ALL DOLLED UP FOR FUND-RAISER\Weather unfair to craft boutique for Simi school.

Byline: R.A. Hutchinson Daily News Staff Writer

From hand-stitched wedding gowns to the Achey Breaky Chilly Chasers, shoppers could find an array of crafts at Saturday's fund-raiser for Atherwood Elementary School.

Cloth-covered theme boxes that open with surprises, smiling clown faces and pillow quilts were all on display. Unfortunately, high winds and chilly morning weather kept the number of shoppers to a minimum.

"It was a windy and gusty start. We moved some vendors inside and a couple of vendors canceled," said Beverley Radloff, principal at Atherwood.

But Radloff said the school still expects to raise about $2,000 for the day from the $25 fee that vendors had to pay for a booth space. The money will be used to buy computer equipment for the school.

"It's enough to put one multimedia computer system into a classroom," Radloff said. "The first year of a craft fair is always slow. We hope next year will be better."

Zee Damji, whose children attend Atherwood, said she came out to the fair to support the school.

"I just moved into the area so I'll get something to decorate the house," she said.

Cherris Morgan and Lona Cooper, two custom seamstresses from Simi Valley, said traffic was beginning to pick up at their booth.

The women, friends for 30 years, had brought several samples of their handiwork, including an ivory, hand-beaded wedding dress, hand-stitched vests and original handmade hats.

Nearby, Jamie Stevens had dozens of pieces of jewelry on display.

"I had to move inside this morning. All my things kept blowing away. This is a fund-raiser for the school, so I hope it improves," Stevens said.

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Photo (color) Elsie Massey takes a break amid her handmade Victorian dolls at Saturday's fair. Jeremy Greene/Special to the Daily News