The annual show, put on by the Daily Mining Gazette for more than a decade, filled the Copper Country Mall with shoppers looking for holiday deals among more than 100 vendors.

There were at least 80 vendors on the floor, said Gazette Advertising Manager Yvonne Robillard. About 40 more were set up in storefronts.

“I think last year, it might have been kind of snowy and that kind of kept people away, but the weather helps,” she said. “And we have a lot more vendors than we had in the past, which is going to draw a lot more people out. It’s definitely a good show.”

Endless waves of shoppers browsed through homemade decorations, clothes and more.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Customers check out the selection at Holly Wright’s booth during the Deer Hunters’ Widows Craft Show & Marketplace Saturday. The Gazette's second show of the season will take place Saturday, Dec. 2.

Beth Brunelli, of Iron River, Michigan, was checking out the craft show with a friend after coming to Houghton to see Charlie Berens’ stand-up set.

They’d just arrived at the show and were admiring the jewelry and polish pottery at Wanda Kiiskila’s booth.

“We’ve gotten three tables in and we’re already bargain-hunting,” Brunelli said.

Lori Budweg of Hancock comes to the show every year.

“I pick up some Christmas presents, and there’s a wide variety of things,” she said.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Customers browse the selection at the Hilltop Restaurant’s booth at the Deer Hunters’ Widows Craft Show & Marketplace Saturday.

In addition to the presents, she’d also picked up some nisu bread.

In the northern wing of the mall, the Hilltop Restaurant from L’Anse was doing brisk business. This was their first year participating.

“It’s been busy,” said manager Sue McDonald. “It’s a good way to advertise, and to talk with people.”

People had been buying a bit of everything, but were gravitating the most toward the hilltop’s famous sweet rolls, McDonald said.

It was also the first year as a vendor for Holly Wright of Calumet, who sold homemade jewelry and other items.

Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette The Deer Hunters’ Widows Craft Show & Marketplace drew a large crowd to the Copper Country Mall Saturday, with a record number of vendors.

“It’s been pretty good,” she said. “There’s a lot of people.”

She’s been selling at craft shows for the past 15 years, and has been selling jewelry since she started at a UP Health — Portage hospice fundraiser when she was 12. She got started after her grandparents gave her a jewelry set.

“I just love jewelry, so it was fun to start making it,” she said. “I love art, so I love to make everything.”

Her most popular pieces had been from another element of her art — large wooden characters and Grinches and gnomes made from five-gallon buckets.

Inside one of the storefronts, Mary Butkovich of Houghton, Rita Levanen of Calumet and Laurena Blakeman of Marengo, Wisconsin were browsing a rack of sweaters.

The day had already been a productive one.

“We’ve got bagsful,” Blakeman said. “I’ve already spent about $60 today.”