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!!!

Where Did the Summer Go?

Our last Alive @ 5 took place last night. The music was good!!! It was a local disc jockey and the name of his band -- The Steve Keller Band. He played a good mixture of music and people were starting to dance in the street when we decided to head home and fix some dinner on the grill.

I thought I would throw in a few pictures of the local activities at one of these Alive @ 5 outings. This was my first summer attending and I think it is a new permanent thing to check out. I just have to remember to take me a soda along.

The local news station was also out asking people "Why they like coming to these events?" and "Where did the summer go?" I found that amusing as we have been having some of the hottest days this year just in the past several days.

Blackfeet Indian Shawl Dance

This past weekend some out of town family and friends went with us to Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center to see a Blackfeet Indian Dance Presentation and to take part in the 11th Annual Illuminaria Walk along the Missouri River on the River's Edge Trail along Black Eagle Dam.

The evening was beautiful but bright as the sun shown brightly through most of the dance presentation.



I fell in love with the colors of this regalia worn for "The Shawl Dance". It is more modern in design than the usual buckskin most are made out of.



The sun really made it shine and everyone could tell the dancer loved the spirit that flowed through the air with the hand drummers beating the drum and singing their song for her.

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]"

Deer Pillowcase Embroidery Pattern

Deer Pillowcase Pattern, originally uploaded by WonderlandShoppe.

Another find in a vintage transfer package I purchased while shopping at Goodwill.







Yesterday, my daughter, Savannah Rose, and I ventured out to a local elementary school Art Festival. Sorry, but we did not take any pictures as the turn out was wonderful and people were everywhere moving along to see each grade level exhibit. Isn't this a delightful creative invitation that was left on our front door inviting us to come!




The projects made were delightful and parents could purchase the pieces for small amounts to help the school. I recommend visiting some for inspiration on new forms of art to try. Savannah loved foil portraits completed and I will have to do some internet exploring to find out what color medium works best.

Afterward, we made it into The Salvation Army Thrift and I found five big sheet (basically new) quilting pattern templates in brand new condition. The purchase for them was $2.75 total. I love finding wonderful deals!

Midsummer in Sweden - Maypole

Midsummer in Sweden, originally uploaded by Silva_D.

In Sweden the Maypole is usually called a midsommarstång, as it appears at the Midsummer celebrations, but it is also called majstång, as the word maja means to decorate with greens and that is exactly how most Swedes decorate them. They appear in many varieties, the most common being a cross with two rings hanging from the "arms" and the pole is popularly identified with the male sex and the rings with the female.[citation needed] Garlands of leaves and flowers are usually wrapped around the pole.
Sometimes a crown of flowers is placed on top of the maypole, supported by the ribbons, so that it gradually descends the pole as the ribbons are woven together, finally falling to the ground.



Today maypole dances are often done without dividing the participants by gender, simply having them in pairs facing one another so half go one way and half go the other.


In Sweden similar traditions were once observed but today the pole is the centre of traditional ring dances, the songs being more or less the same as during the dances around the Christmas tree. Arrangements are usually made by local traditional groups. Swedish speaking parts of Finland often celebrate Midsummer with a midsommarstång as well.

May Day Celebration History

My birthday is May 1st or better known as MAY DAY -- but what exactly is MAY DAY and what is a Maypole?



Wikipedia says: May Day occurs on May 1 and refers to any of several public holidays.[1] In many countries, May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labour movement. As a day of celebration the holiday has ancient origins, and it can relate to many customs that have survived into modern times.


Many of these customs are due to May Day being a cross-quarter day, meaning that (in the Northern Hemisphere where it is almost exclusively celebrated) it falls approximately halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice.




Historians generally agree that May Day celebrations probably originated in the spring fertility rites of ancient Rome, which occurred at about the same time of year marking celebrations honoring the goddess of spring, Flora. ((I had an Aunt Flora!!!)).

By the Middle Ages, the day was being celebrated with a procession led by a "Queen of the May" chosen from a population of pretty teen girls, followed by the townspeople dancing around a maypole decorated with streamers and colorful spring flowers.



Pilgrims later brought May Day to America, but Puritans were quick to condemn the tradition as "that Stinking Idol reviving feasts of ye Roman goddess Flora or ye beastly practices of ye mad Bacchanalians".

By the late 19th century, May Day was taken up in America as a socialist movement celebrating workers' rights, a tradition that remains strong in Europe.

All told, modern May Day celebrations today have evolved into a hodgepodge of traditions including parties, sing-alongs, Old World maypole dancing, parades and workers' demonstrations, along with general protests against Big Business on the streets of major capitals worldwide.

And just for a little contrast, in Hawaii it's ... Lei Day.




Location: Canungra, Australia

Date: ca. 1934




Tiled mural rescued from a children's ward in Middlesex Hospital showing a maypole dance.

Designed in 1929 by Haydn Jensen.

Now in the Tile Museum, Jackfield, near Ironbridge, Shropshire.

Jane Austen Bath Festival

The Jane Austen Festival
Friday 18th to Sunday 27th September 2009

The Bath Jane Austen Festival was the idea of David Baldock Director of the Jane Austen Centre and the first Festival took place in 2001. “My aim was to draw attention to this very popular author whose works were so influenced by the city by holding an annual celebration where Austen fans from all over the world could come and indulge themselves in everything Regency.”




Each year the Festival, which is held at the end of September, grows and grows with more people dressing in Regency costume celebrating the life and works of Jane Austen. Throughout the city events are organized by the Festival team under the guidance of Jackie Herring the Festival Director. Entrance to the events is by ticket and those go on sale at the Bath Festivals Box Office a few months before the start.


The most spectacular day each year is the first Saturday, when the festival officially ‘opens’ with the Regency Costumed Promenade through the streets of Bath. Promenaders from all over the world dress in 18th Century attire led by our Town Crier and accompanied by soldiers and sailors adding extra colour to the proceedings.


In 2008 for the first time, a traditional Country Fair in Queen Square where not only promenaders but also the general public could partake of the sideshows and stalls as well as try the stocks for size!

Small soirees, theatre, concerts, walking tours, food, talks and of course dancing plus the opportunity to dress throughout the week, if you wish, in 18th century costume. These are some of the attractions of the Jane Austen Festival.



Stop and visit this site for information on City of Bath England: http://www.cityofbath.co.uk/