Sister Joanne Brazinski discovered the magic of photography while on sabbatical in New Mexico several years ago.

Looking at those stark red mesas and the colored sands of the Southwest, she couldn't figure out what would make a good photograph. A friend told her to look into the viewfinder of her digital camera and ask herself, "What do I see?" and "What do I hear?"

"When you can listen to nature, she will tell you what picture to take," her friend said.

Sister Joanne returned to the convent of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God. There, she looked and listened to nature and shot photos of the flowers, trees, birds and an owl that lives in a tree on the grounds of the convent.

Her nature photos from the convent grounds are featured in the new Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God 2007 calendar, which will be on sale for $8 at the sisters' annual Christmas craft sale.

It is one of the many items that the sisters make for their craft sale, now in its seventh year.

The craft sale will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. tomorrow and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the St. Francis Convent, 3603 McRoberts Road, Whitehall.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the sisters' ministries in Pittsburgh, other parts of the United States, Brazil, Bolivia and Lithuania.

Sister Theodora Shadis, a member of the community for 71 years, is the coordinator of the event. She said one of the most popular little gifts are colorful scouring pads, called Scrubbies, which are hand-crocheted from nylon netting by an Ohio woman. They sell for $1.50 each and are popular with cooks.

Others sisters in the order make crafts which will be sold at the fair and are for sale in the gift shop at the convent.

Sister Yolanda Marcelino does quilling, the art of rolling thin strips of paper into different shapes and sizes, for note cards that will be sold.

Sister Frances Walters, 91, also has learned the art of quilling from Sister Yolanda, and designed floral note cards that she sells.

This, of course, is the season for holiday craft fairs. While many are already behind us and more will be announced in the coming weeks -- check Southscape each week on these pages and on the Web -- here are some fairs that will be going on this weekend:

Bethel Presbyterian Church, 2999 Bethel Church Road, Bethel Park, will hold its Holiday A-Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The fair, an annual event for more than 30 years, features more than 50 vendors of crafts, gifts and holiday decorations. The church's women's association holds a bake sale and serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Anne Ashley United Methodist Church, 334 22nd Ave., Munhall, will hold Annie's Treasures craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday It is sponsored by the church's Midum Circle. Food items, including "Annie's famous roast beef sandwiches" and baked goods will be sold.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Mt. Lebanon will hold its biennial Canterbury Fair, a marketplace of speciality items and handcrafted goods, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Brentwood Presbyterian Church will hold a craft fair and bake sale from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday. The church is at 3725 Brownsville Road.