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Scrapbooking crop produces big harvest

Posted: 1/22/2009

Wally Spiers

Forgive me scrapbooking fans but until recently I didn’t know that there even was such a thing as a scrapbooking crop, never mind what it was.

But apparently it is an event that women can’t get enough of.

Heartlink Children’s Grief Center and Family Hospice decided to sponsor such a scrapbooking crop from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Southwestern Illinois College gymnasium in Belleville and has been overwhelmed with responses.
Scrapbooking

Kris Grawitch, program coordinator for Heartlink, was bemused by the response she has gotten to an event about which she knew little.

"I didn’t know this world existed. I kept just calling it scrapbooking but people kept correcting me. It’s a scrapbooking crop," she said.

"We are doing this because our young widows convinced me. We originally had 36 people signed up and I thought that wasn’t really big but it was a good start. Then I turned around and there were 90. I have space maybe for 10 more or so."

Grawitch said it has been a revelation to her.

"Many of the women say they don’t have much space to spread out and it’s a great way to get together with friends," she said.

The day costs $30 for a half of a table (about four feet by four feet of space) which includes door prizes, goodie bags, vendors and a garage sale where you can sell your extra or unwanted stuff.

"We have donors providing lunch and dinner and we’re going with a luau theme and prizes for best costume," she said.

There also will be massage therapists who can give short massages because apparently the shoulders can kink up after about six hours, she said. Bring your own extension cord.

"Apparently these are very much girl things," she said. "I had a hard time getting male volunteers. Even my husband, who usually pitches in, volunteered to keep the kids instead."

The events are extremely popular with vendors who have a captive, committed audience.

"I already have a waiting list for vendors for the next one," Grawitch said.

For more information, you can call Grawitch at 277-1800.