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Executive Committee Biography |
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Pat Smith |
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In 1976 I took a calligraphy class with a friend who was an avid gardener. As we started writing verses to frame, she showed me how to add pressed flowers. I really got into it and started doing craft shows. I named my business Sonshine Crafts, with the theme, "Let the Son inside you shine for all to see". I aim to use whatever talents God has bestowed upon me to glorify His name. Besides doing craft shows, and selling my work wholesale, I teach matting and framing, calligraphy, and pressed flower workshops at the local schools, community college and for garden clubs. For over 20 years, my work was calligraphy accented with pressed flowers grown in my gardens and collected along the roadways and woods. I pressed everything in phone books and learned as I went along, mostly from books and experience. I have tried to grow most of the flowers that I use and only recently have I been able to allow non-pressable plants in my garden! Two years ago a drastic change occurred when I found the pressed flower e-group. I had never heard of a microwave press and had only done a few all-pressed-flower pieces. Now that is my main focus, and, because of all the wonderful knowledge shared by members of the 2 groups, I am growing and experimenting and just loving it! And I am finding that many of the "non-pressable" plants do wonderfully in the Microfleur. It has been an exciting transition for me. I am a member of the Executive committee of the WWPFG, in charge of the Business Resources. Having been in my business for so long, and a member and past president and board member of the Hudson Valley Artisan's Guild, I have accumulated much information to contribute to the Business Resources. Hopefully some of this information will be able to help those starting out to avoid some of the pitfalls, trials, and errors that I have gone through. Even if you are not intending to become a "business", I am sure you will find some of the information helpful.
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Copyright by WWPFG © 2001-2008. All Rights Reserved.
Last Updated:
01-Jan-2008
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I was born and raised in the
beautiful Hudson Valley of New York state, where I still reside. I
attended the University of Maine and Dutchess Community College. I have
been a widow since 1987, have 2 grown daughters and 4 grandchildren living
nearby. Almost 2 years ago, I sold my huge old farmhouse and moved into
the "city" to an apartment with a yard for gardening (a
necessary requirement!).