By Amy Batista, Special Writer
CRANBURY — The 16th annual Cranbury Craft Show was held at the Cranbury School on Main Street during the weekend of March 9-10.
Around 2,000 people attended the craft show to browse and purchase an array of handmade crafts.
”It’s the best there is, and there isn’t a better one,” said Joan Prunetti, of Point Pleasant, who had attended the show with her cousin. “I always say I’m not going to buy anything, and I didn’t even get past the front door.”
The crafts show is the main fundraiser for the nonprofit Cranbury Education Foundation. Funds are used to contribute to the education of students at the Cranbury School, according to organizers.
”In our eyes, success is measured not only in the monetary end of our show, but in the knowledge that our crafters and shoppers enjoyed their experience,” said Kelly Devine, co-chairwoman of the show. “We have generated over $100,000 since the beginning of the craft show. Each year differs, but we have been lucky enough to be raising between $15,000 to $20,000 each year.”
During its 16-year history, the Cranbury Education Foundation has funded numerous projects, including the school’s large group room, which is used extensively by the school and community groups.
The foundation also helped fund upgrades to the sound system in the auditorium; purchased smart boards for the classroom; funded mobile computer labs, book clubs, middle school plays, musical instruments for the bands and risers for the choir. It also has made contributions toward the eighth-grade French and Spanish trips, according to organizers.
The foundation also has a teacher mini-grant program and provides funding for programs or materials not included in the school budget.
The success of the crafts show is due to a community effort between the school administration, custodial staff and more than 100 volunteers, Ms. Devine said.
”It is amazing how many people make this event come together,” Ms. Devine said. “Volunteers are involved in admissions, raffles, kitchen help, sweets and savories, marketing (placing all those green signs everywhere) and baking.”
As part of the fundraiser, breakfast and lunch were available for purchase throughout the show at the Garden Café as well as home-baked goods at the Sweets and Savories table.
In addition to the show vendors, merchants from around the area partnered again this year with the Cranbury Education Foundation in support of the show.
According to Ms. Devine, a few local ladies, known for their “yummy” sweets, donated carrot cake, coconut cake and “amazing” baked items. Other businesses in the community also donated food items and services — Teddy’s Restaurant donates split pea soup, McCaffrey’s donates chicken salad, ShopRite donates gifts cards used to purchase food, and the Cranbury Fire Department hung up the banner to advertise the show. There were many more businesses that helped.
This year, Boy Scout Troops, Troop 52 and Troop 193 volunteered to help.
”This year we had a tremendous amount of help from Boy Scouts,” Ms. Devine said. “The scouts were extremely instrumental in helping the crafters to lug all of their supplies into the school. This was a huge help to the crafters and much appreciated.”
Local Girl Scouts decorated paper bags, which were given to each crafter to help them carry their breakfast to their booths.
”The bags are cheery and say things like ‘We love the Cranbury Craft Show,’” Ms. Devine said. “All crafters must provide handmade products. We have a jury committee that works very hard to make sure all crafts are handmade.”
The show featured around 115 artisans with crafts that included furniture, floral designs, adult and children’s clothing, pottery, jewelry, woodcrafts, glass and more. Not all vendors that applied were featured in the crafts show. Spots quickly filled up, leaving vendors on the waiting list. Some applicants already have started applying for next year’s show.
”We receive over 175 applications and can only really house about 110 to 115 each year,” Ms. Devine said. “We are a juried show so each applicant must go through the process. They must send their application along with pictures of their craft, of their booth and of themselves working. The pictures are a fun part of the jury selection.”
As part of the crafters’ admission to the show, they are asked to donate a handmade item, which is contributed to the baskets raffled during the Chance Win raffles. Each basket has approximately five to seven items. Chance drawings were held throughout the day. The tickets were available for purchase at the show entrances and at various spots throughout the show.
”We then use these pieces to create raffle baskets,” Ms. Devine said. “When someone wins a basket — they can pick the basket they think they will enjoy. This is a large part of our fundraising, and we appreciate the crafters being so generous with their goods.”
Barbara Hamilton. of Florence, owner of Handcrafted by Barbara, enjoyed participating in the show for the first time.
”I was looking for a venue that was a better quality of show,” Ms. Hamilton said. “I think the staff are doing an excellent job. It’s very well-organized; a nice variety of crafters.”
It was also the first show for Renee Marshall-McKinley, of East Orange, owner of Keep Yourself Smelling Sweet, who sold her homemade bath and body products.
”I was going to another boutique, and they were making some fabulous soap, but the soap eventually became expensive,” Ms. Marshall-McKinley said. “I said that I could do my own company.”
According to Ms. Marshall-McKinley, as people stop by to visit the booth, “they want to eat it,” due to the sweet smells.
Attendee Karen Ellis, of Mercerville, said she enjoys attending the show.
”It’s always good,” Ms. Ellis said. “It’s always fun. There’s always lots to see. I always enjoy it.”
Anyone interested in sending contributions to the foundation should send them to the group at P.O. Box 332, Cranbury, 08512.

