Summer Celebration Craft Shows

I don't know where my mind has been for the past two years since we moved here, but now all of a sudden I am hearing on the radio of surrounding towns celebrating with special festivities on the weekends. We had a blast at the one in Fort Benton last weekend. It concluded with the most spectacular fireworks show I have seen since I was a young child. That is definitely one to return to next year. Unfortunately we missed going to one this weekend in Belt, MT because I accepted an extra work shift to help someone out at work. Now I have heard of one happening this coming weekend in Dutton, MT. We don't know exactly where that is but will be looking it up and maybe taking a little road trip that way.




The crafts that were for sale in Fort Benton were lovely and creative. They were something new and refreshing to see. I like seeing how people come up with some unique ideas. I love looking at painted things since I have somewhat of a fear of picking up a brush and putting it into paint for decor. Don't mind painting walls around the house just don't know about crafting with it.




My daughter, Savannah Rose, was so cute looking at booths with me. At one point she couldn't help but saying "I have found my happy place". I couldn't help being happy with her. Of course it was dolls, fairies, and lovelies as I have pictured here. The artist is Antique Annie from Kalispell, MT.




My husband, Fred, fell in love with the carved bears. He wants one in the future. I will have to keep that in mind as a gift or surprise when funds allow. I love the picture of my son with the bear - couldn't help but joke which is the bear and which is Wynston. The artist is from Victor, MT.







The most interesting items I spotted was some cement molds that looked like bird baths or lawn art made out of rhubarb leaves and sun flowers found in a couples yard. I love the colors they painted their creations. I wouldn't mind having some of those if we ever are able to settle and purchase a home down the road. The artists are from Conrad, MT.



My daughter ended up with a patch of otter fur that she found to be soft. She will probably use it with her dolls or doll house. My youngest son picked out a suede string wolf pendant necklace. I chose to try a magnet iridescent colored bracelet to share with Savannah.



We are loving getting out of the house and exploring, but as of the past 2 days we are in the 90's and things are heating up. Also, the Fort Benton festivities included a community potluck with an auction of lamps to help an organization which provides help to those in Montana with cancer. I loved this lamp pictured. We had to leave before the community pie auction took place but some went as high as $275 a piece. The total raised was $7500 on the pies. Hope they were tasty at those prices!!!

ART CARVED IN SNOW

ART CARVED IN SNOW
STORY BY ELIZABETH HARRISON
TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER •
FEBRUARY 28, 2010

There's no doubt about it, winter in Montana is long. It's cold. And most of the time, it's covered in snow and ice. But a few folks have figured out a way to make the best out a chilly situation by turning winter's weapons — snow and ice — into works of art.

"We live in an area where so much of winter is covered in snow," said Seeley Lake resident Doug Richards, 76. "Get out from the TV and computer and games and do something."

Richards took first place in the snow sculpting contest this year at Seeley Lake's annual Winterfest, Jan. 22-24.

He is no stranger to the contest — this was his third year participating. Last year he took second in the professional contest and first place in the People's Choice competition.

For three weeks, Richards worked on his winning entry, "Spirit of Seeley," until his hands were numb from the cold and from the water he used to help with the shaping.

"I'm 76 years old, and I don't put up with being cold too long," he said.

A commercial artist by trade, Richards attended the Burnley School of Professional Art (now the Art Institute of Seattle).

"The time I went to school, it was one of largest professional artist schools on the West Coast," he said.

Before moving to Montana, Richards had never tried snow sculpting before, though he finds it similar to the art he does while working at summer youth camps for children with cancer.

"It's not a heck of a lot different other than your fingers get cold," he said. "I'm doing the cartooning stuff constantly, so I just apply that to snow."

Richards said the tools he uses — a cement trowel, kitchen knife and water — are "not really special."

But his creations are anything but mundane.

For the Winterfest contest, Richards built a two-wheeled cart pulled by a 7-foot bear. He carved the bow-tie and vest-clad bruin so it appeared to be leaning over and actually pulling the cart. He sculpted another, equally sized bear and positioned him behind the cart, leaned over in a pushing position.

On the cart, he created a bag of potatoes, a bushel of apples, cans of soup and a giant heart with raised letters, which read "Love Thy Neighbor."