Surrounded by friends
Melinda Smith sits among older friends and exhibits her lace-net darning, a revived craft.
Hoke crafter doing it all
One of the most meticulous
crafters in our community is
Melinda Smith. Specializing in the
varied world of country crafts,
Smith has become a familiar face
at local art festivals. Her work has
earned a well-deserved reputation
of being decorative, unusual and
perfectly made.
"I do everything- cross-stitch,
candle-wicking, stenciling, stuffed
pillows, quilting and country
animals," says Smith.
She and her husband, Mark,
also together create wooden crafts.
They have recently constructed an
unusual bear cradle for which
Melinda made a quilt, just the
right size.
An avid reader of craft
magazines, Smith is one of those
talented, self-taught people who
can glean ideas from pictures and
often draw her own patterns for
wood cuttings or stitched items.
"Crafts are important to me. 1
love doing them and finding
something new to create," she says
of her hobby.
This aspect, looking for the new
and unusual item, is a
distinguishing factor in Smith's
crafting.
"For instance, I haven't seen
lace net darning anywhere, so 1
tried it," she explains, exhibiting
her finished product, a duckling,
(very neatly done, of course),
woven on blue background.
Lace net darning, Smith has
Hoke
Arts Scene
By Sonya Falls
found, is an ancient needle art
which is being revived. Taking its
beginning from the practical side
when men wove nets for catching
fish or prey, the basic skills and
techniques of netting began to be
used for creating decorative veils
and clothing.
Netting is mentioned in Exodus
in reference to garments, head
dressings and uses in tabernacle
curtains and veils. Egyptians also
used netting decoratively as far
back as 2500 B.C.
Netting skills traveled to the
United States with the colonists
and today are finding new
popularity in patterns such as
Smith has created. Another well
known example of net darning is
seen in the familiar Army-Navy
cloth.
Although Smith creates many
country items to sell, especially
around Christmas, it is something
that she says she did not plan.
"Someone would see something
I had made for my home and they
would ask me to make them one.
Or, they might have a pillow to put
together and would ask me to
finish it up," Smith states.
At any rate, 'after exhibiting her
Christmas line at Raeford Junior
Woman's Club Christmas Craft
and Home Tour last year. Smith
found herself swamped with orders
for wreaths, stenciled pillows, or
country cats and mice.
"1 was very busy!" she laughs.
"Examining her work, it is easy
to see why so many choose her
items. No matter what she pro
duces, it is finely and neatly con
structed. In a time when so many
people are involved in producing
country crafts, quality becomes an
important criterion for craft selec
tion.
"I don't throw much away
because of errors," Smith says.
"I'm very careful because 1 want it
to be right. I cut corners where I
can, because crafts are expensive,
but I don't cut the quality of my
things."
Considering the future and her
hobby, Smith admits that she
would like, one day, to own her
own craft shop.
"I'd be in my glory then," she
says, her eyes sparkling. "I've
been doing crafts since I was 13
and 1 haven't stopped yet. I'll
always find something new to do."
It is pretty obvious that
whatever-direction the craft world
takes next, Melinda Smith will
become an active part of it. As she
has said, she does it all.
It's Registration Time
for
Sandhills
Community College
Continuing Education Classes
HOKE COUNTY
rmi
Housekeeping & Custodial Training
Housekeeper Training -
Vacuum Or Dust First?
Introduction To Public Speaking
Auto Care & Maintenance
For Women - Small Repairs
For The Home
Furniture Refinishing
Nurses Aide
CPR
Welding, Basic
Fundamentals Of Real Estate I
(Salesperson)
Emerg. Med. Technician Refresher Pate
Emergency Medical Technician Staff
Sewing And Quilting dark
INSTRUCTOR FROM - TO LOCATION DATS
Walker Dec. 3- Jon. 23 Hoke High TTH
Wright Jan. 13-Feb. 190C0B MW
Hovis Jan. 8-Feb. 19 Hoke High W
Vaughn Jan. 9-Feb. 13 Hoke High TH
Ellis Jan. 6-Feb. 24 Hoke High M
Suggs Dec. 2-Feb. 24 0C0B M
Leandro Jan. 13-Apr. 180C0B MTWTHF
Pate Jan. 28-Feb. 6 Hoke High TTH
Cameron Dec. 3-Feb. 25 Hoke High TTH
Kugelmann Dec. 3-Feb. 25 Hoke High TTH
Sewing And Quilting
Sewing
Sewing
Crafts
Crafts
Basketry, Stenciling & Crafts
Basketry, Stenciling & Crafts
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rainting un roooc
All * ?
UW rOlfllllip
Stewart
dark
Gibson
Hudson
Bui lord
Walters
Walters
Augustoni
Augustoni
>-v
Jan. 14-Feb. 6 Hoke High TTH
Jan. 1 4-May 8 Hoke High TTH
Dec. 4- Feb. 19 Wayside W
Dec. 3-Feb. 25 Cameron TTH
Heights
Dec. 4-Feb. 19 Wayside W
Jon. 7-Feb. 25 Hoke High T
Dec. 2-Feb. 25 Open Arms MWF
Dec. 3-Feb. 25 Bowmore T
Jan. 7-Feb. 25 OCOB TTH
Jan. 6-Feb. 24 OCOB 'MW
Jon. 7-Feb. 25 OCOB
Dec. 5- Feb. 20 OCOB
. A f f
T
TH
TIME
7-9 PM
9-12 Noon
6-9 PM
6-9 PM
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9-1 PM
7-10 PM
6:30
9:30 PM
6-9 PM
7-10 PM
7-10 PM
12:30
3:30 PM
9:30
11:30 AM
9-12 Noon
6:30
9:30 PM
9:30
11:30 AM
1-4 PM
9-12 Noon
'6:30
9:30 PM
1-4 PM *
1-4 PM
COST
10.00
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Fall has been filled with activity
Open Arms Rest Home has had
a busy fall.
