If Wal-mart and other retailers had
an ounce of patriotism about them they would go
back into our own country's outback to see how
much our own people can and do produce as far as
goods.
I spent the limit on my budget
and still could have done so much more. Rhonda has
a beautiful new strong, heavy leather purse. None
of the flimsy stuff usually seen in leather
material here. For myself, I found heavy oven
mitts like I can never buy. No burnt hands here
with these. I have addresses and cards from folks
where I can go for gifts, and I plan to do just
that. I found a neighbor, who lives just around
the corner from me and she will quilt my baby
quilts. Her hospitality was so genuine I look
forward to getting acquainted with her.
The pride of cowboy country was
so refreshing. I felt like, suddenly, I was in my
own world decorated with horse shoe coat hangers,
chili seasoning, rustic furniture, intricate hand
made quilts, and so much more. My mind is made
up, I won't miss another craft's fair and will
save my pennies to buy from my own, who are my
neighbors.
Photograph 1. The lady on the left, Judy Graves,
Tiger is of the Osage tribe. She and her daughter
Paula Martinez stopped by my table. Mine is the one
with the star quilt. Judy and I attended Chilocco
together. She and her husband James own a ranch
between here and Fairfax.
2. Mary Lou had the tables to my right. She teaches
school and does this as a hobby. Her jewelry is all
hand worked, beaten silver and semi-precious stones
are truly a work of art.
3. This is Paula Cargal. She and Lois work on these
quilts out of Lois's home, close to me.
4. My table was covered with Mother's star quilt. It
seemed the thing to do in this world of quilting
women.
5. This is Nannette Hill. She works out of her home
to do exquisite jewelry made from vintage spoons. She
calls her place "Spoon Hill." The pieces are
absolutely a treasure, most desirable to own.
6. This lady is a floral designer. This isn't a good
photo of her work and you can't see the really clever
purses she makes. We had to purchase one for Rhonda.
Some of them are made from the leather tops of cowboy
boots. Her beautiful, young daughter came by my
table later and while we visited she told me she loves
to sew. I was very impressed to see such a young girl
active like this with helping her mother. Their web
site is: newkirkfloral.com.
7. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed
meeting this lady, Jan P. Spaulding. She is retired
from Conoco, Geo-physics department. We were visiting
about these precious little fairy dolls she makes and
I was telling her about the fairy house Dad built on
the prairie where Gramma Bell took flowers and food.
All at once, the sign on the wall dropped to the
floor. We had a laugh about that. I also told her it
was Pepper Spaulding Jones of Dallas, who worked with
the Gone With the Wind movie and those little tid-bits
of information.
8. This lady, Lois Huse, was a wealth of information
as she told me how she quilts, repairs vintage tops,
and makes quilts from bits and pieces of fabric she
collects from here and there. The way she puts her
colors together to me is just artwork in motion. She
invited me to her home, and guaranteed I will go.
8. This lady to the far right is Mrs. Leonard Williams
who was a teacher in the system as was she. She was
Rhonda's Speical Education teacher years ago. Her
involvement with community and this quilter's club,
Pioneer Area Quilters Guild keeps her active and
alert. We bought a chance on this quilt hanging
behind her for one dollar.
My granddaughter
said, "Gramma when will you win that quilt?" How
lovely to have youth and positive thinking, something
Ms. Williams has never lost, either.
9. Here Maxine Williams Thompson stands admiring
Mother's quilt. Her father, Parrish Williams, just
recently past. He was the oldest Ponca and Mother ,
Velma Jones, was the second to the oldest. They were
only 6 months apart in age. Maxine is missing her
father, too.
10. The two ladies on the left were from Texas. Nancy,
far right, and Linda, in the middle. Linda's sister
is from here and I didn't get her name, regrettably.
Linda creates beautiful jewelry, also, and showed me
how to crochet tiny gold lame thread that looks just
like a gold link necklace. I was grateful for that
tip and wanted a piece of her jewelry. We were
spending our money made as fast as we made it though,
and I didn't want to spend anymore. Hopefully, she
will see this and send me her address so I can order
the necklace of turquoise I so loved.
By the way I sold all the potholders of the serape
and people were coming back by to ask,
"Do you have anymore potholders made from the
horse blanket?"
I thought that was so funny. We had so much fun
and did our bit for this great fund raising project
for the kid's school.
