A benefit for the commercial kitchen in the addition to the Dahmen Barn starts Saturday.

Several hundred handmade hot pads – sewn by resident artists, community members and board members – will be for sale through the fundraiser, dubbed “Too Hot to Handle.”

The hot pads will be for sale at the barn during the ninth annual Holiday Gift Gala from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 6. They will remain for sale as long as supplies last.

Some feature patchwork designs. Others might appeal to Washington State University or University of Idaho fans and alumni.

Meantime, the addition is already underway.  It encompasses 3,600 square feet of artist studios, a multi-purpose room and a commercial kitchen.  A culinary arts program is planned once the kitchen is operational.

Artisans at the Dahmen Barn is a nonprofit creativity center at 419 N. Park Way, Uniontown. Call (509) 229-3414. On the Web:  www.artisanbarn.org.