The multipurpose room was in use at The Paradise Center on Apr. 1 with a dozen different tables selling a variety of items; hand made jewelry, hand made wooden signs, items from the Pampered Chef, photography, stone jewelry, and etched glass.

Crafts can be a way to pass the time, for some people it may be a hobby, for other people it is something to do now and then for fun, some create their crafts as a way to meet and interact with other people. There are those people who make the crafts as a way to make an income, and for some it is a way to help them live out their dreams.

A recent craft fair had all of those types of crafters set up with tables and working on selling their hand made creations.

A large painting of the Paradise Elementary School that was done by a local painter was being raffled with the drawing to be held on July 4th. There were also gift certificates from local businesses and hand made items on two different long tables that were being bid on by use of a silent auction.

“This is our second year here doing the Craft Fair. We do one around Easter and then one close to Christmas. Some of the proceeds from the sales we do will go to the Paradise Park,” Jane McFadgen stated as she was taking a brief break from her table of tatting materials.

McFadgen is the president of the Paradise Crafters and Farmer’s Market Board.

“Christmas is a good time for me. This time of year it is hit and miss. I am here selling things for a friend who is battling cancer for her second time,” Robin Porter stated as she was standing near several tables with ceramic items on them.

Several green ceramic frogs were on a table with a variety of expressions on the faces; one had a very comical look with a red tongue sticking out.

“We were dabbling with things when our husbands told us to do something with it and take it in the road. The three of us have been involved with doing Chicks and Chaps and this became something else we were doing to keep us sane. We bought a planer and began using the wood we bought from another business,” Rae Herman stated while standing near the wooden signs that are being sold.

The other two women involved with the business are Traci Salmi and Lindsey Herron. The three women call the business Mimzie’s Creations and it can be found on Facebook.

Paula Anglemyer is relatively new to Montana, having moved here after her husband died. In 2011, she moved to Paradise. She creates very colorful stone jewelry using many kinds of stones; pink quartz, amethyst, jade, and more. As she wrote on her business card, “I was free to start over and pursue a long held dream of living in the mountains of Montana.” She continued on her card, “I have a breathtaking view of Henry Peak from my front porch.”

Reporter Douglas Wilks can be reached at dwilks@vp-mi.com or 406-826-3402.