Debbie Fuller, left, and Luke Miller, 9, chat while browsing at the Holiday Bazaar. The craft fair was expected to raise about ,000 for Lawrence Parks and Recreation.

Suzanne Griffin, Topeka, attaches beads to a wind spinner Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007 in her booth at the Holiday Bazaar at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St. She has been coming to the bazaar for three years.

Steve Moore was worried about the Chiefs on Sunday. But the Kansas City, Mo., resident wasn’t concerned about the team’s game against the defending champion Indianapolis Colts. He hoped the game wouldn’t keep shoppers from perusing his booth at the annual Holiday Bazaar, which took place at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St.

“That can kill you,” said Moore, whose custom-made wooden wine stoppers were among the handmade goods he sold. Luckily for Moore and the more than 130 vendors who peddled their products at the bazaar, football was a nonfactor.

Local merchants’ cash registers ka-chinged in tune with holiday music, and handmade goods were the product du jour as vendors from Lawrence, Topeka, Kansas City and even Texas sold their wares to eager shoppers. Rows of booths selling stationary, soaps, scarves and more lined the Community Building’s main floor and another room in the basement.

Duane Peterson, special events supervisor for Parks and Recreation, called the turnout of vendors and shoppers “fantastic.”

“One of our better turnouts,” he said. “The public in Lawrence really enjoyed it today.”

Peterson said he expected the event to raise about $8,000 toward Parks and Recreation’s working budget. He said vendor spots had sold out for the sixth year in a row.

“I love the variety that’s here. There are all types of things,” said Christine Frese, Lawrence. She was selling homemade potholders, wine bags and tote bags at her booth near the hall’s entrance. “It’s really good this year. Traffic is up.”

Mary Baker, McLouth, was selling blankets, pillows and kitchen towels, which she and her daughter made. It was her first year attending the Holiday Bazaar, but she praised Peterson for putting together a well-organized event.

“When you do a lot of shows, you really appreciate someone who manages them,” she said.

She found some time to survey what her competitors were selling.

“There’s a great selection,” she said. “I’ve bought too much!”

For Bonnie Jackson, presiding over a vast array of homemade soaps and gels, the event was a success.

“We’ve had a really good response from everyone,” said Jackson, whose company, Cuzzi Soaps, has turned her living room into a soap factory. “It’s been very steady since the moment it opened.”