A long-standing Beaufort County tradition returns this weekend as shoppers anticipate finding unique items for holiday gift giving.

The Blind Center’s Kris Kringle Craft Show opens Friday at noon and runs until 6 p.m. The event will be back for a second day Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The show is held at the Civic Center in downtown Washington.

Some of the more popular items for sale are made by The Blind Center’s clients and volunteers, according to the center’s executive director Liz Liles.

“We have caned stools, baskets, sock monkeys, candles, jewelry, Christmas decorations, rocking chairs, scarves, handmade Christmas cards … we have so many different items,” Liles said.

Other area artists and craftsmen join with the center in offering one of Washington’s most anticipated events of the Christmas season.

“We have about 35 vendors that have signed up,” Liles added.

Those folks will display and sell a wide variety of merchandise, including pottery, jewelry, hand-painted scarves, homemade jams and jellies, Christmas ornaments and decorations, handmade soaps and lotions, wooden mantle clocks, dog treats, crocheted items, quilts and paintings.

Proceeds from the event, including items sold by the center itself as well as booth rental fees, go directly to The Blind Center.

“We are a nonprofit and we receive no federal or state funds,” Liles said.”This show is one of the fundraisers that we do so that we can maintain The Blind Center and extend opportunities to our clients.”

The center fills a void for its clients who are blind or visually impaired, according to Liles.

“It’s special because it gives clients a venue to learn how to do these crafting opportunities and a place to market them,” she said, adding that the center operates its own gift shop year round. The shop is open Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

 

 

The Blind Center shares this poem, written by client Doc Webster.

 

THE WEAVER

See the weavers at their task

Nimble fingers moving fast.

Steadily the weaves doest grown

Nimble fingers to and fro.

 

Using colors of every hue

Red and yellow, green and blue.

Steadily the basket doest grow

Nimble fingers to and fro.

 

Listen to the weavers and their peers

Voices of laughter and ring of cheers.

Steadily the baskets doest grow

Nimble fingers to and fro.

 

But the weavers’ eyes will never see

The thing of beauty so sublime of colorful weaves in a line,

as the weavers’ eyes are blind.

Nimble fingers to and fro.