Crafter creates antlers for all occasions
By ALLAN TINKER
Taylor Gahner attends craft fairs with her mom and one struck an idea for her. Other crafters made antler candleholders; others made Christmas and winter wreaths out of decorative trims and small decorations. Taylor put them together into her own craft style. Antlers became part of her wreath making, something she was already marketing in the area at the Harvester Restaurant in Goodrich and by word of mouth and local craft shows. This year, Taylor took her antler wreaths to the third annual September Smash in Goodrich and then to the Dakota Feeder Calf Show craft show in Turtle Lake. They were a hit. The change in the antlers most recently was the addition of fall colors to the Christmas and winter-themed wreaths she had done. The result was a rumble of interest and the wreaths disappeared quickly. "The fall ones are the most popular," affirmed Taylor. Several have been sold to relatives, several have been purchased and given as door prizes at events such as annual meetings and there have been some that have gone out of state along with many that stay local. She hasn’t offered the wreaths through mail order, yet, but they have gone through a local purchaser and been sent as gifts out of state. "Its fun to do, I enjoy doing it," said Taylor. Lots of people help, donating antlers, ribbons, trims and things they no longer want, to help her decorate. She collects wreaths, old decorations, poinsettias, and other trims, shopping at whatever hobby shop that is handy. "It is the most expensive part of the designs, getting the right trim," she said. The antlers are cleaned and soaked in bleach. After they are dried, then it is working to see how they will look best. "I switch them around a lot," Taylor said with a grin.
