his death, one of his decoys brought a tidy $25,000 at a decoy 

 festival. 



Poole's love for birds, especially local songbirds, is 

 reflected in her wood carvings. She says she talks to them as 

 she coaxes them out of wood blocks, carving, then painting 

 lifelike details. 



Watermark has given her confidence to try new things, 

 she says. She has designed, and taught others to produce, lap 

 desks for the Georgetown Park Mall project. And another 

 creative idea is taking form — painting on bird feathers she 

 collects, and then mounting them in a shadowbox. She is 

 toying with the idea of using natural bark material for the 

 matting. 



Her husband, Al, also is a Watermark member. Together, 

 they create and paint children's and doll's furniture also on 

 display in Georgetown. 



BRANCHING OUT 



Dee Sprouse, who has been Watermark's executive 

 director for less than a year, is leading a reorganization of the 

 co-op. She will provide her marketing and fund-raising 

 expertise. 



In her office, Sprouse flips through scrapbooks that are 

 filled with newspaper and magazine articles telling of 

 Watermark's milestones. Videotapes contain snippets of 

 television feature stories on Watermark. Even Gloria Steinem 

 visited Watermark to support the co-op's economic develop- 

 ment work. And, Watermark was honored at the 1994 

 Women's World Conference for promoting economic justice. 



Watermark is a model craft cooperative, Sprouse says. 

 "Watermark has helped local women find independence. And, 

 we have provided training for women from many countries 

 through grants from USAID." 



Women from several African and Latin American 

 countries have traveled to Watermark to complete the training 

 program in order to replicate the co-op model in their villages. 



There is a lot to be proud of, Sprouse reflects, closing the 

 scrapbook. She takes a small, framed picture from her desk. 



"This is the federal angel, an ornament selected to adorn 

 the Christmas tree in the White House Blue Room in 1993," 

 Sprouse says. The ornament, made by Watermark crafter 

 Katherine Wassink, holds a miniature basket by another 

 member, Marie Hewitt. 



"We have evolved, and are still evolving," Sprouse notes. 

 "We are building on the strength of our own history." 



At one time, nearly all the members were women. In 

 recent years, more men have joined the co-op. 



Willie Jimerson is one. The retired carpenter used to 



Continued 



TOP: Santa Claus is among the array of Watermark offerings coming to the Georgetown 

 Park Mall for the holiday season. BOTTOM: Jocelyn House puts finishing touches on 

 hand-painted glass items featured in national mail order catalogues. 



COASTWATCH 9 



