Kevin Farr with honey and maple syrup

NORWAY — This year’s spectacular Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair at the First Universalist Church of Norway on Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, December 8, from noon to 4 p.m., will feature the creations of more than 20 local artisans. The First Universalist Church is located at 479 Main Street, Norway. Three of those local artisans are beekeeper Kevin Farr, multimedia artist Suzanne Norman, and multimedia crafter Tynee Cruz.

Kevin Farr, retired electrician and carpenter, is a lifelong resident of Oxford County. He grew up in West Paris, and he and his wife Dee raised their family in Oxford, where they live today. Kevin is the archivist and sexton at the First Universalist Church of Norway. A beekeeper since 2007, Kevin keeps beehives at the church, at his brother’s home in Mechanic Falls, at his sister’s house in Gray, and at both his own home and at a friend’s house in Oxford. In addition to his delicious honey, Kevin will sell his prized maple syrup.

Multimedia artist Suzanne Norman, is also an Oxford resident. When their children were grown, Suzanne and her husband Lance fulfilled a lifelong dream and moved north to Maine. Suzanne is a painter, card maker, and fiber artist, to name a few of her skills. As an adult, Suzanne has focused on her indigenous ancestral heritage. Her indigenous artwork includes little coil baskets, handmade hide drums, and beaded jewelry. Suzanne also makes paper-rolled beads. At the Holiday Arts and Crafts Fair Suzanne’s booth will feature cards, matted prints and originals, paintings, earthy jewelry, handmade artist journals, and many little gift items.

Tynee Cruz is originally from the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Her husband Ryan is from the Bethel area and, wanting to be closer to family, eight years ago they moved from New York to Norway, where they settled to raise their family. The beautiful and colorful fabrics Tynee uses in creating her crafts and clothing items are from the Ivory Coast and all of her crafts reflect the Ivory Coast culture. Among the crafts Tynee will sell at the fair are jewelry,
Teddy Bears, ornaments, refrigerator magnets, and even hair scrunchies.

“We are delighted with the great variety of arts and crafts local artisans will offer at this year’s fair. We will also have a fifty-fifty raffle. There will be a Bake Sale and a White Elephant table too. Come for your holiday shopping and join the fun!,” said Joanne McDonald, the Fair’s chair. McDonald added, “Our Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair will be one-stop shopping for holiday gifts. We will have something for everyone and plenty on hand. This year, especially, is a good year to buy holiday gifts locally.”