An alternative to mall madness

Barbara Diamond

Today is traditionally the busiest day of the year at shopping malls.

Thousands of people jam into stores to buy a $79 cashmere sweater

for Aunt Tillie that differs only in color from the one bought for

her last year.

That same $79 would buy you custom-designed pearl earrings, a

hand-blown glass perfume bottle or maybe a piece of art at the

Sawdust Festival’s Winter Fantasy.

“It is wonderful to buy original things here for everyone on your

Christmas list,” Mayor Toni Iseman said.

No two handcrafted items will ever be identical, no matter how

similar the design.

And children can romp in the snowfield while mom and dad browse

for gifts.

This year, snow fell during the tree-lighting ceremony on opening

day, thanks to the Pageant of the Masters.

“They lent us their snowmaking machine,” said Rebecca Meekma,

Sawdust spokeswoman. “How neighborly of them.”

The ceremony also included performances by LagunaTunes and the

California Choreographers Dance Festival, cookies and cider served by

Trader Joe’s, and the announcement of the winners of the booth

designs and decorated trees.

Ket Youngstead, owner of Feathers Original Clothing, won first

place in booth design. She has been an exhibitor in the Winter

Fantasy since it began and a summer festival exhibitor since 1972.

“I change what I make for the winter show because people are

looking for different things,” Youngstead said.

Glass artists Spence and Mary Hurlbut came in second. Third place

went to jeweler Karen Joy. Mixed-media artist Cathy Hallinan and

painter Michael Hallinan and painter Dennis Junka were awarded

honorable mentions.

First place in the tree decorations went to the Laguna PTA

Council. The Laguna Club for Kids’ tree won second place, and the

Laguna Beach Youth Shelter Tree won third.

“Of course, they were all winners for participating, and the

Sawdust made small donations to each of the groups,” Meekma said.

Judges included Coastline Pilot City Editor Alicia Lopez;

Coastline reporters Suzie Harrison and Barbara Diamond; Laguna Beach

Independent Advising Editor and Publisher Stu Saffer; city Arts

Commissioner Les Thomas, SuperPrinters owner Dave Sanford; and Orange

County Register reporter Amy Wilson and advertising representative

Karen Eckhardt.

Trees also were decorated by the Festival of Arts, the American

Legion Auxiliary, First Thursday Art Walk, Laguna Outreach Community

Arts, the Laguna Beach Arts Commission and Girl Scout Troops 2031 and

2102.

The tree decorated by anonymous Sawdust artists deserves special

mention, even though it was not eligible for a prize. Nor was the

charming booth where Santa shows up from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day

of the festival.

“This is like the Sawdust Festival 20 years ago,” said exhibitor

Patti Jo Kiraly, who is married to Coastline columnist Sherwood

Kiraly.

The 13th annual Winter Fantasy opened Nov. 22. Exhibits include

ceramics, clothing/textiles, glass, gourd art, jewelry, leather

goods, mixed media, mobiles, musical instruments, paintings, pen and

ink drawings, photography, printmaking, scrimshaw, sculpture,

stone-flintknapping, watercolors and woodwork.

An expanded art space lures children to express themselves. They

can also get creative in the ceramics booth, where they get

one-on-one instruction at the potter’s wheel.

Adults can also sign up for classes. Entertainment is constant and

no one will go hungry or thirsty. Three cafes serve a variety of

ethnic dishes. Soft drinks, beer or wine are available at the Sawdust

Saloon.

“The great thing about the show is getting to talk to the artists

and craftspeople, such as Michael Amacher,” Meekma said.

Jeweler Mike Heintz demonstrates his art in the metallurgic shop

in his booth.

“I really enjoy explaining how I create a piece to our patrons,”

Heintz said. “Demonstrating my work really connects me to the people

who purchase my jewelry.”

Show newcomer Amacher makes toys. He started out making them for

his children, and he wanted them to be as safe as possible. So he

uses olive oil in the finishing process.

The Winter Fantasy is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., today,

Saturday, Sunday and Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14. Admission is $4 for

adults, $2 for children 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and younger.

A season pass is $5.

For more information, visit https://www.sawdustartfestival.org or

call (949) 494-3030.