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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1984-10-10, Page 30FEATURE Goderich woman makes crafts for Fair BY JOANNE BUCHANAN W1Ien it comes to crafts, Mary Lee Presseau says there isn't anything she isp't interestd iq trying. Mrs, Presseau, a former owner of La Boutique in Goderich, will be one of many local crafters at this year's Christmas Country Fair being held at Saltford Valley Hall October 17, 20 and 21. She and a friend, ,Susan St. Louis of Clinton, will be selling their original bread dough art. As well, Mrs.. Presseau will be selling decorated wicker Christmas baskets, cloth picture frames and puppet dolls. The puppet dolls are Mrs. Presseau's latest creation which she adapted from a pattern she received recently. The heads are made from nylon stuffed with quilt batt and the bodies from a soft flannel ]inaterial. T ,end result is a moveable doll that looks ,61.11Ka Cabbage Patch preemie. "They are c ft pletely washable and everyone who sees them, falls in love with them," says Mrs. Presseau. EARLY START Learning embroidery from her grandmother and crocheting from a handicapped uncle when she was only six years old, has led to a life-long enjoyment of all types of crafts for Mrs. Presseau. And recently, this enjoyment took on added meaning for her. "I pulled a muscle in my back about three years ago and it wouldn't heal properly. I had to take physical therapy and I was in traction every other day for about half an hour. There wasn't much I could do without some kind of pain. But I still had my crafts and that gave me hope and something good to think about," she explains while noting the similarity between her own situtation and that of the uncle who taught her to crochet as a child. "He was crippled and) that was his way of putting in time." FROM STORE TO HOME Mrs. Presseau bought the La Boutique store on East Street from Annette Oulette several years ago but lost the store and all its contents to fire. She then relocated the store on West Street where she sold some of her own creations as well as -those of other crafters on consignment. When the economy took a turn for the worse, she decided to close her store and look for another job. It was while working at this other job that her back injury occurred. She has only been doing crafts full-time again for the past year and says she is still experimenting "to find out what the public likes right now". In November, she hopes to get a permit to sell her creations from her home. "If I work and sell out Of my, home, I can he with my family and I won't have the same overhead that I would in a store," she explains. KEEPING INVENTORY UP She admits that it is sometimes difficult to produce enough to keep her inventory up. She sold some of her crafts at the flea market at the jail this summer and often when friends visit, they see her crafts and want to buy them. "Everything I do sells and I give a lot away as gifts. I can't keep ahead. A store in PEI wrote to ine recently and said they were interested in carrying my bread dough Mary Lee Presseau of Goderich is surrounded by some of the crafts she has made to sell at the annual Christmas Country Fair at Saltford Valley Hall this month. These crafts include puppet dolls, bread dough art, decorated wicker Christmas baskets and cloth picture frames. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) creations but I just wouldn't be able,to keep them supplied," she sighs. She hopes to have several .thousand dollars worth of inventory ready for the Christmas Country Fair however (her booth will only be set up on the Wednesday and the Sunday of the fair) and she is looking forward to it. This is her second year at the fair and she says last year she sold "a little bit of everything" and received "some very nice comments" from those who attended. Mrs. Presseau says she has found the trick to selling crafts is to "latch onto" something that is popular with the public and then "stick with it". She says doing crafts requires hard work and patience but is the perfect way to vent one's creativity. "The head and the heart come together when you do crafts." Interest in one "craft usually leads to interest in another, says Mrs. Presseau. guess it's part of having an artistic nature but I become bored very quickly and like to try new things." BREAD DOUGH ART She has spent about three years doing bread dough art "working at it very heavily" and teachingherself along the way. "It takes a lot of time to master this craft but it's a great creative outlet. You can mould or make what you want and I have a wild imagination so I enjoy that," she explains. There are many different ways of doing bread dough art. Mrs. Presseau mixes flour, salt and water to make dough and then moulds or sculpts the shape she wants from this. Her specialities include a kitchen witch and a pig which she calls, "Where's the Pork?". After she is satsified with the shape of the dough, she bakes it hard, dries it, finishes it with three coats of varnish, and adds her final decorations. Sometimes she also pre -colors her dough. The