For some it`s a full-time occupation. To others it`s just a hobby.
But last weekend the professionals and the not-so-sophisticated enthusiasts stood side by side inside Tinley Park High School, all trying to sell their creations at the Tinley Park Park District`s arts and crafts show. Pat Ostrowski of Tinley Park peddled 18-inch-tall ”biker bears” with clothes, a beard and a bottle of wine for $12. Bonnie Tallman of Crestwood sold dollhouses for $100 each.
On the other side of the high school`s cafeteria, Robin Gentile of Tinley Park worked to convince prospective customers that the ”homemade scented pillows” she is selling for $4 will help cure headaches because of the herbs and spices that are inside.
Meanwhile, Norm Peters of Tinley Park explained how he makes $800 a week mass-producing small wooden animals in his garage and handpainting them. And flanked by one of her two toddler daughters, Laura Fisher told how she started making rag dolls out of mops while her kids were napping.
In all, about 20 tables were covered with approximately 50 exhibits that ranged from the conventional-hats, T-shirts, oil paintings, towels with drawings-to the odd-pillows in the shape of letters, little bears sitting in hot air balloons.
Some of the exhibitors show their crafts every week. Peters, for example, is a fixture at shopping malls, hotels and colleges. Others just struggle day to day.
”This is not a real good-paying job,” said Tallman, who works on her dollhouses 30 hours a week. ”Half the battle is putting it together. The other half is getting someone to buy it.”
