When Scott Heggestuen works on leather crafts, he takes special care to do a perfect job. He has plenty of time.

Heggestuen, 41, is serving a sentence in the North Dakota State Penitentiary for burglary. Today, some of his leather crafts will be for sale at the prison arts and crafts sale from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

"The inmates have a lot of time to work on the crafts, and we spend hours on them," Heggestuen said. "None of us rush through it. Everything is quality work."

Nine inmates are exhibiting arts and crafts at this year's sale. Items sold will include leather goods such as wallets and handbags, jewelry, paintings, Christmas decorations, beadwork and dream catchers.

Correctional officer Marcy Olson said the sale is a good opportunity for the inmates.

"It gives them something to do to better themselves," Olson said.

They purchase their own supplies and get all of the money they bring in.

The inmates work on their crafts all year.

"It occupies people and keeps them out of trouble," Heggestuen said. "It gives us some cash to buy Christmas presents for our kids."

Olson said the crafts are inexpensively priced.

"Good place to do Christmas shopping, probably the cheapest place in town for the quality you get," Heggestuen said. "It's the only chance we have all year to sell our stuff."

The sale will be in the visiting room of the Penitentiary at 3100 Railroad Ave. in Bismarck.

Olson said shoppers must bring a photo ID and cannot bring purses or bags in.

"Shoppers can have a wallet, checkbook, ID and keys," She said.

(Reach reporter Katie Brown at 250-8225 or katie.brown@;bismarcktribune.com.)