Visitors to the fair listened to swing bands, ate kettle corn and wandered past vendors selling a variety of handmade goods that would make Santa Claus' elves jealous.

Knit scarves, jewelry, pottery, hand-painted porcelain, gourmet olive oils and decorative lamps were among the unique goods on display.

Kathy Wilkinson of Citrus Heights found a Christmas present for her daughter - a Swarovski rearview mirror crystal from Jan's Jewels of Grass Valley.

"I like the homemade items. They're different and unique," she said Sunday. "You don't want to get everyone the same shirt, or the same crystal, for Christmas."

Some preferred to see all the fair had to offer before making any purchases.

"There's a few places I want to go back to," said Muriel Arnold, of Foresthill. "You kind of have to see everything first, then go back."

It didn't take long for 3-year-old Lara Hurley to zero in on what she wanted. She was mesmerized by the multi-colored marbles at one booth.

"She'll look at every marble to find just the right one," said her dad, Dan Hurley, of Auburn.

Lara is quite the young crafter and has been making ornaments for her own special Christmas tree, said mom, Nikki Hurley.

Artisans from around the region proudly told shoppers about their creations.

Kent Holmgren of Joshua Tree, Calif., carves figures out of pine, cedar and redwood trees - sometimes even reclaimed power poles. His work includes squirrel wall hangings and Native American portraits.

"The bears pay more bills than anything," he said of his popular carvings of bears peeking out of logs.

Gourd carver and painter Bill Wilson of Nevada City was sitting back at his booth as visitors marveled at his intricate cutouts on gourds, which he does with a mini jigsaw.

"I do enjoy listening (to those comments)," he said.

Handmade soaps were another popular product for those wanting to soothe their dry, winter skin.

"There's no chemicals. Just all natural ingredients made with essential oils that put the natural moisture in your skin," said Heather Miller, a saleswoman for Green Frog Soap Works of Loomis.

Gloria Pietromonaco, of Nevada City, and Cathy Asher, of Auburn, smelled the soap fragrances of clove, cinnamon and rosemary, which had a rather "Christmas-ey" scent.

"We really like coming to these things," Pietromonaco said. "We like to see what's new and what people are doing (in crafts.)"

Joan Conzatti, of Sacramento, said she enjoys the variety of crafts and the great musical acts. She purchased a pair of brilliantly colored purple and blue earrings from Peter Bailey designs.

Her husband, Pepper Conzatti, was at Sunday's craft fair for other reasons.

"I'm making her happy," he said.