Arts Center hosts 'Home Sweet Holidays'

"Home Sweet Holidays" will kick off a full house of gallery items and lunch at the Arts Center this Saturday in Le Mars.

Several craft vendors from the area have been invited to be a part of the Holiday Market, Saturday and Sunday, a yearly adventure of the Le Mars Arts Council.

Quilts, purses and lamp work bead jewelry will be sold side by side with special items from area non-profit organizations.

The Council on Sexual and Domestic Violence will be taking poinsettia orders, Life Skills will have its "star" sales, P.A.L.S. Inc. will be selling painted bricks, cookbooks will be available from St. Joe's and the Garden Club, and the hospital will have its raffle basket.

These tables compliment the Arts Center's Gallery III sales of items by local artists, raffle tickets for 11 themed baskets donated by the board and staff of the Le Mars Arts Council and chances on two Berdene desserts and Dinner for Eight at Berdene's.

Board member Susan Leonard and her husband Mark will be hosting Saturday's $5 soup and sandwich lunch by serving their carrot lentil soup and chicken curry sandwich. This lunch is also available for take-out.

Another Art Center activity is a coffee bar available every day through-out the Home Sweet Holidays schedule of events - $2 for coffee or cider and a homemade gooey bar.

The community gallery contest this year is gift wrapping.

"We are asking for supporters to buy a child's gift and then give it their best, most creative wrapping job," said Kathy Moore, executive director. "Terri Schroeder, creator of this year's gallery events has made arrangements with the Christian Needs Center to pick up the gifts mid-December, but before then, some lucky judge will get to pick out four or five to be awarded a $10 cash prize. The contest has no specific rules, as the main thrust is in the giving of a beautifully wrapped gift."

The Arts Center, 200 Central Ave. S.E., will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9.

The center's regular hours also include 1 to 5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.

For more information about this weekend's activities or the other events planned at the Arts Center through Dec. 14, call 546-7476 or e-mail lemarsarts@frontiernet.net.