items for their community while enjoying the companionship."

The guild is seeking new members to help sew, crochet, knit and craft new items in the following year. The guild meets the second and fourth Mondays of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. For information, call Podkowa at (630) 510-4956.

For information about the bazaar or the museum, call (630) 510-4941, visit dupagemuseum.org, or stop in at 102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton.