BY KATIE MCDOWELL/Lifestyles Editor

COLUMBIANA – Visitors packed the Shelby County Exhibition Center July 28 for the Novella Club’s 17th annual Antiques, Arts and Crafts Show.

President Lisa Sallas said about 50 vendors participated in this year’s show. Vendors were set up in booth throughout the center, selling homemade goods, wreaths, children’s clothes, jewelry and antiques.

“They’re from all over the state of Alabama,” Sallas said. “A lot of them come every year.”

Calera native Teresa Wamble is one of the regular vendors. She first offer decorative gourds at her “Gourds Gone Wild” booth in 2004. It was her very first show, although she now attends about 18 a year.

This year marked the first for Brenda Warren of Springville. Warren’s booth featured crosses and decorative signs featuring Bible verses that her husband made.

“This is all reclaimed wood from tornado-damaged trees in Clay,” she said, adding that the wood was donated to the couple.

Warren said she and her husband consider the business a ministry and hope to return to the Columbiana show next year.

In one corner of the exhibition center, volunteers from the Shelby County Arts Council led children in a painting workshop.

Sallas said the show is the Novella Club’s biggest fundraiser and it typically raises approximately several thousand dollars.

Funds raised from the event are used to support local schools and charities, including:

• Scholarship for the Miss Shelby County pageant,

• Scholarship for a Shelby County High School graduating senior,

• Host the American Cancer Survivor Dinner,

• Provide personalized blankets and visits with each new resident at Columbiana Health and Rehabilitation,

• Participate in joint ventures to raise awareness and money for the Shelby County Arts Council,

• Make annual donations to Elvin Hill Elementary, Columbiana Middle and Shelby County High schools.

In addition to these priorities, the Novella Club also focuses on other groups throughout the year.

“We have an emphasis every month from September to April,” Sallas said.

Last year, the organizations were SafeHouse of Shelby County, Shelby County Humane Society, Wreaths Across America, Camp Jared, Owen’s House, Alpha Course, Heifer International, Operation Smile, Shelby Woods and veterans overseas and in local hospitals.