"State Fair"

For some reason, the "State Fair" is held in several locations here in
Alaska every year.

Yesterday we went to the one here in Fairbanks, though it was raining.
Always does at fair time. This year is rainier than usual,though, and we're
building a fire most days already.

In a way, I go to the fair mostly to see friends. Friends from smaller
communities who are here as vendors, especially in and around the craft
hall/tent. Many of the crafters are also people who live a semi-subsistence
life style too.

I've known Christine for at least 15 years. She does great beadwork, as
well as some very interesting jewelry with bones.
http://alaskakreations.com/product_i...roducts_id/636

The lady from Delta goes great strung jewelry, at ridiculously low prices.
She's afraid she'll lose customers if she raises her prices. But $80 for
gemstone necklace with a Chuck Driver (Blue Heeler) focal and earring with
gold-filled findings! Her husband was a musher, then ran a kennel, and is
now disabled and rejecting treatment. So this is her livihood.

The lady at the end table who sells a lot of earring has people are
complaining about paying $15 for Heather Davis (Bliss) earring with GF or SS
findings. She does better at the University Women Christmas Bazaar which
has a more sophisticated bunch attending.

A new vendor has the most wonderful selection, using a lot of trade beads
and fossil material recovered in mining operations. Got some good ideas
from her, and hope to see more of her work next year when I don't have a
wedding to spend on.

But probably the most exiting booth I went to was the one I helped carry of
few things for. As we were parking, I saw a friend getting a bunch of stuff
out to carry in and offered to help. This lady came to Alaska with her
husband to trap. I met her at the "Women's Martial Arts Retreat" (Women in
Martial Arts and Related Studies), where she also did all the cooking (she
teaches nutrition and does catering, and gave me and Pete our wedding cake
as a wedding present). She also was very involved with 4H. She is now
involved in wilderness survival and feels she has found her niche -- which
seems a natural evolution from trapping, self-defense, 4H, etc. But what
really excites me is that she wants to get our Women's Retreat to come back
to life, and probably in something much closer to its original spirit
putting more emphasis on the healing arts, and martial arts as women's
empowerment.

Pete also checked out all the sites selling wood furnaces that are outside
the house and duct hot air into the house, and left his cord wood business
cards with them.

All in all, it was a very successful, though wet, excursion.

Tina

Oooooooooooo, I love Christine's work!! I'm eyeing a couple of her
patterns! Love the loomed bear necklace and the owl earrings!!

--
Jerri
www.beadbimbo.com
"Christina Peterson" wrote in message
...
For some reason, the "State Fair" is held in several locations here in
Alaska every year.

Yesterday we went to the one here in Fairbanks, though it was raining.
Always does at fair time. This year is rainier than usual,though, and
we're
building a fire most days already.

In a way, I go to the fair mostly to see friends. Friends from smaller
communities who are here as vendors, especially in and around the craft
hall/tent. Many of the crafters are also people who live a
semi-subsistence
life style too.

I've known Christine for at least 15 years. She does great beadwork, as
well as some very interesting jewelry with bones.
http://alaskakreations.com/product_i...roducts_id/636

The lady from Delta goes great strung jewelry, at ridiculously low prices.
She's afraid she'll lose customers if she raises her prices. But $80 for
gemstone necklace with a Chuck Driver (Blue Heeler) focal and earring with
gold-filled findings! Her husband was a musher, then ran a kennel, and is
now disabled and rejecting treatment. So this is her livihood.

The lady at the end table who sells a lot of earring has people are
complaining about paying $15 for Heather Davis (Bliss) earring with GF or
SS
findings. She does better at the University Women Christmas Bazaar which
has a more sophisticated bunch attending.

A new vendor has the most wonderful selection, using a lot of trade beads
and fossil material recovered in mining operations. Got some good ideas
from her, and hope to see more of her work next year when I don't have a
wedding to spend on.

But probably the most exiting booth I went to was the one I helped carry
of
few things for. As we were parking, I saw a friend getting a bunch of
stuff
out to carry in and offered to help. This lady came to Alaska with her
husband to trap. I met her at the "Women's Martial Arts Retreat" (Women
in
Martial Arts and Related Studies), where she also did all the cooking (she
teaches nutrition and does catering, and gave me and Pete our wedding cake
as a wedding present). She also was very involved with 4H. She is now
involved in wilderness survival and feels she has found her niche --
which
seems a natural evolution from trapping, self-defense, 4H, etc. But what
really excites me is that she wants to get our Women's Retreat to come
back
to life, and probably in something much closer to its original spirit
putting more emphasis on the healing arts, and martial arts as women's
empowerment.

Pete also checked out all the sites selling wood furnaces that are outside
the house and duct hot air into the house, and left his cord wood business
cards with them.

All in all, it was a very successful, though wet, excursion.

Tina