Special to the News-Sun
LAKE PLACID -An amazing array of outstanding arts and crafts are entered in the Lake Placid Arts & Crafts Country Fair exhibits the first weekend of February each year at the Lake Placid Elementary School. Artists and craftsmen may enter any or all of the 10 divisions, in each of which there are one to several classes and subclasses.
Entries were judged Feb. 1 with first, second, third and honorable mention ribbons given in all classes. From all first place recipients in a class, a Best of Class winner receives a purple and white rosette ribbon and $10 cash. From those Best of Class winners, a Best of Show red, white, and blue tri-color ribbon and $25 cash is awarded to the top entry in that division. The adult amateurs received a Laura Watson Award, and the professionals receive the Laura Rider Award.
The outstanding quality of many entries provides keen competition and a real challenge for the judges. On Feb. 2, the exhibit visitors chose their favorites in each division for the People's Choice awards. Many commented on the difficulty of judging. A record number of attendees voted in all divisions, sometimes agreeing with the judges and often times not in agreement. From arts and crafts to poetry, the quality of the amateurs rivaled that of the professionals.
Money awards were presented to the adult winners at the gazebo in DeVane Park on Feb. 2 by Chairman of the Exhibits Helen Obenchain assisted by Miss Jr. Lake Placid and Miss Lake Placid. The People's Choice award winners received their award Feb. 3.
The Laura Watson awards are sponsored by Eleanor Watson McAvoy, and the Laura Rider awards by Wauchula State Bank in memory of those honored. Six other memorial awards were also given. A memorial plaque for Outstanding Woodworking was given by Hoz Compton in memory of Dr. William Shuck and received by Norbert Stang for a turned multi-wood rolling pin. A teal blue and white rosette ribbon with a $25 award, in memory of Edna Kubic for outstanding food, went to Bernice Hernandez for her peanut brittle. A green and white rosette ribbon and $25 for the Most Original Craft, in memory this year of Jay Chase, was presented to Doug Klemm for a metal Alligator Head & Frogs Scene, both given in their memory by Eleanor Watson McAvoy. A baby blue and white rosette ribbon and $25 award, in memory of Mary Lou Krog, was given for the Best Floral China Painting to Gert Wagner for a Rose Dresser Set. A jewel blue and white rosette ribbon and $25 for a poem related to nature and the world around us, in memory of Eileen Kruger, was given to Leslie Odierno for "Spanish Moss". The Harry McConnell Award, given in his memory by his wife, Betty, was a chestnut brown and white ribbon and $25 for an Outstanding Wood Carving to Deborah Snavely for 3 Butterflies on Driftwood.
Amateur Adult top winners were:
Division I - Arts
Class 1 - Oils, Acrylics - Best of Class - Jean Cormier for Cormorant.
Class 2 - Watercolor - Best of Class - Sandra Hartman for Lighthouse.
Class 3 - Drawings & Mixed Media - Joan Dunn for Scratchboard Roses.
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award - Joan Dunn.
Division II - Photography
Class 1 - Film - Barbara Scott for Sunset.
Class 2 - Digital - Steve Bullard for Goldfinch.
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award - Steve Bullard.
Division III - Porcelain
Class 1 - China Painting - Best of Class - Carolyn Halkyer for Corn & Grapes Plate.
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award -Carolyn Halkyer.
Division IV - Wood Crafts
Class 1 - Wood Working - Best of Class - Marlene Cupstid for a "Swamp Dreams" Intarsia.
Class 2 - Wood Carving - Best of Class - Norm Clift for a Dragon.
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award -Norm Clift.
Division V - Crafts
Class 1 - Miniatures - Best of Class - Joan Dunn for Jack Russell Painting.
Class 2 - Crafts- Best of Class -Dawn Heinbach for a "Den" Paper Tole.
Class 3 - Glass/Metal - Best of Class - Robin Peterson, Lavender Crocheted Necklace.
Class 4 - Ceramics - Best of Class - Patty Lloyd for a Black & Red Mask.
Class 5 - Dolls - Best of Class - Ashley Tanner for 3 Faced Baby Doll-Happy, Sad, Sleepy.
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award - Ashley Tanner.
