Christmas shopping came early Saturday at the 28th annual Barrie Christmas Arts and Crafts Show at Sadlon Arena.
With Halloween barely in the rearview mirror, the show features more than 150 crafters and artisans selling their one-of-a-kind creations.
“I get gift ideas and ideas to try to make on my own,” said Sue Kilcullen, of Barrie, “and I like the little wooden ornaments.”
She was browsing on the facility’s lower floor with Helen Graham, also of Barrie, who came for similar reasons.
“I like the wooden ornaments and any kind of Christmas stuff,” Graham said. “I also come for the garlic butter.”
Making its first appearance at the show was Paris, Ont.-based Gnomes by Mari.
“We have a Baltic background,” said Mari’s husband, Robert Kimsto. “She started making these based on a Scandinavian model. She wanted a decoration, not a toy.”
Mari Kimsto uses carefully chosen second-hand knits — sweaters, scarves, etc. — and repurposes them into gnome hats.
Standing 20 inches and less, they have a clay base, felt body and wooden noses.
These gnomes are known to bring good luck and safeguard homes, the Kimstos say in their literature.
Returning to the Barrie Christmas Arts and Crafts Show is Baker Street Creations, of Shelburne, literally bringing the sounds of the season.
Neill Nucifora brought all sizes of handmade wooden gramophones made from maple, walnut and even recycled skateboards.
“Because it’s all hollow on the inside, it just takes the speaker on your phone and amplifies it,” he explained. “It needs no power, no nothing.”
The wooden gramophone’s base includes a slot to hold a cellphone, positioning it for amplification.
It comes with instructions — basically, choose a song, place the device (phone) in the gramophone and start dancing.
“I’ve always loved those old gramophones, but you have to keep up with the times,” Nucifora said.
The Barrie Christmas Arts and Crafts Show continues until 5 p.m. today, and then runs 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday at the 555 Bayview Dr. facility.
Door prizes Saturday are tickets to Christmas in Space at Casino Rama and, on Sunday, tickets to Arkells at Sadlon Arena.
Admission to the Barrie Christmas Arts and Crafts Show is $12. For seniors (65 and older), it’s $10. Children younger than 12 are admitted for free when accompanied by an adult.
