GVH Assisted Living plans third annual craft fair

This year, staff and residents will be selling their art

Sue Vincent (left) and Vonnie Howard (right) work on their crafts for the upcoming December Craft Fair. Photo courtesy of Ashleigh Pipher.

Posted Wednesday, November 26, 2025 12:00 am

By Meryl Phair, O'Rourke Media Group Reporter

The third annual Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) Assisted Living Craft Fair will take place Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, offering the community access to unique, handcrafted arts just in time for the holidays. The event features the work of both staff and residents.

Vonnie Howard, a resident at GVH, will be selling her jewelry, featuring one-of-a-kind earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

“This year I’m doing Christmas earrings, which were fun to do, and bracelets, which were quite the learning process for me because it was more complicated than the earrings,” Howard said.

Working with wire and beads, Howard has recently taken up jewelry making, while many of the residents have been refining their skills for much longer. Many have been working since August during community craft times to prepare their wares for the annual market.

“We’ve got some really crafty people here,” Howard said with a laugh. “Some of our employees are getting involved this year. I think there was only one that was involved in the first two years, but this year we have a bunch.”

In addition to Howard’s jewelry, other crafts will include homemade cards, pine wreaths, knitted scarves, canned goods such as jalapeno jellies, along with handmade knives and more. A staff member will showcase her resin jewelry, and a resident who is a watercolor painter will be selling prints.

The craft fair is a perfect opportunity to get some holiday shopping done early, all while supporting local artists, said GVH Assisted Living Administrator Ashleigh Pipher.

“It’s the best price in town,” she said. “Everything is priced to sell.”

The craft fair will be set up with booths for each seller, and attendees can walk around and make their purchases, all while engaging with the staff and residents. Pipher confirmed they may add extra hours on Sunday if products remain after the weekend.

The fair will take place on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days at 300 N. Third St. in Gunnison. For questions about the craft fair, reach out to Ashleigh Pipher at APipher@gvh-colorado.org.

Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) Assisted Living serves individuals aged 55 and older in the Gunnison Valley, with a one-level building designed to accommodate 15 residential suites.