With 153 vendors filling McMinnville Civic Center to capacity, shoppers took advantage of the Warren County Arts and Crafts Fair to get a jump on their holiday shopping.
The annual event is sponsored by Homeland Community Bank and finished a successful run Saturday night. 
Visitors could shop for a variety of items, including home-baked goods, jewelry, repurposed furniture, plants and fine ceramics. 
Louis and Christine Colombarini’s business, Cosmic Clay, is based in Dowelltown and exhibited at the show for the first time.
“We have worked over 500 juried fairs during our almost 40-year career,” said Louis. “We wanted to find one closer to home, and this one has been perfect.” 
The unusual technique used by the Colombrinis was developed by Louis. He treats the vessels with a copper patina, buries them in sawdust inside a metal pit and then ignites. After 6-8 hours of smoldering, one-of-a-kind results with distinctive colors and fire-cloud patterns evolve. 
Another interesting booth was filled with old doors, reclaimed windows, barn wood, vintage signs and slabs of wood. Murfreesboro exhibitor Albert Hayes took time to explain how he came about working with varying sizes of wood slabs. They are used various ways in home and celebration décor.
“I had been a brick layer for over 48 years when I decided it was time for me to move on,” said Hayes. “My sons took over the business and I just started working with wood.”
He said at this show, he took an order for 150 small cedar slab cuts to be delivered in March.
“They sell so well, it’s crazy,” said Hayes. “They are used a lot now in the rustic wedding receptions.”
Speaking of wood, vendor Joe Riggins marked the Warren County Arts and Crafts Fair as his last show. He has exhibited three years selling rubber-band shooting toy guns, but has actually been selling them for 15 years.
He has sold the replica M-16 Army assault rifle, and the Thompson submachine guns made by his uncle Herb Spear. Spear makes the guns for Cabela’s and they are featured in its catalogue.
Eleven-year-old J.C. Willeby purchased his second rubber band launcher from Riggins, saying he got one last year and had so much fun he wanted another.
“It’s a lot of fun, and I’m going to shoot whatever I can find,” said Willeby.