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Zadvinski Fair in Vitebsk brings together nearly 480 participants
VITEBSK, 15 July (BelTA) - Nearly 480 participants are showcasing their goods at the traditional Zadvinski Fair which stretches along the embankment of the Western Dvina near the cultural and historical complex Dvina - Golden Ring of Vitebsk, BelTA has learned.
By long-standing tradition, the Zadvinye area hosts the fair during Slavianski Bazaar where craftspeople from Belarus and Russia present all kinds of goods, including handmade items. This year, some 480 participants have gathered here, 370 of whom are artisans. Toys, jewelry crafted in a variety of techniques, forged items, wooden and straw products, accessories, decorative pieces - there is something to suit every taste. As for clothing, it is offered in a wide range: children's, adults’, designer pieces, exclusive knitted and embroidered designs and also shearling coats and fur coats for those looking to prepare for winter ahead of time.
Svetlana Yeliseeva from Vitebsk is taking part in the fair as a craftswoman for the first time. “Once I retired, I decided I needed to find something to do so I wouldn’t just sit idle. In November last year, I registered as a craftswoman and started preparing for Slavianski Bazaar right away. This is my second day here in Zadvinye, but I’ve already had a chance to feel the festive atmosphere. A lot of people come up, ask questions, take photos, and that means a lot to me. The response to what I make entirely by hand gives me satisfaction and inspiration for the future. I need to know that I’m doing a good job. For example, one man bought two doll shaped tea cozies for teapots as gifts for his mother and sister. He said he’d seen such things in his childhood, but hadn’t come across them often since. And the knitted round rugs made from jersey yarn… I get such warm feedback about them. Some say they only remember seeing them in their grandmothers’ village houses, and for some, they bring back memories of summer, school holidays, and carefree times,” the craftswoman said.
“It’s something new!” - that's what Vitebsk residents are saying about the pieces made by Alesya Voytkevich from Borisov, a mother of many children. She brought souvenirs made from “linen paper” and her grandmother’s old typewriter. “I've been making products from recycled paper for about five years. To create an interesting and pleasant texture, I dry the softened pulp on linen fabric. I also add cornflower petals, which gives an exclusive fabric with colorful flecks. Once the sheets are ready, I cut them and turn them into cards, envelopes, and bookmarks. I brought the typewriter I inherited from my grandmother for a kind of interactive experience: I let people type a message, a wish, or a motivational quote on a blank sheet using this typewriter. The result is a one‑of‑a‑kind piece with an interesting texture and embossing. You can give it as a gift or keep it as decoration, for instance, on your desk,” Alesya Voytkevich said.
The Zadvinski Fair will be running in Vitebsk until 20 July.
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