Wendell (Shine) Hayward will be opening the 11th Home Grown Alternatives craft fair this Saturday at St. Paul’s Christian Education Centre in Paget.

The Education Officer of the Arts seems like a fit host for the popular event which has grown by leaps and bounds since it was start in 1995.

The one-day craft fair now finds itself both dealing with both line-ups of would-be buyers waiting outside for it to open and line-ups of artists and crafts people hoping to be included.

Now offering everything from art to jewellery, jams to pottery, and local books to handicrafts, organisers Christine Wellman and Mary Tatem said they could hardly have known that what they started in a Knapton Hill apartment would flourish so.

But offering unique, handmade Bermuda products just ahead of Christmas has made HGA a shoppers’ staple.

The very first fair was a sell-out and the group has never looked back, said Mrs. Wellman.

“When all of your vendors walk out at the end of the day with less inventory than they started with — that’s success,” she said. “When, after just one shopper, your table is half empty — that’s success.

“However, the most obvious sign of the on-going success of HGA is the attendance. When you have shoppers standing outside the doors well before the appointed opening time, that’s a sign of success. Each participant has a loyal following and these eager fans get to HGA early, as they want to get the first pickings.”

Nearly 30 vendors will be offering their wares at this year’s event which will be hosted by an emcee and also include a lucky draw.

Among the vendors this year will be Burton Jones, Carla Marquardt, Carlos Dowling, Charmaine and Jerry Friday, Minister of Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler, Emma Ingham Dounouk, Heather McInnis, Jacquie Lohan, Jeremy Johnson, Kelli and Roseclair Thompson, Lyn Vaughan, Milton Hill Sr., Romona Cardell, Rose-Ann Wales, Sandra O’Brien, Wendy Avery, Beverly Harvey, Leslie James, Carolyn Telford, Deirdre Furtado, Eugenia Robinson, Daron Lowe, Gail Marirea and Robin Marirea as well as the organisers themselves.

“The participants are selected for the standard of their work and, while the criteria is loosely structured, we want products that are truly ‘Bermuda made’ or ‘Bermuda-embellished’ as the name implies, home grown,” explained Ms Tatem.

“Consideration is given to would-be participants whose products will add variety, quality and a local dimension to HGA. Above all, we want the best of Bermuda-made crafts and products that will keep the event current, fresh and appealing for our followers — this is what they have come to expect of HGA.”

[box] Home Grown Alternatives will take place on Satuday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church Hall, Middle Road, Paget. There is on site parking and light refreshments will be available.