Back in March, I started telling you a little about how I came to love sewing. Today, I’m going to tell you a little more how I came to be a crafter—I was born into it.
Every July, part of my Mom’s family gathers at the Louisiana Folk Festival in Natchitoches to share a little bit of their creativity. Let me show you…
This is a collection of my great-grandfather’s whittling. Pop was born in 1899 and died in 2000 ( I think.). He had wonderful stories to tell of the changes he saw during his lifetime. Pop and his son, my Uncle Ken, would bring their chains and wooden toys to display and sale every July. (Note: Both of the above links are links to the artist biographies at the Louisiana Folklife Center’s website.)
These days, Pop’s living children carry on the Folk Festival tradition. My Uncle Ken and his wife Aunt Mary, my Aunt Dorothy and my Aunt Frances and her husband Uncle Sonny bring needlework along with the wooden toys.
Uncle Ken brings the wooden toys and demonstrates them with Uncle Sonny (and any of the rest of the family who happens to be standing nearby.) Uncle Ken also brings a sample of his whittling.
Aunt Dorothy brings the most wonderful Swiss Embroidery guest towels and Chicken Scratch aprons.
Aunt Mary brings the BEST crocheted pot scrubbers, pin cushions and Cathedral Window Christmas Ornaments. Aunt Mary’s dad Mr. Gandy was always a part of the folk festival also. He passed away last year and his presence (and his walking canes) were notably absent this year.
This year, Aunt Frances brought delightful handmade cards decorated with Sun-Bonnet Sue and embellished with tatted flowers. (And the all the family loves to shop. Kathy couldn’t pass up the cards!)
She’s also the very best toy demonstrator.
Across the arena, my Uncle Bill and Aunt Lynn are part of the Los Adaes booth. Bill makes wooden thimbles. The LM had the best time watching blocks of wood take shape.
The rest of the family who visit the festival takes part in another favorite tradition—FOOD! This year we enjoyed fried chicken, fried shrimp, fried onions, fried potatoes, fried alligator and fried soft shell crab. yum!
Love it! You know the thimbles that Uncle Bill makes are in memory of your grandmother who used to quilt with the Las Adaes group.
Wish I could have been there… maybe next year. I need to get one of those thimble.