NEDERLAND — When it's time for the Sugar Loaf Craft Fair, you know the holidays are near.

For 13 years, the Sugar Loaf Craft Fair has been bringing artists and crafters together with holiday shoppers. The event also includes a bake sale and silent auction, all of which benefit the Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District.

Donations to the silent auction come from all over the area, including Nederland and Boulder.  Many of the vendors are Sugarloaf residents.

Screen-printed and woodblock-printed kitchen towels from Jen G Studios.

Photo by Sara Sandstrom

Michael Audet, one of the organizers along with his wife Trisha Audet, said that the craft fair started to help support the fire department—and because there are so many artists on Sugarloaf. 

The fair started in one small part of Station 2. Then, they occupied a little more of the building, but left the fire engines in the building. There was an emergency call that year where the fire engines had to answer the call. After that experience they made sure the engines were outside during the craft fair. 

For the last several years the craft fair has taken up all of the space in Station 2. And there is a waitlist for vendors who would like to participate.

The vendors are not all pottery or photography: a wide range of crafters and artists participate. Coming in the door, the first thing the viewer saw was Forever Spicy Hot Sauce and Chili Oil from Longmont.

Jennie Hammers uses cyanotype print and flower hammering on hats, bags, and overalls.

Photo by Sara Sandstrom

Sugarloaf resident and handmade-jewelry artist Nellie Stephenson was there with her creations. Her business is Eastern Suns. 

Nederland artist Emily Bloomfield was at the fair with her fairies and magical creatures. Photographer and Mountain-Ear columnist James DeWalt came with his nature and wildlife photos. 

There were homemade cards of several kinds. Mariah Ware, who lives on Sugarloaf, makes hand-stitched embroidery greeting cards. The threads are shiny, giving them the extra holiday shimmer.

Chainsaw art made locally on Sugarloaf.

Photo by Sara Sandstrom

Jennie Hammers was there with hats, bags, and candle holders, all with her unique cyanotype-print and flower-hammering art. 

Betsy Ellis with When Dragons Fly Design makes beaded and wirework jewelry using Czech glass beads. 

There were hand-carved wooden bowls and figurines. There were small wooden figures carved with a chainsaw and wooden furniture made locally.  The aroma of beeswax candles could be sensed throughout the building.

Mary Beth Corrigan brought her pottery with beautiful intricate designs on it.  Her business is Primos Pottery.

Jen from Jen G Studios came from Denver with her kitchen towels, napkins, and tote bags. They are screen printed and woodblock printed on cotton flour sacks. On some of them she has printed mountains labeled "Colorado," "Brainard Lake," "Mount Audubon," or "Estes Park." 

It was hard not to notice Ashley Garcia from HairBling String while at the Sugar Loaf Craft Fair. Garcia grew up in Boulder County and has been a vendor at the craft fair for the last four years. With her sparkly hair and bubbly personality, people are drawn to her. 

If you want some hair tinsel or bling string in your hair, Garcia has you covered. She is now based in Denver and travels all over for her business.

“This is a way for people to be seen and shine,” she says while attending to a customer with a smile on her face. It is evident Garcia loves what she does. 

The Sugar Loaf Craft Fair is an event that supports the Sugarloaf Fire Department. It is also a place where the community comes together. There was a positive buzz of energy throughout the space as the artists spoke about their craft, sold their products, and spoke to old and new friends. 

The Sugar Loaf Craft Fair is held on the first Saturday of November each year. If you would like more information, go to slfpd.org/craft-fair or email Trish Audet at trish_audet@yahoo.com.