Holiday Boutique celebrates 15 years of food, fun, festivities and fabulous.Since 1993 Saint Peter Claver Church has kicked off the holiday shopping season with their annual Holiday Boutique, but the vendors, the Church and the community make this much more than just a craft show. The first thing that hits you when you walk in the door is the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls and for a moment you can imagine you are in Mrs. Claus' kitchen. The second thing is the warm, festive, convivial atmosphere as shoppers do not rush home with their presents, but take their time enjoying the beautiful handmade items, the pleasant music and the food. Sally Romero, owner of Creative Memories, describes it as, "always fabulous, always festive; the best boutique of the season". Sally, a former teacher at White Oak Elementary, teaches customers how to organize their family photos and, if they wish, to create "memory books". "The community always turns out for this. I think it's the best one in Simi."The Boutique boasts over seventy vendors. Hand crafted items and gifts include custom hand made soaps, handcrafted jewelry, hand made candles, wooden toys, gift baskets, award winning hand crafted teddy bears, table runners, custom sweat shirts, tole painting, hand crocheted items, ceramics, personalized gifts and even customized chocolate bars to name but a few. Organizer Lisa Kane says, "We have an incredible variety of quality vendors, many who come back year after year. Nancy Garrity has been selling her appliqué sweat shirts, denim shirts and tole painting since the boutique started fourteen years ago. "It's the best show in town, by far the best. I like the show because there's so much diversity in the vendors. The Church members and the community really support this show.""June Schroeder has been making and selling her handcrafted, lighted, holiday signs as well as her "every day" wooden signs for over six years, but this will be only her fourth year in the Boutique. "Everybody wants to be in this Boutique. I had to try for several years before I could get in." June is making it a family affair this year. Her 12 year old grandson, Cody Schroeder, will be sharing the booth with his Grandmother and will be displaying some of his hand crafted items as well. "There are so many beautiful homemade, handmade things here," June said with a smile, "but you've gotta have one of the cinnamon rolls."Then there's the food. In addition to the cinnamon rolls there are specialty gourmet coffee drinks and smoothies and lunch is served daily. But some think there are other things which make the Holiday Boutique special. Arlen and Diane Handberg handcraft wooden toys and have participated for five years. "Each year it gets better," remarked Arlen, "but one of the extras that make it special is Santa Claus." This Boutique will make you happy you got a head start on your Holiday Shopping.The Saint Peter Claver Holiday Boutique will be held Saturday November 3 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday November 4 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Saint Peter Claver Parish Hall at the corner of Stow and Cochran across from Simi Valley High School. Admission is free. There will drawings, food, beverages and pictures with Santa Claus. Proceeds benefit the Saint Peter Claver Building Fund.