This year marks the tenth anniversary of Home Grown Alternatives.

The annual shopping event began when two friends, who were both craftswomen, decided to answer the need of local crafts people for a venue to sell their wares.

Mary Tatem and Christine Wellman knew there was a market for local products and the decade-long success of their project has proven how right they were.

The shopping extravaganza will take place on Saturday at the St. Paul?s Christian Education Centre in Paget from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The founders have been delighted by the success of the event and are excited to mark the milestone tenth year.

Mrs. Wellman said after the first year, the pair considered abandoning the event because it had been so much work but they were bombarded by requests to keep it going.

Some years they simply emerge exhausted. ?We couldn?t even hug each other at the end,? Ms Tatem said.

Over the years they have refined their organising skills, however, and assembled a committee to help with the workload.

?We are okay at the end now,? Ms Tatem said. ?There is a little committee and although Christine and I carry the brunt if we call on them ? they are there.?

Members of the organising committee are Dena Lister, Lynn Morrell, Lyn Vaughan, Feven Northcott and Jacquie Lohan.

This year?s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, they said.

?People always ask, ?what is new??? said Mrs. Wellman so the pair always strives to ensure there will be goods at the event which people are seeing for the first time.

?Romona Cardell, who does gift baskets, is new, as is Milton Hill, who does cedar model sailboats and other crafts. Stuart Smith, from Save Open Spaces will have endemic plants on hand and he is contributing a four-foot Christmas tree, which we are going to decorate.

?Carlos Dowling is also new with pottery and also he does a lot with the Bermuda Gombeys, so he will be having some of his figurines.?

There are also always returnee shoppers looking for their favourite products from past years, however, the pair added.

?For me, my sea glass frames have to be there and they also know me for my summer hats,? said Ms Tatem.

?So, I am going to have a few of those ? I am going to mish-mash and I?m doing collages with sea glass.?

Also returning this year will be Ronnie Chameau with her banana leaf dolls. Ms Chameau will also have angels, watercolour prints, and doorstoppers.

Other participants include: Burton Jones, of Drawbridge Industries, with Bermuda cedar products including aromatherapy; Carole Holding, with her preserves, watercolour paintings and prints depicting scenes of Bermuda; and Charmaine and Jerry Friday, of One Love Designs, with their decorated tiles and hand painted T-shirts.

Creative Creations? Cheryl Adcock will be on hand with her hand-made dolls and Christmas ornaments; Dena Lister, of Shasaiah, will offer scented handmade candles; and, Woodpecker?s Denise Giles-Woodhouse, will have original cutting boards, one-of-a-kind ornaments and decorative table toppers.

Sketch artist Emma Ingham Dounouk is bringing handmade note cards, paintings and drawings. Artist Heather McInnis has also designed Christmas note cards and will offer small paintings.

Silversmith Jacquie Lohan, of Atlantic Jewellery, is expected to wow the crowds with her handmade jewellery.

But list of crafts people does not end there: Village Carpentry?s Jeremy Johnson will offer walking sticks and cedar novelties; Kelli and Roseclair Thompson will be on hand with handmade jewellery of semi-precious stones, sea glass and dolphin tears; Lyn Vaughan will offer Don Trousdell?s ?Dockyard Cats? and T-shirts with proceeds going to the Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau; and, Lynn Morrell will offer quilts, jewellery, Papier M?ch? and cards.

Filling the ever-popular need for tasty food items, Sandra O?Brien of the Village Caf? will have home-made soup, fishcakes, chicken sandwiches and beverages and Wendy Avery and Tony Jones of Bermuda Rum Cake Company, will have Special Edition Bermuda Gold Rum cake, Loquat and Bermuda fruit cake.

New this year will be a lucky draw which all the participants have been asked to contribute to, Ms Tatem said. There will also be a chance to win a brunch at The Reefs or jewellery from Walker Christopher.

Parking can be found around the side of the building on the grassy area.