PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. – When Ross Tufford’s sweaters go missing, the first person on his list of suspects is his wife, Annie.
And that’s completely understandable, considering Annie’s favourite hobby.
For the past few years, she has been using materials such as old sweaters, blankets and fur coats to make her original line of Santas, snowmen, angels and people.
The people she creates defy being described as dolls or folk art. They often take the form of skiers, skaters or snowboarders bundled in cozy winter clothing.
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Ross farms near Portage and owns an implement dealership. Annie occupies herself with crafting.
Much of her time is spent gathering material.
When she can’t find material at home, she makes a trip to the local thrift store.
“I’m a thrift store junky and my house looks like one,” she said while displaying dozens of her handcrafted wares at the Manitoba Farm Women’s Conference in Portage on Nov. 12-13.
Coffee beans, old bedspreads and twigs are among the items incorporated in her creations.
She uses tea staining to add a weathered look to some of her people.
“I like everything to be old looking.”
Making crafts is one thing, but marketing them is another. Tufford had to muster her courage when first confronted with the challenge of selling her creations to people whom she had never met before.
“It was really hard for me to get on the phone and more or less brag about myself, but that’s what you have to do. You have to sell yourself, sell your product.”
Her crafts are now sold in several Manitoba stores, including Winnipeg, Brandon, Clear Lake and Carman. Buyers come from across Western Canada.
The months leading up to Christmas are her busiest. Then, her hobby becomes more like a full-time job.
“The hardest part is keeping up to my house work. You get behind at home, but in January you get caught up again.”
Her greatest satisfaction comes from turning unique ideas into something that other people will find appealing enough to buy as a gift or for a decoration for their own homes.
She mused that her next interest may be woodworking, although only as a hobby.
