RIVERFEST CRAFTS FEATURE USABLE, UNUSUAL

The usable and unusual will be featured by arts and crafts vendors from four states at Riverfest '93.

Scheduled June 11-12 in downtown Cape Girardeau, Riverfest features entertainment and activities for the entire family, including a fireworks display June 12.

Nancy Ross, chairman of the Riverfest Arts and Crafts Committee, said this year's Riverfest will include working crafters exhibiting and demonstrating their crafts.

Arts and crafts vendors will be on hand along Main Street in downtown Cape Girardeau exhibiting and selling items ranging from rocking horses to handcrafted jewelry.

"Each year we have an outstanding variety of crafts," Ross said. "This year will be no exception." She said items for sale will include homemade jams and jellies, hand-thrown pottery, wooden toys, quilts, straw flower arrangements, puzzles, stuffed dolls and animals, puppets, cacti and other plants, T-shirts, designer men's dress coats, caricatures and pen and ink drawings of Cape Girardeau and other historic locales in Missouri.

Returning to Riverfest for the 14th year is Cape Girardeau artist Mark Farmer. For the city's bicentennial year, Farmer has completed detailed sketches of 1800s homes and river scenes from that era. These will be on display at Riverfest.

Among other exhibitors are Bill Trotter of Cabool and John Stoeckley of Louisiana, Mo. Trotter produces pottery pitchers, mugs, bowls and canisters, and Stoeckley does pen and ink drawings of Missouri's scenes.

Ross said 73 crafters participated in Riverfest last year. Many had been at Riverfest for a number of years.

Individuals interested in setting up a craft booth at Riverfest may contact Ross by writing her at 2320 Sherwood, Cape Girardeau or calling her evenings at 335-7955 or by calling Benita Curtis at the Riverfest office at 335-1388. Craft spaces may be reserved at a cost of $40 each.

Working crafters will be located in the shade under the trees in Courthouse Park, said Cheryl Ketelsen, Working Crafts chairman.

"We're still looking for traditional working crafters to exhibit and demonstrate their crafts," Ketelsen added.

Features in the working crafts area will be weaving, yarn spinning, blacksmithing, basket weaving and candlemaking.

Working crafters who would like to be a part of Riverfest may contact Ketelsen by writing 811 Pheasant Cove, Cape Girardeau, or calling 651-6237.

Corporate sponsors for Riverfest '93 are St. Francis Medical Center, Southwestern Bell Telephone and Fox 23 KBSI-TV.