Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival organizers are planning on a large crowd of shoppers this weekend. (Journal file photo)
MOUND CITY – Organizers of the Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival report that all of the vendor spaces have been assigned and are planning on the 51st festival being a large draw for shoppers this year. Fanchion Shadden, one of the festival committee members announced on Facebook that all of the spaces were spoken for.
The festival runs this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14-15, and is expected to draw more than 5,000 shoppers from across the region. The hours for the festival are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
In addition to arts and crafts vendors, there will be plenty of food vendors on hand to feed the shoppers.
The Jolly Market Boutique in the Jayhawk-Linn High School gym provides additional crafts and food vendors. (Journal file photo)
The event, held on the Linn County Fair grounds just north of Mound City on Kansas Highway 7, has plenty of onsite parking, however, there is additional parking at Jayhawk-Linn High School just east of Mound City on Kansas Highway 52. Again this year, bus shuttles will run to the high school parking as well as up and down Main Street in Mound City.
Also at the high school again this year is the Jolly Market Boutique featuring many vendors in the high school gym. That includes the Pleasanton High School Class of 2024, which will be pre-selling Christmas wreaths and other holiday decorations, and food vendors.
Mammoth Mouth owner Samantha Mills says the freeze-drying process enhances the flavor of the candy. (Submitted photo)
Freeze-dried candy for the sweet tooth
Samantha Mills, owner of La Cygne-based Mammoth Mouth LLC is looking forward to returning for her second year at Sugar Mound. One of the few licensed freeze-dried candy companies in Kansas, the company has a variety of freeze dried candy and treats to offer.
Since it installed its commercial kitchen earlier this year, the company sells at many events, including the Kansas State Fair. It also sells its candies to wholesale customers as well as retail.
"Our licensing allows us to offer our goodies for our wholesale clients to sell in their stores," Mill said. "We also sell our treats directly to customers through our website. We have multiple special recipe items that are only available to Mammoth Mouth customers. The favorite seems to be our Sour Pops."
She said her company works hard to offer high quality, long lasting treats that her customers look for.
"Come take a look in our blue tent for some yummy goodies! Bonus... We will have some new releases and a special sale," she added.
Neva Rowland, owner of Fluid and Flame, holds a clock she has made from a vinyl record album (Submitted photo)
First-time vendors add variety
According to the Sugar Mound festival’s website, nearly a quarter of the vendors selling at the festival this year will be first-timers.
That includes Neva Rowland, the Girard, Kan.-based creator behind Fluid and Flame, who said she was excited to share her work at Sugar Mound this year.
“Fluid art forms the basis of my work that ranges from original canvas works, fluid art jewelry, wall clocks made from old vinyl albums, and artificial floral arrangements within handpainted glass vases,” she said.
She said that after she completes an artwork, there is always paint leftover. She uses the leftover paint to decorate one-of-a-kind fluid art jewelry and accessories.
“I make a limited number of pieces from each color palette, so each one will be completely unique – truly wearable art,” she said.
Rowland said her wall clocks started as an experiment, and after much trial and error, she developed a method to create a unique and high-quality product that is the definition of practical art.
“Each clock is made from an old and otherwise unusable vinyl album,” she said.
BETiree LLC, a Paola-based vendor, will be selling a full line of skin- and hair-care products. (Submitted photo)
Not just crafts
Jana Harrington-Barcus is the owner of BETiree LLC, a vendor that focuses on providing healthy skin-care products.
“I grew up eating healthy, was in amazing shape, and full of energy,” Harrington-Barcus said.
She said that as she got older and started eating fast food she had to deal with weight gain, diabetes, body pains and more – all the way to what we put on our skin."
“‘Tiree’ is my middle name, hence my company name: BETiree™,” she said. “I am all about natural, down to earth products. Products that are plant and earth based, organic, chemical free as possible.
“I am committed to healthy skin care, body wash, liniments, detangler, tinctures, and other great products I make myself at our ranch in Paola. I make neck wraps that keep you warm in the winter months and BEWraps which is an alternative to plastic wrap.”
Harrington-Barcus said she has had a lifetime of experience learning about herbs, edible plants, and how good nutrients effect our bodies. She said her father, well-known outdoor sportsman Bob Harrington, taught her how to pick proper plants and harvest from nature.
She said she wishes he was here on earth to continue guiding her and her journey back to health.
“I'm dedicated to helping you look great and maintain your health,” she added.
Brook Stewart, owner of Rebel Rose Designs by Brook, uses the high quality materials in designing jewelry and accessories. (Submitted photo)
Taking pride in quality jewelry and accessories
Brook Stewart, a jeweler who also makes accessories like keychains and hair clips, will be selling at the Sugar Mound festival for the first time as well. Rebel Rose Designs by Brook, her label, has a special meaning for her.
"My grandma's name was Rosalie, and she was quite the rebel, even in her older years," said Stewart. "So my business is named after her, and I know she would be really proud of what I'm doing."
Stewart, who lives on a Moline, Kan., family farm with her husband and three kids, works full time for the West Elk USD 282 district office in Howard, Kan., when she isn't working at her other full-time job – crafting jewelry and accessories.
"I sell handmade genuine leather and cork on genuine leather earrings, bracelets, keychains, hair clips and other accessories," she said. "I pride myself on top quality so I only use high quality leather and 316L surgical stainless steel findings, one of the most hypoallergenic stainless steels out there."
"I have been a crafter my whole life and have found something I really enjoy doing and am able to contribute even more to our family income," she said.
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