Wilcox County
Clay Artists
Jimmy and
Peggy are carrying on the legacy left to them by Frankie Dailey, Jimmy’s mother.
Although the husband and wife team have only been working on their own without
the meticulous, watchful eye of their mentor Miss Frankie, they are developing
their own style while following her teachings. At one time, Miss Frankie and
her sister worked together on their craft on Sand
Mountain, but she wanted to stay in
her home in Camden,
where her family could help her – thus the tradition began.
Their
primary focus is creating angels, crosses and snowmen out of polymer clay
purchased from craft suppliers. They roll the clay together: then Jimmy cuts
pieces with cookie cutters; Peggy cuts from paper patterns, puts heads on the
angels and snowmen and paints the pieces. The items are fired in their kiln two
times, which makes the process take about six days from start to finish. All
the while, they are mindful of the meticulous, hard judgment of their mentor.
Peggy says
that the most rewarding and enjoyable aspects of their craft is being able to
work together as a team, and watching the smiles and the desire to touch their
items from people that are viewing their work.
Besides
showing in the Black Belt Treasures Gallery, their work can be found at Prime
Time in Hoover.