At Petaluma craft fair, curious and luxurious items on display

Locally made chili oil infused with orange and ginger. Necklaces made with old medals, like the post-World War I Médaille de la Famille Française given by the French government to mothers. A taxidermy mouse dressed in an intricate Brazilian samba legend Carmen Miranda costume.

The American Christmas season shopping spree that brings in billions each year to retailers across the country also gives an annual boost in sales and visibility to North Coast artists and craftspeople.

Petaluma’s eighth annual Crafterino, held Sunday, showcased more than ?70 Sonoma County and Bay Area artists at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building on Petaluma Boulevard South. Through door donations and raffles, the event raises money for Petaluma’s Committee on the Shelterless, or COTS.

One of the event organizers, Melissa Abercrombie, said they’ve raised more than $11,000 since 2009 for the homeless services organization, and they hope to bring in between $1,200 and $1,400 this year.

“We try to have a humanitarian focus,” Abercrombie said. “It’s just a feel-good show.”

Heather Banaszek, whose son C.J. died in 2014 at age 13 of complications from leukemia, handed out lemonade to attendees with a donation bucket to raise money for childhood-cancer research through the Philadelphia-based charity Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

The event was held on Sunday instead of Saturday this year, a change to ensure the event didn’t compete with “small business Saturday,” a campaign to encourage people to shop at local stores on the big Thanksgiving shopping weekend.

Behind her jewelry booth, Jerrie Patterson, 69, of Petaluma said the event stands out among the ones she attends because the booths are well curated for variety and quality. Patterson makes jewelry using collage techniques with materials like resin, watch parts and silver.

Across the aisle, Scott Lowrie, 35, of Petaluma sold his refurbished antique custom made maps, as well as screen-printed shirts and wooden pins. He has a storefront and art gallery, Griffin Map Design, on American Alley in downtown Petaluma.

In another room, Caitlin Moneypenny-Johnston, 34, of Petaluma was determined to buy edible and local items as Christmas presents this year.

She filled a bag with chili spices and lemon-infused sea salts for her family.

Data analyst Sara Redahan, 32, of Novato bought chocolates, a handmade jewelry holder, bird ornaments and earrings.

“I came to buy gifts for others, but fell in love with a few things for myself,” Redahan said.

Americans who buy Christmas holiday gifts plan to spend about $752 this year, according to a Gallup survey.

About half that amount, $350, could buy one of Léa Mai Nguyen’s exquisitely costumed mice: Tiny bagpipers, pirates, a mad scientist, Little Red Riding Hood. The mice are the kind sold as food for birds and small mammals. She skins them and donates the bodies to The Wild Care Center in San Rafael, Ngyuen said.

It takes her about one hour to taxidermy the mice, and then about four days to research a costume, create the pattern and then craft the miniature costumes using leather, wood and metal. Ngyuen began crafting the steam-punk novelty creatures about two years ago after leaving her 20-year career making video game characters.

“I quit my job in video games because I missed doing something tangible,” Ngyuen said. “This was the right size art project for me.”