Division VI - Needlecrafts
Class 1 - Embroidery - Best of Class - Kathy LeVine for Hobby Holly.
Class 2 - Needlepoint - Best of Class - Charee Walcher for Cape Cod Village.
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award - Charee Walcher.
Division VII - Stitchery and Fabric Crafts
Class 1 - Quilting, Patching, Applique - Best of Class - Kay Craw for Hand Quilted "Roses".
Class 2 - Sewing, Fabric Crafts - Best of Class - Peggy Gray for Soft Sculpture "Friends-Cat & Dog".
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award - Kay Craw.
Division VIII - Yarn and Cord Crafts
Class 1 - Knitting - Best of Class - Claudia Winn for a Forest Green Shade Afghan.
Class 2 - Crocheting - Best of Class - Mary Birge for "Holy Night" Filet Tablecloth.
Class 3 - Hooking and Weaving - Best of Class - Donna Marcinalli for "Red Socks" Hooked Rug.
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award - Mary Birge.
Division IX - Foods
Class 1 - Canning - Best of Class - Amy Harrison for Mom Mom Bread & Butter Pickles.
Class 2 - Cakes - Best of Class - Peggy Miller for Coconut Pound Cake.
Class 3 - Cake Decorating - Best of Class for Louisa Hyman for Wedding Cupcake Cake.
Class 4 - Pastries - Best of Class for Donna Mancinalli for Italian Pastries.
Class 5 - Cookies and Candies - Bernice Hernandez for Peanut Brittle.
Class 6 - Breads - Liz LeBranc for Amish Friendship Bread.
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award - Amy Harrison.
Division X - Poetry
Class 1 - Poetry - Best of Class - Jennifer Hutzenlaub for "My Children".
Best of Show - Laura Watson Award - Sandy Kessler for "On New Year's Eve" Rhyming.
Professional Awards were presented to:
Division I - Arts
Class 1 - Oils, Acrylics - Best of Class - Terry Blovsky, "Sun Valley, Tree ".
Class 2 - Watercolor - Best of Class - Marsha Penn, "Maggie's Butterfly".
Class 3 - Drawings & Mixed Media - Herb Frazier, Dying Tree & Barn.
Best of Show - Laura Rider Award - Marsha Penn.
Division II - Photography
Class 1 - Film - Glenn Gonzales, Sea Oaks.
Class 2 - Digital - Caroline Troup, "Eagle".
Best of Show - Laura Rider Award - Caroline Troup.
Division III - Porcelain
Class 1 - China Painting - Best of Class - Elaine Ables, "Bird of Paradise".
Best of Show - Laura Rider Award - Elaine Ables.
Division IV - Wood Crafts
Class 1 - Wood Working - Best of Class - William Sontag, Multiwood Layered Earrings.
Class 2 - Wood Carving - Best of Class - Bill Snyder, "Dragon Family ".
Best of Show - Laura Rider Award - Bill Snyder.
Division V - Crafts
Class 2 - Crafts- Best of Class - May Pierson, "Deer Nature Scene" Paper Tole.
Class 3 - Glass/Metal - Best of Class - Judy Nicewicz, "Heart Pendant".
Best of Show - Laura Rider Award - May Pierson.
Division VI - Needlecrafts
Class 1 Embroidery - Best of Class - Joni Warner, "Caladium" in beads.
Best of Show - Joni Warner.
Division VII - Stitchery & Fabric Crafts
Class 1 - Quilting - Best of Class - Peggy Allen, Hand Appliqued & Quilted Hearts & Butterflies Quilt.
Class 2 - Sewing - Best of Class - Joan Dunlap, Necktie Envelope Purse.
Best of Show - Peggy Allen.
Division VIII - Yarn and Cord Crafts
Class 2 - Crocheting - Dianne Pelland, Ecru Doily.
Best of Show - Dianne Pelland.
Division IX - Food
Class 4 - Pastries - Beatrice Vallee, Praline Key Lime Pie.
Best of Show - Beatrice Vallee.
Division IX - Poetry
Class 1 - Poetry - Anne Reynolds for "Eight Days a Week" Rhyming.
Best of Show - Anne Reynolds.
Sunday, February 10, 2013 - www.newssun.com/021013-adult-winners