CRAFT FAIRS GIVE SHOPPERS EARLY START ON SEASON

The doors at the Osage Centre opened an hour early Sunday so the elderly and those with disabilities could shop in a more relaxed atmosphere at the annual arts and crafts fair.

Elevlyn Taylor of East Cape Girdeau, Ill., took advantage of the less crowded isles. Taylor often visits her daughter at this time of year and misses the show. As she strolled through the isles admiring the various crafts, she enjoyed the special shopping time. "I'm glad I had the chance to be here this year," she said. "It kind of gives you the Christmas spirit."Traffic jams in the isles were frequent Saturday as record numbers of shoppers sought decorative crafts, Christmas gifts and those special one-of-a-kind creations that craft fairs produce.

Iona Gerard of Cape Girardeau really liked the early-bird shopping."This is just so much nicer," she said, speaking of the smaller number of shoppers. Gerard had tried shopping at some of the fairs Saturday but found them much too crowded.

Leslie Stucker of the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri said this was the second year for the early shopping time. The Arts Council sponsors the craft show to raise funds to promote the arts and arts education. The Arts Council sponsors programs at residential care facilities and day care centers along with the April Arts for All. Making her way from booth to booth was an enjoyable event for Esther Ongoa."I'm so glad they had this time," said Ongoa, who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease. "I like to go just like everyone else." Ongoa, a retired professor at Southeast Missouri State University, uses a cane to help steady herself. She was diagnosed with ALS shortly after her retirement. The disease affected her ability to speak in a normal tone, and the quieter atmosphere made conversing with the crafters easier.

Being able to go at her own pace gave Ongoa plenty of time to find "some very creative things.""This is just an ideal location for shoppers with special needs," said Stucker. Entrance to the show is no problem in the single-level facility. The wider isles and bright lights add to shopping comfort.

The shoppers weren't the only ones happy with the extra hour. Edna Biri of Doe Run thought the facility was ideal. Biri and her husband brought their woodworking to the show. "We only do two big shows a year, this one and the one at Ste. Genevieve," she said. Some of the Biris' pieces are large and getting them through Saturday's crowd was difficult even for her husband. Today's extra hour made shopping less intimidating.

Jackie Freemantle travels from Marion, Ky., to the Osage Christmas show. "We book early every year so we can get this spot," she says. Freemantle was impressed with the friendliness of the organizers and the shoppers. Nina Schmidt and her daughter Kim, who was in a wheelchair, came to the 1998 special shopping time. Finding it much to their liking, the pair returned this year."There would be too many people otherwise," said Kim Schmidt. "It's hard to maneuver the chair and I can't get up to the booths." She had no trouble Sunday and was able to closely examine the jewelry and other crafts she found appealing."I wish the other locations would have special times as well," said Nina Schmidt.

Mary Gentry of Cape Girardeau would have liked for the other sites to offer the extra time, too. She and her husband, Robert, set up their booth, Jewelry by Gentry, at the Show Me Center. Mary Gentry finds her work very rewarding and would like the opportunity to share her craft with even more people. The couple are relatively new to the Cape Girardeau area, but Mary Gentry has been in the jewelry-making business for 10 years."My mother made things before crafts became fashionable," she said. "It was a kind of make-do thing for us." The Gentrys travel a five-state circuit to display their crafts. "This is my favorite time of year; though, I just love the Christmas music," said Mary Gentry.

Tammy Belt and her parents traveled from Joy, Ky., for this year's show. "We have a shop set up beside the house," said Tammy Belt. The family is just getting started with the craft shows. Painted gourds resembling Santa, snowmen and angels of every shape and size could be found at the Belt's booth. "I'll be 21 Christmas Day," said Tammy Belt, "and I've been painting since I was four." A variety of ceramics, wreaths and other Christmas decorations were also on display.

Gerard made a stop at the Show Me Center before the crowd got too heavy. "I decided since I was out and I had the ticket, I might as well go ahead and come here," she said.

The Arts Council plans to continue offering the early shopping time as part of the annual arts and crafts extravaganza.