ARTS & CRAFTS: HAND-MADE PRODUCTS A BOOST TO ECONOMY, PROVIDE WORK AND RETAIL SALES

The United States started as a nation of people who made things by hand, by necessity. Today, people are still making things by hand, although not by necessity but for pleasure, and hopefully profit.

The business is arts and crafts.

It's hard to drive far without coming across shops and galleries selling a variety of hand-made products such as ceramics, jewelry, embroidery and needlework, wood carvings and art.

Arts and crafts can provide a big boost to any area's economy.

"It's difficult to pin down a total figure of what arts and crafts mean to this area's economy," says Leo Packard, director of Southern Illinois Arts and Crafts Market Place which opened almost three years ago in the Rend Lake area of Southern Illinois. "But last year's sales from this market were more than a quarter-million dollars, and we had over 80,000 visitors."

The state-owned and operated market place is located at the Rend Lake Recreational Area along Interstate 57, and features more than 17,000 square feet, with crafters from 27 Southern Illinois counties.

"Crafters and artists from any where in Illinois are eligible to display their goods," said Packard. "But 75 to 80 percent of the crafts here are from the lower 27 counties."

Packard said that as many as 600 crafters had displays at the facility. "We have a list of about 800 people who have products here at one time or another," he added.

Funds for the $2 million facility at Rend Lake were state appropriated. Although it is owned by the state, the operation is being administered by the Illinois State Museum Society and sponsored by the Illinois State Museum.

Packard cites another plus for the economy.

"We have visitors here from a wide area, and many of them will spend a half-day or so browsing, then stay overnight," he said. "They buy gasoline and eat at nearby restaurants, adding to tourism dollars."

Many of the exhibitors depend on outlets like this for their livelihood. "They work at their craft full-time, and place their products in several outlets," Packard said.

Omer and Brinda Luttrull agree.

The Luttrulls operate Country Shade Crafts Mall, Inc. in Cape Girardeau.

"We have really been surprised at the activity here, said Mrs. Luttrull. "We have more than 100 people displaying their products here, including a lot of local crafters. This setting provides an opportunity for customers to shop for crafts all year long."

Arts and crafts led to the full-time business for the Luttrull.

"We were former crafters," she said. "We specialized in ceramics, and traveled throughout the Midwest."

"The mall is a full-time business," she added. "We put in about 90 hours a week in our new business. Country Shade Mall, located at 8 Plaza Way, features crafters from a wide area.

"We have 6,000 square feet here," said Luttrull. "That includes 130 booths."

"We can't put a money figure on what arts and crafts mean to the community, but it brings a lot of visitors to town, and it provides an opportunity for crafters to add to their annual income. Some do it full time, others do it for fun and hobby, she noted.

In one Missouri community, St. Charles, arts and crafts is a major industry.

"We don't know the amount of retail sales generated by arts and crafts," said Shirley Hedley of the city's Convention and Visitor's Bureau, "but, we have more than 125 specialty shops on South Main here, and this attracts thousands of visitors each week."

Hedley said at least 25 more shops had opened this year in the North Main area, which had been closed to automobile traffic until this year.

Hedley added that tourism is the biggest industry in St. Charles, and that the specialty shop are responsible for a lot of those tourists.

"In 1992, we had more than 875,000 visitors here, from 33 different countries," said Hedley. "That total does not include festival participants, which total another 900,000 people."

Each year, hundreds of arts and crafts shows, festivals and fairs are held throughout Missouri and Illinois.

Only last weekend, thousands of people paid $2 each to attend the Cedarhurst Craft Fair, held on the grounds of Mitchell Museum in Mount Vernon, Ill.

During a two-day period each winter, Cape Girardeau turns into an arts and crafts hub that attracts 12,000 to 15,000 people, when two big shows are held in the city.

Last year, the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts "Christmas at the Show Me Center" and the River Valley Arts and Crafts Expo each attracted about 10,000 to 12,000 during a weekend show.

"Visitors travel here from throughout the region for these shows, which are held on the same weekend," said Arts Council executive director Beverly Strohmeyer following the show. "We usually have wall-to-wall people at the shows."

The dates for this year's show have already been established. It will be held Nov. 20-21.

Crafters work throughout the year in preparation for shows and displaying of products at various malls and consignment shops.

"For me, it's a full-time job," says Jane Hamlin of Wappapello. "We specialize in ceramics, and it keeps me busy to have a variety of products at the Country Shade Mall in Cape Girardeau. "Depending on what ceramic product I'm working on, we have to bake it from one to four times."

Hamlin also works with flower arrangements. Her husband, James, makes wind chimes. "We work from 10 to 12 hours a day in arts and crafts," she said.

Karen Sawyer of Glen Allen, and a friend, Lisa Kirkpatrick, also of Glen Allen, work about 12 hours a week at their craft. The two display their products at shows and in a local arts and crafts mall.

"We do a lot of wreaths and baskets," said Sawyer. "We also work with silk flowers, ribbon and lace."

"I've always been interested in crafts," said Sawyer, who said she started making her own clothes at the age of 12 or 13.

"I like to sew, and I like to draw and paint," she said.

Sawyer said she is getting into the Christmas craft season now. "We make a lot of Christmas stockings and coverings for the base of Christmas trees," she said.

Four women from the Arnold area set up their exhibits at the Country Shade locations last week.

"This is the first time we've displayed our crafts in Cape Girardeau," said Pat Unterreiner. "But, the four of us have items in several St. Louis area locations. Comprising the group are Unterreiner, Etta Basler, Audrey Rice and Pat Berkbigler.

A Doodle Book and Doodle Pack has proved to be a good products for Stacey Boyette of Cape Girardeau, who is working to develop her craft into full time.

"I'd like to see this develop into full time," said Boyette, who has designed the doodle book for children ages 3 to 7. The Doodle Packs are an expansion of the Doodle Book, noted Boyette.

"The products are designed as a fun way for children to learn some of the basics, such as letters, numbers, shapes and games," said Boyette, herself the mother of three children.

Boyette's products can be found in various antique retail outlets, an arts and craft mall, and a regular mall in the St. Louis area. Boyette, who has been producing her craft about eight months, is in the process of designing a second Doodle book, for the 7 to 9-year-old set. VIP Industries is currently assembling her products.

The Noah's Ark has become a popular one at arts and crafts outlets. The ark and several animals, cut from wood, make up a biblical scene.

"These are good selling items," said Mrs. Luttrull. "We get requests for them in all sizes, from miniature size on up."