Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 12, 1993 TAG: 9311110046
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOANNE ANDERSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Well, they do. And you can verify it by watching piper Ed Robinson play Saturday at the 24th annual YMCA Crafts Fair. The fair opens at 10:30 a.m. today at Squires Student Center.
Music was put in regular staff notation in the 19th century, but bagpipes were invented long before, said Robinson, one of a dozen performers who will volunteer time and talent at the autumn craft extravaganza. Thus, piper students were required to memorize tunes, the 58-year-old Virginia Tech professor explained.
The volunteer spirit has long played an important role in the success of the YMCA Crafts Fair. Betty Williams, director of the fair for 23 of its 24 years, said that "200 to 300 volunteers donate their time helping the exhibitors before and after the fair and giving assistance during the weekend."
Many students come to help exhibitors unload their goods and set up booths. Just as many appear at the end of the last day to help the craftspeople load up what's left and take apart their booths.
Blacksburg resident Julie Bishop has volunteered for the past decade at the YMCA Crafts Fair, staffing the YMCA booth, making change for exhibitors and handing out literature. "We also keep a list of people who need relief," she explains. "And we send someone - sometimes I go - to stay at their booth while they take a break."
More than 100 exhibitors are participating in this year's fair.
It's "quality and variety" that make this show such a success, Williams said. "We also have longevity and time of year in our favor."
A lot of holiday shopping takes place at the fair, and there should be something for everyone on holiday shopping lists.
Debby Lawrence of Christiansburg will sell little brick houses again. Her husband, Larry, a Christiansburg native, saws smooth-face solid brick into house shapes; then she paints doors, windows, shutters, window boxes and bushes on them, leaving a space in the middle for personalization.
"People ask for their names in the circle or `Welcome' or `Happy Holidays.' I personalize the houses at the fair while the buyers shop around. Then they can take their house with them," she said.
Leather crafters for two decades, Doug and Carlene Arthur have been selling at this fair for 17 years. "The show has a good reputation for quality. The atmosphere is nice, with good display areas for the merchandise and places to eat close by," she said. Their soft-leather goods range from $3 coin purses to $170 briefcases, with handbags, wallets, waist packs and shaving kits in the middle.
The fair is juried by a YMCA committee that looks for quality of materials, good workmanship and variety. And there always are more applicants hoping to be accepted into the fair than the space can accommodate.
In addition to ever-popular Appalachian crafts like baskets, wood toys and pottery, a German fretwork woodworker, aloe tinnery artisan, dulcimer maker and bird carver are among this year's artisans. Exhibitors from as far as Texas and Utah participate.
For the first time, there is a one-time, $1 admission fee for anyone over age 12. The dollar is good for entering the fair all three days. All of the money will go toward YMCA projects, especially Project Home Repair and the After School Program.
Project Home Repair provides property repair to low-income and elderly Montgomery County residents who are unable to do the work themselves.
Children who might otherwise be alone after school are eligible to participate in the After School Program.
YMCA Craft's Fair will be held Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $1.
by CNB