The12-40 and Beyond tour group will host their eighth annual tour Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25.
Pre -tour positive response from various communities points to a larger than usual turn out for the tour weekend. This enthusiastic group contributes its popularity to the diversity of venues and scenery as you travel through Hafford, Blaine Lake, Marcelin and Leask as well as the scenic wooded hills of Lac La Peche, Martin's Lake and Emerald Lake. People are made to feel welcome at every venue and can enjoy the tour at their own pace. There is something of interest for everybody.
New brochures featuring a red elevator on a white background can be found at most businesses in these communities and surrounding areas as well as online at (www.12-40andbeyond.com). The trail will be visibly marked with bright red elevators the weekend of the tour. All venues have bathroom and picnic facilities.
This year the tour welcomes one new member, mourns the loss of an original member and all venues have new and exciting work and items for show and sale. Each venue is having a draw for a door prize and winners will be notified the day after the tour.
Chad and Denise Timm of the Heavenly Hills Orchard have rejoined the tour this year. Their orchard is tucked into the hills 11.2 kms south of Blaine Lake off Highway 12. You can sample Honeywood, Northline, Martin, Thiessen and Smoky varieties or dig into some homemade saskatoon berry pie topped with ice cream or pick your own berries and sample as you go. There are also many buckets of pre-picked berries.
Be sure to quench your thirst at Petrofka Bridge Orchard by tasting Mike and Anne Noel's tasty apple cider. The busy couple manage over 4,000 apple trees and 600 sour cherry trees and a huge patch of raspberry canes as well as offer fresh fruit and vegetables from local suppliers. They specialize in healthy products like dehydrated apple slices and apple cider vinegar. They are located at the Petrofka Bridge 23 km south of Blaine Lake on Highway 12.
New to the tour is photographer, Christine Watson of Pagangel Productions in Hafford. Her life long love of photography as an art medium has inspired her to work at a professional level. Her studio can be found at 109 - 2nd Ave. E in Hafford.
The visual arts are well represented by three long time artists, each with her own style and experience. Nydia Pobran is a painter and a collector. Her venue, Nydia's Art Gallery Off 40 is located five kilometres north of Hafford and showcases an exceptional display of works from national and international artists. Be prepared to tap your toes to some old time music when you hear Orest Pobran's latest CD being released by the Arizona Snowbirds, a group of 12 musical friends who spend their winters in Arizona.
Artist Joan Balla of Joan's Blue Heron Gallery prefers to paint old buildings, landscapes and wildlife. Joan is known for her beautiful artwork purchased and displayed by the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert. The scenic setting of her home studio is a great inspiration where she creates beautiful works in both oils and acrylics. Joan's husband, Les, does an excellent job of framing her work. This spacious studio is located 38.4 km north of Blaine Lake on Highway 12 and 9.6 km east on Grid 792 and 1.2 km south.
Doreen Kalmakoff's Spirit of the Prairie Art and Teaching Studio situated between Blaine Lake and Marcelin off Highway 40 is well known to many visual and mosaic artists. Doreen offers classes year round and has taught in other communities and in various schools. Her work can be seen in local restaurants as well as in The Artisan Gallery on the Avenue in Prince Albert. She has also been involved in painting murals in Blaine Lake, Marcelin and Leask. Guests are welcomed by shady lawns, tubs of colourful flowers and outdoor mosaic murals which adorn buildings and the sidewalk. New paintings have been added to her popular Earth Painting series. Professional prints and art cards of Doreen's work are available. Mosaic tables and bird baths are also ready for sale. Guests will be invited to participate in an art project.
It is with heavy hearts the group mourns the passing of long time member, poet and artist, Edith E. Vereshagin. Her Upper Room Gallery closed after her death this year. She was an active senior whose keen wit and gentle humour will always be remembered by our group.
There are several well known fabric artists in the group. Florence Cheveldayoff's display, Fascinating Fabrics, will focus on bags, batiks and seasonal pieces in a variety of unique fabrics. She is located at Spirit of the Prairie art studio. Pat Wasylkowski of Denim Creations by Pat is a well known face at most provincial craft shows. She is the master of recycling denim in a beautiful way. Denim/fleece slipper moccasins, oven mitts, bags and purses plus lots more are available at her site in Marcelin.
Don't miss seeing Buck and Sandy's latest creations at Nikihknan Crafts at Emerald Lake. They have combined their talents to showcase the world around them and their aboriginal ancestry. They work with wood, hide and other natural materials to create a variety of decorative and useful objects.
Take a drive to Cabin No. 1 at Lac La Peche where you will find three generations of weavers, Lydia Vandevijvere, Della and Rae-Ann Harder of Harder's Traditional Crafts demonstrating the art of weaving. A variety of products from the loom will be available for sale.
Pop's Old Forge located east of Marcelin is where Hubert and Alice Smith welcome many guests to workshops year round. Hubert teaches blacksmithing as well as designs and creates many beautiful functional and ornamental pieces.
