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That’s not the way it played out. She only taught in her hometown school for four years. A skiing accident changed her focus from teaching to creating art. “No one enjoys being laid up with broken bones, but I was really touched by the number of friends and family who sent flowers,” Caryl says. .“I wanted to keep some of the flowers as a memory of the people who sent them. So I experimented with pressing them and with time on my hands, I began to think of ways I could use these pressed flowers.” Add research to trial and error. She discovered some of the ancient secrets of flower preservation. She’d always enjoyed calligraphy and began to make gifts – framed flower petal pictures surrounding a friend or relative’s name. “The response was overwhelming. Within a very short time, what began as a kind of flower therapy opened the door into a rewarding career.” Thirty-five years ago, Caryl and her husband “Pudge,” formed the “NameMe Company” and when Shaker Woods set up little shops at their Columbiana, Ohio, farm, the Pohland’s were among the first crafters invited to show their framed name pictures, family trees and thousands of ready-to-frame pressed flower pictures.
Her friend, Loretta, has worked with her for 20-years. Their son, Bret, runs the business end of things now, and his wife, Lisa and daughter Chloe are part of the team. “We all live within a stone’s throw of each other and I’d have to say that God takes care of us,” Caryl says. “As the business grew and we needed space to build a shop and storage area, our next door neighbors offered to sell us their house. Providentially, their house was over the line in the next county where there aren’t restrictions against running a business out of your home.” Do you have a favorite flower? You’ll find a name picture surrounded by real pressed flowers of the kind you love. You’ll be able to choose from 4,000 names and spellings. Did you know that the name Megan can be spelled 18 different ways? Think about double names like Mary Ann, Mary Louise, Mary Ellen – the list goes on. Do you think you have a name so unusual the Pohlands couldn’t possibly have thought of it? Think again. “We do boys names as well as girls. And if your name is so unusual that you need to custom order it, I will probably make a second one to add to our stock of ready to buy name pictures.” “We plant 4,000 plants each year and over the years we’ve discovered those that work well and won’t fade. And we want it that way because these names and family trees will become family heirlooms. Some of our favorite flowers are daffodils, columbine, coral bells, anemone, salvia, larkspur, lily of the valley and Queen Anne’s lace.” Caryl is often asked to create family trees for 50th wedding anniversary celebrations. These may include extended family as well as children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The biggest tree they ever made included 43 names. Caryl believes you’ll find perfect gifts for many on your Christmas list because their “NameMe” pressed flower pictures say “I love you” so well. And they’re priced right. The unframed name pictures are $9 and the framed single names are $19. Family tree pricing is based on the number of names and the style of frame you choose. Look for the NameMe Company in booth 146. © Copyright ShakerWoods.com |
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