Patti Franklin - Holmstad Bazaar

Holmstad Bazaar Bake Shop

Get There Early!

The Bake Shop will be filled with irresistible choices when the Bazaar opens at 9:00 am on September 30 but is generally empty by 12:30 pm so get there early! One of the specialties of this Swedish community is Cardamom Bread but you’ll find all sorts of cookies, cakes, and breads.

It takes several residents to help sell baked goods. This resident is there to assist customers and answer questions about the Swedish Cardamom Bread loaves.

bakery, Swedish, cardamom, cookies, bread, cake

It Takes a Lot of Bakers

Chair Joan Kase is whipping up another batch of her delicious Swedish Almond Cakes.

Wilbur Zirk’s Wooden Children’s Toys

Wilbur At Work

Wilbur Zirk started making children’s toys when the nieces and nephews began to arrive. However, he’s been a woodworker since he was a teenager. Wilbur and his wife, Esther, arrived at The Holmstad in 2020. He soon became involved in the wood shop where he enjoys making wooden toys and games.

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Wilbur’s Pink Bunny was created after a request at last year’s Bazaar for a pink pull toy. This year, he thought he was done after creating several of these but then got a request for BLUE bunnies! You’ll find both at the September 30 Bazaar.

Handcrafted Walking Sticks by Richard (Mac) MacFeely

For The Love of Walking

Walking sticks — or the longer version hiking sticks – have been around as long as people have walked. They are often made from branches and roots or any wood of the forest. Popular woods are walnut, maple, oak and hickory. The tops can be cast metal or carved wood. Mac will custom fit each stick to the buyer. Mac shares, “Turning, carving and assembling the sticks has kept me challenged. I love helping others find their stride.”

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Purchase walking sticks at the September 30 Bazaar

Mac’s handcrafted walking sticks make great Christmas gifts and will be available at The Holmstad Bazaar on September 30 from 9 am-3 pm. Stop by Mac’s table in the Bazaar’s Wood Shop to find out more about his handcrafted sticks.

This is more detail of one of the sticks above. Mac made this out of a pool cue and topped it with an eight-ball.

Dave Anderson’s Bandsaw Boxes

Dave Anderson

Dave and his wife, Merrie, moved to The Holmstad in 2014. As a long-time woodworker, he made the community’s wood shop his home away from home. For several years, Dave has led the group in projects for the Bazaar and to make or repair anything that The Holmstad needed from the woodworkers. One of Dave Anderson’s popular woodworking projects for sale at the September 30 Holmstad Bazaar are his Bandsaw Boxes.

Also see Dave’s birdhouses at the Bazaar Wood Shop!

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Samples of designs for sale at the September 30 Bazaar

Each small box is made of several hardwoods with one or more drawers ideal to hold tiny treasures.

Joe Whatley’s Handcrafted Wood Boxes

Joe Whatley at Work

Joe Whatley has enjoyed woodworking for many years. Moving to Covenant Living at the Holmstad in 2019 added camaraderie to the fun of this hobby. Among the wooden items that Joe has built to sell at the September 30 Holmstad Bazaar are boxes that would make great gifts. It gives Joe a great deal of satisfaction when a box comes together well.

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Four boxes that will be sold at the Bazaar

He looks for an interesting grain or knot in the wood to incorporate in the box design. The corner joints are always “finger” or “dove tail” to create interest.

Author: Patti Franklin