Cheryl Hays, left, shops with Mary Swift, both of Wisconsin Dells, at Joanne Neesam’s holiday arts and crafts show in Portage on Saturday.

With the economy a cause for concern, area shoppers are altering their gift-buying strategies to stretch their dollars for the holiday season.

Cheryl Hays traveled to Portage on Saturday from her home in Wisconsin Dells to view the offerings at the annual arts and crafts sale at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post, by local artist Joanne Neesam.

One of her strategies for holiday shopping this year is simple: Buy American and, preferably, locally made.

"Keep the money in this country," she said.

Mary Swift of Wisconsin Dells, Hays' shopping companion, agreed with her and added a strategy of her own.

"I'm going to give more practical things this year," she said.

The uncertain economy did not keep early morning shoppers away from Neesam's 16th annual sale, which featured antiques and home-crafted items with hand-painted scenes for holiday and year-round decorating. It attracts many repeat buyers from year to year.

Neesam spends the year, aided by husband Lyle, finding antiques and decorating them. Lyle cuts wood in various shapes to carry Neesam's artful vision for holiday and year-round decoration.

Neesam's speciality is wolves, and also Santa Claus - a fact that has lured Sharon Krueger of Pardeeville and her sisters - one from as far away as Milwaukee - to Neesam's sale in Portage each year.

"We love her stuff," Krueger said.

Krueger readily admits she is a Santa "nut" - and a big fan of former Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre, but that's another story - and keeps her family room decorated with images of Santa Claus year-round.

"She's got some of my favorite Santas," Neesam admitted with a laugh.

Krueger and sisters Sandra Bowers of Pardeeville, Janine Knox of West Bend and Connie Dalessandro of Milwaukee purchase holiday gifts for each other each year at the sale

"We always follow each other around," she said.

Krueger said the state of the economy means she is planning ahead more for the holidays by budgeting ahead of time.

"It's a special time of year," she said. "I think everybody finds the (money) for Christmas."

A different shopping strategy for this season is also on the mind of Darlene Krause of Portage.

She is planning on purchasing one nice item for those on her list, rather than multiple items.

Krause's friend, Elaine Hatz, also of Portage, agreed with Krause.

"I think a lot of people will be selective" in gift-buying, she said.

But a bad economy doesn't necessarily mean skimping on purchasing a gift for the other important person in your life, Krause said.

Her prize find was a nearly three-foot-long antique pelt board, painted by Neesam with a sparkling snowy scene and, of course, Santa Claus.

"I still have to have something for myself," Krause said with a smile.

sgreen@capitalnewspapers.com

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