Signs mark the entry to 100 Ladies & Gentlemen Craft Sale near the intersection of Minnesota Highways 56 and 60 just outside of Kenyon.
I WISH, OH, HOW I WISH I could show you all the crafty goodness that encompasses the 100 Ladies & Gentlemen Craft Sale just outside of Kenyon.
This building houses the craft sale.
But no photos were allowed of the merchandise stuffed inside this pole shed. So you will need to imagine the stitched, hammered, painted, baked, preserved, knitted and other handcrafted items sold here.
Need an apron? Homemade caramels? A Minnesota-authored book? Some crazy saying to decorate a wall? Handcrafted furniture? Seasonal decorations? A photograph of a barn? The list is endless.
The property features a paved parking lot for shoppers.
For 40 years, Marlene and Curt Morrow have hosted this craft sale on their property at 45986 Minnesota State Highway 56, just north of State Highway 60.
The show was abuzz with shoppers when my husband and I stopped on a Saturday afternoon, so busy that wiggling through the narrow aisles proved challenging.
I thought Randy would be bored, but he lingered longer than me, reading humorous sayings at a booth of quirky signage.
It wasn’t until I spotted upcycled freestanding cabinets in the back section of the building that I found merchandise which truly interested me. At that point I called Randy over for his opinion on a cabinet to fill a hole in our dining room wall. We removed a chimney several years ago, but I seldom notice anymore the cardboard sheets that hide the space. Until we have guests. Yes, we really need to do something about that. But then I need new flooring and kitchen counters and cupboards and a sink, well, the list is endless. I would love to win a kitchen make-over.
Oh, yes, back to that craft show. I pulled a tape measure and notebook from my purse and Randy measured while I jotted numbers, hopeful that maybe one of the three cabinets we both liked would fit the space. It was not to be, we learned later upon returning home and measuring the void.
Despite purchasing nothing at the sale—because I really do not need more “stuff”—I still enjoyed the drive over to Kenyon and perusing the handcrafted merchandise. I always appreciate the talents of local artisans.
And the scarecrow display, which I was allowed to photograph, provided for some fun photo ops. At least I didn’t bring my camera with me for naught:
Visitors can vote for their favorite in the scarecrow festival with cash prizes awarded to the top three.
Here’s a close-up of the Queen Mom, the scarecrow in the foreground in the photo above. Her red hat sisters surround her.
Look at the attention to detail by the creators of the Queen Mom.
Some of the scarecrows can be a little frightening…
while others can be as fashionable as the Queen Mom, or this hip 60s scarecrow.
Scarecrows making a statement.
Among the humorous tombstones on display.
Another scarecrow.
An empty chair provides a photo op for a shopper.
And these four hang out outside the craft sale. (Yes, they are for sale.)
FYI: The craft sale is open from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays from now until November 10.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Oh I love the chairs in the last 2 pictures!!! And especially the lady you captured as she posed!!! Perfect!!! Sorry that the dimensions didn’t work for your empty chimney space but you tried, right?
Yes, I love these, too. They are just fun.
I really need someone to come into my house and make suggestions on revamping my kitchen and dining room. I know there could be a better flow b/n the rooms and better use of space. But I need, also, to contain costs and therein lies the problem.
How brilliant, those scarecrows are gorgeous, esp the 60’s ones. What a wonderful surprise! c
Yes, I voted for the 60s scarecrows. Just loved everything about them.
Oh fun! I love Craft shows! Kevin calls them “crap” shows! Just to rile me of course! LOL I think those chairs are wondeful! I would buy them! 😉
I could wander around for hours!!!! I get lost in other’s creativity!!! Always looking for ideas! 😀
Must have been a great day!
We are taking down the wall between the living room and the kitchen to make a great room. We don’t use the living room at all! Our next project! Hopefully we can get to it next winter.
Have a great day! Love your journeys!!!! (((hugs)))
Laughing at Kevin’s opinion.
That sounds like quite an undertaking, to remove a wall. I hope the project goes well. It sounds like a good idea given you don’t currently use the living room.
This will make you smile! We built a sunroom off our kitchen!
I helped all the way through too! We had a huge deck and a pool. The last kid left for college and we got tired of cleaning it!
Sold the pool and surrounding deck, took a piece of the deck, moved it and built a spa house around the hot tub we purchased with or profits! Oh the lovely jets! The remaining deck became the floor of the sun parlor! 😉 I love this room! 14 windows! What a great time I had on the inside! 😀 A little hard work and a husband who loves building my projects and voila! We are a great team! Saved a bundle too! (took us two years to complete it, but it was worth it!) 😀
I would love a sun room. Sounds like you made the right decision and even better that you could do the work yourselves.
Elbow grease as my grandfather used to say! That’s all it takes is a little elbow grease! LOL When we can’t get around as good (and that day will come) we will enjoy all our hard work! I hope…health permitting of course! 🙂 He also taught me how to make a nickle out of a penny! 😉
I love fall craft fairs. Why is this time of year the craft-fair time? Christmas shopping, I suppose? Or people just have all these crafts they’ve made over the summer all ready and waiting!
Both reasons probably. I wish I had an ounce of the craftiness these artisans possess. I guess I’d rather write and take photos.
And share all you see with us!!! Muah! 😀
Me, too. Exactly.
I have been to this one a couple of times with mom, Soooo many things to look at. I loved the scarecrows, the skeleton with all the teeth was a bit creepy 🙂
I was wondering if you’d been to this sale. Gotta have a few scary scarecrows in the mix.
Just “popping” in to say ‘Hi’! Still out East but doing some catching up. This sale contains some items from a quilt group neighbor gal in my area. It is a really good sale for her (and many, I’m told). Sorry the cabinets didn’t work out for you. And, yes, we all ‘need’ those major household make-overs but sometimes such a little purchase goes a long ways to propping one up, don’t you think???? Hugs from your traveler friend!
Ah, that’s where you are. I’ve missed you. I saw some lovely quilted items at the sale which I was tempted to purchase. Such incredible talent showcased.
With the holidays fast approaching I’m sure there were many purchases!! It will take me a bit to get back in the groove (probably next week!). Have missed our ‘visits’…..hugs…….
Great Captures – love the ladies:)
Thank you.