TOP: Willie Jimerson began carving as a youngster looking to earn extra pocket 

 money. BOTTOM: Far from the sandy shoreline, a starfish and small shells melt into a 

 new candle environment created by Sally Knuckles. 



Center (NCDC). The center still provides training workshops 

 for Watermark artisans. Its child-care facility has expanded 

 and serves all the community. 



LEARNING SELF-ESTEEM 



For many long-time Watermark members, the training 

 program has made a world of difference in their lives. 



Take Jocelyn House, whose painted glass iced tea set is 

 pictured on the front cover of Panache, an international mail 

 order catalogue. Her glassware, with a painted grape cluster 

 motif, also was the featured item in Gevalia coffee's spring 

 catalogue. 



Never in her wildest dreams did she think that could 

 happen. That is, never in her pre- Watermark dreams. The co- 

 op provided the opportunity to hone her artistic skills and 

 gain the self-confidence needed to market her products and 

 herself. Now, House trains other artisans in the fine points of 

 glass painting and design. "It's a way to give back," she says. 



House also has become competent in other crafts to help 

 fill large, special project contracts. 



That might mean helping with production of traditional 

 rag dolls — the love of Beverly Cupery's life. The dolls 

 come in various sizes and with different hair colors, including 

 powder blue, pink and orange. 



It was Cupery's Sara doll that passed Smithsonian's 

 rigorous muster. "Sara came with four different skin colors, 

 so she had a lot of international appeal," she says. "It took 

 about six months to produce enough to fill the contract." 



She is proud to have helped give Watermark that kind of 

 public exposure. But she is just as proud to be part of an 

 outreach effort closer to home. Cupery and House regularly 

 team up to bring arts and crafts to special needs children in 

 the Elizabeth City and Camden schools. 



"We enjoy sharing our gifts with others," she says. 

 "And the kids just open up." 



Diane Poole, too, is a long-time Watermark member. 

 She learned a number of handcrafts growing up in the 

 Camden area. "But I always wanted to learn to carve," she 

 confesses. 



So, when Watermark offered a wood carving class, she 

 was first in line. 



"It's something I think I must have in me. My father, 

 grandfather, great and probably great-greatgrandfather were 

 boat builders. My dad told me stories of my grandfather, 

 Alvery Wright, who built shad boats and carved decoys. He 

 died when I was an infant, and I felt like I could connect with 

 him if I could just learn to carve," Poole explains. 



One of her grandfather's shad boats is on display at the 

 Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City. And, long after 



8 HOLIDAY 2002 



