ShawneeDispatch.com

When Nancy Longman wrote some words about love and arranged them in a frame with pressed leaves, a raffia ribbon and a colorful photo from her own backyard, she hoped her handiwork would touch someone. But she didn't know who, or how.

When the couple who recently bought it for their 37th wedding anniversary approached her last weekend at the Shawnee Lights Art Festival, Longman knew the piece was a success. The couple wanted her to autograph the artwork, emotionally describing how it hit their relationship at the right place and the right time.

"That's why I do this," Longman said. "It's not 'cause you sell it."

The Festival took place Saturday at the Shawnee Crossings shopping center. The first-year, locally focused event drew Longman and other artists -- well-established or just venturing into something new -- from Shawnee and neighboring cities to showcase and sell their creations.

A Lenexa resident, Longman retired a year ago from her job as a special education teacher. She took a "leap of faith" and plunged into becoming an artist, drawing from her experience writing unique, end-of-the-year achievement awards for her students, who didn't typically qualify for traditional academic awards.

Each of Longman's "Garden Variety Wisdom" pieces includes a sheet of printed prose, inspired by people or events in her own life, and an impressionistically rendered photograph from her own backyard.

Writing comes first, then Longman pairs her prose with a photo, rustic frame and other embellishments that seem to fit, she said.

Three miniature garden pots adorn some of the frames; those represent faith, hope and charity, Longman said.

Longman said she didn't start producing "Garden Variety Wisdom" to get rich or become famous. She wanted to connect with people, which she has, she said.

Longman wept when recounting stories of the couple who visited her Saturday and other customers who said her "Wisdom" made a difference in their lives.

She wrote words on family bonds that a couple told her helped rekindle their relationship with a teenage daughter. And words on strength that a woman diagnosed with cancer saw and decided to buy, saying reading them every day would help her get through the battle ahead.

The artist's business card is attached to a credo that includes the following explanation: "Each of my pieces is dedicated to someone in my life. My hope is that you might touch the flowerpots and feel a connection to someone in yours."

When her work started catching on -- several area shops and even her hair salon display and sell "Garden Variety Wisdom" pieces -- Longman was surprised by her success but remained a little timid, too, about entering a new domain.

"This has been the most fun I have ever had -- fun and scary," Longman said.

Many of Saturday's artists were new to their crafts and found the first-year fair an approachable venue for testing the waters.

Shawnee resident Ethel England showed her work for the first time at Shawnee Lights.

England, retired and a grandmother of two, said she spent the past year taking classes and rekindling a youthful passion -- drawing.

"This is something I've wanted to do all my life," she said. "I'm able to do this kind of thing now without the responsibility of my family."

England's work includes original color and black-and-white drawings, as well as prints, of various subjects, some from nature but mostly people.

"I love drawing people," England said. "I like to be able to show their personalities."

England said she sold a print, picked up some possibilities for commissioned portraits and also learned a lot from her first fair, in particular what catches people's eyes.

Saturday's fair was scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, rain and wind kept most artists from setting up until around noon.

Later in the day, the Shawnee Police Department was on hand with Ident-A-Kid kits, and several members of the Kansas City Mustang Club brought classic cars. Booths were available for $25, and proceeds were to benefit two not-for-profit organizations, Animal Haven and Sunflower House.

Despite the rain, nearly all of the 15 artists scheduled to participate turned out, including jazz singer Laura Chalk and longtime potter Ross Murphy, both Shawnee residents.

Possessing a tent with sides, Susan Guilford and Alyssa Judd of The Queen Bead and Beth Jasperson of Beth's Jotters Photo Notecards set up early and stayed all day.

The three Shawnee artists also are new to the scene. About a year ago, Jasperson began making color-coordinated note cards with photographs she took, mostly not far from Shawnee.

"I started making cards for friends, and they thought I should sell them," Jasperson said.

Guilford and Judd, both stay-at-home moms, took a beading class about nine months ago and decided to take their experience further.

"It was just something that I wanted to do for myself personally and then found that I really enjoyed it," Guilford said.

Sandy Chacey, owner of Fleurishings, 22744 Midland Dr., organized the Shawnee Lights Art Festival.

Chacey said she and her Shawnee Crossings neighbor, Sunshine Pack & Ship owner Dave Lindley, came up with the idea and began promoting it several months ago. They thought a show for local artists would fill a niche.

"We've got such great talent around here, but there's not really that much exposure," Chacey said.

Much of Chacey's inventory is made by local artists, some of whom participated in the Shawnee Lights Art Festival. She said the event provided another venue for locals to promote their work, as well as a destination for customers seeking something unique.

"People like local," Chacey said. "They want to support their community. They want to support local artists."