AUSTINBURG TOWNSHIP — A unique mix of Christmas crafts greeted hundreds of shopper at the International Fair Trade Holiday Gift Fair this weekend at Austinburg Town Hall. "It has been fantastic from the time the doors opened this morning," said Zonta Club of Ashtabula's Cheryl Guyton. The event is sponsored by the club in conjunction with One World Shop out of Rocky River every year in preparation for the holiday season.
The club also sold Schwer's pecans as a fund raiser for the club's scholarship fund. "You can order them on our Facebook page," Guyton said. The fair does not raise any money for the club but does provide needed revenue for artisans from countries all over the world.
The One World Shop has been operating for 45 years and interacts with a Fair Trade Association to receive the products and return money to the people in growing countries all over the world. "I think it [the show] is pretty cool ..
. It is nice to see the handmade stuff from all over," said Jill Hobe of Ashtabula who became aware of the fair yesterday and decided to check it out. Marty Cephas who was also assisting as a Zonta club member, said she likes the creativity of the creators of the crafts.
"I am amazed at how they repurpose thins to make useful, beautiful [products]," Guyton said. Richard Fox, treasurer of One World Shop, said the turnout was fantastic. He said this is the 45th anniversary of the shop, which is open year-round in Rocky River.
Projects from more than 30 countries were on.
