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The Huron Expositor, 1980-12-18, Page 21SEAFORTF, ONTARIO, TI-1013SCIAY OBOEMBER 18, 1960. (Secon0 Section Pages 1A - 8A) A hard working pair, BUSY WINTERS—Steve Murray attacks another project in his basement workshop while his wife, Agnes, also an avid craft maker, watches. (Expositor photo) oodworki INN , dolls, upholste the Murrays can do it all BY HERB SHOVELLER When Steve Murray takes you into his basement he apologizes for the clutter in his workshop. That's strange. He must see something the visitor can't. To one side is the woodworking machinery he uses to pursue his hobby. In the miedle is his work bench. On the other side, neatly arranged on a table and the floor are his finished products - wooden children's toys, a cedar chest, bird feeders and tea pot stands - a vast assortment of completed projects. Any clutter is not apparent. Both Steve, who has retired from the home farm to a smaller farm north .east Winthrop, and his wife Agnes, devote the majority of their spare time to their hobbies. Hobbies, not hobby. Besides Steve's wood crafts, to which Agnes supplies *finishing touches such as painting, his wife makes dolls and clowns, Christmas decorations and even does upholstery work. "It's a lot better than watching tele- vision." says Agnes. "1 can't sit around," adds Steve. "Oh, maybe for a little bit, but not for very long." In the summer, Steve is kept busy with his cash crops, hogs and chickens but in the winter months, when he says his chores take him just an hour or two, his attention is focused for most of his days on his hobby. • "I spend most of my day down here," explains Steve as he leans against his work bench and casts -his eye around the basement. "I haven't got many chores now, so we,'re not bound down to working at all." SEVERAL HOBBIES Although the couple has several hobbies on the go at once, the work with wood consumes most of Steve's interest. It's 'a craft that he has been able to spend more time at since the Murrays took on the smaller farm and built a new home four years ago. But his interest in woodwork goes back much further than that. "I began working at this about 30 years ago. Well, it's 40 years ago, I guess, in fact," he adds, with a• little more calculating. "Then we did our own repairing, but I didn't really have the tools until we built this place (the new home). "We used to make a lot of toys for our boys a long time ago." The Murrays have four sons. "And they still have some of them. They pass them on to their own kids.** It sounds as though the toys were well built back then. and Steve still considers his projects pretty sturdy. "Oh, they're strong. 1 can stand in that bed over there," he says, nodding towards a doll's bedon the table which sits about six inches from the floor and is about two feet long. "I've had no complaints in three years. They're good and strong." The toys he makes are solid and practical - wheel barrows for youngsters to help around the home, doll houses which open in half on hinges and feature wall to wall carpeting • and give a strong case for suspecting Steve has a healthy training in woodwork or carpentry. "I jast learned by experience," he explains, betraying all the evidence. "I never learned this trade at all. I just picked it up." With Agnes, and her upholstering and other crafts, it's the same thing. "I just picked it up myself—, she says, and adds that taking apart objects like old chairs, which she has done, helps her to learn. "That's what we do with a lot of things," explains Steve. "take them apart. We fixed a table that was abaut 7S years old. And if people bring us a pattern, we can usually put it together, unless it's too difficult. We make anything that they give us a pattern on, and we fix a lot of furniture." The ',they' he refers to are people who happen to know about the skill and interest Steve and Agnes have in their projects. They'll visit the Murrays. armed with a pattern for something they would like made and. as Steve suggests, he and . . Agnes can almost always comply with their customers' requests. Besides their commissioned work, the couple find enough work on their own t� keep them busy and, in fact, they