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!!!

Savannah's Fairy Creation

Thought I would blog a peek into what Savannah and I have been creating. It was her idea to pick up some paper clay and make a fairy because Santa brought her three beautiful fairy books by Cicely Mary Barker. If you have never seen her artwork with fairies and flowers, it will brighten your day to explore her work online.



Savannah has in mind to send this fairy to her aunt in Chicago and is hoping she will like it very much.



The wings were added this morning to give her that angelic touch and also to help her sit up on her own.




I am amazed at how Savannah came up with this cute character from a small piece of paper clay!

Montana Shakespeare In the Parks & Renaissance Faire

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, a wonderful theatrical company that performs all over Montana mainly and some surrounding states will be in Great Falls this coming week. Unfortunately, my husband, Fred, will be out of town (in Kansas City) for 11 days and we will miss the performances this year.

This got me to thinking about the Shakespeare time period, costumes, and activities. One thought of mine leads to another which transported me to ask whether or not there is a Renaissance Faire in Montana also.



Nashville always has a wonderful one each weekend during May. Our family enjoyed it several times over the years with all the costumes, knights jousting, camel rides, food of the time period and so much more.



I luckily did find that Missoula, MT has one in early November for a weekend. I hope the snow is not flying too much and I can make arrangements to attend with the kids this year.



While exploring on flickr.com, I did a search for "renaissance" and found many pictures from festivals across the USA. I fell in love with some of the pictures of the Twigs, Fairies, and Sprites. The costuming and make-up are wonderful. I have put one of the pictures on our computer as a background screen picture.



Wikipedia provides this bit of history and description of my topic for today: "A Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire, or Renaissance festival is an outdoor weekend gathering, usually held in the United States, open to the public and generally commercial in nature, which emulates a historic period for the amusement of its guests. Some are permanent theme parks, others are short-term events in fairgrounds or other large public or private spaces[1]. Renaissance fairs generally include an abundance of costumed entertainers, musical and theatrical acts, art and handicrafts for sale, and festival food. Some even offer camping, for those who wish to stay more than one day[2]. Most Renaissance fairs are set during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Some are set earlier, during the reign of Henry VIII, or in other countries, such as France, and some include broader definitions of the Renaissance which include earlier periods, such as the Vikings, or later, such as 18th Century pirates, and some engage in deliberate "time travel" by encouraging participants to wear costumes representing several eras in a broad time period. Renaissance fairs encourage visitors to enter into the spirit of things with costumes and audience participation. Most tolerate, and many welcome, fantasy elements such as wizards and elves.[citation needed]

Chicago journalist Neil Steinberg said (of the Bristol Renaissance Faire), "If theme parks, with their pasteboard main streets, reek of a bland, safe, homogenized, whitebread America, the Renaissance Faire is at the other end of the social spectrum, a whiff of the occult, a flash of danger and a hint of the erotic. Here, they let you throw axes. Here are more beer and bosoms than you'll find in all of Disney World."[3]"

Pink Harlequin - AppleHillDolls

AppleHillDolls, located in New England

Isn't this lovely!!

This one of a kind female Harlequin, dressed in pink, looks demure and delicate but she's nobody's fool. When she makes the crowd laugh, there's not a dry eye in the room, and afterward, not one heavy wallet.

The Pink Harlequin is sculpted in paper clay over a foil armature without the use of molds or patterns. Her face and neck are painted with acrylics, but her body was left natural. Her hair is lightly dyed mohair. Her hat and dress were fashioned from a vintage fancy hanky. She sits 8 inches from the tip of her hat.


This lovely jewel can be found on Etsy -- but I bet not for long!

Wonderful Fairy Tale Photos

Pictures made by Annie Leibovitz for the Walt Disney parks campaign Year Of A Million Dreams.






My daughter, Savannah Rose loves fairy tales. I believe she has checked out nearly every book from the Donelson Library in Nashville, TN. She has high functioning autism and this is her special area of interest along with art and dolls/dollhouses.



These advertising photo works are beautifully done and blend so well with the classical animation stories created by Disney. I could not resist to include them for all to view.

Paper Dolls & Paper Puppets

In my looking into Alice in Wonderland things, I located these paper doll cards. I think they are so beautiful. I hope you like them too.

I have always had a soft spot of childish play left in me in my adult years. I have also had the wonderful opportunity of enjoying childhood and play in having my own children.

My daughter, Savannah Rose, has a fascination with paper dolls & puppets. She has been looking around on the world wide web and found this beautiful site. If you love making paper crafts or have a child who likes this pretend play, please take a moment and visit. You will fall in love.

http://www.pheemcfaddell.com/crafts/fairies/FairyPuppetInst.htm

I am also thinking these creations would be lovely on a Christmas tree as ornament decoration. I have some victorian reproduction cards that a friend of mine gave me many years ago that has a piece of ribbon loop on the back for hanging. I enjoy placing them year after year on my tree and fondly remembering my friend that I have unfortunately lost touch with these past few years. Anne, where are you????