whole process can take two or three days, depending on what she is creating. WHAT TO CHARGE Pricing one's crafts is a difficult task, says Mrs. Presseau. You have to charge for the amount of materials used and for the effort put into the final creation. Even after all these years of making and selling crafts, Mrs. Presseau says she is . still never satisfied with what she produces and she never feels that her creations are adequate enough to sell. These feelings of Self-doubt however, make her strive for improvement and perfection. Mrs. Presseau is now working out at the East End gym and says it is "terrific therapy" for her back. "At one time I thought I might never walk again but now I'm starting to feel better all the time.'' And while physical therapy and exercise have 'helped her - str'gthen her back muscles, her crafts Have provided her with the positive mental attitude needed to get well too. MacKay Centre holds variety concert MacKay Centre for Seniors held its mon- thly variety concert on Wednesday, September 26. Janet Kalbfleisch was in charge and welcomed everyone. The pro- gram started by everyone singing "0 Canada" with Joan Henwood at the piano. A petition was passed around to be signed by each member. This is to be sent to the government in order to see if a grant is available for operating expenses at MacKay Centre. Grant Ellison and granddaughter Kim sang several songs. Dr. Bruce Twamley informed members he would like to form a dance group. He would act as coach and he outlined the basic steps for circle dancing. The group will begin October 10 and 17 at 1:30. All in- terested persons are to get in touch with Dr. Twamley. John DeJager sang three songs, accom- panied by Paul Howe. As usual, John's sing- ing was much enjoyed by all. Mrs. Beverley Brown and Mrs. Judy Cieslar from Town and Country WE'VE MOVED to a larger, more complete centre to serve your needs better4- y— NOW... COMPACT CARS TO 18 WHEELERS NO JOB TOO BIG OR SMALL! CALL JIM MADDOX...524-2494 WEST SIDE AUTO BODY 38 Victoria St., Goderich (Nast $'o Fisher Glass) LIU STOVES BY: OLDTIMER GODIN KENT CHIMNEYS, ACCESSORIES Certified Installations. 744 PRINCESS RfTywr _._.m Homemakers spoke briefly on the services offered. Town and Country Homemakers is a private, non-profit organization, charitable but also a business. The charge for home service is $6.75 per hour. Those who cannot afford this service or those who do not qualify for government programs or other charities, may apply. However, Mrs. Jean Young, executive director, supervises the need and decides who is eligible for this aid. Brochures will soon be delivered to every residence asking for funds to cover the extra expenses. Town and Country Homemakers will also be selling amaryllis bulbs in October at $6 a kit to raise funds. Everyone enjoyed Mrs. McBride's trumpet solos, accompanied by Ed Stiles. Mrs. Doris Little invited all those in- terested to go out and bowl. Those unable to go on Thursday, could go on Tuesday. All in- terested are to get in touch with Little Bowl. First game and shoes are free. Stan and Jean Wheeler showed slides of their trip to Europe this summer. This was very interesting and humorous. Janet thanked all who had helped with the pro- gram by sharing their talents. "The Queen" was sung, bringing the pro- gram to a close. Winners at the card party on September 12 were: euchre, Eileen Curran and Harold Stanbury; 500, Irene Harnack and Harvey West; door prize, Mrs. Zoethout. The next card party is October 10. For taxi, call 4- 6594. A bazaar will be held on October 13. A soup and sandwich lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. - 1.30 p.m. with afternoon tea from 2-5 p.m. Donations for tables of crafts, white elephant, jam, pickles, vegetables or fruit are needed. Phone 4-7694 or bring them to the Centre on Friday, Oc- tober 12 at 1:30 p.m. Choir practise is Thursday mornings at 10 a.m. A dance will be held October 19 at 8 p.m. with music by Gord Harrison's group. ladies please bring lunch. 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I. 4DP4-F , - -. COl .M.ERC1A.L---FARM • TRAVEL GOPERICH SIGNALSTAR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10,1984 --PAGE 9A COUNTY OF HURON aro OFFICIAL FORSTER'S BRIDGE The County of Huron hereby invites the public to attend the official opening ceremonies of Forster's Bridge on County Road 31 north of King's Highway No. 8 at 10:00 a.m. local time: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1984 The Honorable James Snow and other dignitaries will participate in the opening of the longest bridge on the County Road System. B.W. McBurney Chairman Road Committee Autumn's Gleam of Gold Gold Serpentine Chains - at the new lower gold price, 7" bracelet (10 kt, gold) from 14.95, 16" chain (10 kt. gold) from 25.95, 18" chain (10 kt. gold) 28.95. Other chain styles available including the all' -new tri•colour chain. Complete your fashion picture with karat gold earrings - in a wide variety of styles. 10 kt. from 23.00, 14 kt. from 30.00. ANSTETT JEWELLERS 8 Alhor! 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