don't rely 'only on requests. "We make a lot of the things on our own," said Steve. "We get a lot of our own ideas out of hobby and craft books. We've got enough to do with what we've got here." PLENTY OF PROJECTS With ideas they generate themselves, and customer ideas, Steve and Agnes have plenty of projects to keep them occupied. Now, it seems they can go about that work at their own speed and tht is one reason they chose not to advertise. They will also continue to sell from their home. "We figure if we get into too much expensive stuff then you can't sell it. We just do it and make a few dollars above our time and expenses. "We're just putting in time," he continued. "If you get something that turns out pretty good, you feel pretty good. But you never know with a piece of wood what it's going to turn out to be." Steve and Agnes seem content to keep their craft trade rather low key. It keeps them busy that way, but not too busy. Besides. if it gets any more hectic the Murray basement may become cluttered. For real this time. Santa: have a nice rest the next day My mommy My mommy is writing this letter for me because i am too young. My name is Carly and I am 2V) years old. I have been a good girl. Could you please bring me a toy drum and some new books? 1 will leave some cookies and milk for you Santa and some carrots for your Reindeer, under my tree. Lots of Love Carly Price Egniondville. Ont. xxo How are you? How are you? My mommy Is writing this letter. I am four years old. For Christmas I would like a toy blow dryer. and an easy bake oven. Love . Tammy Oliver R.R. 4. Seaforth How are deers? How am in are your reindeers? 1 kindergarten SO my mom is helping mc to writc this letter. For Christmas [want some tools (hammer, saw, nails, screwdriver some nuts and bolts.) and a race car set. Love Jeff Oliver R.R. 4, Seaforth, Ont. I have been pretty good A re you goieg to have Rudolph this Christmas? 1 am 5 years old and 111 be 6 in January the 12. What 1 want lot Christmas is a Tonka road -grader. Tonka Back- hoe and a match -box garage set. 1 have been trying to be a good boy. My sister Barb is writing this letter for me. She wants a tape -recorder. This year for your snack will give you a bottle of beer and some carrots for your reindeer's. Well 1 got to go now and I hope you have a Merry Christnias. Love Robbie Holmes xorxxo We have tried to be happy My name is. Kimmy and I am 4 yrs. old. I have a sister Kelly who will be 3 yrs. old in a week. My mom is writing this letter for us as we cannot write. 1 would like a Lite Brite set. Lego Blocks. a Lotto game and anything else you would like to leave me. Kelly would like a choo-choo train, a new stroller for her baby doll. some pueztes and new crayons. We have tried to be happy girls this year Thank you Santa for OW presents last year. We will leave a piece of apple pie for you and some carrots for your reindeer to eat. xoxxoxxo Kintrny and Kelly I am fine Hou are You? I am find. I have been a good gill alt year. I would like a play cashoer and a play Phone for Christmas. 1 am going to leave sou some Christmas cake on the table and a little bit of whiskey. Hots are your reindeers? Carol Ann McQuaid. We'd like a toboggan My name is Came. I bee at Winthrop 1 Ileac been a good girl 1 would like a wee %safer nondeeful and some paints and a pueele and some tinoke and a Ben doll and a coloring beak and crayons. My brother Tum mold like a truck and and Ernie doll and a book and a train Taunt and I would loke a trobaggan We %III lease atokies and milk for sou Thank sou Carrie Bannon J awn Bannon zootoenso 1 love you Santa toNc sou Santa I earot Eraser and Mniro e,ints a Ring sear Thank you for the gift; vim brought me last year. 1 base enewed playing with them This scar I eould like a ohalkholard. a Bah% ( ries for You Doll. and the game perfesiton. and anything else sots think a little girl like me %owls! like Iwo; lease a Feces of apple ree flit eau and come apple; fnr oton reuideer $.1fri Pee woshorg y,ei a e.aele5, Choc:mac I have tried • I am 4 sears old 1hase dried to be a good girl this 1 os hrtelona Van Poucke Seaforth teem% A CHRISTMAS BACKDROP—A Christmas tree in the hall of Huron Centennial School