Homespun 2011, at Carlyle arena, was a golden opportunity for more than 80 vendors to showcase their incredible talents on Sept. 17 and 18. More than that, it was a wonderful experience for the thousands of visitors who streamed in from the lashing rain, entering a dazzling wonderland of craftsmanship and commerce.
The 25th incarnation of this superb event was truly a fusion of entertainment, exhibition and shopping bazaar. It saw exhibitors coming from all across the province, and also from Manitoba, Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. The variety and quality of what these talented people had to offer, was not only a tribute to their own abilities, but also to the careful planning skills of the organizers.
Judy Riddell, one of the six members of the board of directors, had previously stated "People know they aren't going to come and see just fridge magnets" and never was a truer word spoken. For those who attended the show, there was something new to see at virtually every booth, sights to be amazed at, smells and tastes to be experienced, and item after item that brought smiles of appreciation, and a shake of the head in disbelief at the skills of the artisans.
Coming into the main arena, the first booth was that of "Pressed Wishes." This is a family business run by Melissa and James Puchinger, out of Mabel Lake in the Okanagan Valley in B.C. The subtitle on their business card reads, "The Art of Preserving Nature," and that does not even begin to capture the beauty of what this family is doing. A fuller description in the event program states, "Pressed botanical art mounted with handmade papers and handmade frames." This gives more detail, but ultimately, one must gaze upon their works of art to appreciate their exquisiteness. Ferns, flowers and plants of every description and colour adorned the walls in beautiful presentations, demanding attention and respect.
James Puchinger left the corporate world to develop this business when one of his children was born. He wanted to spend more quality time with his family, and the location in B.C. combined with the wholesomeness of the business just seemed to synchronize with his intentions. Now the whole family works in the business, even if it's only during vacations from school or university. "They work very hard" Puchinger says, and we pay them well so they can go on a trip to Europe." Behind a counter, his teenage daughter smiles. She knows the value of having Mom and Dad working from home, and Dad is glad for the privilege of not missing those moments that will never come again.
Another booth that catches the eye is that of Dan Reid from Saskatoon. He's a very talented artist who produces original oil paintings of prairie scenes, trains and cars. He's also got a wicked sense of humour. "Most of the car paintings are organized by women" he explains. "They want to surprise the man in their life and want to keep it a big secret. So I spend most of my time meeting women alone in dark alleys, I had no idea being an artist was going to be this dangerous!"
Dangerous or not, he certainly has a great imagination. One car collector wanted all his muscle cars painted in a manner that reminded him of King Arthur. Reid came up with a very imaginative painting, with most of the cars looking towards one car on a bridge, and a sword in a stone beside the bridge. It was breathtaking. His commissioned work takes him all over western Canada, and down as far as Denver, Colorado.
Across from Reid is a collection of dolls like none you have ever seen. "Dolls with attitude" states a prominent sign, and looking at these incredible works of art, there's attitude in abundance. There's also incredible skill. These dolls are hand-crafted in porcelain, beginning with commercial moulds, the process continues with firing, individual adaptation, hand-painting, and even the designing and stitching of individual outfits for each of these collector's items.
The genius behind these creations is Barb Pratt from Bengough, SK. Her eye for detail, and her ability to capture facial expressions, is nothing short of amazing. Up on a stand there's a wee boy in a Roughriders jersey, lower down, another wee lad is missing a tooth, and has a cheeky grin on his face as he plays with a frog. On a bed there's a toddler figure that looks so real, you have to look twice to make sure it's a doll. It is little wonder Pratt has also been commissioned to create dolls that look like people's children. "Sometimes my past customers come and buy two or more dolls every year" Pratt explains, "And one time a person bought six at this show one year" she adds. This is not boasting however, with her high standard of craftsmanship, she deserves such a healthy response.
Continuing round the show there are people making custom signs, booths selling magnetic jewellery, soaps that look like cakes, impressive woodwork of all descriptions, and a book publisher out of Regina. There are paintings, metalwork, books, lamps and clothes all demanding a look. It is an awesome event, and in so many cases the vendors share that spending more time with their children, more time at home, was the motivation for going into business for themselves. It is inspiring and humbling to see what these good people have done.
Not all businesses were started by the current owners however. Over at The Candle Kitchen, Lorene Broeckel explained how she had been a fascinated onlooker herself, once watching the first owner explain her candle creations. Broeckel had been so taken by it all, she asked if she could buy the business. Some while later the founder agreed to sell the business, and now it is Broeckel who is amazing the visitors at shows like Homespun.
"I use up to seven different waxes" she explains, showing a candle that looks just like a fruit pie as an example. "One time a food inspector came over, and it took me several attempts to convince him these were candles" she shared with a smile. Indeed, the nine-inch "apple pie" looked good enough to eat.
While most of the activity centred round the arena, visitors were also making their way over to Memorial Hall on Main Street, where the quilting exhibition was being held. Between 80 and 100 quilts were displayed on the walls, turning the building into a veritable kaleidoscope of shapes and colours. On the lower section of the hall, Debbie Woods and her husband Tony, from Lacombe, AB, were showing an impressive quilting machine to visitors. "Try it." They would say to people, "Write your name..." And so people would hold onto the handlebar-like controls, and guide the stitching to create whatever pattern or words they desired.
In the centre of the room, Jeanne Large was preparing herself to give a talk about her latest book, written in collaboration with Shelley Wicks. The book is called "Urban Country Quilts" and is a gloriously-colourful guide to 15 projects that quilters can make at home. Their business, "The Quilt Patch", is based in Moose Jaw.
Over at Merit Ford, despite the heavy rain, classic cars had been gathering all morning. From blue Chevrolets to drag racers, and from 50's classics to a sleek 2012 Mustang convertible, there was plenty of metallic art in motion for enthusiasts to marvel at. Indeed, nearly 40 cars showed up for the Show and Shine, even if the rain did most of the shining all by itself.
When all was said and done, this event did Carlyle proud once again. The vendors were more than happy with their interaction with the public, and the public were more than happy to exchange their cash for fine examples of the wares offered by the vendors. One vendor said, "At trade shows, people come to look. At craft shows, they come to buy." And maybe that's the secret to Homespun's success, it attracts vendors because of the phenomenal response from the visitors, and it attracts visitors because of the wonderful selection of quality products that the vendors bring. Yes, the 25th Homespun Craft Show & Sale made everyone happy once again.
