Sanders Crafts is family affair
Staff reporter
Frances Sanders has more connections to Marion than the average out-of-town exhibitor.
For the past seven years, the Greensburg resident brought her craft items and displayed and sold them with her daughters' items at Marion's Art in the Park.
In February, the Marion native and 1965 Marion High School graduate, returned to her hometown to live.
Just three months before a devastating tornado claimed much of the houses and businesses in the southwestern Kansas town of 1,800 people, Sanders decided it was the "right time" to move to Marion so she could be located closer to her daughters and sister, and her brother, Harvey.
The house that she called home at Greensburg for the past 35 years was not completely destroyed but is uninhabitable, Sanders said.
This year's Art in the Park will mark Sanders' and her family's eighth year for exhibiting.
Sanders and her sister, Sonja Vogel of Chanute, have been hand-embroidering tea towels all year. There will be approximately 100 of them for sale Saturday.
Her daughter, Kimberly, of Omaha, Neb., will sell her animal quilts.
Why did she make the drive every year to Marion for the crafts show?
"The park is beautiful," Sanders said. "It's not crowded and customers are able to get to the booths and see what's on display."
She also complimented Marion Chamber of Commerce and volunteers for having such a "well organized" event.
Sanders and her sister began embroidering several years ago.
"There was an elderly women in Greensburg who showed me some stitches," Sanders said.
She particularly enjoys the hobby because the towels are short-term projects.
"It's something I can pick up and finish in a half day," Sanders said.
Sanders recently retired from Northern Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Enron. She and her family are happy she is within a shorter driving distance,
Besides Kimberly at Omaha, daughters Kelli and Kris live at Newton and McPherson, respectively.
"I love living here," Sanders said, and is looking forward to Saturday at the park.
