Local organization holds successful Holiday Craft Blast
WAYNESBURG — The Greene County Fairgrounds was filled with Christmas spirit on Sunday, Dec. 11, when the Nathanael Greene Community Development Corporation (NGCDC) hosted its eighth annual Craft Blast.
NGCDC president Mary Shine, who coordinated the annual event, said there were 77 vendors in attendance for the festivities including many new vendors.
Pauletta Moore, Debbie Hoy and Sheila Phillips from Wood ‘n Wine were first-year vendors for the event. They began making wood crafts from wine bottles in September. Phillips said, “I’ve been doing crafts and floral work for 21 years. I’ve always liked doing crafts.”
Moore explained how the business started.
“We were sitting around and talking during some girl time,” she said. “We were thinking about what we could do with wine bottles. It became an enjoyable hobby for all of us.”
Sheila Phillips complimented the show by saying, “This is our first time. It’s a real nice craft show. There is a lot of traffic after church.”
Michelle Sloan was a vendor for her second year; she had been at the show two years ago. Sloan makes homemade gumdrops and Buckeyes, and she began a new craft this year — book origami.
“This is a big thing over in England,” she said. “My Mom visited England and brought back a book origami item. I became fascinated with the idea and began making them myself.”
Rodney Clark from Kingwood, West Virginia, was the seller for Three Ladies and Painting. The three ladies who comprise this business are Denise Clark, Sharon Corbin and Saundra Hayes. Clark is a retired health service worker who has been painting for three years; Corbin majored in art at Fairmont State University and has been painting for 10 years and currently has an art studio located in Fairmont, West Virginia; and Hayes is a retired art teacher at Preston County High School in Kingwood, West Virginia, and has been painting for many years.
“This is our second year attending this show,” said Rodney Clark. “I like coming to see the people. The vendors are all nice and friendly. The people who organize this show are nice and easy to work with, so it is a joy attending.”
Pam Donohue of Burgettstown, the owner of Candy Bouquets, also set up as a vendor for the event.
“A friend of mine told me about this show, and it’s my first time being here.” she said. “It’s a big show.”
Donahue said she came up with the idea to make candy bouquets by making one for her niece to commemorate her dance recital.
“When I gave it to her, it made me the best aunt in the whole world,” she said with a laugh. “After the dance recital, I had many orders. I have been making them for seven or eight years and I like making them.”
During the Craft Blast, there were gift baskets raffled with the proceeds benefiting the NGCDC. Groups and organizations donated items to be raffled at the end of the event. One of the baskets contained a signed picture of Antonio Brown that was donated by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pittsburgh Penguins donated items with their logo.