Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 12, 1992                   TAG: 9203130107
SECTION: AMERICAN WOMEN'S SHOW                    PAGE: AW-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By ANNE PIEDMONT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PAIR FASHIONS `FRIENDLY PLASTIC' INTO FABULOUS PIECES OF JEWELRY

The two make earrings and pins from "friendly plastic," as well as little porcelain faces for belts, berets and bolos. "We fell into it about a year and a half ago," she said.

In the fall of 1990, she bought a piece of plastic jewelry from a co-worker's daughter. "It was so gorgeous," she said. "I thought I could do it; I'm fairly creative."

She and Fasnacht bought the necessary materials and after they "made many messes," came up with a product they liked just before Thanksgiving of that year.

"Now, we've fairly mastered it," Farley said. So much so, in fact, that they entered their first show in August and are selling jewelry through individuals in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.

"The marketability has been a blessing," she said. They display their work in baskets and when she opens a basket at a show, "there are swarms of people, oohing and aahing."

Farley attributes the success to how the final product looks. "A lot of people are doing friendly plastics," she said, "but we add things to it for an effect that's unique." What things? She won't say, it's a secret.

Linda Emory also is a newcomer to the craft world. About a year ago, she sat down to repair a broken necklace and liked the result. Now she makes her own line of jewelry from stones and glass beads.

The effect, she said, is a lot like Native American jewelry. She makes necklaces, bracelets and earrings - "everything but rings." This will be Emory's first show by herself, although she has done a couple with her mother.

She also makes and sells candles. Her products range from the "typical tapered candles" to the more exotic sand candles (made from pouring hot wax into mold of wet sand) and whipped wax candles (where the wax is actually whipped with an old-fashioned kitchen beater). She even makes candles in the shapes of owls and other animals.

Emory has been making candles since she was a child but has really gotten into it in the last two years. She's gotten a good response for both her jewelry and candles and would eventually like to work at the crafts full time.

Other crafts to be found at the American Women's Show include Native American crafts, wood working and ceramics, according to show organizer Danny Taylor. "It's all part of the variety," he said. "There's something there for everyone."