Local Crafters & Artists Make Prez. Hall Shine

Sparkle was in hearts and minds at Wellfleet's annual crafts fair. Preservation Hall was again the place to be yesterday for the annual Deck-This-Hall event. I went downtown early, as soon as our guests had finished breakfast, in order to get first choice on one-of-a-kind items, perfect holiday gifts. To my delight, I discovered a number of the artisans had worked with recycled materials. Also, there were lots of families with kids. Come take a walk with me as I peruse the 2011 stalls …

First, a huge hats-off to Tracy Plaut, organizer-in-chief. Tracy was both the muse and the manager. As Sven pointed out, our favorite masseuse seemed to be everywhere, ducking into Chez Kathleen to offer the chef encouragement, distributing Sampson Fund literature, dashing off to welcome Santa. When does this woman rest? Wellfleet is so lucky to have Tracy. I like to think her community spirit rubs off on the rest of us like exquisite fairy dust.

There were thirty-one booths at the crafts fair this year, not including face-painting, always a hit with the kids, and displays of regular Prez. Hall gear, augmented with pickles and jams. Lots of Wellfleetians came. Even Santa put in an appearance. Unfortunately, it would be impossible to list every booth, so in no special order, here are the dozen I visited ...

Whispering Cowgirl is a local shop, beside The Juice, and sells what I call "fashion with attitude." Ginny Parker told me she started out with saddles and has never looked back. Local artists, like Kim Deane, as well as Virgin Saints & Angels, from Mexico, are big draws during spring and summer. Both natives and tourists do love the funky clothing. Here Ginny is finishing up a sale with Gracie Smith. “Oh, my God! That’s adorable!” cried a young woman to a friend, fingering a flimsy mini-skirt behind us. I wanted to buy just about everything I touched in Ginny’s display.

Very pregnant Hannah Choi, owner of Eliza Bee’s Baby Gear, lives in Eastham. I admired her baby blankets, and doll blankets, as well as hats and snazzy bibs. Outfit your little one with cuddle from Eliza Bee’s. Hannah uses all new materials but maximizes their usage. Nice! ... At the next stall, Emily Lewis from W. Dennis showed off work created from vintage fabric and buttons, including baby blankets made with chenille bedspreads. Her whimsical pincushions used recycled materials but smelled of sweet lavender. “Tracy found me at Oysterfest,” Emily said. “I’ll do a bigger table next year if this goes well.” Her Harwich-friend Jack raises peacocks. I bought my granddaughter a headband that featured a peacock feather. Emily does not sell online. “I want to deal with the people,” she explained. (Find her clever creations at Rear View Mirror, in Brewster.)

Outside, I spoke to Suzanne Early from Quincy who was hawking goods from a women's co-op that included wool wear and beautiful totes sewn from recycled fabric. It was her jewelry that caught my eye though, made of recycled glass. “I do it right on my kitchen table,” she said. “When women wear them, it reminds them to just breathe.” And, that’s the name of her business, Just Breathe. Suzanne is a regular at the Wellfleet flea market. She is currently selling online at Zhibit but asked everyone to stop by Miracles for Maureen, a site created for a friend who has melanoma. I enjoyed talking to Suzanne. Such positive energy!

Back inside, I picked up some marvelous alpaca socks for the one remaining person on my shopping list, nephew Ben. Nancy Flanagan, below, was so busy with customers that she barely had time to say hi, and, indeed, she had brought her daughter along to assist with sales. Here Marla Rice considers buying alpaca, too. There were also soft scarves, texting gloves, and yarn from the farm on Old King's Highway. Everyone was thinking warmth, apparently. With winter on the way, alpaca wool from Wellfleet and Peru seemed the perfect gift. Check out this fancy shawl not made in China. The pleasure of buying local knows no bounds. Perhaps that’s why Sandspit Alpacas was doing such great business? Before reporting on Santa, I wanted to also mention Nautical Chart Jewelry, created in Yarmouthport by Donna Credit, the Wellfleet Candy Company of Marstons Mills, new home of the chocolate oyster, and Wellfleet’s Chris Kelly of Sweet Baking, queen of the gingerbread house, but also responsible for the chocolate bombs on sale at Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans. I stopped to chat with Bethia Brehmer, a Wellfleet artist who had just produced an assortment of attractive and very original clocks.

