Talent abounds at the Artisan Crafts Fair

By Robert Doherty
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

“I suggested we have a small crafts fair to Joe McStowe, Linden Ponds’ community services manager, a few years ago,” says Beverly Stewart, who lives at Linden Ponds. “Each year it has gotten bigger and bigger.”

Recently, Linden Ponds hosted an Artisan Crafts Fair which was a huge success. People who live at Linden Ponds and other crafters displayed jewelry, paintings, pottery, photographs, blankets, scarves, quilts, baskets, and more at the second annual Artisan Crafts Fair.

Artistic talents
Even more remarkable than the fair itself were the tremendous artistic talents of the people who live at Linden Ponds. Beverly, who makes baskets, is one of these people.

Beverly got into basket making by accident, but it has turned into a passion of hers. “My true love was painting, I signed up for an oil painting class at Salem State College in their continuing education program. That class was cancelled. The only other class that sounded interesting to me was basket making,” says Beverly.

Beverly soon realized that making baskets was just as fun as painting, but also a lot easier. “The woman who was teaching that class has become famous for baskets. She’s written books on it,” says Beverly.

Native American necklaces
If you’ve been to Linden Ponds, you may have noticed many people with beautiful beaded necklaces. That would be the handwork of Lois Bamberger who also participated in the event. “I lived in Sedona, Ariz. for a number of years and I would travel around to Indian reservations. I started making Native American jewelry,” says Lois.

“When I moved back east I made necklaces that hold eye glasses. When I came to Linden Ponds and I realized that people could hook their badges or glasses on the one-of-a-kind Native American necklaces I make,” adds Lois. “I’ve sold a couple hundred of them here.”