Bullet art, crocheted pieces, lasered wood slabs and other handmade creations filled the halls of the ELKS Lodge on Saturday for the “Last Minute Christmas Bazaar” – the first of its kind.

“I was trying to figure out how I could help a bunch of people right before Christmas, and this is what I came up with,” said Denise Coffman, who organized the event and rented out the venue herself.

Coffman, who is immersed in a local vendor community that travels throughout the Four Corners, was brainstorming ideas for how to encourage local shopping and give back to the community.

She wanted to “give the community a place to come where they could get unique and special items for Christmas” – something you can’t find at Walmart or online, she said.

Coffman comes from a military family and has several veteran friends. She referenced one in particular who has had a difficult time paying for care to address psychological and physical problems, she said.

So, she decided the event would raise funds for the Disabled Americans Veterans with a silent auction and with portions of her proceeds.

Each vendor donated an item to be featured in the silent auction.

Santa and Mrs. Claus – also known as Shelly and Bud Griffin — were at the event eager to greet children after making an appearance at the Four Seasons Greenhouse & Nursery.

As a pair, they’ve helped spread holiday cheer in Cortez for about 16 years.

“We did it for the fun ... word got out in the community,” Shelly said.

She said they watch many of the same kids return year after year.

“We watch them grow up,” she said.

Bud, pictured above, held a sleeping baby at the bazaar, whose parents had been “chasing down Santa” that day.

At the show was R.K. Winfree, a truck driver who has been fashioning wood pieces for about 15 years.

After being inspired by someone doing the same at a home show, he adopted the craft as a hobby while on the road as a truck driver.

“I call it my wasting time,” he said.

Meg Damon moved to Cortez a month ago.

As a side gig, she’s a vendor for lockets.

“It gets me out in the community and helps me meet people,” she said.