There's more to being crafty than meets the eye

The life of a crafter isn't just about glue guns and pom poms. Crafters are serious business people who spend the entire year working on crafts. They give up most of their weekends in the fall to attend craft shows. Sometimes they never see the sunlight of an autumn Saturday.

On craft show days, they arrive in the dark to set up their booth, unpack their crafts and arrange everything in a beautiful display. Then they grab a cup of coffee, look over the show and wait for the customers to come.

Crafters are pleasant people, for the most part, who enjoy the company of the many who visit their booths. By the time they pack up to leave, it is often evening.

I had my one and only experience as a crafter in the Batavia Mothers' Club show last year. I am not a crafter. I have burned my fingers many times when my glue gun turned on me. When I tried quilting, my teacher went to check my work, saw the blood and recommended stitches and I don't mean the kind that went into the fabric.

I did have a craft that I wanted to sell and the Mothers' Club was courageous enough to let me, a neophyte, into the show.

I was amazed at how helpful the other crafters were in my area. One crafter, who has been coming to the Mothers' Club show for years, said it was one of the best shows around. The members of the club are there at every turn to help the crafters. They even offer to sit in their booths if the crafters need a break, or bring them lunch if they feel like they can't leave.

The Batavia Mothers' Club has been doing the show for 22 years. It is a major fundraiser for the club, which supports local charities and Batavia schools.

Plan to come and spend the day. There is a continental breakfast for early birds and lunch for those midday shoppers. All the food is reasonably priced so you have more money for shopping. Pretty crafty, don't you think?

Many come just for the bake sale, which is by far the most impressive sale in town. There are cookies, breads, pies -- you name it, they have it.

A recent addition to the sale is the brownie bake-off. Members enter their best brownie recipe for the chance to win the best brownie title. Mayor Jeff Schielke, Police Chief Gary Schira and Superintendent Jack Barshinger were invited to select the best brownie.

"They didn't realize that the final two brownies were made by the same mom," said Colleen Nyland. "Jennifer Heidenreich had sub mitted two different recipes, but it was her Mississippi Mudslide Brownie that won."

According to Nyland, it was a recipe that was given to Heidenreich by her mom. The winning recipe will be a featured item at the bake sale but they will sell out fast so you better plan to come early if you want to try them.

The crafters for the show come from all over the Midwest. There will be artwork, floral arranging. photography, handmade items and woodwork. There is also a special group of crafters with disabilities. Admission costs $3 and the hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Batavia High School, 1200 West Wilson St., Batavia.

For more information contact the club at www.bataviamothersclub.org or call (630) 477-0846.

If you go

What: Batavia Mothers' Club craft show

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 20. Admission is $3

Where: Batavia High School gym at 1200 West Wilson St.

Info: visit www.bataviamothersclub.org or call (630) 477-0846.