Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Marty Seid, member of the Bruce Crossing Settler's Depot Gallery, stands by the "Doll Closet" which features her handmade doll clothing.
By JEAN NORDINE
Bruce Crossing - Members of Settler's Depot Gallery, in Bruce Crossing, are preparing for their annual Fall Fiesta. The fiesta will take place Saturday, Sept. 8th at the depot, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The fiesta will feature artisans demonstrations - such as Gary Brown, who will demonstrate his woodworking techniques. Other artists are also expected to hold demonstrations of their craft.
A bake sale and book sale will be offered and Mary Shehan will have her annual perennial sale. This is a donation based sale Shehan does twice a year. Shehan is the president of the Depot Gallery and Marty Seid the vice-president.
There is a wide variety of high quality handcrafted merchandise in the gallery that are one of a kind.
Seid's talent is sewing and knitting. Her handiwork of doll clothes are displayed in the Depot's "Doll Closet." Tiny, knitted doll socks are also her work as well as mittens on display for real live people.
Seid is a professional seamstress who has designed and stitched over 40 wedding gowns, including the attire for an entire bridal party.
During the summer the Depot has been highlighting different artists each week, by displaying their work right as you enter the building. This week features Sherry Duncan.
According to Duncan's bio, "She has never met a craft she didn't try. Artistic by nature, her grandmother taught her to crochet at a very early ago. Her abilities grew with her, and she learned to sew; making clothes for her Barbie dolls. As an adult, a friend introduced her to the art of making greeting cards."
Duncan's inventory at the gallery not only includes her handcrafted greeting cards, but also painted items, stamped items and decorative floral arrangements.
Next week's featured artist will be photographer Ralph Pifer, a retired Illinois college professor who combines his love of nature and photography by carefully documenting the untamed wilderness of the Upper Peninsula.
Pifer's love of photography dates back to the early seventies, and he has kept his finished photographs free from modern enhancement technology, meaning no photoshopping allowed.
The Depot Gallery was established in 1990 and have 20 current members. All members are required to work 8 days of the season. It is open daily from Memorial Day through September, 11-5. In October you can browse the Gallery Friday through Monday and then in November on Saturdays and Sundays. The Gallery closes for the season after their annual "Christmas in the Crossing" which is held the first Saturday of December.
Proceeds from Fall Fiesta will be used to operate the Depot and help pay for the Christmas at the Crossing children's party on Dec. 1, 2018.
