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Published on Tuesday, December 6, 2005 2:06 PM CST

Former resident's ornament on Library of Congress tree

Sammie Crawford of Hot Springs, formerly of Benton, known internationally as “The Fairy Gourdmother,” will be present in the Grand Hall of the Library of Congress on Dec. 14 for a special ceremony.

The ceremony honors all the artists, including Crawford, who created ornaments for the library's Christmas tree this year.

An invitation to design and paint an ornament was issued through the National Society of Decorative Painters in Wichita, Kan., to all member artists.

Crawford, one of only two artists from Arkansas to respond, has been a member since 1991.

The theme for the display is “Creativity Across America” and each book-shaped ornament must reflect something of the artist's state. Crawford titled her ornament “Arkansas Discoveries” and painted the ivory-billed woodpecker on the cover over a faux leather finish.

This will be the fourth such honor for Crawford, who had ornaments fashioned from gourds on the White House Christmas tree three times during the Clinton administration. These are now a part of the Smithsonian permanent collection.

She travels nationwide to conduct painting seminars and maintains a Website, www.fairygourdmother.com, of her patterns and books. She has written two decorative painting books and is currently working on a third.

Ornament featuring the ivory-billed woodpecker was created by former Benton resident Sammie Crawford and will hang on the Christmas tree at the Library of Congress. (Photo special to the Courier)

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