Arts and Crafts Christmas Show this weekend, November 21-22

 

With the Morrisburg and District Arts and Crafts Association’s Christmas Craft Show now just days away, local artists and crafters have stepped it up a notch to finish off their projects for the always busy event.

This year’s Christmas Craft Show is scheduled for this weekend, Saturday, November 21 and Sunday, November 22, and association treasurer and crafter, Melinda Wert says it is a packed house of vendors.

“We are looking at about 30 vendors. Some of everyone’s favourites are returning, and we have some new folks coming in,” says Wert who for years has been producing stained glass artwork, but recently has cast her artistic eye on some other interesting crafts. 

The show will run this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and admission is a $2 or a non-perishable food donation for the Dundas County Food Bank.

“Everything the Craft Show brings in goes back out the door,” says Wert of the annual donations the Association, through its show, make to the community.

Last year a $200 Bursary was presented at Seaway District High School, a $50 donation was made to the Knox Ladies Club, $350 was donated to Winchester District Memorial Hospital and $350 was donated to the Dundas County Hospice.

In addition to the food, cash donations at the door totalled $405 and this all went to the Food Bank.

With some very talented artists and crafters booked to fill up the spots at this year’s Christmas Craft Show, Wert says that all that is needed now is “for people to come out and enjoy.”

Wert herself has been producing beautiful stained glass pieces for years, but recently has found her hands don’t work as well as they used to.

So the artist in her looked around and found some wonderful new projects to work on using all refurbished items. In particular, she leans heavily on producing art out of discarded jewellery. She has produced some very special pieces for her home using her grandmother’s jewellery.

With everyone enjoying the outdoors, Wert is now crafting outdoor artwork using recycled wood for the bases, jewellery and other decorative fastenings topped off with solar lights (the only non-recyled part of her pieces).

“This is an idea that was around a few year ago,” she says. “It’s out there everywhere. It’s stuff nobody wants anymore. The older generation is passing on, and the younger folks don’t appreciate the beauty of some of the old pieces. My favourite is jewellery. The hunt is the fun part. I have boxes and boxes of jewellery.”

Wert has some holiday decorated pieces ready and will also feature some of her sister’s glass artware. Other pieces are suitable to dress up the summer gardens.

“I love my stained glass, and I still love doing it, but unfortunately my hands refuse to do it. So now I am getting into wanting to use family heirlooms. If you have anything that glitters, don’t let me see it,” she says with a chuckle adding, “it has become fun just figuring out what I can do with it.”

“Right now it’s an outlet. Life is so stressful anymore. This is my dance until I drop.”

In addition to Wert, who has been involved with the local Arts and Crafts Association and its show for 10 plus years, association president Linda Schenck will have her crafts on display, well known artists Dwight (Association vice-president) and Helder of Aura Escapes and Linda Crump (loom work and crocheting) will all be there along with woodworkers, tole painters, artists, soap and bath products, jewellery and on and on. 

Also returning are the Knox Ladies with their popular bake sale and luncheon on both days.

The show is always a great time to get started on some Christmas shopping, support local crafters and join them in spreading good will throughout the community through the donations.

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