Feature by Randy Allen The Review For Alice Howes, making wreaths, baskets and other crafts is more than a hobby. It’s therapy. In 1991, Howes underwent che- motherapy and radiation treat- ments after having, what she cal- led, “a lump the size of an egg” removed from her right armpit. That was 1991 — the longest year of her life.- There is still pain in her joints, which makes simple tasks, at times, seem difficult. “I can’t Swing a fly swatter because of the pain,” said Howes. Momings are her least favorite times of the day. But, she said, “Every day is a better day.” Howes established a system to give her the extra drive needed to get the day started. She sets daily goals and, despite the pain, gets up every moming and works on her various projects. “You have to have a goal every day,” Howes said. “I set goals. Not because I have to. It just helps to give me the incentive to get up and do things.” And, she says, once she’s up and moving, the pain goes away. “It takes a little longer for me to do things (craftwork), but I keep doing it,” said Howes who is also a volunteer for the Canadian Can- cer Society. Howes lives with her husband Don, who runs a manufacturing business from a workshop on their Brentwood Bay acreage, and their animals: One-eye the cat (who has only one eye), Missy the dog, and two 40-year-old geese, Hansel (who is blind) and his mate Gretel. Based on the state of health of her pets, Howes is no stranger to overcoming adversity: However, all has not been doom and gloom for her. Howes has made costumes for various occa- sions; a hobby she brought with her from Three Hills, Alta., where she dressed up as Santa Claus and visited senior citizens on Christ- mas Eve. Howe said that since moving to the Peninsula nine years ago, her collection has expanded to include an Easter rabbit, Raggedy-Ann, a clown and a turkey. “Every year at Christmas a native Indian family (from the Tsartlip reserve) borrow my Santa Claus outfit and they take tums playing Santa,” she said. “It is really rewarding to see how excited they get.” She also makes Easter baskets and wreaths from cones and recy- cled items that she collects. “‘I must be the biggest pack rat around,” she said. Onginally, Howe began making wreaths in Alberta after some visitors to her house had seen her craftwork, and asked her to make gz them some wreaths for Christmas gifts. That was 17 years ago and she hasn’t looked back. In recent years Howes has added baskets to her repertoire. Husband - Don makes the frames. Each item is painstakingly wired or glued to the frame and Howes adds bees, hummingbirds and other miniature creatures, which she also makes, to the interwoven masterpieces of flora. Every year Howes and 75 to 80 other artists set up a little boutique in a shop she has behind her house. The local craft show and sale, held around Christmas, usually lasts up to four days. “It’s teally a lot of fun,” said Howes. However, she doesn’t limit her- & Creating is therapy for cancer self to just the one show. Her crafts appear in shows throughout the year. Her next show is at the Metchosin Community Hall on Apnil 11 and 12. Howes also creates items on request. She has an established, and expanding, clientele for whom she does most of her work for. It is her labor of love. Struggling at times with the prospect of facing another day. “I’d be a liar if I didn’t tell you there were times I just wanted to give up,” she said. Wed., Apr TheReview But the joy she gets from meet- ing new people through the vari- ous craft shows and the Cancer Society make it all worthwhile. “It is a great gift to have the ability to think about someone else,’ Howes said. ‘“Too often people are selfish. “Tf I do something for someone else and it makes them happy, then I feel happy.” Besides a positive outlook, she Says a good sense of humor helps ease the burden as well. Shaek SIDNEY ELECTRONICS — WIRELESS INTERCOM Reg. 49.95 ALICE HOWES shows one of her first wreaths. Wednesday, April 22,1992 — AI5 SCOTT VCR with REMOTE 2-HEAD $279.00 Reg. $349.00 4-HEAD $329.00 Reg. $429.00 MONITOR VIDEO CARD MANY MORE IN-STORE SPECIALS! CHECK OUT ~ Radie Shaek SIDNEY ELECTRONICS COBRA CORDLESS PHONE CP-702 99%, $149.95 | A The management and staff of Sidney Electronics would like to thank their many customers from Sidney and the entire Peninsula for making their first year together as a team more successful than ever! Thanks again ... and we look forward to seeing you again soon! Radie Shaek AUTHORIZED RADIO SHACK DEALER 2352 BEACON AVE., SIDNEY 656-5771 Not all items exactly as shown.