One-of-a-kind, handmade gifts add a special touch to any occasion. There’s a certain appeal to knowing that no one else has the exact same item.
Megan Hatfield knows first hand about the labor and love that goes into handmade items. “I have been crafting and creating things for as long as I can remember,” the busy Charleston mother of three said. She is a featured vendor at Sarah Bush Lincoln Volunteer Guild’s Fall Market where she will be selling custom made decorative tiles.
Hatfield first started making personalizing ceramic tiles about a year ago, when her husband randomly brought home a load of free tiles from a Charleston business that was closing. “He just thought I could make something with them,” she said. And he was right. Mrs. Hatfield immediately started personalizing the tiles with photos, favorite quotes and artwork and selling them on her Facebook page.
As requests for personalized tiles grew around Christmas last year, she created a specialized Facebook page for her business, entitled “Handmade by Megan.” Mrs. Hatfield decorates various sizes of tiles and magnets with monograms, family names, photos, quotes and artwork and more. They make great gifts for weddings, new babies, birthdays and special events, she said. She will be taking orders for personalized tiles at the Fall Market, though several cash and carry tiles will also be available. The turnaround time for custom orders is usually around a week, she said.
With her husband serving as a volunteer chaplin at Sarah Bush Lincoln, Mrs. Hatfield is especially excited the opportunity to support the community hospital.
The Sarah Bush Lincoln Volunteer Guild’s Fall Market offers opportunities to shop for one-of-a-kind items, as well as national chain home-party items for the house and garden. Fall Market is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, October 19, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 20, in the Lumpkin Family Center for Health Education. Convenient parking is available in the north parking lot. Admission is free.
Some of the handmade items include: jewelry and pottery; candles; doll clothing, custom designed handbags, backpacks, and diaper bags; and sweets. From the home-party line, shoppers will find cosmetics, jewelry, wall words, body wraps, antibacterial cleaning items, home décor items, food storage, and much more.
The complete list of vendors is as follows:
Signature Homestyles, Kara Sanders
The Pampered Chef, Glenda Chancellor
Mary Kay, Sallie Wall
Initials, Inc., Sheryl Brummer
Uppercase Living, Nickie Madlem-Easterday
Candle Freak Candle Company, Cassandra Tinder
Lia Sophia Jewelry, Karrie Monce-Shotts
Designs by Ellen & Karen, Ellen Lane & Karen Gill
Ekko Jewelry Designs, Kathy Olsen
Norwex, Cindy McGrady
Vintage Cottage Beauty, Terri Temples & Kathy Cartwright
The Longaberger Company, Debbie McGinness Scentsy, Jennifer Hedges
Cookie Lee Jewelry, Erica Schrock
Usborne Books & More, Mary Catherine St. John
Tupperware, Jan Smith
BeautiControl Cosmetics, Lula Wilson
Creative Arrangements, Peggy Woods
Stampin’ Up, Shirley Grafton
Tastefully Simple, Michelle Gardner Camry Day, Brooke Robbins & Becky Daugherty
Beads & Reeds, Jean Sporleder
Thirty-one Gifts, Kelly Easton
Paparazzi $5 Jewelry, Sherry Phillips
Frannies Fancies, Rachel Brown-Thoele
Avon, Lori Hall
Gold Canyon, Amber Righter
Crocheted Creations, Wendy Pals
The Cake Lady, Stephanie Wilson-Cordes
Sister Act–Vintage Designs, Samantha & Stephanie Jacobs
Celebrating Home, Debbie Dunning
Glass Yard Décor, Gena Murphy
Garden Cards for the Cure, Jan Fisher
Handmade by Megan, Megan Hatfield
Five Sisters Jewelry, Lowelle Schaefer
Grace Adele, Nancee Snedeker
Kathy’s Cookies, Kathy Hildebrandt
Just Jewelry, MaryAnn Becker
Five Ribbons Baskets, Chris Briggs
Miche By Pam, Pamella Parrish
Mom & Me, Jana Mahannah
USA Fashions, Cyndia Jones
Kari’s Clay Creations, Kari Thornton
Educational Games & Toys for Kids, Lori Torres
Remarkable Caramels, Mark Croy
Wildflower Honey & Handcrafted Soaps, Laura Dollarhide
Committee chairwoman Pat Williamson said, “We’re really excited about the quality of vendors we have at this year’s Fall Market. I think community members will be pleased with what they see. What’s even better is that all proceeds support Lifeline grant assistance. The Guild provides grant assistance to individuals who would not otherwise be able to have Lifeline in their home. Lifeline is dedicated to provide personal response service, peace of mind, and early intervention to individuals whose health is at risk in East Central Illinois and assist them to remain safe and independent with dignity in their own homes. Each year the SBL Volunteer Guild donates $15,000 for Lifeline grant assistance.
For more information, contact the SBL Volunteer Guild at 258 or 348-2500.