Biggest craft fair ever?

By ROBERT LINNEHAN | The Haddonfield Sun
After 17 years, the annual Haddonfield Crafts and Fine Arts Festival is getting bigger. Borough representatives said the 2009 event will have largest number of crafters and artists its ever had. The event will be held over the course of two days on Saturday, July 11, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday, it will continue from noon to 5 p.m.
Arlene Fiorelli, coordinator of the fair and Haddonfield Information Center director, said she’s expecting more than 275 artists — 45 percent of which are new to the craft fair. Artists will be located on Kings Highway, Tanner Street, and the newly redeveloped Kings Court.
Weather permitting, restaurants around town will also be offering expanded tables and service outdoors, Fiorelli said.
This year, the fair will feature several crafters and artists that focus on creating sustainable, functional art, Fiorelli said.
Ann-Made’s “Bracelets with a Conscience,” are made from recycled soda can tabs. According to a press release from the borough, the project was originally conceived for Ann Skydell Harmon’s alternative school art students. The recycled tabs are purchased from a nonprofit group in New Jersey dedicated to teaching students the importance of recycling. The bracelets are handmade in the homes of people in need of the additional income.
Another featured crafter is Quintessential Quilts, which specializes in making quilts from used clothing. The crafter makes quilts to commemorate special memories or milestones using pieces of clothing that have special memories attached to them.
See this week’s print edition of The Sun for the full story.