Women tap into their creative side

The Kentucky Derby did more than just attract celebrities and world-class horses to Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Jill Pickett

Pat Crosby, left, and Kathleen Heric look at items available at the Jewelry by Brenda booth Saturday during the Every Woman’s Arts and Crafts Festival at Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.

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Jill Pickett

Keepsake Kans, made by Lu Ann Hash, were one of the items available Saturday at the Every Woman’s Arts and Crafts Festival at Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.

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Jill Pickett

Vendors showcase their items Saturday at the Every Woman’s Arts and Crafts Festival at Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.

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It also may have played a role in a slight dropoff in vendors at the Every Woman’s Arts and Crafts Festival at Colvin Community Center in Radcliff, said organizer LaDonna Eastman.

Eastman said the festival, in its third year, always has been hosted the Saturday before Mother’s Day to provide another shopping outlet for families, but it is unusual the event would fall on the same day as the Derby. Six vendors dropped out in the week leading up to the festival, she added.

Roughly 20 vendors joined the festival in its inaugural year and it swelled to around 40 vendors last year. But Eastman said the total fell back to about 20 this year.

Nevertheless, participants had fun as vendors visited each other’s booths to gain insight on craft work and swap stories. Meanwhile, live music kept the mood jovial and upbeat.

Eastman said vendors  trade and barter items as the day progresses.
Paula Basham of Paula’s Krafty Keepsakes had a slew of handcrafted blankets, cloth books and other accessories available at her booth. She said a blanket typically takes about three hours to complete.

Her creations were splashed in bright colors and adorned with iconic figures, such as Mickey Mouse and Bob the Builder.

Kathleen Heric also brought wares to the festival, specializing in knitted items. She visited other booths with a friend to get a taste of what was offered.

Heric said she picked up the hobby upon retirement and turned it into a passion. Knitted hats are the most popular of her items, she said.
Some of the more unusual items on display was a selection of customized cans created by Lu Anna M. Hash, an independent beauty consultant. Branding them Keepsake Kans, Hash originally struck on the idea when she started making the cans for new mothers with clothes inside and others for weddings stuffed with Mary Kay products.

“Once I started making them, everyone wanted to buy one,” she said.

Since then, she has expanded her creative medium, crafting cans in honor of cartoon characters and comic book heroes, such as Spiderman. Hash said the Spiderman design was the most challenging because she could find no paper featuring the famous wall crawler. The dilemma called for improvisation.

“I stressed out over that one,” she said with a laugh.

Her next endeavor is the creation of University of Kentucky and University of Louisville Keepsake Kans. She already has started on a U of L design but could not complete it before the festival because of work commitments. Hash said it typically takes around three days to complete one of the designs.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762.