Craft show returns to Belle-Clair Fairgrounds next month. Meet some of the vendors

At the beginning of August I got a phone call from Kay Weber, Belleville resident, BND reader (awesome) and organizer for some of the events that take place at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds.

She wanted to let me know about this year’s craft and vendor show taking place Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 9-10, and hoped I could write a little something about it.

Weber asked if I would meet her at the flea market on Saturday, Aug. 19, so she could introduce me to some of the vendors who will be at the September event.

Of course, I agreed.

(Plus, I love flea markets, and Belleville has a great one.)

And I’m glad I went.

While I had previously spoken to Weber on the phone on multiple occasions, I hadn’t actually met her before my visit.

I had no idea what she looked like, but she said I’d know her because she’d be wearing a hat. She always wears a hat.

Great. Not a problem.

When the day came to meet up with her, I arrived early.

And there was a problem.

A lot of ladies were wearing hats. I should’ve asked for specifics about the hat.

But no worries. I eventually saw a lady with a black-sequined ballcap and a James Dean shoulder bag and made eye contact.

It was Weber, and she greeted me with a hug before taking me around the flea market to meet around 15 different vendors.

Here are the highlights:

Vicki’s Blue Ribbon Foods offers canned vegetables, relishes, jams and jellies and other tasty yums.

All of the foods are grown by owner Vicki Naumann, who said no chemicals are used in her garden.

She had a variety of pickled veggies in jars, and they were beautiful to look at.

I got to sample a few of them.

First, I tried a sweet pickle. I’m a fan of sweet relish, but man, this pickle was so much better than any other I’ve had before. Ever.

And I told Naumann just that.

Then she asked me if I like beets.

No. No, I do not.

I hesitated and tried one anyway. I have to say, I didn’t hate it.

In fact, I think I could learn to like them, if they’re as good as the ones Naumann has.

Then I saw the jars of hot German mustard.

Naumann said she makes this with pickles.

What?!

Sure enough, the second ingredient on the label is Senf Gerkins.

Senfgurkens are German sweet-sour mustard cucumbers, and the flavor really stands out in Naumann’s recipe.

I tried a bit, and it was so good my reaction was somewhere between a swoon and happy Snoopy dance.

Yes, it was that good.

I will definitely be revisiting Vicki’s Blue Ribbon Foods soon.

For more info, call 618-616-0092.

* * *

Another booth that stood out to me was Woven Legacy.

Owner Patty Barbachem said she learned to crochet from her grandmother when she was 10 years old.

Over the years she continued to crochet and said that it’s a great way to relieve stress.

Especially during COVID, when she made a lot of things.

Barbachem makes a variety of scarves, head wraps, accessories, towels and a bunch of other stuff, all great for gifts for others (or for yourself - no judgment here).

There are flyers at the booth with care instructions for each type of item, which I thought was pretty handy.

Barbachem said she doesn’t waste any materials and will use remnants from her scarves to make other items, including little baskets.

Cute items with sustainability in mind? Sold!

Right now, the hot items are the crocheted pumpkins, just in time for fall and available in different colors and sizes.

All of the items are beautifully made and come in some great color combos.

I kept eyeing the scarves and fingerless gloves.

And the little baskets.

And the spa scrubbies.

Let’s just say I’ll be looking for this booth again soon.

* * *

Chef Bruiser offers a selection of spicy and sweet sauces, homemade and patented by Chef Reno.

Folks could enjoy some samples of these sauces, and if they liked what they sampled, they could purchase their favorites by the jar.

If any of this is familiar to you, perhaps you once tasted Chef Bruiser’s sauced-up wings at Soulcial Kitchen or at another local event.

Call 618-698-2543 for more information.

* * *

With Kay’s Caricatures, artist Kayanna Clark will work from photos – of pets and people – to create fun and unique portraits.

She’ll even draw a customer on the spot, if she’s available at the moment.

When Weber and I stopped by, she was working on a portrait of someone’s pup.

I am a fan of this. Most of the photos on my phone are of my own fur babies. Maybe I need to get their portraits done?

In addition to the upcoming September event, she can often be found at other local sites, including Soulcial Kitchen and the New Baden Farmers Market.

Check out her work and upcoming event appearances on her Facebook page at facebook.com/KaysCaricatures.

* * *

Martha Bricker, owner of Martha’s Rainbow Collection, specializes in hand-painted, customized stainless steel tumblers and handmade handles.

Her process involves the use of an epoxy to coat her cups for durability.

According to Bricker, an epoxy finish provides wider capabilities versus a sublimation process.

WIth epoxy, a one-of-a-kind design can be made. It also provides better insulation to keep those beverages cold.

She also makes handles for the larger tumblers to provide a better grasp.

And because the handles are made with bungee cords, they’ll fit on most cup sizes.

Pretty handy.

* * *

Elizabeth Morgan’s Delicious Bites provides homemade cheesecakes and treats.

Tasty (and adorably little) baked goods for events, special occasions, or Tuesday (really any day that ends in “y”) are on the menu.

The cheesecakes Morgan had at the flea market included vanilla, caramel apple, cherry, turtle, lemon, blueberry, strawberry, strawberry shortcake and brownie bottom.

Check out some pics of the goods at facebook.com/DeliciousBitesIL.

* * *

The I Want Bling booth had bags, clothing, accessories and other fun, blinged-out items, including St. Louis Cardinals and Blues merch and more.

Another booth offered painted tree of life rocks, repurposed keys wrapped in colorful wire and finished with a themed button or charm. Themes ranged from superheroes to sports to cartoons and other fun stuff.

Other booths I visited sold leather goods, Tupperware, Thirty-One, Tastefully Simple, Avon and Real Time Pain Relief products.

Weber said that while all of these vendors will attend the craft and vendor show in September, only the ones that make their products will also be at the art and craft fall fair over Thanksgiving weekend. (More on that in a sec.)

This includes Chef Bruiser, Kay’s Caricatures, Martha’s Rainbow Collection, Delicious Bites, Vicki’s Blue Ribbon Foods, Woven Legacies and I Want Bling.

* * *

All-in-all, the flea market trip and meeting with Weber was totally worth it, and I’m happy to relay some of the details for the upcoming September show with you, good readers.

(I already have plans to check out the show with my mom. And I’m getting some of that hot German mustard, among other things, when we go.)

Weber said these events have taken place for 42 years and “started right here” at Belle-Clair.

It was obvious to me that she has a great relationship with each of her vendors, and I told her that.

She said she’s serious about taking care of them.

“They’re my people,” said Weber. “When they do my show, they become my people, my family. And they know that.”

About Kay Weber Shows

The annual Craft and Vendor Show takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 9-10 at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds & Expo Center at 200 S. Belt East in Belleville.

Admission is $5 per person.

The 42nd annual Belleville art and Craft Fall Fair, presented by Key Weber, takes place at the fairgrounds in November and touts more than 400 exhibitors.

Dates and times are 3-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 25-26.

Admission is $5 per person each day. Parking is free, and there will be attendance prizes.

For more information about either show, call Weber at 618-233-0940 or visit facebook.com/kweberartscraftsandvintagecraftstoo.