THOMASTON – Saturday, December 9, Watts Hall in Thomaston was an innovative hub with the Call for Merry Mannequins Evergreen Extravaganza Creators. They came – individual and teams — working to transfer boughs, dress forms, chicken wire and boxes of collected and nostalgic decorations into holiday gowns.

And it all culminated with an evening reception.

The Watts Hall Community Players provided the materials for the gowns, which were also on display Sunday, December 10. All proceeds from the weekend were donated to the AIO Energy Assistance Program.

Joe Ryan, executive director of AIO and Energy Assistance, said it was a fantastic event, and would help the heating assistance program.

“This is the second year they have done this event for us,” he said. “This time of year it is especially critical. It is going to be a challenging year and its programs like this that help keep us funded.”

Sheilagh Guyer, a member of the Watts Hall Community Players and a resident of Thomaston, said the event offers an opportunity for creativity during the holidays.

“It is about having fun with greenery, great ideas and friends,” She said. “Tonight, Saturday, for the ticketed price people can come and stroll among the mannequins, listen to live music, sip wine and enjoy hors d'oeuvres.”

Along with Guyer, Daryl Hahn and Jamie Doubleday were also event organizers.

The Merry Mannequins People’s Choice winner was the Thomaston Public Library, submission number seven, with a team led by Caroline Ward-Nesbit, Head Librarian of Warren. Other members of the Thomaston Library team included Melissa Harjula, of Thomaston; Maryann Blaisdell, of Thomaston; and Carrie Brezzo, of Thomaston.

The librarians said they used three different books to make their mannequin.

“And the collar was fashioned from overdue book cards,” said Ward-Nesbit, who noted that the books they used were old and falling apart. “There was a dictionary for musicians, The Agony and the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone and a World War II book written by Eisenhower. The sleeves are heavy.”

Sisters Taryn and Morgan Williams, both of Owls Head called their mannequin Sugar Plum Fairy and named her Clara.

“We let our Aunt Sharon Setz go with the creative freedom of picking out flowers and the little decorations,” said Taryn. “We all contributed and my sister kept checking the skirt to make sure we didn’t have any bare spots.”

Setz, who is from Spruce Head, said they had few expectations of the event. All three agreed, however, that they were happy with the outcome.

Emily Jenks created a Snow Queen complete with angel wings.

I used to put The Snow Queen on in Camden,” said Jenks. “I had the Rockland school of Ballet, so this is The Snow Queen costume and these are the angel wings from the little angels. This is my second year doing this and I thought, I have angel wings, I should make an angel.”

Tee Neville of Cushing, Jamie Doubleday, of Thomaston, and Cheryl Redding, of Warren, are master gardeners and at Brae Maple Farm in Union. Their mannequin was made from all-natural ingredients. You could tell that by the pinecone waist band.

“We were the winners last year,” she said. “So we’re under a lot of stress. There’s no plan. We just bring a lot of ingredients and it’s a spontaneous work of art.”

Macella Christensen, of Camden, is a retired art teacher, having taught at Lincolnville Central and Hope Elementary schools. Her partner in art was Christie Banow, of Rockport.

For them, it was a New England beach theme.

“Everything we collected from Maine,” she said. “We have the driftwood bustier and lots of shells. We’re hoping to remind people of the beaches of New England.”

Nancy Hill, of Thomaston, simply named her entry Lillian.

“It’s a girl dressed in a birch bark gown, all original and all natural,” she said. “It’s a waist-down mannequin as opposed the seamstress mannequins being used. It’s mostly wildlife, things I found in the woods.”

Bill Hahn, at the piano, and Renny Stackpole on bass, both of Thomaston, provided the music for the Saturday evening event.

Designers and team leaders included:
1. Marcella Christiansen and her niece
2. Lee-Anne Leverone and Cindy Lodise
3. Hannah and Naomi Thompson
4. Vonnie Drown-Miller and Emily Vigneron
5. Emily Jenks
6. Brae Maple Farm team led by Cheryl Redding
7. Thomaston Public Library’s team led by Caroline Ward-Nesbit
8. Vacant position -
9. Betsy Terrell and daughter
10. Cathy Harn and Sherre Wilson-Liljegren
11. Sharon Setz, Morgan and Taryn Williams
12. Carissa Coombs, Karen Veit, Carolyn Orcutt
13. Nancy Hill