BARLOW - Since 2006, the Barlow Area Christmas in the Village has grown from an event that attracted 20 vendors to an event stretching from Barlow to Cutler to Little Hocking.
Susie Ashley, founder, said Saturday's event attracted 137 vendors at Barlow-Vincent Elementary School, one of the venues.
"This is our seventh year and we have 137 vendors," she said. "We have wood crafters who will personalize items for you, homemade noodles, kettle apple butter, fudge and pretzels, purses and glassware."
Article Photos
Justin Barnes and Angie Haught display their primitive crafts at the Barlow Area Christmas in the Village on Saturday. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)
Ashley said the events also featured several home-based businesses.
Garnett and Carl Stephens were showing glass from their daughter, Rhonda Mathers' business, Fox Fired Glass. They said their daughter makes her crafts from layers of glass that are fused together and melted.
"She retired from the military two years ago," said Carl Stephens. "She buys the glass in sheets and then cuts and forms it and fires it in a kiln."
Among items she makes are plates, trays and card holders.
Angie Haught was selling her primitive-style crafts at the fair on Saturday. Haught said her crafts have been an important thing for her over the past 20 years.
"I just got back into in the last 20 years," she said. "We make all seasons, all year long."
Haught said Christmas is one of the big selling times for crafts.
John McCrady, of TJ Leather in Parkersburg, has been leatherworking since he was 10 years old.
"My father picked up for rehabilitation after he was in the navy and I picked it up, earned a leatherworking merit badge as a Boy Scout," he said, adding he and his wife returned to making appearances at area shows after their children grew.
Ashley said organizers hope to see the Christmas in the Village grow more next year by adding more areas to the event.
