The Mesquite United Methodist Church Women provided dozens of yummy home-baked goods for patrons of the annual Fall Boutique and Bake Sale held on Nov. 14. Early birds got their choice of a variety of cookies, cakes, pies and breads. Photo Teri Nehrenz.
The Mesquite United Methodist Church women worked all year making hundreds of handcrafted items for their annual Fall Boutique and Bake Sale held at the church on Nov. 14. Hand-made baby items that were for sale at very reasonable prices. Baby hats with little animals on top sold for just $5. Photo Teri Nehrenz
Hand-crafted items at the annual Mesquite United Methodist Fall Boutique and Bake Sale held on Nov. 14 included these placemats with an intricate weaving technique called ‘Swedish Weaving’ made by crafter Jan Blain. Photo by Teri Nehrenz.
The Mesquite United Methodist Church held their annual Fall Boutique and Bake Sale on Saturday, Nov. 14. Hundreds of hand-made and home-baked items were available for the public to purchase. Several early birds were waiting at the doors and in their cars before the doors opened for the chance to get the first choice of everything from baby items to floral arrangements and yummy, baked treats.
Many church members provide items for the sale but the majority of the hand-made items are provided by about 10 women who spend endless hours all year crocheting, sewing/quilting, flower arranging, weaving, stitching and beading the items they donate for the yearly sale. Some non-church members who just want to contribute to the community in any way they can also donate items for sale. Considering the hours spent and material cost, patrons were able to purchase these for a steal.
It wasn’t long after they opened the doors that the church was packed with people looking for one of a kind Christmas gifts, holiday décor and baked goods. The beautifully hand-crafted pieces were coming off the tables at alarming speeds and the women at the cash table were kept very busy.
Jan Blain taught craft classes at the Mesquite Senior Center for four years and hand-crafts a variety of items from beaded bracelets and necklaces to quilts and everything in between. She also provided a large variety of craft items for the sale. Blain said, “We’re getting ready to move to St. George so I spent the summer making a lot of things like placemats, beaded bracelets, a quilt, pillows and the Christmas tree ornaments so I can donate them for the sale.” Blain also did a very intricate weaving technique called ‘Swedish Weaving’ on placemats which were sold within the first half hour of the sale.
“All the donated items were truly a labor of love” said both Judy Cole and Doris Points, two of the volunteer coordinators of the sale. “Church members are very generous in donating their time and materials for all of these beautifully hand-made pieces.” Proceeds from the sale support community, state and international missions.
