“A sleighful of unique, handcrafted Christmas ornaments once again adorn the big Hearts and Hammers evergreen tree in the front window of the Island Athletic Club in Freeland. Donated by professional and amateur craftspeople from South Whidbey, proceeds from the sale of these ornaments will help pay for the cost of home repair materials to be used on the annual spring workday.Hearts and Hammers is a local volunteer effort that repairs and maintains the homes of people physically or financially unable to do so themselves, all for free. On the first Saturday in May every year since 1994, hundreds of South Whidbey folks have painted walls, patched roofs, cut back brush and done all sorts of chores for their neighbors. The materials for the May workday are paid for with money raised throughout the year through donations and fund-raising events like the Christmas ornament sale and the February Spaghetti Dinner.Last year, the ornament sale alone raised enough money to help improve the homes of two or three of the 34 South Whidbey families served by Hearts and Hammers. This year, local artists have donated a huge array of holiday decorations that showcase the talents and varied media that have made the island well known as an artist’s community. There are ornaments from painters, weavers, jewelers, sculptors, potters, glass blowers and wood carvers, as well as multimedia creations that combine materials and techniques. And as usual, Junior Girl Scout Troop 259 has pitched in, this year with colorful fabric and cork gingerbread figures.Done in the spirit of Christmas with a touch of artistic license, the style of these ornaments ranges from traditional to funky, serious to comical. The sale begins Dec. 4 at Island Athletic Club, on Highway 525 just north of Freeland, and will continue until the day after Christmas. IAC is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 12-8 p.m. All proceeds go directly to Hearts and Hammers.”