mistletoe mart

     The 30th annual Mistletoe Mart will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 7 at the Bedford Presbyterian Church on the Village Green, Bedford. One-of-a-kind handcrafts, made throughout the year by members of the Women's Association,  will be featured, and 10 area artisans will display their unique wares. Santa will be there to listen to children's Christmas wishes, and hot chocolate and tasty treats will be served on the church lawn.
    At 3 p.m., a drawing of raffle tickets will decide the winner of this year's quilt, called "Bedford Town Squares," a medley of jewel-toned fabrics stitched together over many weeks by the Bedford Quilters. Tickets will be available at Mistletoe Mart, at $5 each, throughout the day.
     Shoppers can lunch on homemade chili and keep warm sipping hot chocolate or coffee. A wide variety of baked goods will be available, homemade by church members.
     Handcrafts will feature small painted furniture, fabric wreaths, hand painted wooden figures, trays, little jewelry boxes, Bedford Village slates, lavendar sachets, decoupage items and more. Hand carved creche figures and wooden trivets, made by the Rev.  Paul Alcorn, pastor of the church, will also be featured. 
     Fresh, fragrant wreaths, decorated by church members and ready to hang, will be available. Small Yule logs will also be for sale.
     New this year will be "The Good Cooks of Bedford Presbyterian Church," a collection of recipes that includes a packet of new recipes in addition to those in the book.
     Children will have their own area for creating crafts and making little gifts for family and friends. Santa's elves will be on hand to help.
     Mary Lou Pappas will create original floral designs for Christmas in a variety of sizes. Other vendors will feature jewelry, scarves, ornaments and a wide range of hand knitted and crocheted items. New to Mistletoe Mart will be Lisa Lichtenberg, whose "Fab Felts" include handbags and accessories, and Ilanit Marks, whose candles come in various sizes and prices. She features elegant gift wrapping.
     For the first time, shoppers at Mistletoe Mart can pay for their purchases by credit card. Checks and cash are also acceptable. 
     Proceeds from the event are donated to a variety of charities, including youth work trips to Nicaragua and Appalachia, Neighbors Link, Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, Katonah Community Center, A-Home, Hope's Door Women's Shelter, and the Mental Health Association of Northern Westchester.