Since supply chain issues are expected to disrupt holiday shopping, many people shop locally, looking for gifts for everyone on the gift list.

The regional craft fair offers a variety of unique handmade products, usually at very reasonable prices, without waiting for delivery. These products are not only sold nearby, but are also produced there.

The 12th annual Warren Mott Band Craft Show was held on November 13th. A total of 139 local suppliers participated, crowded with shoppers looking for gifts and their little things. The proceeds benefit the school’s military band. As with many handicraft performances, the Mott event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. This means that both artisans and shoppers are enthusiastic about this year's holiday show.

"I think a lot of people are very happy to participate in the handicraft show-both vendors and shoppers-because so many shows were cancelled last year," said Patti Tucker of Sterling Heights, who is half of Quilts By Patti & Tammy.

Two hours after the show started on Saturday, two quilting craftsmen reported that business was booming. A shopper who wished to be identified only as "Julie" bought multiple quilts and brought several other bags of merchandise she bought that morning. She said that about half of the goods she bought were Christmas gifts and half were for herself.

Warren resident Tamandish said that she and Tucker sew quilts on two Saturdays a month. All work is done on a traditional sewing machine, not a long-arm quilting machine.

"Sometimes it's quilting and peach brandy, sometimes it's quilting and wine," Landis said. "We were in the quilt all year, and we had a lot of fun."

Despite the well-known supply chain lag, Landis has not encountered fabric supply problems. In fact, Landis said that fabric sales are more than before COVID, which allows two quilting machines to be stocked throughout the year.

In contrast, Christy Gehringer of LWC Services was greatly affected by supply issues. Using the patterns handed down by her grandmother, Gehringer made a variety of plush toys that combined the appearance of Cabbage Patch and Raggedy Ann dolls. Many of her dealers have disappeared, and supplies that arrived in the past 90 days now take 7 months or more.

Gehringer said: "The filling foam we use for dolls is eight times the cost before the pandemic." "We are working hard to reduce costs for our customers, but we did have to increase the price by about 3%."

Gehringer also uses beads to make some of her crafts and says she is grateful that the beads she uses are made in the United States. Otherwise, she believes that availability will be very limited. Dream Hodge of Messy Metal Designs uses leather, beads, and feathers to make jewelry, as well as simple bracelets with metal engraved with proverbs. The supply of metal is sporadic, and its cost has increased.

"I bought my metal from a place called ImpressArt, and when I see that they have the inventory I need, I will buy it extra," said Hodge, who was standing next to her booth with a lace wall hanging. "That is a very difficult thing to get."

Several suppliers of the Mott Craft Show are first-time sellers because they were fired or working from home in 2020 and therefore started the home handicraft business. Mara Staller Starr of Simply Starr Creations, a contractor for Ford Motor Company, said she started crafting as a form of stress relief.

"It's very relaxing for me," Starr said. "In the beginning I just made handicrafts to keep busy, especially in the early days of the pandemic."

Starr draws on Carol Duvall's handcrafted style and transforms ordinary objects into whimsical home decorations. She buys wicker trays, picture frames, silk flowers and anything else that can inspire her in the dollar store. After she casts her magic, they become wall art, core decorations and kitsch.

Kelsey Dida of Chesterfield Township developed Koda & Kel pet accessories after losing his job at the Pet Valu pet shop. The company closed all its stores in the United States on the grounds of the negative impact of the pandemic, and Dida suddenly had a lot of time. She remembers customers asking for bandanas, bow ties and other fabric accessories for their puppies, and the long-time sewing enthusiast decided to put her passion into work. The company is named after her rescued husky, Koda.

"I can customize any of my products," Dida said. "I have a customer with a service dog wearing a seat belt. I was able to make a custom headscarf suitable for a harness instead of a normal dog collar."

Artesian Margaret Villalobos did not change her career due to the pandemic, but developed the ceramic art business she already owns. Last year, she found a kiln in a real estate auction, which allowed her to create a home studio. Now, she can fire her works without paying any fees, and has increased the output of her unique textured tiles, bowls, pots and plates.

Celia Hills, an 83-year-old Warren resident, is a crochet master. In preparation for the Mott show, she crocheted 200 Christmas towels as well as several doll purses, dish towels and other decorations. Shears graduated from Mott University, as did her three children and two grandchildren. This show is an annual event for her. Although she knows that the supply of yarn has always been a problem, she is often the first customer to enter the door on the first day of yarn sales in a local craft store. She said so far So far, she has not used up the materials she needs to create crochet art.

"I even took the crochet that I was doing today, just in case it was too slow," Shears said. "I carry it everywhere."

Darlene DeRosia of Sunshine Flowers & Crafty Creations is also a senior supplier. She uses cross stitch to decorate tablecloths and placemats, and also makes flower arrangements. She heard more customers talking about buying local products this year, and believes that people want to support local businesses by choosing handmade products at the craft fair instead of mass-produced products that may or may not arrive on time for Christmas.

After shopper Karen Merritt browsed the booth for an hour, he made several purchases at the Mott show. She usually participates in some handicraft exhibitions during the holiday season, likes to be able to buy unique handmade gifts, and finds that the prices are very reasonable-especially at the Mott exhibition. Like most shoppers, she also bought some things for herself; a little deer painting in the snow forest.

"From the beginning I would not spend a lot of money on Christmas," Merritt said. "But this year I tried to do more of this kind of shopping in a show like this. I know people are hurt, and many of these vendors were unable to sell last year. So I'm really trying to support these craftsmen so they can continue to participate. Such a show."