Getting ready for the show
Staff writer
With Art in the Park and Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Fair only a few weeks away, vendors are busy preparing their items to sell.
Susan Berg and her husband, Don, have been making wind chimes and coat hooks out of antique silverware. This will be the first time they have participated in Art in the Park. They have between 75 and 80 charms, and 30 to 40 boards with hooks made.
“My husband and I have been making them for family for a few years,” she said. “We thought this is something we could easily do before the show.”
Berg said she wanted something they could do together after she switched jobs and he retired.
“We love to antique shop,” she said. “The silverware comes from there, and we try to get vintage jewelry from there for the chimes.”
She said they are hoping to get feedback on their items, and talk to their friends.
“Being from Marion, I know a lot of people,” she said. “It’s fun to get out and talk to them.”
Art in the Park is held Sept. 21 in Marion Central Park.
Down the road in downtown Hillsboro on the same day is the annual Arts and Crafts Fair.
Six-year show veteran Hannah Goering will have two booths on Grand Ave. in front of Dale’s Supermarket.
She makes jewelry with magnetic clasps, pearls, and Swarovski crystals.
“This is my best show all year,” she said.
Goering used to sell her jewelry at multiple shows across the state, but after getting married in March, decided this would be the only show she would participate in.
“It takes so much time to prepare for a lot of shows,” she said.
Because she never knows what will sell, Goering said she makes a little bit of everything.
“It depends on the year how well I do and what sells,” she said. “Some years people like pearls, some years people like other types of beads. It depends on trends.”
Although it fluctuates every year, Goering said she typically sells hundreds of pieces. She said she has done less preparation this year because of wedding planning, but has lots of past inventory to sell.
“I’ll see what I sell and make more throughout the next year for next years’ show,” she said.
Goering said she choose the Hillsboro Arts and Craft fair as her only show because she does so well and the people are so friendly.
“I always have a good time,” she said.