The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

holiday events by Maureen Curtis Catch the Spirit-- Come to the Fair! M e x i c a n t o o l e d metal pieces, Joy Jubenville's blown-glass fruit and p e r fume bottles, G r a h a m Eagle's items m a d e of f o u n d materials, and Elizabeth H a r r i s - N i c h o l s ' q u i r k y angels, w h i c h are c r e a t e d o u t of o l d b r o k e n pieces of w o o d and hinges. L o r r a i n e V i l l e n e u v e of D e e p C o v e has e a r n e d h e r display s p o t w i t h p o t t e r y pelicans, l o o n s , and graceful dancing w o m e n . A similar e x h i b i t i o n and sale will be held at the F e r r y Building in W e s t Vancouver. O v e r 2.000 p e o p l e usually visit d u r i n g t h e t w o - w e e k exhibit, E ach year, C h r i s t m a s s e e m s t o arrive s o o n e r and many p e o p l e feel they are being dragged, p r o t e s t ing, into a stressful t i m e that i m p o s e s m o r e obligations o n already busy lives. If you're finding it h a r d t o get into the " s p i r i t " of the holiday sea- s o n , there's no b e t t e r c u r e than a w a l k t h r o u g h a C h r i s t m a s craft fair. W h a t w e l o n g f o r is t h e simplicity o f a n o t h e r t i m e , w h e n the w e e k s leading up t o D e c e m b e r 25 w e r e s p e n t p r e p a r i n g things w i t h o u r hands, visiting, singing, and getting in t o u c h w i t h t h e t r u e meaning of t h e season. Stepping into a craft fair takes y o u back t o that t i m e . T h e smell o f c i n n a m o n and b e e s w a x , t h e s o u n d s of C h r i s t m a s m u s i c , and t h e ai ~n ^ intriguing sight of unique items c r e a t e d in s o m e o n e ' s k i t c h e n o r w o r k s h o p can calm and e n e r g i z e y o u f o r the w e e k s ahead. If the p e o p l e o n y o u r gift list already have e v e r y t h i n g t h e y can possibly " n e e d , " this is t h e place t o go. F o r silk, b l o c k - p a i n t e d c l o t h i n g and o t h e r e x q u i s i t e items o f v e r y high artistic quality, the S e y m o u r A r t G a l l e r y ' s annual C o r n u c o p i a of C r e a t i v e G i f t s is the s p o t t o v i s i t . T h e affair o p e n s w i t h a r e c e p t i o n , N o v e m b e r 2 5 , 7 to 9 pm. A c c o r d i n g t o c o o r d i n a t o r M a r i e d e C o s t e , this j u r i e d s h o w and sale features w o r k f r o m D e e p C o v e ' s active artistic c o m m u n i t y as w e l l as f r o m artists throughout southern B C . A n g e l a Reeves of P o r t M o o d y will s h o w c u r i o u s items she has fashi o n e d o u t o f t o o f a h , a malleable c e m e n t aggregate. L o o k f o r h e r m e d itation b o w l s , in w h i c h m i n i a t u r e o u t d o o r scenes have b e e n f a s h i o n e d , plus alpine planters and flat s t o n e s d e c o r a t e d w i t h leaf prints w h i c h are m e a n t t o d e c o r a t e shed walls and fences. H o r n b y Island's Elaine Savoie specializes in painting animals o n w o o d w i t h vibrant c o l o u r . N o r t h S h o r e artisans are w e l l represented with Maria Romo's which opens with a reception, D e c e m b e r 7. 6 t o 8 p m . " W e invite w e l l - k n o w n artists t o c r e a t e w o r k s valued u n d e r $ 2 5 0 , giving t h e public an o p p o r t u n i t y t o purchase s o m e thing by an established N o r t h S h o r e artist that they may n o t n o r m a l l y find accessible," says visual arts c o o r d i n a tor, R u t h Payne. C r a f t fairs at local r e c r e a t i o n c e n tres are always popular. Perhaps t h e largest is the o n e h e l d at D e l b r o o k Recreation C e n t r e , which attracted o v e r 5.000 visitors last year.This year. I 14 different crafters w i l l be featured o n each of t h e t w o d a y s . T h e r e is a huge variety of crafts, but D o n n a M a t h i e s o n has n o t i c e d that a r o matherapy, l o t i o n s , soaps, and o t h e r b o d y p r o d u c t s are especially p o p u l a r these days. F o o d (sold as f u n d r a i s e r s by local s c h o o l groups) and babysitting will also be available. The Lonsdale-Mickey McDougal sale is always popular. A b o u t 1,000 Many c h u r c h e s o n t h e N o r t h S h o r e put o n fairs that have b e c o m e traditional gathering opportunities f o r n e i g h b o u r s and p a r i s h i o n e r s . S o m e are k n o w n f o r p a r t i c u l a r specialties. St Stephens's W h o l the Dickens bazaar has b e c o m e f a m o u s f o r its m i n c e m e a t . T h e baking and p r e s e r v e s a r e a l s o q u i c k sellers, a n d there's a l u n c h e o n available for the w e a r y shopper. If it's a n t i p a s t o y o u ' r e pining for, M t . S e y m o u r U n i t e d C h u r c h has c o r n e r e d that m a r k e t . Its craft g r o u p w o r k s for months to produce pres e r v e s and o t h e r beautiful and useful i t e m s . T h e r e ' s face painting and a Graham miniature Eagle's storewill front creations Delbrook be for sale at the Recreation Centre, West Vancouver Community and West Vancouver Secondary craft of Fairs. Eagle is the newest winner the North Arts Shore Centre p e o p l e a t t e n d e d last year, and w e r e especially a t t r a c t e d t o t h e fleece c l o t h i n g , s t a i n e d glass t r i n k e t s , and pet p r o d u c t s . C h e c k o u t the fairs at R o n A n d r e w s and S e y c o v e rec c e n tres t o o . F o r a t w o - i n - o n e s t o p , visit the 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 a n d t h e n go n e x t d o o r t o the s e n i o r s ' activity c e n t r e t o see g o o d s crafted y e a r - r o u n d by t h e v e r y active knitting, quilting, and w o o d working groups. Commission Fans Award.