Merrill Gardens holds first holiday bazaar

MARYSVILLE What if you could bring the shopping mall to your house and avoid the hassle?
Thats what the Merrill Gardens retirement home here did last weekend, hosting an arts and crafts bazaar for the residents of this Marysville retirement community. Some of the homes 75 residents can drive, but most dont and so 12 vendors from around the Snohomish County area set up shop in halls and common areas of the complex during the afternoon of Dec. 2. Jewelry, potpourri, knitted wear, and many other items were for sale.
Lyndall Mullin is the community relations director for the home, and she said it was the first time Merrill Gardens has hosted a holiday bazaar.
The reason we are doing it now is so people can pick up last minute gifts, Mullin said. So far weve got a high amount of foot traffic coming through.
Near the building entrance Emma Benner of Marysville was hawking her exquisite Norwegian Hardanger embroidery, an intricate version of cutwork embroidery. Next to her Arlingtons Sylvia Hoffman was selling dish towels, potpourri, greeting cards and homemade goodies. Hoffmans mother Mary Wagner is a resident of the retirement home and her daughter was happy to see the bazaar take place. When she worked at Providence Hospital they held one every year, Hoffman said.
It is quite common, Hoffman said. This is the first one theyve done.
We hope to do something like this near Mothers Day, Mullin said. Vendors interested in reserving a space can call her at Merrill Gardens at 360-659-1279. The rent paid by the vendors will be used to fund extracurricular activities for the residents, Mullin explained.

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