Craft show veterans are first-timers at Art in the Park
Linda Lovelady of Marion and her family are veterans when it comes to the world of art and craft shows, but Saturday will mark the first time they have participated in the show located just a few streets away from her own backyard.
"We've been at Kansas City shows this weekend in past years so this will be our first time at Art in the Park," Linda said. They also have exhibited in Ponca City, Okla., Mulvane, Fredonia, and at other fall festivals.
Linda and her family will be offering numerous art and craft items Saturday in the two booth spaces they unofficially call "The Family Affair." The booth is aptly named since many members of Linda's extended family contribute crafts.
Besides crafts created by Linda and her husband, Bub, the booth also will feature works from her uncle and aunt, Bill and Virginia Hendrickson of Reedsport, Ore., her son, Joe, and her sister, Lala.
Some of the Loveladys' wares have been popular sellers at craft shows in recent years. One of the most popular has been the "Time Out Kids," child dolls who have their heads bowed down as if they've been sent to the corner or to "time out."
Instead of the "kids," this season Linda hopes to sell friendly-looking scarecrows just in time for the fall season.
"The craft world is funny," she said. "Sometimes what you think will sell doesn't do well at all and other things will sell like crazy.
"My husband says 'Are you sure you're going to need all these?'" she said with a laugh.
Linda also hopes to sell items like "feel good bags," small bags filled with corn. Place them in the microwave two to three minutes, remove them and they can be placed on sore joints and stiff necks.
"They stay hot 30 to 45 minutes," Linda said. "They're good for people with arthritis. I donated some to Marion Manor."
Recycled items from old homes and buildings have proven to be popular. The Loveladys plan to sell small tote boxes, decorative window planter boxes, and barnwood shelves — all recycled from torn down structures.
The rustic shelves, for instance, come complete with hardware for hanging items. But in this case the "hardware" comes in the form of old door knobs made from porcelain or glass knobs recycled from old structures.
"They've been a pretty hot seller," Linda said. "The window planter boxes also seem to be popular. These are made from window frames taken out of a late 1800s building which was torn down in Wichita's Old Town. We have about 75 windows, but we've already sold some of those."
Other items which will be offered at Lovelady's booth include jewelry, tole painting, fishing flies, agate "touch" lamps, and even a "grab bag" of polished rocks that Linda's aunt and uncle, the Hendricksons, have picked up during their trips around the country.
"We've been doing crafts the last 15 years or so, depending on whatever strikes our fancy," Linda said.
The Loveladys have had to quit making one of their previous best sellers — the garden bench — because it's become too difficult to find one of the main pieces needed to make it work.
"The back of the bench is made from an old headboard from a twin bed," she explained. "They're really hard to find nowadays."
Since both Linda and Bub are retired, the Loveladys have time to work on their various projects.
"When we're preparing for a show we'll work from 7 to 11:30 a.m. then we'll go out again in the afternoon. We're working about six hours a day now," she said.
As for Saturday, the Loveladys and other family members all say they're anxious to go.
"We enjoy meeting all different kinds of people and getting their feedback," she said. "When people go to craft shows they look for unique and different things."
