Drawn to fragrant fields

WALTERVILE: Under canopies shading vendors ranging from “Ali’s Art” to the “Vintage Makeover” booth, there was plenty to delight the eyes and soothe the senses of people walking around the fragrant grounds of the McKenzie Lavender Farm this weekend. Many left laden with bundles of U-cut lavender as well as ceramic, acrylic, wood, metal, or fabric handcrafted treasures.

Someone stopping by Gini Hornbecker’s “Sister Stones” display for a keepsake could leave with a purchase no one else possesses - since each piece of jewelry or necklace she’s crafted is a one-off.

“A lot of people believe natural stones carry a lot of Earth energy for spiritual purposes,” she explains. “I’m very conscious and deliberative of that when I string things.”

Her fascination with unique pieces extends back to her time as a young girl who visited beaches with her family and returned home with pockets so full of rocks that “my pants would be falling down.”

Twenty years ago she began turning her collections of shells, stones, sterling silver, and disassembled vintage jewelry into gifts for family and friends. Five years later, with encouragement from her husband’s comment that “you’re spending a lot of money on beads,” it became the craft fair business that Gini folds out of a suitcase that he crafted out of red cedar for her.

Just a short walk away, substitute teacher Melissa East was welcoming visitors to her “Barefoot Books” booth with shelves chock full of printed matter. Inside each, she says, readers will “have access to stunning illustrations, thoughtful text, diversity, inclusivity and heart!”

Like other vendors, Melissa too can be seen at other events and regularly sets up “give back” sales to benefit PeaceHealth at locations at RiverBend, the University District, or Cottage Grove or benefits for the Eugene Library and the Tugman and Bethel parks.

Some of those other vendors, like Shelly Pruit’s “Soft Peaks Cakery” offered immediate satisfaction for buyers who indulged in on-the-spot bites into her cakes and specialty-baked goods. And, there was the not to miss sweet tooth-satisfying honey at the Foxglove Apiaries display.