MISSOURI AND ILLINOIS CRAFTS FEATURED IN NEW ARTS AND CRAFTS OPERATION; GRAND OPENING PLANNED IN FURTURE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Linda Hess of Jackson and Lenora Widner of Cape Girardeau have opened Country Girl Creations at the corner of Independence and Sprigg streets.

"We have a variety of hand-made crafts and decorative items," Widner said. "This includes wreaths, pillows, bears, ceramics, paintings, tee shirts and more. We also have antiques."

Fifteen crafts persons from Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois have displays in the shop now. Its capacity is about 30.

Widner explained the crafts persons rent spaces in the shop, rather than using a consignment basis.

She said in the short time it has been open, she has noticed customers are from diverse areas of the nation, including Virginia, Minnesota, Texas and Michigan. The store is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Widner has been doing craft work for 15 years, crafting in ceramics, painting, shirts and other fields. She and her husband retired here from Fremont, Cal. Hess, Widner's niece, has been crafting floral arrangements of dried and silk flowers and making decorated bears for seven years. She is a Cape Girardeau native.

A grand opening is planned in the near future.