Hard Economic Times Slows Artisan Craft Show Sales - But the Crowds Keep Coming

The lighter-than-usual turnout might be a sign of the economic times, but for select vendors and aficionados of fine handcrafted merchandise, the Country Folk Art Craft Show at Raritan Center's Convention and Expo Hall was the epitome of the "good time had by all." 

The show, which continues through 4 pm Sunday, was smaller than long time Cheryl Taraska remembered, but that didn't stop her from rifling through hand decorated shirts in one of the booths.

"It's not as big as I remember, but it's also not as crowded. It's much easier and more comfortable to look at the things in the booths," Taraska, a Woodbridge resident, said. Her own purchases were carefully thought out: powdered kits for homemade cream of broccoli and cream of potato soup.

"Best soup you ever tasted," she said of the mixes offered by Darby Creek. The booth also offered free samples.

Homemade food was a big seller at the event: Paul's Gourmet Foods in Ridgefield Park had a wide selection of homemade pickles in such unique combinations as horseradish pickles and sweet and hot cukes. At a reasonable $6 a quart and with plenty of free samples, it was a popular spot. Corry's Cool Stuff was giving away small sample cups of "The Wine Slushy" in margarita and other flavors (minus the wine.) There were tables with Amish breads and buns, homemade peanut butter by the truckload, and kettle popped popcorn by the bag.

Even pets weren't neglected. Annie's Pooch Pops had trays of homemade goods with a scent of molasses that was mouthwatering enough to be people treats. In fact, they are - in a way: "We use human grade ingredients," said one of the owners of the doggy bakery. 

It was difficult to imagine humans diving into Annie's salmon-stuffed beef trachea offerings - a huge favorite among the canine population, it is said - but it was a definite must for the pampered pooch who is bored with store-bought rawhide chews. 

While food items are a quick grab-and-go treat for buyers being careful with their craft-buying dollars, the artisan crafts and unique home decor ideas were well represented. 

Christina Kurtin brought her 240 Degrees F Jewelry collection from East Haddam, Connecticut to the show. She had wonderful mixes of imported Italian Murano glass, Swarovski crystal, and pure sterling fittings to make her jewelry designs.

"The show's been quiet," said Kurtin, who was enthusiastic about her jewelry designs, but also about a children's book she recently had published. "It's great to see your name in print."

Textured, handthrown pottery in tints of celadon and cobalt characterized the work of Eric Bradford of t.b. Pots. The Maine artisan, along with his wife, had been crafting pottery for years. Aside from the usual mugs and plates, Bradford had a unique line of garlic rub plates and microwave egg poachers that were functional and yet true works of art.

Business was slow, he said. "The crowd's been a little off," he said of the chats he had with other sellers, who stood around waiting for customers to come. "It's a sign of the times." 

Some areas of the show had decent sales, such as the cashmere blend scarves at $10 each offered by Gene Dellitalia, who came across the bridge from Staten Island for the show. "Business is good, business is good," he smiled. 

An interesting device that looks like a plastic coffee filter and touted as being the ultimate car windshield ice scraper was being sold for $5 each if the buyer purchased more than one was a big hit. So were little beads that provided a watery decorative function when, upon being soaked in water, expanded to the size of marbles while remaining moist. Layered in a clear glass vase, the colors were like the palette of an impressionist painter. The bloated beads were also great at keeping flowers alive. The beads in the buyer's choice of colors, a clear glass vase, and two stalks of bamboo were being sold for $20.

Other home decorations were selling well. John Sienko of Edison manned the booth filled with the wreath-crafting work of his wife, Debra who runs Creative Keepsakes. "She's been doing this for 18 years. She can make anything you want," said Sienko.

That was a good thing, since the wreaths and floral decorations were disappearing quickly from the Sienko's booth. The attractive wall decorations were well priced - as little as $20 for a door wreath - and the crowd responded accordingly by clearing out their booth early in the show.

"I love these things. I love country decor," said Ginny of Bergen County, who never misses a show. When a discussion ensued about whether it was the economy or the weather that was responsible for the turnout, or that the popularity of country style has cooled down in the last decade, she laughed.

"I'm never in the right place at the right time," she said. "But so what? I like it, and that's what counts."

The Country Folk Art Show runs today from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is $8; there is a coupon for $1 off admission on the show's website.