Ballard & Call sells ‘all things creative’

Book Signing When: Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m. Where: Ballard & Call, 408 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas Cost: Rodgers' autobiography "Dancing On The Moon" can be purchased in advance for $35. Concerts: When: Sunday, 3 and 7 p.m. Where: Journey Community Church, 304 N.E. Fourth Ave., Camas. Cost: $20 per ticket, available in advance at Ballard & Call. Tickets for children, ages 11 and younger, are free. Silent Auction Gift Baskets: When: Sunday, 2 and 6 p.m. Where: Journey Community Church o Proceeds will benefit Camas-Washougal Loaves & Fishes/Meals on Wheels. o Ballard & Call is still accepting donations of items for the baskets from local merchants. Contact: Ballard & Call, at 817-2415 Two women with deep Camas roots and a 50-year friendship have opened a gallery and fine art store in downtown Camas. Sharon Ballard has experience as an interior designer and artist, while Marquita Call has worked in business management and customer service. Ballard offers custom pet portraits, acrylics paintings and sterling silver bracelets and earrings. Her studio is located in the gallery. Ballard has a bachelor's degree in art from Washington State University, in Pullman. She is a former owner and operator of an interior design store in the Palm Springs area. Call, a former director of sales at a Red Lion property in downtown Portland, was promoted to general manager of the Red Lion Parker House in the early 1980s. She served on the board of directors and worked seven years as director of operations for the Elmer's Restaurant chain. Call was a co-owner of Pacific Rim Distributing Lighting Co., in Portland, for 16 years. Ballard and Call met as freshmen at Camas High School, and they graduated in 1962. Their gallery and fine art store has "baby boutique" gift items such as handmade bibs, diapers and changing pads, as well as hair bands, blankets, sock monkeys and crocheted hats. "We have a lot of fun, colorful things," Ballard said. Knitted purses, business card and cell phone holders hand made by Eliz Plam are available to purchase, as well as sculpted vases, cups, bowls and urns created by Michael Metz. "There is a lot of local talent," Call said. That includes acrylic paintings by Wayne Herndon, of Camas. "They are an explosion of color and whimsy," Ballard said. There are also pendant enhancers and rings, created by Sally Johnston, of Camas, as well as mixed media collages, note cards with scenes of downtown Camas and glass bottles embellished with antique jewelry. SINE Morse, of Portland, has created three-dimensional shadow boxes, incorporating painted paper and scenes with a frog, lady bugs, a bee, butterfly and bridge. There are also shadow boxes with glow in the dark solar system scenes. A kimono and mixed media collage, created by Cyndee Starr, of Vancouver, are also available to purchase. Ballard & Call is currently the sole retail location for "Sweet Spot Skirts," designed by Stephanie Carroll and sewn by local women. The wraparound style skirts can be worn over leotards, bike shorts, swimsuits or pants, for activities such as yoga or walking. The gallery and fine art store had its soft opening in July during Camas Days. Its grand opening is planned for Saturday. The event will feature a book signing by Jimmie Rodgers, a Camas native and 1951 Camas High School graduate. More than 200 concert tickets have already been sold for Sunday. "We can't believe the wonderful response," Call said. "I have never heard so many Jimmie Rodgers stories. "We had no idea how big this would be for Jimmie," she added. Rodgers' hits included "Honeycomb" and "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine." Rodgers is a singer, songwriter and author who also had his own TV show and appeared in several movies. Ballard & Call is open Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m.

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