of tea? Or perhaps just unable to find that perfect centrepiece for your dining table. Well if you're feeling a bit creative, a visit to the craft department at Gibbons Co. might be the answer you've been searching for. Since the beginning of November, and throughout the weeks leading up to the blessed holiday, the company is hosting free craft demonstrations to anyone interested in honing their skills. First held last year, the idea was then as well-received as it is today, according to fabric and crafts buyer Melody Rance. "We just opened the department last November and we began offering demonstrations last Christmas,'' she said. "It went over really well.'' Not just for the extremely talented or creative, the crafts demonstrated are ones which can be easily -- and quickly -- completed by the novice. "Even people who don't usually do crafts throughout the year will attempt them at Christmas, usually as gifts for teachers from schoolchildren or gifts for friends, and of course to decorate the home,'' added Mrs. Rance. "Everybody wants their home to look nice and cosy for Christmas and this is a simple, inexpensive way to do it. We've found wreathmaking to be the most popular craft demonstrated. You can place them on a door or over an archway as a greeting or hang them over a fireplace and that's probably the biggest craft thing that people aim for.'' Interested persons can also learn how to make topiary forms. "They can be used as a centrepiece or can be placed behind the sofa or on a coffee table,'' explained the buyer. "They're not all necessarily gift ideas, we actually have things that you can make for yourself. And they're quite simple, they're not things that go on and on and people get tired of working on. The wreath, for example, can be put together in less than a day. wreath can be put together in a day it's not something that goes on and on. "And the different components aren't expensive. They run between $20 and $30 and at the end of the day, it's something you've made yourself so you're pleased and want to show it off.'' Mrs. Rance said the public can also learn how to use `faster plaster'. "You take a mold and mix powder with water, pour it in the mold, place it in the microwave and it's ready in a matter of minutes afterwhich you can paint it or you can let it dry naturally which takes anywhere between 24 and 8 hours. It's great for children. They can use it to decorate candy or cookie jars. And we have a keepsafe kit which you can use and have children place their hand in the plaster and can give it to grandmother or someone as a gift.'' And the demonstrations are open to the entire public, not just patrons of Gibbons Co., said Mrs. Rance. "All people have to do is just come. They don't need reservations and don't have to pay. Each person will be demonstrating their craft of choice and each demonstration lasts an hour or just under an hour and the finished craft item will be on display in the area for people walking by.

"It can be quite enjoyable and they're all quite easy to do. The novice crafter might come in and say they want exactly what the (demonstrator) has done but the more advanced craftsman might want to make some substitutions.

Two demonstrations are held each Saturday -- at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. And not only do we have the crafts on display that the presenters come in and do, but we also carry crafts for gift ideas -- mainly for children for example, paint by number sets and rubber stamping and we also offer an idea book on how to use them. "Rubber stamps are taking the craft world by storm. We carry a wide range of novelty and seasonal stamps for a variety of different uses. Our full range of ink pads -- available in a rainbow of colours -- let you be as creative as you desire. With out makring pencils, embossing powders and a full range of stationary supplies you can make a special greeting card, party invitation, bookmark, or place card. Each will have that special touch that only you can give.'' Demonstrator Wendy Morris agreed that the crafts were not ones which required great skill. "My demonstration lasts an hour and it shouldn't take much longer than that, even for the novice. It takes longer to pick out the materials. I use different greenery and ribbons and just use a glue gun and a grape vine to make the wreath and add ribbons to make the centrepiece. I also make a Santa which they can hang on their door or anywhere. The other thing I make is a Christmas hat. I just use a straw hat that they can buy at Gibbons Co. which they can fill up with pot pourri and I Crafts for novice and expert hour spent under the guidance of Lesilene Williams might alleviate stress as she shows just how easy it is to make one's own tree decorations. "My handcrafted Christmas tree decorations are made mostly of fabric and cloth, mostly things that you can buy in a fabric or cloth store. They're made from styrofoam balls which are covered with rope cording. I also make angels with walnuts and cloth and Spanish moss or hair from the craft store. They're also very easy to make and you can also use ribbons and a variety of items. They take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and a half to make.'' A variety of useful crafts will be made before your very eyes by authority, Deb Marquardt.

Many are easily mastered, so that even a child will not find completing them an overly dauting task. Topping the bill is a decorative Santa. "You just get a kit and put it all together which is fairly easy. I'm also making a topiary which is like a ball on top of a stick which you place in a pot. It can be used as a centrepiece to to decorate any room. You can use fresh plants out of the graden but I'm doing it with ribbons so that it can last until next year.

"I'm also doing rubber stamps which are so easy that children can do them.

They can be used on gift cards or on wrapping paper, napkins or even photoframes. You just buy the stamp and either use an inkpad, which you can colour in so it's great for kids, or a pen. They're great and can be used all year round; not just necessarily for Christmas. And they're all quite easy to make and can be done at home in an evening. The Santa is the most time consuming. It takes the longest to make, a couple of hours, but it's also quite easy.'' All presentations will be held in the craft area located on the department store's upper level, accessible through both its Church and Reid Street entrances. Demonstrating T-shirt decorating on November 30 at 11 a.m.

is Anne King, followed by rubber stamping with Deb Marquardt at 12 p.m. On December 7th at 11 a.m., Sherry Bridges will exhibit the ease of paper casting, followed at noon with a Christmas ornament display by Lesilene Williams. A repeat demonstration on ornaments by Mrs. Williams at 11 a.m. on December 14 completes the events. PHOTO You don't have to be an expert, like the display staff at H.A. & E. Smith's Ltd. shown here, to make your own decorative wreath this Christmas holiday