was an appropriate backdrop fQr students modelling their home economics projects last week. Chris Westlake (far left) of RR3, Bayfield, modelled a denim wraparound skirt she made; Bonnie Turner of RR4, Seaforth, modelled a brown, elastic waistband skirt in the school fashion show and Jay Brandon of RR1, Varna, modelled a grey fitted skirt made in Mrs. Mather%s home ec. clasS. (Photo by Gibb) MODELLING THE FINISHED PROJECT—Grade 7 and 8 home economics students modelled the outfits they'd made at a fashion show at Huron Centennial School on Friday afternoon. Kelly Purkis of Hillsgreen, (far left), a grade 8 student, models the corduroy skirt she made: Nancy Taylor of Brucefield made burgundy pants and a matching vest and Joan Binnendyk of RR2, Kippen. models a skirt and tie she made from an attractive blue print. (Photo by Gibb) This is my list Dear Santa. This is my ( hri;tma lisi Train set. race %ars. %hsps helmet (seta Millennium Falcon. Tie fighter, X wing fighter. Land speeder, Prin. cess Vela. Luke Sksesalker. Lando and guard and other figures1 hire engine The Strorigarm loader pg 2.1f1 Leen irCould sou please brone me of these toss to me for °lemmas I hese been a Urn gOrtd bo; ihOS sear liapps Christmas Santa Ell fray e sou eggnog and eilnkres Clinsunas night I tent' 7. nu Brad Moore 1 have been a good girl Andrea's (1st 1 page 224 Faehroe Plates 2 page 295 Blueberte muffin 3 airan bens Shortcake 4 flutkleberrs pie 5 page 273 Ragged% Ann Dear Santa; Please look Attlee These are the toss I want for christmas I hese been a good etrl I hope- you have anion- rest the nextetas- 1 lee e sou Andrea Moore Maybe a puppy? Dear Santa. fee Xmas 1 ;',mid Like te hase a tape re% order and a fisher price dare deter s and mash- a ;turps deg for Scott and 1 M% Brother a ould like fisher price Marine Search team pus stare ars. land speeder and we a tal put some pop and can-ots out for von P S %sawed like the tape recorder with an electtic cord and Batters Bye for novo Brueefield SteNen and Stott Cards% ell How have you been? How have you and mrs Claus been? I am 9 years old. For Christmas 1 would like Lite Brite. a micro- a aye oven. and a pair of skies and a walkie-talkie. I'vh brother Kevin who is 8 would PVC' A rescue city and mini cars. My sister Janet ts ho is 2 would like a bugw, and a doll. We have tried to be good children. We all IC31.E sou something to eat and drink Loy e Karen. Key in and Janet R R 4 Seaforth. Ontario Dear Santa: 1 am 6 years old and have been pretty good Moybe You can bnng me a barbie suit ease. and a record Player and aka a benne Von. Your friend Susy McKellar R.U. 2 •Staffa SPECIAL DELIVERY—One letter to Santa arrived at the Expositor in this carefully folded up homemade envelope, this size with a hand drawn stamp It was taped up safely too Now it's on its way to Santa at the North Poe. Hope you didn't work too hard How are sou and Mrs Claus" He hnpe eyer.one at the North Pole dud no %sera too hard getting reads for Orirostrroas this Year We must a arn sou ee hese a net; dog this e ear His name is Max He IS not (toss and uctli not bole vou hut he may knock sou doun and run over sou He has not learned Ins manners set. so e etch cait We. base tried to he good all 4 ear For Christ tries Dann% %fluid like an AFX race set. walkie talkies and a John Deere to plough Trudy would like a TON oven. a hair blower. a dorsi and rewellery. Mark wants a vtuffed animal, a truck and some blocks. You can find a snack on the kitchen table for you and your reindeer. Have a Merr!, Christmas Santa. Love Danny, Trudy and Mark Upshall R.R. 2 Kippen. Ont More letters to Santa in section. A typewriter please Dear Santa 1 %mild like a-1 typewriter in red please Thank yen Love Jessica 8 years xottaxoxoxcero My dog needs a sweater Dear Santa Claus How are you. I have been prett:‘, good this year. I would like a hew shirt and some starwar people. 1 wauld also like a space ship. Barbara would like a nightie with Charlie's Angels on it and wonder women doll. Robert would like an alarm clock. My dog needs a sweater and a bone. Daddy needs some blue socks and mum some slippers. Would you please bring Patsy some slippers and Gus a hammer. Panl Glanville the Expositor's other