the part-time hobbyists, w o r k i n g a r o u n d day Shannon Y z e r m a n , w h o creates special edition Santas o u t of fine vintage fabrics, listens t o C h r i s t m a s c a r o l s in J u l y t o g e t into the m o o d . A s the festive season approaches, she swaths h o u s e in w r e a t h s a n d her jobs t o d o w h a t t h e y love a n d m a k e e x t r a cash. C o - w o r k e r s T r a c y C a m p b e l l a n d Lisa Fung have b e e n g e t t i n g t o g e t h e r t o s e w blankets, stockings, and c l o t h i n g f o r the u p c o m i n g juried s h o w at t h e W e s t V a n c o u v e r R e c r e a t i o n C e n t r e . Last year they sold jam, but t h e c o m p e t i t i o n w a s stiff pet holiday events garlands a n d fills it w i t h t h e a r o m a o f mulled spices. It's d u r i n g t h o s e f e w s h o r t w e e k s before C h r i s t m a s that fulltime artisans often make the bulk of their annual take, however. T i m i n g t h e i r fair b o o k i n g s is c r u - and s o m e fairs r e q u i r e d f o o d gifts t o h a v e been m a d e in c o m m e r c i a l k i t c h e n s . Mike Langford, a shop teacher and expert welder, started fashioning one-of-akind clocks o u t of r e c y c l e d a u t o m o t i v e parts and o t h e r m e t a l bits a n d pieces a f e w y e a r s ago. Y o u c a n s e e h i s w o r k a t t h e D e l b r o o k fair."It's n i c e t o sell a n d talk t o p e o p l e -- m a k e contacts. Sometimes I meet c i a l . T h e s h o p p e r s are sluggish at t h e e a r l i e r fairs. L i s t e n i n g t o t h e strains of Bing Crosbie's W h i t e C h r i s t m a s examining clothespeg reindeer a few hours thing. F o r t h e keen golfer, y o u might o n e of Mussatto's buy and After pop eight years con bi-plane at craft fairs,Albert seller. Mussatto's is still his best p e o p l e w h o have b o u g h t my c l o c k s t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r , s o I g e t s o m e f e e d b a c k , " says Langford. O n e of the local favourites t h e past f e w y e a r s is A l b e r t M u s s a t t o , w h o , u p o n m e n t , t o o k u p his h o b b y o f c r e a t i n g aeroplanes and golf carts o u t of p o p b e e r cans. Surprisingly, m o s t of t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s at the m a j o r N o r t h V a n c o u v e r fairs are local full-time craftspeople and artists such Barb Matthews w i t h her p o t t e r y and p a i n t e d silk o r R o b e r t D e C o s t e who as and retire- after H a l l o w e e n can be nauseating. " P e o p l e a r e n ' t in t h e m o o d y e t . Y o u g e t p e o p l e l i k e t h i s w o m a n w h o had been o u t jogging and she golf carts, c r e a t e d o u t of cans f r o m the recipient's favourite b r a n d of beer. L a t e m i d - N o v e m b e r is t h e p e a k , a n d t h e r e a f t e r i n t e r e s t in f a i r s l e v e l s o f f as pers run o u t of funds and get bogged shopdown p o p p e d in j u s t t o s e e w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g a n d jogged o u t again," recalls D e C o s t e . When c r o w d s are thin, c r a f t s p e o p l e visit of w i t h e a c h o t h e r and d o a little s h o p p i n g t h e i r o w n . T h e y s t a r t t o d e v e l o p an eye f o r t h e attractive displays and packaging that can such a difference t o their success. make w i t h o t h e r C h r i s t m a s season activities. Finally, t h e c r a f t e r s d i s m a n t l e t h e i r d i s p l a y s , say g o o d b y e t o e a c h o t h e r f o r a n o t h e r year, l o a d up t h e i r cars, a n d d r i v e off, w i t h s o m e c a s h i n t h e i r p o c k e t s a n d t h e g e r m s of s o m e great ideas t o mull o v e r f o r n e x t year's season. 0 Customers j u s t l o v e t h e l o w - s t r e s s g i f t t h a t is a l r e a d y tastefully w r a p p e d , matching blank card attached. A t the season marches on, interest picks up. D e s p e r a t e s h o p p e r s realize that there's a showed w a t e r c o l o u r s and sketches of local scenes at R o n A n d r e w s . T h e y p r o j e c t s all y e a r . w o r k at t h e i r g o o d c h a n c e they might find s o m e t h i n g really d i f f e r e n t f o r t h a t p i c k y r e l a t i v e w h o has e v e r y - Maureen writer and Curtis is a freelance North Shore Vancouver a member of the North Recreation Commission. Calendar of North Shore Christmas Craft Fairs & Art Shows Name; November November November November November November November November November November November November November & 29 28 28 3 5 8-13 8-20 I I 6-7 7 8 14 14 14 I 5 I 5 21-22 21 21 21 27, 2 8 . W e s t V a n c o u v e r Sec. S c h o o l H o l y Trinity C h u r c h St.Thomas Aquinas Church Address: 1750 M a t h e r s , W.V. 2725 Lonsdale, N.V. Time: (if k n o w n ) 541 W . K e i t h , N.V. 3380 Lonsdale, 3657 Fromme, N.V. N.V. 10-4 10-12 N o r t h Lonsdale United Fromme Boundary School School 7 5 0 E. 2 6 t h , N . V . Rec. C e n t r e St.Andrews& 780-22nd.W.V. 600 W. Queens, N.V. E. 2 3 r d , N . V . 10-4 10-3 10-4 12-3 Lonsdale- McDougal W e s t Van. Rec Delbrook Waldorf Centre Rec. C e n t r e School Church 2 7 2 5 St. C h r i s t o p h e r , N.V. 1068 Inglewood.W.V. N.V. St C h r i s t o p h e r ' s St. M a r t i n ' s A n g l i c a n Seymour A r t Gallery's Cornucopia of Creative gifts School 195 E . W i n d s o r , 4 3 6 0 G a l l a n t , N.V. 10-9, 10-6 10-9 November November December December December December December Seycove C o m m u n i t y St. S t e p h e n ' s Brooksbank Anglican School 1201 885 C a l e d o n i a , N.V. 22nd,W.V. 10:30-1:30 9 8 0 E. 1 3 t h , N . V . 1058 R i d g e w o o d . Silk P u r s e , Sale N.V. 10-4 St. C a t h e r i n e ' s Christmas Great in Church Miniature l570Argyle,W.V. Argyle.W.V. 11- 5 Stuff - E x h i b i t & A r t Community F e r r y Building, 1414 800 Foreseman, N.V. Lynmour School j