There was a crowd at the annual St. James Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, purchasing cookies, Christmas decorations, handmade jewelry, work from local artists, hand carved walking sticks, wreaths, journals, all kinds of fiber art and more.

In a St. James Family Center classroom nearby, Castle Rock resident Sally Barnes was volunteering in the Children's Christmas Store, The store was filled with all kinds of items available for purchase by children for friends and family members. Everything in the store cost $1, and each child was allowed to buy up to five items.

Barnes estimated that she and another volunteer, Taya Deal, had already wrapped as many as 85 gifts for the kids.

In the kitchen, volunteers sold lunch and dessert. Kathleen Peterson played Christmas music on her piano nearby.

One vendor, Lorrie Haight of Long Beach, has been attending craft fairs for some time. She usually sells her wares at six or seven fairs each fall and winter.

Haight started making books and journals 20 years ago, when she felt overwhelmed with the need to share her husband's stories. She has seven books so far, stories about sailing and all the "short humorous anecdotes" her husband liked to tell.

"I don't like to write at all," Haight laughed. "I'm the world's worst person to be an author. Not only do I not like to write, I don't like to read."

Each of his stories take up one page. All of the books are autographed and numbered. She even sent copies to the Library of Congress.

She was intrigued by the idea of making the books by herself after seeing the work of an author in Astoria. He taught her the craft two decades ago and she's been doing it ever since.

"My husband suggested that I make blank books so people could write their own stories down," Haight said. "That's how my business got started."

She gets inspiration for the covers of her journals from the people that buy them.

Diana Zimmerman

Taya Deal demonstrated spinning and how to hand card wool at the Christmas Bazaar.

"What people want, that's what I get," Haight said. Cats have been a big seller lately.

Haight has been a commercial fisher in Alaska and sailed to the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia with her husband.

"I am an adventurer at heart," Haight said. "No fear. Just do. Do everything."

If you missed her, Haight will be selling her journals at the Moose Lodge in Long Beach on December 3.

The proceeds from the bazaar will go towards programming at the St. James Family Center.