BINGEING ON HOLIDAY ARTS AND CRAFTS: THOUSANDS CONVERGE FOR ANNUAL CRAFTS SHOWS

Thousands of people in search of unique Christmas gifts will descend upon five area buildings that form the center of the arts and crafts universe this weekend.

Attendance estimates for the three annual arts and crafts shows range from 3,000 at the Bavarian Halle in Fruitland to 5,000-6,000 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center and A.C. Brase Arena Building to 10,000-12,000 at the Show Me Center and Osage Centre.

The diversity of the products available is one reason the shows are so popular, said Terri Clark-Bauer, director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"That's part of the sell. We can market it to such a huge cross section of the public. Some are looking for homemade crafts, some are looking for artisans, and some are looking to see what the new trends are," she said. Last year, six buses from the St. Louis area brought shoppers here for the shows.

The annual Crafts, Gifts & Collectibles Show at the Bavarian Halle gets the weekend started from 5-8 p.m. today. The show continues from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The 30th annual Christmas Arts & Crafts Bazaar at the Show Me Center and Osage Center will be Saturday and Sunday. Times are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days.

The River City Craft Club will host its annual holiday craft fair at the Holiday Inn Convention Center and the A.C. Brase Arena Building. Booth space is almost full.

Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Potter Jeff Walker of Sedalia is one artist whose work will be for sale at the Show Me Center. Walker was a studio art major at Central Missouri State University who switched to mass communications and eventually found himself working for a Kansas City, Kan., company that makes electric scooters for adults with disabilities.

It was good work but, he says, "I was missing something in my life."

Then he ran into one of his old college instructors who wondered if he was still throwing pots. Walker said no. The instructor said, "You should be throwing pots."

He started again part-time and built his business slowly through attending shows such as these. For the past six years he has been making stoneware and raku pottery full-time at his home. He even has an apprentice.

Walker traded security for doing something he loves. "I eat, sleep and breathe clay," he said.

He also gets to spend much more time with his 12-year-old twin daughters. "I'm happier," he says.

"To me, art is something that should be in everyday life."

Most of the pieces Walker makes are functional and very simply designed coffee mugs, casserole dishes, soup mugs. "That's my philosophy," he said. "I would rather make something for somebody to use."

His art pieces use the raku technique of firing which makes the surface too porous to hold liquid but gives the pottery a darkly burnished look.

Mary Thompson of Fruitland will show her cane chairs at the Bavarian Halle. She redoes seats for old chairs. She uses pressed cane, cattail rush, fiber rush and splint weaving.

Thompson used to watch her grandfather cane chairs when she was a girl but didn't pay much attention to how it was done. After watching a TV show about basket making on PBS 15 years ago, she set about teaching herself from books and other materials.

"It's not difficult," she says. "It takes patience and it gives you a lot of enjoyment."

Thompson, who has an antique store in Fruitland, says working with these materials is hard on your hands.

After making four cattail seats for a customer, her hands were bleeding. Other materials are so rough "they rub the prints off your fingers," she says.

WANT TO GO?

The weekend's arts and crafts show schedule:

* Bavarian Halle in Fruitland, 5-8 p.m. today, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

* Show Me Center and Osage Center, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

* Holiday Inn Convention Center and A.C. Brase Arena Building, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.