Donated Items for the drawing

1/CB   CROCHETED BED COVERING

My dad (Martin Fraga) told me how grandma would crotchet and knit a number of things and was very talented.  After grandpa and grandma passed on and the family sorted their belongings, my dad said he wanted just one thing, the lace bedspread coverlet that Grandma knitted.   He talked about his fond memories of Grandma working on the coverlet, how detailed her work was and that it took her a year to complete.   When Dad brought the coverlet home, I remember how proud he was to have Grandma’s beautiful work of art.  It is so important to share Grandma’s beautiful work with the entire family and pass this family heirloom on to the next family member. 

Size – 109″ x 94″

(Please note – only Fraga family members are eligible for this offering and we respectfully request this item stays in the family )

Donated by The MARTIN & MARILYN FRAGA FAMILY

New Custodian – ELIZABETH BRYKALSKI (Monique’s daughter)

2 /FP   PROFESSIONALLY FRAMED PHOTOGRAPHS

Enlargements of the iconic aerial view of the Norman Road Farm – professionally enlarged, framed and matted

#2/FP – A     (1) 26.5″ x 17″

#2/FP – B     (1) 22.5″ x 14.75″

One winner to be selected for each photo – 1st ticket drawn will receive the 26.5″ x 17″  and 2nd ticket drawn will receive the 22.5″ x 14.75″

Donated by DANIEL W FRAGA

Captured Icons go to –

#2/FP-A  –  STEVE RUSTONI

#2/FP-B  – KRYSTA STONE

3/WS   HAND CARVED WALKING STICK

Inspiration…

About eight years ago, prior to retiring, we were visiting Len and Bev and at some point I noticed a collection of hand carved wood canes in a corner of their living room.  Bev told me that her father had carved those along with other wood carved items. I was impressed with what Bev’s father had created by simply finding branches and turning them into art pieces.

Once I retired I decided to go out in the woods and see what I could find and I came back with about 20 branches. I did some initial research on the proper way to carve walking sticks and discovered that the branches needed to cure for up to a year before the process could begin.  At that point I re-visited several wooded areas and found several branches that were already partially worn and my collection was now nearing 100.

My first few years were focused on creating carved walking sticks and that eventually led to combining carving, painting or adding other materials into the sticks.  During a trip to Mexico I observed a few Huichol people creating beautiful art pieces with tiny glass beads and a special wax.  When we returned to Mexico the next year I inquired where I could find the supplies that they were using and that led me to a Huichol store. I purchased several strands of beads and about a kilo of wax and when I returned home I begin experimenting with mixing the bead work with the walking sticks. I have created about 50 Huichol walking sticks and canes at this point taking from 10 hours to 80 hours to create each piece.

I enjoy spending those hours creating each unique stick one bead at a time and like the fact that at least in some way it incorporates a bit of Mexican art into the piece.

Winner of this item selects one walking stick from the four offered

Donated by MICHAEL FRAGA

New Walker/Hiker – CAMILLE FRAGA VON DREELE

4/ED   ENCHILADA DINNER FOR 20

Enchilada Dinner for 20 persons catered by renowned chef Lorraine Abdoo Radjewski!  Includes rice, beans, chips and Lorie’s legendary salsa!

Featuring a combination of treasured family recipes of

• Martina Fraga
• Frances (Esperanza) Fraga Valdez
• Marjorie (China) Fraga Radjewski

Winner of this item to make arrangements with Lorie as to a mutually acceptable date and location.

Donated by LORRAINE ABDOO RADJEWSKI

Everyone’s new favorite cousin – JOE RUSTONI

5/WP     HAND CRAFTED WALL-PLATES

Wall-plates for 2 rooms

any amount needed, any configuration needed, and color preferences. Please note that every one turns out just a little different, so although I can stay in a color or color range, each will be unique. I will also include one set of coasters.
The wall-plates are stainless steel plates that are painted with alcohol ink, then a protective resin glaze is applied.
The coasters are ceramic coasters that I apply the same technique to.

When I moved into my new house in New Hudson, I was talking to Steve and telling him how my nephew Dave teased his dad about building his big beautiful house, and having those cheap white plastic wall plates.  Steve then remembered that a few years prior he had bought some beautiful glazed copper wall plates from a little boutique in Traverse City. They were so cool and made such an impact on the rooms, but we didn’t have enough. He couldn’t remember the name of the store, and we did several searches to try and find them. He finally found some similar on Etsy, and we bought a couple. But when they arrived I saw that they were actually just the plastic ones painted and they didn’t look as nice. I wanted to find out how they were made and if I could do it. I did find out that the lady who made them used alcohol ink, so I started learning all about alcohol ink, watched lots of you tube videos, and learned that I could do it using stainless steel wall plates. So after lots of trial and error and many many unusable plates, I found the way to make them and glaze them with a resin coating.

Winner of this item to work with Michelle as to color and specific wall plates

Donated by MICHELLE HAAR

Newly Enlightened Cousin – DANIEL W FRAGA

6/TO   HANDCRAFTED ORNAMENTS

Individually customized handcrafted ornaments using photographs.  The tree and 13 ornaments (pre-made)  are all one package.  In addition, the lucky winner can pick 2 photos of their choice and Dawn will put each of them in a 4″ embroidery hoop (3″ is also available) and do some embroidery thread to each photo.  Dawn will work with the winner to coordinate which colors and what they may want embroidered. 

Winner of this item to work with Dawn as to specifics.

Donated by DAWN FRAGA TIFFIN

Family Christmas Memories go to –

KAYCEE ODZIANA (Dennis’ daughter)

7/MX   LADIES JACKET AND SOMBRERO

From Aunt Ellen – a collection of authentic Mexican apparel.  A unique hand embroidered ladies jacket and a horse themed dress sombrero (and a pair of maracas!)

Donated by CATHY ASSESSOR STONE

New Owner/Unique Mexican apparel – MICHAEL FRAGA

8/TQ       BOTTLE OF PREMIUM TEQUILA

Cuervo’s renowned premium tequila – Familia de la Reserva Extra Añejo.  Each year a different Mexican artist is commissioned to create the design for the box enclosing the tequila.  This bottle is from the 2019 Colección (very fitting!) and the artist is Jorge Pardo, originally from Cuba but now living and working in Mérida.  The lines on the box tell an amazing story – the explanation is included with the tequila.  ¡Salud!

Also, a contender for everyone’s new favorite cousin –

PAUL FRAGA, Jr

¡Salud!

*BONUS ITEM*

Just added – a selection of Mexican Childrens’ items.

Doll, toys/games, soccer T-shirt, Mexican hot chocolate and niño-sized molinillo (frother tool)

Winner – DENNIS RADJEWSKI

(or maybe his nietos!)