Saline Craft Show to feature two Manchester crafters

Previous year’s Saline Craft Show. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Hoeft.

submitted by Cheryl Hoeft, Saline Craft Show organizer

The Saline Craft Show, in its 37th year, is rated as one of the top 10 shows in Michigan and 4th in the nation, according to Sunshine Artist 2024. This annual event is hosted at Saline Middle School, 7190 N Maple Rd, Saline, on Saturday, November 9, from 8am to 3:30pm. Again, over 230 craftspersons will showcase their most recent and exceptional work, which includes decorative painting, stoneware, rugs, birdhouses, holiday decorating ideas, ceramics, calligraphy, and clothing. All of these products are designed, made, and displayed by the individual crafters and available at affordable prices. All artists will be present and available to customize and personalize their works.

Two Manchester residents will be among the artists and crafters participating in the show this year — Kristi Morelli and Lori Dickie. Morelli started participating in Saline craft shows last spring, but Dickie has been involved for years. Morelli operates Sugar Me Sweet and sells custom-decorated sugar cookies starting at $4 each, as well as chocolate cake confections, chocolate-caramel pretzels, chocolate-covered s’mores, chocolate-covered peanut butter crackers, and homemade marshmallows. Dickie and her partner, Kristie Niemiec, have been participating in Saline craft shows since 2014 and sell hand-carved and hand-painted wood carvings, including Santas, animals, ornaments, candlesticks, and many caricatures. They create new designs every year for Christmas and Halloween.

This show provides both crafts and art, from the latest in shabby chic to handmade furniture and hand-painted clothing. Traveling from 14 states and 158 Michigan cities, the artists will be selling their own one-of-a-kind handcrafted items and appealing to the frenzied shoppers who line up before the doors open to rush to their favorite booth or discover their newest favorite artist or craftsperson. Thirty-nine new crafters will be joining the show for the first time.

In 2022, this one-day holiday extravaganza attracted over 10,000 customers and brought crafters from throughout the Midwest, including Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, as well as Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New York, and Pennsylvania. 

A long-time attendee of the show, Grace Greaves from Manchester, said, “The Saline High Craft Show is a juried craft show to ensure show visitors and shoppers of receiving the highest-quality, one-of-a-kind, and limited-edition work to benefit both our customers and school community. These crafters’ displays embody skills and reflect respect for both the materials used and the processes. Their handcrafted products feature original designs that can enhance the beauty of the buyer’s environment whether used in the home, garden, or personally.”

Throughout the show, students representing various organizations of Saline High School will be present at a concession stand, bake sale, and other activities. The youth groups involved have the opportunity to promote citizenship and practice life skills and leadership, as well as earn money for organized school events. This show benefits student youth groups in the district, including crew, cross-country, debate, swim team, choral groups, para-professionals, baseball, and track teams.

Admission for the Saline Craft Show is $5. The show will once again be held in one building located at 7190 N Maple Rd, Saline. Due to crowded conditions, we request no strollers, please. Customers may take advantage of the free shuttle bus service providing transportation from Faurecia (previously Visteon), designated local businesses, and schools. Saline Central Campus has available free parking spaces and is completely handicapped accessible.

The school is easy to find and located within the city limits. Directions: Take Exit 34 from US-23, 6 miles west on US-12, north on Maple, or Exit 175 from I-94, 1 mile south on Ann Arbor-Saline Road, 4 miles south on Maple.

If you need further information, please call (734) 320-6678 or (734) 401-4020 or visit www.salineshows.com.

We welcome you to the 2024 Saline Craft Show and hope to see you there!

Thanksgiving cookies decorated by Kristi Morelli! Photo courtesy of Cheryl Hoeft.

Carved creations by Lori Dickie and Kristie Niemiec. Photo courtesy of Cheryl Hoeft.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.