By Scott D. Johnston
The Winter Fanta-Sea Arts and Crafts show at the Ocean Shores Convention Center is a Thanksgiving weekend tradition now in its 28th year. The free show takes place Friday, Nov. 25, 12 to 5 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cathie Parker, now in her third year as producer of the popular event, has brought together a broad mix of 70-plus vendors, offering an eclectic array of new and returning favorites. All share the trait that defines the event itself: nothing is factory-produced and everything is in some way hand-made and unique.
Notable among the vendors new to Winter Fanta-Sea this year is Konnie Welch of Warrenton, OR, and her “Living Moss Trees of Life.” These 3D hangings look as if they are something of a hybrid of tree or bush, wreath and dream catcher, with various mosses representing foliage. A life-long artist and craftsperson, Welch first made her Trees of Life 40 years ago, but set them aside for the many years she ran a shop in Seaside, OR. Now retired and working some festivals, she revisited the concept a few years back, and offers them in various sizes and motifs.
Among others new to the festival are Dale Dineen with various arrangements from her Lavender Valley farm several miles northeast of Ocean Shores; Leah Hollon Paquette with honey, candles and salves from Giving Thanks Gardens at Taholah; Claire Hollenbaugh, from Grayland by way of England, with hand-blended loose-leaf teas and hand-made tea bags and infusers; Tacoma’s Dylan Trout with dried mixes for soups, sauces, dips and spreads; and members of the North Beach Artists Guild.
Popular returnees include Jerry and Diane Wolles of Ocean Shores and their hand-made guitars, ukuleles, banjos and more; Jeanne Kors from Lilliwaup, with hand-woven beaded wearables; and Betty Downes, who spends most of the event sitting at an authentic spinning wheel, making hand-spun yarn while she sells her scarves, shawls, hats and other wearables.
Another notable returnee is Justin McGraw. The “Phantom Line Design” metal hangings and other pieces he makes at his shop in Rochester, have become so popular that what started as a hobby has become a promising career.
Parker, who also manages the Visitor Information Center housed in the west side of the Convention Center, loves putting Winter Fanta-Sea together and credits her predecessor, Helen Lord, with passing along a strong, successful event.
“Helen couldn’t have been a better teacher,” she beamed. “She had planning timelines and all of the details, just everything all put together.”
The biggest challenge in producing the event, Parker explained, is “placing the people” —arranging the floor plan so two jewelry artists are not right next to each other, for example. “It’s like choreographing a dance sometimes,” she laughed.
She sees the ongoing success of the event as evidence of an effective combination of content, date and place.
“It’s a fun, festive atmosphere and you walk through and see all these beautiful things that are unique, things you’re not going to see in most gift shops,” she said, noting that the opportunity to meet the people who made the objects also appeals to many.
“How often anymore can you buy something from the person who actually created it?” Parker asks.
