Forest Hills Presbyterian Church creates more than crafts for annual bazaar

FOREST HILLS – More than 40 crafters gather every Tuesday during the day or evening to create special Christmas tree ornaments, wreaths, table decorations and more.

On Fridays, about 15 more than volunteers join them to refurnish and repurpose old furniture – turning dressers in cabinets and desks into tables.

From one of a kind items – made from gourds, old containers, mirrors and window frames – to items “mass produced” by hand in “piecemeal work” by different volunteers, they craft witches, snowmen, reindeers and colorful fall foliage floral arrangements.

All the work and more – including collectibles, plants, books and baked goods – will be for sale at the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church’s 19th annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday (Oct. 20).

But the crafting sessions produce a lot more than items that help raise funds for nonprofits. They bring friendship and support to those who attend the work sessions.

“I have heard people laugh and cry in here,” said Tracie Snowden as she painted a table top in the church’s craft house on a recent Tuesday evening.
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For Snowden, it is a family affair, bringing along her mother, Lyla Semones, and her daughter, Bella Snowden, 18, who joined the group this year. The craft ministry requires a participant be out of high school .

“When I was little, I wanted to go crafting; it looked like a lot of fun,” said Bella Snowden, now a freshman at Hillsborough Community College.

Tracie Snowden started attending the church in 1999 but was too busy with young children until 2007 when she started attending the craft session.

“I didn’t even know there was a bazaar but heard they needed donations,” Tracie Snowden said. “I brought some books and puzzles while they were setting up. I almost dropped the box right then. I said, ‘I need to be a part of this.’ ”

She encouraged her mother to join the group. She attends the church but has never joined it.

“It’s really nice. Everyone is so kind; they don’t treat me like I’m not a member,” Semones said.

Jennifer Gregory, the church’s craft coordinator, said, “The crafters connect with people you might not normally meet just in church.”

Gregory sets up the projects before the crafters arrive and assigns tasks to each.

About 30 crafters regularly attend the Tuesday day time sessions and a dozen attend Tuesday evenings. They start in March each year to be ready for the bazaar, always on the third Saturday in October.

“The night group takes over for the day group. Sometimes they finish a project or they just do the next step in the piecemeal operation,” Gregory said.

Barbara Lien, who has been with the group for all 19 years, said, “As soon as something is finished, they whisk it way. Sometimes we don’t even see it until it is at the bazaar.”

Lien said she has see changes over the years “in the amount produced, the amount of materials to work and the number of people involved. Also, there is more and more creativity. We are getting more people with highly specialized talents.”
But everyone doesn’t have to be talented. They can begin as “basters” painting the undercoats on projects before others paint on designs. They also can learn how to use glitter, paint and other craft materials.

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Wendy Craig joined the church in the spring and got involved soon after. “My mom and dad also did crafts so it was in my DNA to do this kind of thing. I let them know and they were so proud,” Craig said.

She said she likes “how close the people are – and it’s for a good cause.” The church’s pastor, Claudia Henderson, said the proceeds are given to local nonprofits or to local organizations doing outreach, such as medical assistance or education, in other countries.

In recent years, the bazaar, which also includes a produce market, pancake breakfast and barbecue lunch, has raised about $25,000 each year and donated to about 15 groups. The church itself and the Presbyterian women’s organization also contributed additional funds to some recipients. “The people who do the work get to help decide where the money goes,” said the pastor of the 400-member church.

Contact Lenora Lake at hillsnews@tampabay.com.