Saturday Market in Eugene

Ayala sells her fiber fantasies in an equally fantastic setting--the community open-air craft market mounted every Saturday ("rain or shine") in the center of downtown Eugene. Rules of the market demand that all of the crafts offered be created exclusively by the vendor. The merchandise varies from exquisite (Ayala's) to predictable (oodles of tie-dyes), all of it cheerfully displayed and sold with good humor. Ayala evolved the wooden and fabric booth she uses over the ten years she has participated, and she intentionally located it by the stage to enjoy the variety of live music presented throughout the day. She offered me space in her booth inwhich to hawk my books, CDs, and art prints, and encouraged me to sign up to play music onstage. I had a wonderful day doing both.

Market banners by the square

I applied for this privilege sixth months ago over the phone with Kim, the assistant manager of Saturday Market. I finally got to meet her in person. "She has the best wardrobe," Ayala commented, "and I love working with her. Everyone on the staff at Saturday Market is pleasant and cooperative."

Kim comes by the booth to say hello.

Ayala and me at our booth. On the left is one of her fairy coats in a pink floral.
Almost every woman who passed the booth touched the coat with gasps of admiration.
Pinned to it is the price tag, which explains, "not suitable for wrestling or for
walking through raspberry bushes." On our foreheads are pasted bindis from India,
gifts from our neighbor on the left who makes temporary tattoos: Henna by Anna.

Jam Jamboree, a duo specializing in audience participation

Breughel-esque crowds mill in the food court

Music Schedule for July 15

I played an hour of original songs in a variety of tunings, some from
my CD, and some I hope to record after the tour.

After my set, Ayala gave a stirring speech in favor
of declaring the Saturday Market a cultural treasure.

I met a number of Ayala's dear friends throughout the day.
This young beauty is Sonja, who works as a dental assistant
in Eugene.

Earth Star came up from Santa Barbara for the
Oregon Country Fair and stayed for Saturday Market.
She does airbrush stencils; Ayala particularly loves her dragons
and uses Earth Star's stenciled designs on fabric in her patch works.
She also airbrush stencils make-up onto skin, a technique
she may have learned when she used to work as a fashion model.

Andrew, the youngest of Ayala's five sons, has scarcelly removed the angora
yarn hat she knitted for him since he first received it. Andrew learned his
step-father's trade and opened a carpentry business in Eugene.

At the end of the fair I traded a book and a CD to Raven Moon for one of his
fantastical papier mache rattles, a rainbow dragon with a head at each end of his body.