Just around the corner Carlyle will be hosting numerous visitors as this year's "Biggest Little Craft Show in Saskatchewan," Homespun, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, and Sunday, Sept. 21.
Judy Riddell, one of the directors on the board, spoke with The Summertimes about the upcoming event, which attracts between 3,500 and 4,000 people each year.
Homespun was a vision created 28 years ago and has seen success thanks to the board of directors, the rink board, and the vast amount of community volunteers and attendees.
Throughout the years, exhibitors have travelled across Canada, coming from provinces and territories to participate. They've seen people as far away as Newfoundland take part and although no Maritimers will be making the trek this year, there are numerous attending from the west coast to Ontario.
"For a small town to attract high quality from Ontario to B.C. is noteworthy," Riddell stated.
This atmosphere and quality is what brings back vendors and shoppers alike.
"[Homespun is] a smaller, exclusive, more intimate shopping experience that focuses on excellent product, wonderful service, great hometown hospitality in beautiful southeast Saskatchewan," Riddell explained.
This year many wonderful vendors will be back again while approximately 30 percent will be new businesses. This is a way to give variety each year to Homespun as they bring in new, interesting items.
This year the items range from stained glass, honey, jewelry, cat and dog items, pottery, art, clothing, children's games and toys, dolls, personalized signs, belts and buckles, and a variety of food items.
A few new vendors will be around including 2 Broke Gals Soup from Strasbourg, Fringe from North Portal who fashions old style woven rugs on looms inherited from her family, and You've Got Maille from Kipling who makes chain maille items.
In addition to the excitement of all the new vendors, there are also old favourites including Chocolate Moose Fudge Factory, Trail End Buffalo Stix which was a product taken to the Space Station, Redneck Caviar, and more.
"Something we're pleased to have found are the pottery vendors who are getting harder to find, so we're happy to have them," Riddell explained.
In total, Riddell says Homespun is full with 81 vendors ready to attend. She explained they could easily find 20 more vendors to participate, but this comes with the question of finding room for them.
Found at the Carlyle Sports Arena, the event is held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Within Saturday, a pancake breakfast will be hosted by the Legion from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Later in the day, Supper in the Field awaits from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. as BBQ beef and all the trimmings can be enjoyed.
During both Saturday and Sunday, the Rink Board has homemade food available in the arena kitchen to enjoy.
With Homespun having developed, two other events have come together to offer a full weekend of enjoyment with the 7th Annual Dennis Neelin Memorial Show and Shine, as well as the 12th Annual Homespun Quilt Show.
The car show is found in Merit Ford's parking lot on Hwy 9 north of Carlyle. A one day feature, the car show starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday. To make the event even more enjoyable they offer a shuttle service between the craft show and the car show, which is appreciated by many. A BBQ lunch is also available to enjoy.
The Quilt Show can be found at Carlyle Memorial Hall. Open the same hours as the Sports Arena, the hall is filled with numerous quilts and free demonstrations are usually underway.
As the show grew from a one-day event to a two-day, Riddell explained that their focus was to continue promoting Carlyle's friendliness.
"The focus of Homespun is to create a quality show while showcasing the hospitality of the town," Riddell explained. "These are the main factors which have made the show so popular."
"We have hostesses that can take care of the vendor's booth if they need a break because a lot of them come on their own and have no one to watch it for them while they're away for a few minutes," Riddell explained. "Even the exhibitors that don't use that particular service from the hostesses they appreciate it because the hostesses deliver coffee and cookies, which we are always thankful to Subway for providing, to the vendors."
Though Homespun is not fundraising for any one particular cause, Riddell says they have had the opportunity to help put money back into the community because that is what Homespun is about, showcasing the community.
"It's for community promotion, not really community fundraising, but we have put money into our facilities and are focused on getting people into Carlyle to see it because once they do they think about returning to shop here or maybe retire here," Riddell said.
Within the idea of community promotion Homespun has given to the Carlyle Leisure Complex, the library, sports arena, Gordon F. Kells, Food Bank, Memorial Hall, Museum, Carlyle Elementary School, the golf course, and to Arcola Rink when theirs burnt down a number of years ago.
These donations total $61,000 and Riddell says they are not done giving back to the community.
"We're kind of accumulating funds right now so that we can put a worthwhile amount into a project, not just a few hundred dollars here or there," Riddell explained. "We will be distributing the funds in the near future, but we're just not sure exactly what we're doing yet. One possibility is working with the Town of Carlyle on establishing walking paths."
Riddell is looking forward to the 28th Annual Homespun Show and is continually thankful for those involved with its success.
