WARDSBORO — Each year, the Friends of the Wardsboro Library sponsors a raffle to support the Gloria Danforth Memorial Building, the home of the Wardsboro Public Library.
This year's prize for “The Best Raffle Ever” is a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree skirt, handmade and donated by Wardsboro fiber artist Linda Gifkins. The tree skirt, entitled Christmas in New England, is hand hooked in hand-cut wool, hand-dyed new and recycled fiber, on natural color linen backing. The binding is also wool and hand stitched. It measures 52 inches round and has a retail value of $900.
The folk art, primitive-style scene was designed by fiber artist Julie Thomas of “The Old Tattered Flag” - www.theoldtatteredflag.com. Thomas grew up in Vermont and was inspired to create a New England holiday scene, according to a news release.
Gifkins has made previous generous donations of her work to the Friends and is currently the artist of the month at the Wardsboro Library at 170 Main St. Her rugs and other works, including the Christmas tree skirt raffle prize, are on display throughout June.
The public can purchase raffle tickets at the Wardsboro Public Library, the Friends' booth across from Town Hall at the July 4th Street Fair and Parade, the 15th Annual Gilfeather Turnip Festival on Oct. 28 in Wardsboro, or they can print tickets from the Friends' website, www.friendsofwardsborolibrary.org. The drawing is at the Gilfeather Turnip Festival at 2 p.m.; the winner need not be present.
The Friends of the Wardsboro Library is a nonprofit, volunteer organization and sole owner of the historic library building and attached barn. Thanks to generous public support of Friends' fundraising events, the group is able to maintain and improve the building as a gathering place and resource for Wardsboro and surrounding communities.