Thayer Library Craft Fair a Showcase for Local Artisans

“I would give up chocolate, but I’m no quitter,” reads one of the hand-painted wooden plaques on display inside Cindy Hastings’ booth at the Friends of Summer Craft Fair on Saturday.

Hastings, whose work features hand-painted furniture, glass, driftwood and metal items is a Braintree artisan who is partially self-taught, but got her start with a decorative painting course taught by Diane Radigan for the program.

Hastings’ work caught the eye of one mother-daughter shopping duo, Lynn and Shaye from Braintree, who said this was their first visit to the Friends’ Craft Fair and they were enjoying the day.

The fair, a fundraising idea of library trustee Sunny Shaw, is now in its third year.

“It seemed like the perfect way to use our outdoor space while the library is closed on Saturdays," Shaw said, "and create a one-stop shopping kind of family day with the at ."

Shaw added that “this craft fair gives participating crafters an opportunity to promote their product, while helping the library as well.”

The Friends’ ongoing book sale was also a part of the fair, and took place in the garage on the library parking lot. Another highlight of Saturday's event was free face painting for kids, which had drawn lines by noon.

Nearby, Kathy Ceglie’s handmade children’s clothing and pillows caught the eye of a young customer, who was heard asking his parents to buy him a special tooth fairy pillow. Ceglie, also of Braintree, said she has been sewing “forever,” having first learned from her grandmother. But it wasn’t until her grandson was born nine years ago that she started selling her work, at the suggestion of her son.

Now she enjoys every aspect of the process, from buying fabrics to doing shows. “You have to love it to do this,” she said, fixing a display of coloring book totes after a little breeze.

Another participant who learned how to sew at a young age was Suzie Thorn of Randolph, who calls her work “A Little Bit of Everything.” Thorn’s signature piece is doll clothing for 18-inch dolls such as the American Girl doll; she also makes aprons, bibs and other items for children.

Next to Thorn’s booth was Margaret Liolin from Milton, who makes one-of-a-kind-greeting cards with ribbons and charms, by hand. It started as a hobby, she said, and now she enjoys attending local shows.

Not far from them was Cindy Hastings’ former instructor Diane Radigan, whose current craftwork focus is sea glass and chain mail jewelry.

“I use sea glass from local beaches,” said Radigan, who fashions the polished glass into colorful pendants. Radigan, a program coordinator for , said she has been involved in crafting ever since she was a kid. “Back then I would make things out of whatever I could find; now I just like to do something and see the end result."

Across the way from Radigan’s booth was Liz Deans, who makes crocheted necklaces in a variety of sizes and colors from patterned cotton-blend threads.

“These are hand washable and they just slip over your head,” she said. "...plus, they’re soft and light on your neck!” Deans said she learned how to make the necklaces in Florida, with her husband, who she admitted was better at crocheting.

“But eventually I got good at it, too,” she said, and when they came back to Massachusetts, they started doing shows. Deans and her husband were former owners of the Braintree Flower Shop; after selling their business, she found that she really missed contact with her customers. “Now I’m back to meeting and talking with people at these fairs, and I just love it."

The Friends of Thayer Public Library will have another craft fair and book sale on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information, contact Sunny Shaw at 781-848-6724.