Heather Merrick, incoming director of Frederic Public Library, came to shop at the annual craft fair as well. – Photo by Sarah Beth Radomsky
FREDERIC –The Frederic Public Library buzzed with creativity on Saturday, March 1, as its third annual craft fair filled the space from 9 a.m. to noon. Despite a crowded calendar of regional craft sales, the event drew a steady stream of locals eager to browse handmade goods, sip coffee, and nibble treats.
“It’s been really busy, which is nice,” shared a volunteer. “I was afraid we wouldn’t get many people with everyone else is doing craft sales too, but it’s been pretty good.” Tables brimmed with treasures like a “Take-and-Make” book bag stations, alongside linens, yarns, seasonal items, wax molds, stamps and a variety of miscellaneous crafting items. “These are so cute,” one visitor remarked, eyeing the offerings.
The fair doubled as a warm backdrop to the library’s transition period. Heather Merrick, the incoming director, mingled amid the crowd, her training month just underway. A homeschooling mom of three with a background in elementary education, Merrick steps into the role after a decade of informal volunteering at the Luck Library and a lifelong love of libraries. “We’re at the library all the time,” she said, explaining her leap to the part-time position. Official duties start in April, following a handover from outgoing director Amanda Blackmon.
“It’s all been over the phone so far,” Merrick said of her training, laughing off the whirlwind pace. The event, a springtime staple for the library, wrapped up with attendees clutching new finds and plans to return next year. “Craft fairs are always fun,” Merrick noted. The Frederic Friends of the Library’s talent for blending community, crafts and a love of books shone through.
