ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 8, 1996 TAG: 9611080042
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: ANNE DAUGHERTY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
Debbie Warren and her husband, Al, recently moved from Rhode Island to live on a small farm outside Blacksburg. While in New England the couple ran a Christmas tree farm, and Debbie Warren became interested in naturally crafted ornaments to complement the trees.
She learned the ancient craft of wheat weaving, a traditional symbol of the harvest. Wheat weaving is very popular in Kansas, as you would imagine, but wheat weavers can be found throughout the world.
Today through Sunday, Warren's wheat weaving and numerous other arts and crafts can be found in Blacksburg, at the annual YMCA Crafts Fair at Virginia Tech's Squires Student Center.
Warren's weavings represent many countries and tell many stories, like the Modiford heart, the Welsh fan, the African fringe and the Corizon house blessing. At her exhibit, Warren tells the stories of the craft while her fingers move in an intricate, constant motion to create a new weaving.
One of Warren's angels was featured on the White House Christmas Tree in 1993 and this year will be part of the YMCA craft fair for the first time.
A wide variety of crafts and entertainment will fill Squires Student Center from noon to 5 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
"We have everything anyone would want to imagine in a fair," said crafts fair director Martha Olsen.
Regular exhibitors like Mary Lou Clark's banners and flags, Edward Keith's basket weaving and chairs, Jean Sumner's wood carvings and Ann van Tassell's calligraphy will be back this year. As will many other exhibitors whom people have come to look forward to seeing each year at the YMCA fair.
While the fair has become well known throughout the region through these regular exhibitors, the organizers also attract plenty of new people as well.
Some of the new features for this year's fair include Virginia Sarsfield and her handmade paper, Star Root's acrylic paintings, Eve Doolan's pottery, Edward King's jewelry, Warren's wheat weavings and Margaret Rodgers' porcelain figurines.
Exhibitors will travel from all over Virginia, as well as from many surrounding states. Marcus Chatfield, for example, brings his home made Ashiko African Drums from Leicester, N.C., while Sonya Becker's hand-knitted sweaters and accessories travel from Fairfax Station. Many exhibitors also will demonstrate their crafts and share their expertise to visitors.
In addition, a schedule of performances is organized to run during the fair, including Ed Robinson on bagpipes, the Ujima of the Center of Dance workshop and Holiday cooking with Herbs.
Because the whole fair is indoors, there is no need to worry about the weather. Parking is available on Virginia Tech's campus by stopping at the visitor information booth or the police station to collect a visitor's permit.
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/Staff. Debbie Warren works on some of her wovenby CNBwheat creations. color.