By Caryn Hill
The Pagosa Farmers Market is bustling on Saturday mornings at its new location next to the Tennyson Sculpture and Garden Park. Our Featured Vendor this week, Ludwig & Tillie, is offering hand-made, one-of-a-kind items for home and self.
Rita Willmott, the brains and talent of Ludwig & Tillie, uses high-quality cotton fabric with bold colors and patterns to create useful items such as dinner napkins, bucket hats (a best seller) and aprons. Visit Rita’s stall and you can also find wallets, refillable journals, travel-size pillowcases, bread Bags, potholders, eyeglass cases, zippered pouches, and barkie bandanas (for all the dog lovers).
The business name, Ludwig & Tillie, honors her great grandparents, Ludwig & Tillie Jenson, who came from Norway and settled in the Nebraska area.
At the young age of 9 years old, Rita learned the art of sewing and embroidering from her mother. The importance of perfection was instilled in her, which is evident by the quality of her creations. Rita’s style is to combine different prints and/or solids with a color or two in common. Her creativity feeds on combining polka dots, stripes, florals, and checks in some of her work. After retiring from business development, Rita decided to take her sewing seriously and started her business in earnest. Most of Rita’s experience has been in the printing industry where she learned color matching that transcended easily into her love of fabrics.
In the winter, Rita works on quilts that she either gifts to friends and family or donates to Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska.
Pagosa Farmers Market is happening every Saturday, from 9am -1pm until the end of September. The selection of freshly harvested vegetables is reaching epic proportions. The selection of locally raised and processed meats will satisfy any one with responsibilities for the evening meals, along with a selection of baked goods from cookies to sourdough bread.
SNAP cards are welcome and the Market is the only place in Pagosa Springs that offers SNAP recipients $20 of Double Up Bucks for the first $20 you spend on their card, doubling your purchase power to $40. And for those 60 years or older and qualify, the San Juan Area Agency on Aging is offering $50 vouchers to spend at the Market to encourage healthy and nutritious eating. To see if you qualify, and request a voucher, please call Debra Herrera at 970-403-2164.
For more information on the Pagosa Farmers Market, email pagosafarmersmarket.org or call 970-264-5232.