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Holiday Sip & Shoppe Vendor Market
brings crafts, community, and support for local veterans
[December 10, 2025]
The Lincoln VFW’s December Sip
& Shoppe brought a steady flow of shoppers, artisans, and neighbors
together on Saturday morning, Dec. 6, transforming the hall into a
warm holiday market filled with handmade goods, niche creations, and
the unmistakable energy of a community that shows up for one
another.
Local vendors included Shellz Suds Handmade, Bob's Woodshed of
Lincoln, Scentsy, Sapphire Blue Jewelry, AG Daisy Designs, Flitter,
Touchstone Jewelry, Herbalife, All PressedUp, Dee Dee’s Crafty
Creations, and the Villas of Lincoln, who offered snowflake
ornaments, peppermint canes, snowmen, and a variety of homemade
chocolate treats.
Dee’s Macramé drew steady attention with intricately woven plant
hangers, towel hooks, and wall pieces in multiple patterns and
colors. Cara’s Crafts added a personal touch with keychains and a
unique “clip hanger” — a yarn-and-stick ladder design created to
hold hair clips.
“My daughter wanted one so I made
it for her,” said creator Cara Begolka. “I had all kinds, so I just
went with it. Mine hangs on my door so these don’t take up space in
drawers.”
While shoppers explored the diverse selection, another table held
crafts made by residents of the Villas of Lincoln. The project is
supported by community volunteers, including one who leads Tuesday
craft sessions.
“What we have on the table… are the fruits of those crafts that she
was able to help our residents make each Tuesday afternoon,” a
resident William Doloe said.
It was added that the Villas houses 12 residents and remains at full
capacity. “We’ve got around-the-clock care, and it’s a great place
to be.”
Beyond the festive atmosphere, the Sip & Shoppe serves a critical
purpose for the VFW. All vendor events held at the hall act as
fundraisers to keep the building operating, support community
programs, and fund veteran-related needs.
“This is a fundraiser for the VFW,” said organizer Michelle
Ramlow-Harnacke. “Every time we do a vendor event here, it helps us
raise money to keep the building going… and pay the mortgage. The
vendors are outstanding with their support, and the community is
wonderful.”
Harnacke shared that the VFW has organized vendor markets for more
than a decade, beginning with the Route 66 Townwide Garage Sale and
expanding from there. This year marked the first attempt at holding
monthly markets throughout much of the year, with events running in
March, April, May, June, September, November, and December.
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As guests browsed
the aisles, Harnacke reflected on the creativity present at the
event. “These vendors… I call them artisans,” she said.
“Everything that they do is from the heart, and they share their
talents with the community. Everybody is unique and definitely
niche.”
Even the name “Sip & Shoppe” has its own history. Originally an
evening event, the VFW once offered sangria for shoppers. “We
thought, you know, sip and shop,” Harnacke explained. The modern
version is daytime-focused, and this year a beverage vendor
planned to offer hot chocolate and cider before running into
electrical issues. Still, families arrived to browse wares and
support their community.
By late morning, the hall was filled with conversations,
laughter, and the smell of chili and chili dogs prepared by VFW
members.
Harnacke emphasized how vital the community’s support continues
to be for the organization and for the small businesses who rely
on these events. “I always want to make sure that the community
of Lincoln and Logan County gets thanked for supporting the VFW
and all of the veterans’ causes that we do,” she said. “Times
are hard, but people are trying… I’m grateful that the community
is so supportive.”
Harnacke has been connected to the VFW since about 2006 and has
served in multiple leadership roles, including commander and
senior vice commander. “We have a great group of people that
help,” she said, watching as shoppers made their final purchases
before heading back into the December cold.
From handcrafted ornaments to macramé art, from specialty soaps
to clever clip hangers, the Sip & Shoppe once again highlighted
the creativity and resilience of local makers — and the
community that continues to uplift them.
Lincoln VFW’s December Sip & Shoppe Vendor Market - Slideshow
[Sophia Larimore]
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