March 29, 2024

Country Life Center partners with local artists, Orient Friends of Library

ORIENT – Handcrafted gift items from more than a dozen local artists will be featured during the Holiday Boutique at the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-17. Some of the artists include Steve Campbell and Lois Houghtaling, both of Greenfield; Jeff Inlow of Orient; Michelle Carter of Dexter; Pat Randol and Deb Engle, both of Winterset; and Nathan Hamilton, Judy Gile, and Diana Miller, all of Creston. Handwork includes woven rugs, jewelry, wooden bowls, soaps, aprons, wildlife photography, knit wear and more.

“We have a wonderful eclectic mix of seasonal and gift ideas,” said Lisa Swanson, gift shop manager. “Several new artisans have brought some different and exciting items. The shop is filled with many ‘one-of-a-kind’ gifts and accessories.”

In addition, the Orient Friends of the Library will sell homemade candy. Caramels, fudge, peanut clusters, turtles and other sweets are packaged into half-pound and one-pound gift boxes. This year there are 14 different kinds of candy to be sold. All the proceeds from candy sales goes to the library.

“The Holiday Boutique is a great partnership between the Country Life Center and Orient library,” said Sharon Mensing, library director. ”Proceeds from the annual fundraiser enhance our book collection and public programs. Patrons really appreciate there are not long wait lists to check out a best seller.”

The Country Life Center is located just off the Henry A. Wallace Road at 2773 290th St., in Orient.

Hours are 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and dinner from 5:30 to 8 p.m., with reservations required.

The boutique is an off-shoot of the center’s gift shop, which offers a selection of Iowa products year-round. Along with the handmade gifts, the center also stocks an array of Iowa wines. Ninety percent of the shop’s inventory is produced by local artists.

The Wallace Centers of Iowa includes the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center in rural Orient and Wallace House in Des Moines. Together, the two historic sites provide educational programs and community services, produce sustainably-grown fruits and vegetables, and offer locally-sourced meals.