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Just Say Toe: Robin Cohen's custom-fitted toe rings will tickle the fancy of Founders Day shoppers this weekend.
Serving Up the Arts
Four local artisans are among craftspeople selling wares on Founders Day weekend
By Kara Chalmers
This Founders Day weekend, a group of high-caliber artists and craftspeople from around the country will participate in the Willow Glen Founders Day festival the weekend of Sept 18-19.
At least 75 vendors affiliated with California Artists will sell their wares from booths lining Lincoln Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 18 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 19. At least four are from the South Bay and are regulars at area arts and crafts shows.
Bonnie Brown from San Jose, owner of Bonnie's Bows, is looking forward to returning to Willow Glen, the scene of her first-ever show--the Fair Glen, 18 years ago.
Although the "bow lady" is sometimes characterized as a seller of children's accessories, Brown says her wares are for "children of all ages."
Her signature items are glittery hair accessories, such as bows and crowns, and her "magic wands," topped with teddy bears or bunnies and ornamented with glitter and ribbons.
"[The magic wands] are used for absolutely nothing--to play with and use your imagination," she says.
A high school English teacher and travel agent by profession, Brown sells her gifts full time.
She started making braided barrettes, which were a craze in the 1980s, when her now 23-year-old daughter was in kindergarten. Her first show followed shortly thereafter.
"Everything I make is for your imagination. A lot is practical," she says, noting the barrettes and hair bows, "but most is just for fun."
Another local artist who will be selling at the festival is Robin Cohen, a toe-ring custom fitter who owns a Los Altos business called Once Upon A Toe. She custom-fits gold and silver toe rings in more than 50 sizes for her customers
She began wearing toe rings herself 15 years ago. She says "so many people were gawking at my feet" that she decided to open her own business in 1994.
Cohen and her husband design the rings but will not disclose the creation process. She says the toe-ring industry is very competitive in the Bay Area.
Woodworker James Kirk of Los Gatos will be selling windmills, wheelbarrows and plant holders among other carved specialties. His big sellers are illustrated garden stakes that have sayings such as "Cute Chick Lives Here" and "Old Buzzard."
Gladys Robinson of Mountain View will sell original watercolors and prints of them. She has painted the missions of Santa Clara, Carmel and San Jose, as well as many area train depots.
California Artists founder Nancie Allie says she formed the group in 1971, when she still worked as a painter herself.
"There were not enough professional venues in the area," she says.
Today she coordinates the arts and crafts part of festivals like Founders Day in places such as Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Fremont. They make all their crafts by hand and sell nothing that is mass produced. Their public displays are required to always look professional
"We don't allow anybody to just throw a tablecloth down and sell," Allie says.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
