News
Vandal joins local art and craft store
Scott Wagar
06/17/2014
When one looks at Janie Vandal’s artistic work it isn’t surprising that she is one of the newest members of Bottineau’s arts and crafts organization, Front Porch on Cranberry Creek. However, when one considers she is only 16 years old, the offer in membership from the organization shows just how talented she is in her artistic crafts.
Vandal’s business, Accents by Janie, consist of knitting and crochet pieces, spoon jewelry, barbwire art, clothing, rug and chair pads from t-shirts, bird houses and signs created from different mediums, which include license plates where she cuts out letters and numbers from the plates and creates her own sign in her own words.
Vandal’s interest in arts and crafts come from someone dear to her heart.
“My mom is really creative and does stuff all the time and she got me into it,” Vandal said. “I just grew up with it.”
Her mom, Gail Vandal, also introduced her to the Front Porch on Cranberry Creek, which led to her membership with the organization.
Once introductions were made with Front Porch on Cranberry Creek’s board members, Vandal applied and was granted a part-time membership due to the fact that she is still a full time student at Bottineau High School and cannot offer the allotted time the members must give in operating the store each week.
To become a member, individuals have to be interviewed by the board and then present their pieces to the board where the members jury the product to see if it will be a fit for the store.
From there, the board votes whether or not to offer membership to individuals.
Sue Jacobson, director of the Front Porch on Cranberry Creek, stated that she and the board are impressed with Vandal’s work which also led to her membership.
“Janie is doing well. She is a wonderful addition to our store,” Jacobson said. “She brings in some different direction from what we have had before and something which caters to young people her own age. She is very talented.”
Although Vandal doesn’t get the time to work in the store that much during the school year, the opportunity to work inside the store when she gets the chance is a valuable experience for her, which can also assist her in her education.
“I am doing a summer co-op with the school and Cranberry Creek,” Vandal said. “I have to work 150 hours during the summer and I get credit for it from school.”
To see and purchase Vandal’s merchandise, individuals can find the Front Porch on Cranberry Creek at 508 Main Street in the Bottineau business district. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.