Fountain Valley Collector Wins First of Awards Given at OC Fair

The Orange County Fair is in full swing, and the many competitions held there are starting to be judged and awarded. So far, Fountain Valley already has one first-place winner, Pat Wells, in the collections category.

Giraffes have been good to Wells, a retired school teacher. Her Orange County Fair collection of giraffes has earned her a second place in the fair, while she awaits the results for her other three entries.

"I've been collecting giraffes since my daughter was 13," Wells said. "She wanted a safari party, so we went to the Safari Zoo and a giraffe came up to our tour truck and I fell in love."

Wells' collection includes more than 20 items with the giraffe theme, and contains such sentimental items such as ceramic statues, a handpainted scrapbook and leather pillow made by her sister, snowglobes, pins and stuffed toys. 

"This is a very small representation of my collection," said Wells, who crafts in several other mediums since her retirement after 20 years of teaching second grade in Westminster and Tustin. "I've been collecting for 15 years."

Wells also has entries in the knitting and painting segments of the local crafting exhibits: a child's knitted hat for her granddaughter, a painted canvas rug and a painted Christmas scene.

"I love crafting and I even make Christmas presents," said Wells, who has been crafting almost her whole life. "My sister and I used to make paper dolls when we were kids." She said she now has the time to devote to her passion and also continously takes art classes to learn new things.

Two awards down and it looks like there will be plenty more with all of the contributions Fountain Valley residents have made this year.