Forest Fair Vendors put ‘Love’ into craft’

By Hannah Dillon

TNews Assistant Editor

The Girdwood Forest Fair is the perfect three day event for local vendors to showcase their handmade crafts every July.

With more than 200 vendors purchasing a space to sell their wares at the Forest Fair, Turnagain News spoke with four people who create handmade items.

Sierra Bransen of Luckiest Mama. (Photo by Hannah Dillon) 

Luckiest Mama

Small business owner Sierra Bransen of Luckiest Mama had just finished a set of long green beaded earrings as she talked about her passion for bead-work. 

“So I picked it up by myself and it came naturally, really easy to me. I don’t know if it’s in our blood but it's something I enjoy. It keeps me happy during the winter in the dark and cold,” said Branson, who  began bead-weaving in 2021 during the height of Covid-19.

Bransen said that while she was adopted, her heritage is Native American and all of the women in her family were bead-weavers. 

She keeps her bead-weaving kit on her at all times, ready to craft the fifth pair of earrings in a day or the first one in a week when inspiration hits, she said.

Crystal Healstals sign. (Photo by Hannah Dillon)

Soul Sister Basketree

Anchorage small business owners Colleen Anagick and Sharon Hamilton are “soul sisters” at Soul Sister Basketree who create hand-woven baskets of all shapes and sizes. Perfectly woven backpacks, flower baskets, purses and berry-picking baskets with colorful ribbons hung against the white canvas walls of the tent.

Anagick has been weaving since 2007 and began teaching her craft in 2009. Many of the baskets created by Hamilton and Anagick are unique since the majority of weaves are not based on a pattern. “Some of them are patterns – like this one's pattern, but some of them we get a chance to show our creativity and just do some unique designs,” said Anagick.

Anagick said her favorite thing about the Forest Fair is the people watching. “Girdwood is such a unique community and it is a joy to come out here.”

Crystal Healstals

Small business owner Winnie Valencia of Crystal Healstals had a large variety of gems and jewels inlaid in wire wrapped to form trees, an animal or a simple elegant setting for the crystal. Ribbons with bird skulls attached watched over intricately made wire-wrapped necklaces, earrings, permanent bracelets and rings. 

All jewelry is handmade by Valencia and she loves to find unique and rare crystals and stones. Valencia prides herself in the sturdiness of her handmade product by ensuring wire wrapped jewelry lasts more than after a few wears. 

Get Scent

Small business owner Chester Mainot of Get Scent creates handmade cement mushroom candle holders. Mainot also creates candles and wax melts and has experimented with different mediums in candle crafting – such as soy and beeswax – since the height of Covid-19 in 2020. 

Mainot plans to have a “candle bar” for the next Forest Fair where customers can create their own candles. 

Mainot said that since he has started his own business making handmade items, he understands the value in local and handmade businesses over mass production through a corporation.

“They put so much love into it, not just their time, but some love into making their craft,” said Mainot.

These four local businesses are just a few of the many vendors that will be at the 50th annual Forest Fair.

People eating near vendors and stages. (Photo by Hannah Dillon)