Sun City West festival showcases arts, crafts

Joyce McGill of Sun City West was on a mission Saturday morning.

She visited the Rip ‘N Sew Club booth at the 31st annual fall arts and crafts festival in Sun City West in search of her favorite purse she says aficionados call the "Sun City West Gucci."

"I have a half dozen of them," McGill said. "And I shop for them every year at this festival."

The medium-sized purses with multiple pockets and compartments were designed by a club member and are made in various colors and patterns.

"They are well-made and meet the needs of the community," McGill said.

While McGill perused that club’s items for sale, hundreds of other visitors checked out the offerings of the other Sun City West clubs at booths and tables set up at the R.H. Johnson Recreation Center and in the social hall.

The event gives the various creative clubs a chance to showcase the items created in them, including metal works, ceramics, jewelry and other hand-made crafts.

Beverly Wenger and Les Bigelow of Sun City West were purchasing a large metal roadrunner and a keyholder from the Metal Club.

"I am just amazed at all of the people with all of this talent," Wenger said.

That sentiment was echoed by Joann Schneider of Sun City West while she shopped.

"Everything is lovely," Schneider said. "There is so much talent, I’m ashamed of how very little I have."

Esther Federman provided weaving demonstrations on a loom at the Weavers West booth.

The former president of the Arizona Federation of Weavers and Spinners said she has been weaving for 15 years, but has been working with fibers all her life.

"I get lots of pleasure out of it," Federman said.

The hobby has nearly taken over her house.

"I have a loom a room," Federman said. "I have 15 looms at home, but some are really big and some are small."

"I could do this all the time," she said.

Joy Slagowski may be reached at 623-876-2514 or jslagowski@yourwestvalley.com.