Steady business seen at Christmas Cottage in Port Angeles despite rainy weather

Published 12:01 am Monday, November 16, 2015

PORT ANGELES — Christmas music rang out in the Vern Burton Center as shoppers browsed handmade holiday decorating supplies and gifts at the Original Christmas Cottage Craft Show on Sunday.

“This is our first time visiting. We came out to see all of the stuff people have made. There’s some good-looking stuff,” said Richard Bray of Port Angeles, who visited with his wife, Jackie, and their three children.

The family doesn’t plan to decorate their home for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, he said.

Slow but steady

Like about 20 others browsing the tables of holiday wares Sunday afternoon, they were enthusiastic about the approaching holiday season.

About 1,000 people visited the holiday craft sale daily from Friday through Sunday, said Tina Sperry, one of the organizers of Christmas Cottage.

“We had to hold on to some very wet coats, but people shopped longer because of it,” Sperry said of the weekend’s rainy weather.

Business was slow but steady all weekend, and the consortium of crafters said they expect total business to be about the same as it was last year, she said.

Sperry declined to identify how much in sales the craft vendors usually earn annually at Christmas Cottage. Twenty-one vendors had been expected at this year’s event.

Good sellers

Organizers noted that Seattle Seahawks themed items were good sellers, and that a lot of women seemed to be fans of the team.

Sunday afternoon business slowed down as Seahawks fans said they were heading home to prepare for the game, they said.

In addition to Seahawks ornaments, pillows, scarves, dog sweaters and other items, there was a large selection of traditional holiday decor.

A large central table displayed nativity scenes, snowmen, angels and snowflakes.

Themed gifts

Themed items for tabletops and wine bottles, as well as snow-capped mountain shaped pillows were available for purchase.

A long table with preserves and other food items tempted pre-holiday shoppers, and a wall of ornaments helped shoppers prepare for tree decorating.

Sheila Gregg, who makes scented soaps and bath items, had a large display of her own items but spent much of her time keeping an eye on other vendors’ displays.

“We all help each other with this,” Gregg said.

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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.