Published: July 08, 2008 11:55 pm            

Craft making finds home at fair

GREENTOWN — Emily Hawkins and Tori Riggleman went to the 4-H exhibit building to check out the 4-H projects on display Tuesday afternoon.

While they were there, they made a few crafts, including bookmarks, a box made from used Christmas cards and recipe card holders.

The two found a make and take craft day under way in the exhibit building, sponsored by Howard County Extension Homemakers.

Wanda McQuiston, Howard Extension Homemakers fair chairwoman, said the organization has organized craft days in the past, always at the extension office, but did not have many people show up to participate.

“We thought, ‘Why not bring it to the fair and see how we do there?’ We’ve had a wonderful turnout,” McQuiston said.

She thinks the intermittent heavy rain showers in the afternoon helped bring more people in. The homemakers planned to start their event at 3 p.m., but when rain began shortly after 2 p.m., people started showing up, and the volunteers began demonstrating their crafts early.

Volunteers from the extension homemakers helped children make flower pots with plastic flowers to hold recipes, baby food jars with silk flowers inside, book marks, latch hook projects and a box made from recycled Christmas cards, and one volunteer demonstrated how to knit a dish towel.

Emily and Tori both liked making the flowers inside the jars best, and were pleased to have the chance to make some crafts.

McQuiston said in addition to providing a fun activity, the event provided publicity.

“We thought this would be something to give exposure to the extension homemakers.”

        

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