By Tom Cotter, Photos by Tom Cotter    Sometimes from tragedy is born beauty. Following the great Potato Famine in the 1840s, John Caldwell Bloomfield decided to help the populace on the Castle Caldwell Estate along River Erne at the village of Belleek, Northern Ireland. He had found pottery and china quality materials and identified peat, water power, and available labor […]

By Barry Krause    The Navaho developed blanket weaving skills to the highest degree of excellence with their beautiful work with sheep’s wool in the historic period after contact with European immigrants.    Wool was unknown to American Indians in Arizona and New Mexico until the Spaniards brought sheep there in the 16th century. The Pueblo tribes did their best with weaving […]

By Rita Derego    Every time I see a leprechaun with a shamrock in one hand and a green beer in the other, I think it must be that time of year again. I know what you are thinking: If she sees that scenario, she must be putting on a wee bit too much of the green for St. Patrick’s Day. […]

   Every year March is designated Women’s History Month by Presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.    Did You Know? Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week.    Women’s History Month began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of […]

By Kathryn Hanna, FANA Public Relations Chair Email: westonkafan@gmail.com or call 952-200-9727    Seattle, WA —Are you a fan fancier? If so, you should check out this year’s Fan Association of North America (FANA) 38th annual meeting that convenes in Seattle, WA, on May 27-30, 2020. FANA members will gather to view and learn about all types of fans–floral, historic, novelty, […]