While asking Tracy a couple questions, a small woman at a T-shirt stand called me over. “Are you from Chez Sven?” she asked. “I want you to know these T-shirts are all organic cotton, and our inks are phthalates-free.” Jennifer Witnauer told me further that she has just moved here and reads my blog. I’m sure her clothes for kids at MeMe will fit the bill for the tots on your shopping list. (I had fun at the crafts fair, but, as you can imagine, this was my happiest moment, finding another like-minded soul/blog-reader!)

With the collaboration of Roger Putnam, Santa arrived at noon and took a seat in a corner of the foyer. It was fascinating to observe the excitement his presence produced. One little girl literally could not stop jumping up and down. In this photo, Susan Weeger encourages a wee lad to share his list of toys while young Kyri looks on longingly, hugging her Minnie Mouse doll. Meeting Santa can be a bit overwhelming. But even some grown-ups feel compelled to sit on his lap, a point proved by a recently-engaged Emily Frawley who gave Santa a big hug, above left. “Did you tell him you already had everything you wanted?” asked Tracy with a wink.

Back outside, I chatted with Susie Nielson. Susie is a graphic designer who owns Farm Gallery on Commercial Street. I craved all the porcelain created by a local gal of Russian origin, Asya Palatova, an artist who works with words. Susie and I discussed Wellfleet’s need for a workspace, appropriate for writers. She collaborated with Sky Freyss-Cole on a mini-proposal to start such a workspace. I told her about how Judith Stiles, now on the Economic Development Committee, had suggested a similar space for artists, which Susie had not heard about. “All these little connections coming together,” she said, shaking her head in wonder. Hey now, that’s community!

It was dandy to see so many local folks busy making a living, and having fellow citizens support this effort by spending hard-earned cash. The event was so successful that it is to be expanded from one to two days for 2012 and held in a tent behind Prez. Hall.

Did you attend any crafts fairs this year? Were you at Preservation Hall? What did you like best?

Preservation Hall To Hold Holiday Craft Fair

Walking down Main Street today, I noticed that the fellow outside the liquor store has again changed clothes to fit the holiday season. I did not prepare a post for today but wanted to send a reminder instead. This weekend Preservation Hall is holding its annual Deck-This-Hall Crafts Fair. Last year, the event was held in the basement. This year, the community center is finished and already has served as a venue for half a dozen weddings. There have also been farmers' markets, a wreath pageant, Zumba, parties, pot lucks, lectures, courses, dances, clothing swaps, and much more. I know a great many local artisans have signed up for a booth, so all that's needed are customers. On Saturday, think local Christmas shopping and head for Preservation Hall! And, on Friday, Kevin Rice presents Occupy Prez. Hall, an evening of comedy you will not want to miss. Read all about it on the Preservation Hall Web site.

Wellfleet's Deck This Hall Blasts Off With Holiday Cheer

December is upon us and December, in Wellfleet, means head to Preservation Hall with greenery and community spirit. Events will be taking place all month. Yes, not one weekend of Christmas cheer but three! The fun starts with wreath making. The second wreath-making session took place yesterday afternoon and evening. Along with crafters, bakers were also welcome to join the crew in the kitchen who were turning out macaroons at a fast clip. The table was full of yummy treats that will go on sale Saturday. There will also be a Gingerbread House contest, new in 2011. (Head judge will be Chris Kelley of Sweet Baking.)

The basement smelled heavenly when I arrived with my wreath in hand. Yes, this year I decided to get a head start and use Chez Sven greenery. The euonymus outside spoke to me: “I HAVE WREATH ASPIRATIONS,” it hissed. I cut several large branches and wound them into a circle. Sven helped for a while as I tucked and bent. Now, I’m not a craft-y person, certainly not as good with a glue gun as Miles, but I figured here was an opportunity to make a statement of some kind. In about fifteen minutes my wreath was ready. Well, almost. I tied on a bow and added a Chico bag as decoration. Suddenly the name came to me: NEVER BAGLESS. Because all the wreaths at the wreath pageant have names, in case you had forgotten. (Last year I created STOP PLASTIC POLLUTION.)

