While seated in her Lewiston home, Virginia Wilson holds one of the many clown dolls she has created from found objects in this photo published in the Dec. 2, 1973, Lewiston Tribune. Shirley Lyons, a freelance home and garden columnist in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley, wrote the column which accompanied the photo. It noted all of Wilson's handmade creations include recycled materials. For example, the bodies of all the clowns she creates are made from empty, small detergent bottles. She uses egg cartons to create a variety of refrigerator magnets, include butterflies, caterpillars and mice. "The handsome bronze and black candlestick (holder) by their fireplace is made of odds and ends of glass jars glued together and sprayed (with paint)." Wilson also created with rocks, pebbles, scraps of material and molding clay made from cornstarch, according to the story. Wilson, and her sister, made these creations for sale and all of her Christmas inventory had been sold, but the sisters now were taking orders for January. Readers who would like to share their historical photos (20 years or older) from throughout the region may do so by emailing them to blasts@lmtribune.com or submitting them to: Blast from the Past, P.O. Box 957, Lewiston, ID 83501. Questions? Call Jeanne M. DePaul at (208) 848-2221.
