Crafters from Near and Far Share Wares at Holly Craft Show
(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 9, 2018)
Holly, MI – When Carol Zombow’s mother broke her hip, her daughter was at her side, helping her recover. She wanted to do something to cheer her up, so she learned how to make flowers out of fabric and put one on her walker.  “I thought it would cheer her up when she saw it,” she said.
“After I saw the smile it brought to her face, I started making more flowers and giving them away.”  The flowers, which fit on handles of anything with a two inch diameter, were so popular she turned them into a business. In addition to the decorative flowers, she started making purses with flowers that look like wrist corsages.
That’s how the Macomb resident ended up at the Holly Historical Society’s annual Spring Craft Fair on Saturday.  The event helped artists sell their wares, and raised money for the upkeep of the Hadley House Museum and other projects related to the history of Holly.
Herman Lambart of Davisburg was also there, selling jewelry made from stones he’d collected in the Southwest part of the country.  “Doing shows is fun for me.  I like talking to people and educating them about how the pieces are made,” he said.  Lambart had rocks in various stages of refinement, including larger rocks that has the outlines drawn where they would need to be cut.  Other pieces just needed to be polished. The finished works had stainless steel settings, turning the rocks into necklaces, jewelry and belt buckles.
Robina Campbell also had jewelry for sale, except hers was made from antique silverware – the kind with monograms and other artistic features.  Most of the rings and necklaces had been made by her husband Kevin who died about a year ago.  Campbell would find the silverware and her husband would transform it.  “He did it all by hand in the garage,” she said.  “He had the knowledge and creativity to know how to do it.”  Campbell also sews shirts and aprons out of old time pillowcases and handkerchiefs.  She has been selling the jewelry and apparel at craft shows, as well as learning the ring-making skills so she can carry on her husband’s passion herself.
Not everyone at the show was a crafter.  Vera Thornton is an author who has written and illustrated children’s books, mostly about farm animals.  Her most recent “I am Nitika” is a story about a wild Mustang who finds a home.”
Thornton, who lives in Fenton, was 43 when she learned how to read.  “I am dyslexic, but back then there was not a word for it. They just thought you were too stupid to learn.  Now we know better,” she said.  “I learned to just laugh and move on when I make mistakes. All you can do is just laugh.”
Becoming a writer and artist was a great way to overcome her learning challenges, and she recommended that anyone who wants to create “just go for it.  Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks, just follow your heart.”
Denise Reed of Ypsilanti gets creative to fill the time while she and her husband work different shifts. She makes pictures out of Diamond Dots, which look like bedazzling but with much smaller pieces.  “I’ve been doing this for six months,” she said.  “I work days and my husband works second shift.  So this keeps me out of trouble.”
The event, held at Karl Richter Community Center, happens every year.  To learn more about the Holly Historical Society go to http://www.hsmichigan.org/holly/
To learn about more events visit the White Castle Bold Moves Event Page.