Into my car we went, the wreath and I, driving two minutes into town. Organizer-in-chief Tracy Plaut showed me to a table laden with crafting materials. I found a star and a bow. NEVER BAGLESS, right above, was complete. (And yes, those are marshmallows to the left, a wreath made by Tracy herself.)

Meanwhile, a lot was going on around me. Christmas masterpieces were being created. Cookies eaten. Elves were coming and going. Kim Shkapich, Celeste Makely, and Amy Samuelson, left, stirred and rolled in the kitchen. Tracy seemed to be everywhere at once, placing finished wreaths on the wall, chatting with newcomers, urging those hard at work to enjoy the snacks. And, there were many children this year. No wonder! Up on the stage I spied the makings of Christmas cookies, an activity my granddaughter in California would have loved. Several little girls were already hard at work.

“I suggest you test on the burned ones,” suggested Debra Joy Strain, who shows off her finished wreath at the top of the post.

Debra Joy told me she makes a living doing oil painting restoration and had lived in Mexico for a number of years. She came “home” with her bilingual eight-year-old daughter and discovered Preservation Hall.

“This is really nice,” she said with unfettered enthusiasm, as if we lived in Los Angeles and the Getty Museum had suddenly popped up on the hillside. “There are so many amazing people in Wellfleet, but you don’t usually get to meet them.”

I could only agree. Preservation Hall brings us together. That’s what community is all about.

Don’t forget to attend the Wreath Pageant this Saturday from 10 to 4 and stay tuned for updates on future weekend events ...

Wellfleet’s Fourth Annual “Deck This Hall” a Success!

What has 15 hands, 30 feet, and one head? That would be Wellfleet’s Preservation Hall Board, of course. Members work well together, walk in step, and seem to have singular vision. I saw five of them during the half-hour I spent at the crafts fair and wreath pageant yesterday. What a joyous occasion it was! If you missed “Deck This Hall” because of the inclement weather, let me share my impressions without wasting any more time. The wreaths were set up in the future great hall, along un-insulated walls, and on tables. To the left, Tracy Plaut, one of the main organizers, assigns numbers for the silent auction.

Crafts people had set up stands both upstairs and down. Lots of fun Christmas gifts were available for sale. Cape Codders were buying candy, Wellfleet greeting cards, pottery, T-shirts, jewelry, tote bags made of recycled material, and much, much more. During the afternoon, it was possible to tour the renovated building. At the doorway, Dede Ledkovsky hawked lottery tickets. Santa came at 1 pm, stopping at the Lighthouse Restaurant, a few doors up Main Street.

And, of course, there were the wreaths. I loved Kim Shkapich and Jim Lotti’s train tracks and Lego creation with the words LOVE and HOPE spelled out in wooden blocks. Professional landscaper Victoria Pecoraro dreamed up For The Birds, Too, which offered birds a home and food. The bidding began at $75 for this wreath. At 1:30, the price was up to $90. By the end of the day, most of the wreaths had found homes.

Just look at the beautiful stained glass windows from the former Catholic Church! The renovation may not yet be complete, but it was clear that the space is already serving its purpose: bringing the community together. Friends would hug as they went from wreath to wreath and stall to stall. “I know you!” someone exclaimed behind me. “I see you all the time. I’m Teresa!” Wherever I looked, people embraced.

Before leaving, I stopped on the front steps to speak with Prez. Hall Vice President Anne Suggs, who said in a wistful voice, “We were standing in there last night, imagining it when the walls are actually white!”

What was she referring to? Completion of our marvelous GREEN community center and the wedding ceremonies that will take place in Preservation Hall, starting in June, as well as, seven months later, the 5th Annual “Deck This Hall” 2011. Mark your calendars now!