The highlight of our September
was our participation in the
Turkey Festival Parade.
Mrs. Maggie McPhatter, Jessie
Black, Mrs. Elizabeth Tolar and
Mrs. Mabel Tapp, all spotlighted
the Open Anns float.
The rest of our residents enjoyed
the parade activities from the up
front view from the sidewalk adja
cent the Rest Home.
Everyone certainly had an ex
citing time.
As usual, the public has been
very considerate and thoughtful in
their contributions to our
residents.
The children from the First Bap
tist Church visited the Rest Home
on Wednesday, October 30 with
candy, songs and plenty of smiling
faces.
The trick or treat visit from our
local children was certainly en
joyed.
One of our most special
residents, William P. Saunders,
celebrated his 88th birthday on Oc
tober 28.
His family and friends shared
his birthday party with the
residents and a good time was had
by all.
Saunders, when asked of his
comments about his birthday and
party said, "I'm ready to have
News from
Open Armsj
Ann Pate
another." We have no doubt that
his sentiments are seconded by all
who attended.
Open Arms has many fine cooks
or "kitchen chefs," but one of the
most talented is Mary Stephens.
Mary has retired from Open Arms,
but continues to work part-time.
For her appreciation to the staff
for a retirement party previously
given, Mary threw a party of her
own for the staff and friends on
Monday, October 28.
Mary cooked dinner for "tons"
of people with the menu including
homemade egg rolls, 12 famous
fried chickens, roast, stir-fried
mushrooms, ham and on & on.
The meal was fabulous. Mary's
not bad at Bingo either, just ask
some of our Bingo playing
residents.
Many of our folks enjoyed a
visit recently from Rev. and Mrs.
Guin who were visiting here in
Raeford from Burlington.
Rev. Guin was a past minister of
the Evangelical Methodist Church.
Mrs. Mabel Tapp, one of our
more "energetic" residents, visited
Hoke volunteers are honored
at Executive Mansion Nov. 7
Hoke County residents were
honored at a reception hosted by
Governor and Mrs. James G. Mar
tin at the Executive Mansion
November 7 for the Governor's
Outstanding Volunteers for 1985.
About 200 volunteers toured the
Executive Mansion and par
ticipated in a recognition ceremony
with the Governor, Mrs. Martin,
and Arlene Pulley, Executive
Director of the Governor's Office
of Citizen Affairs.
Mrs. Ruth Ansley and the
Raeford Jaycees were honored for
their service to Hoke County and
to the state.
"Your efforts and dedicated ser
vice to the people of North
Carolina shine as an example o?
the achievements made possible
through concern for our fellow
citizens," the Governor said as he
commended the volunteers. "Our
strength lies in the spirit of
volunteerism, and it is my privilege
to celebrate that spirit with you to
day."
"This is the Governor's special
way of thanking North Carolina's
volunteers for their selfless service
and caring hearts," Pulley explain
ed.
Outstanding volunteers from 84
counties visited the Executive
Mansion from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
and were presented with Cer
tificates of Appreciation and
North Carolina's official
Volunteer Pin. .
her daughter, Mrs. John D.
McPhaul in Pinehurst last week.
Any of you who like to walk every
morning early, drop by the Rest
Home and try to keep up with our
"Mabel Tapp."
Open Arms is very fortunate to
have, sponsored by the First Bap
tist Church, a weekly Sunday
School class and a Wednesday
night prayer service.
Willie Carl Odom teaches the
Sunday morning class every week
at 9:45 a.m. The public is welcome
to come and share.
A new activity beginning at the
Rest Home is a ceramics class.
Mrs. Elizabeth Jones, of Chick's
Ceramics in Rock fish is teaching
the class.
Residents will be given the op
portunity to attend these six special
classes compliments of Sandhills
Community College. See, you're
never too old to learn! Come for a
visit some Thursday morning and
see for yourself.
The Rest Home is most intersted
in providing as many activities and
special events for our residents as
possible.
If you have some "hidden"
talent and a little time on your
hands, give us a call at Open Arms
and get yourself on the calendar.
These news tid-bits come to you
from Open Arms Resident Coun
cil.
Completes 30
June Rogers has recently com
pleted 30 years of continuous
service at the Burlington In
dustries Raeford Plant. Rogers
began his employment with the
company as a Yarn Packer in
the Preparation Department,
where he has spent his entire 30
years service. He has worked in
that area on several different
jobs and presently as a Slasher
.Tender Cofnplex.^
FOOD
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RAEFORD, N.C.
WASHERETTE
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7 OZ. BAG
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Rinse'N Vac t i w
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14 kn-mkf I A ' We Mm A ConvMitoht UmtH Groceries
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