Eclectic treasures for visitors

Sisters offered sunny skies on Saturday for Art in the Park, an added attraction for visitors to enjoy during rodeo weekend in Sisters. Creekside Park was filled with over 85 vendor booths for folks to take in.

Ken and Sandy Ash, first-time vendors from Roseburg, really stood out to the crowd with their unusual birdfeeders and flower plates that add charm and color to your garden.

"I recycle decorative plates that I buy from just about anywhere, and attach them to electrical conduit poles. Then for the birdfeeder stacking I use ceramic cups, saucers, planters or vases and put it all together with industrial strength glue," Sandy Ash said.

Lots of folks stopped by the "Tumbleweeds" home décor booth where owner Dave Cretsinger from Redmond reclaims and restores old weathered materials to create original works of functional art from coffee tables to unusual frames. The eye-catcher was this year's Sisters Rodeo poster by Dennis McGregor, in a Cretsinger signature frame.

"We love Sisters, and we used to be locals when we had our store, Tumbleweeds, here 10 years ago," said Cretsinger.

Country/Western music and rodeo go hand in hand and lots of folks gathered round in their Western gear to listen to Briana Renea. It was Renea's first time entertaining at Art in the Park.

Snake River Net Co. booth had homemade fishing nets made by founder Mike Avery from Idaho Falls. One big net, full of bugs, was ready to catch every customer that strolled by; you couldn't help but stop and take a peek to see if they were real.

"We make handmade wood nets that are crafted from exotic hardwoods from around the world. The handle end widens so the fisherman does not lose the net by it slipping out of his hands. The reason for the bugs is to show that you can easily "match the hatch" with our net. It's a common term for fly fishing. In fly fishing matching the hatch means to literally match the hatching insects that the trout are eating, it's matching up your fly with the hatching insects," Avery said.

There was something for everyone to enjoy, including the little folks; with face painting to a bounce house, it was non-stop fun all day.

And the aroma of summer cooking was in the air with Bad Boy Barbecue ready to dish out a hearty meal for visitors.

This was event-organizer Richard Esterman's 15th year with Art in the Park, and he was busier than usual with more vendors on hand.

"I sold out all 95 spaces this year, and it's been really busy with a big crowd going through," Esterman said. "First of 13 events and it was a great success. I take pride in creating an atmosphere where artists earn a living on what they love to do."