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Three Ladies Craft Show Draws Holiday Crowds

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The Three Ladies Craft show, running Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, drew more than 1,500 shoppers to CCRI.

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The Three Ladies Craft show, running Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, drew more than 1,500 shoppers to CCRI.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The Three Ladies Craft show, running Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, drew more than 1,500 shoppers to CCRI.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the Three Ladies Craft show Friday and Saturday, Diane McConnel greeted patrons with a manual click counter and smiles.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the Three Ladies Craft show Friday and Saturday, Diane McConnel greeted patrons with a manual click counter and smiles.
WARWICK, RI — The Three Ladies Craft Show celebrated its second Small Business Saturday at Community College of Rhode island (CCRI) this weekend, drawing nearly 3,000 people by mid-day Saturday to the two-day expo.

A the entrance to the show at the top of the steps leading down to CCRI’s cafeteria/auditorium space Saturday afternoon,  Diane McConnel greeted patrons with a manual click counter as people passed at about 2 p.m.. She said the craft show had drawn 1,220 people the previous day, and at least 300 in the previous hour, “So this is good,” she said.

More than 75 crafters were selling their wares, including holiday décor, jewelry, and baked goods, at the juried show. Outised the college, food trucks sold pizza to passers-by.

Last year, they had 68 vendors, said Joan Katil, Craemer, one of the three ladies organizing the show since 2023. The other two, Mary, and Maureen King, were both excited about the show’s success, and happy about its laid-back feel.

“It’s the comfortable atmosphere. It’s very relaxing,” said King, who noted the low-key instrumental music playing in the background.

Another element of their craft show’s success,  said Craemer, is the venue’s leadership.

“We have a good relationship with the school, and that helps tremendously,” she said.

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Jessie, owner of Jessie Jewels Art, with some of her Christmas Tree art for sale at the Three Ladies Craft show Friday and Saturday, Diane McConnel greeted patrons with a manual click counter and smiles.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Jessie, owner of Jessie Jewels Art, with some of her Christmas Tree art for sale at the Three Ladies Craft show Friday and Saturday.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Illustrator Joan Klatil Craemer, one of the organizers of the Three Ladies Craft show, talks about her children's books for sale with fellow illustrator Terry Kole during the art show.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Illustrator Joan Klatil Creamer, one of the organizers of the Three Ladies Craft show, talks about her illustrated children’s book series, The Magic Sceptre, for sale at the show, with fellow illustrator Terry Kole during the art show.
 
Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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