Staff Writer
HOULTON — It was a paperback book she happened to spot in the bargain bin that got Janet Campbell started on making her signature raffia hats.
photo by Bruce Glick; Pioneer Times Photo/Sarah Berthiaume;
ARTIST AT WORK — Janet Campbell of Ludlow demonstrates her technique for making a plaited raffia hat. The demonstration was held at Visions, the Southern Aroostook Cultural Arts Project store on Main Street last Wednesday. Campbell said she started making the hats for family and friends after finding a book of patterns. A second artist-at-work event is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 5 at the store and will feature Paul Porter demonstrating his woodworking.
The Ludlow artist demonstrated her craft during a special event at Visions last week. Campbell, set up with her materials and several finished projects, showed how the process works.
Raffia are leafy fibers derived from an African palm tree that typically come fat bunches. What starts as a fluffy pile of unbundled raffia is developed into a wide braid. The braid, with a needle, a single strand of raffia (and some patience), gets rounded up into a circle that eventually becomes a finished piece. Sometimes adornments, like pearl beads, a dash of lacy material, flowers or even stray strands of colored raffia, are added.
But before Campbell ever turned the brim of a hat, she sharpened her raffia skills with a small basket — one of the patterns found in her bargain book. From there, she tackled the hats.
“I started five or six years ago making them for my friends and family,” she said.
Her love of the natural-fiber pieces runs deeper, though.
“When I was a girl, one of my father’s friends gave me a hat like this with flowers. And I remember I smelled really nice,” she admits with a shy smile.
With those memories in mind, the bargain bin find sounds like fate. Campbell sold her first raffia hat at Visions and the plaited pieces seem at home among the other fine art in the store. In addition to the raffia hats, Campbell makes other types of hats and jewelry under the business name My Cup of Tea.
Visions will host a second artist-at-work event on Wednesday, Dec. 5 and Thursday, Dec. 6 with Paul Porter of New Limerick who will demonstrate his wood-working skills. The demonstration will run from noon to 5 p.m. at Visions, 66 Main St.
