ALWAYS A COWGIRL CHRISTMAS
Western Horseman Magazine, December 2008 Issue
Page 2
The Christmas tree (right), adorned with Camarillo’s Indian doll collection, remains a fixture in the den year-round. Sharon has large Skookum dolls that served as retail advertising pieces during the tourist heyday of the 1940s and ’50s.
A German Steiff teddy bear (below, top left) sits on a sidesaddle that Camarillo’s grandmother received in 1911 for her 16th birthday. The saddle was ordered from the Sears catalog.
Camarillo’s batten-board house (below, top right) resembles an Old California style ranch house. Holiday decor makes it stand out.
The original patina, glass eyes and horsehair tail on this 1890’s child’s rocking horse (below, bottom left) give it charm. The horse’s mane hair was created from a man’s toupe. The hand-braided rawhide reata, scaled to the horse’s size, ties well into Camarillo’s Old California-style decor.
Other noteworthy collectibles in her living room include a San Ildefonso Pueblo pot made by Maria Tafoya, a Luis Ortega hatband hanging on the wall, a bronze titled All In a Day's Work by Fred Fellows on the mantle, and an authentic Navajo rug.
When company comes for dinner, Camarillo wraps a personalized gift for each guest (below, bottom right) and uses the gifts as place markers at the dinner table.
 Teddy on Antique Sidesaddle |
 Entry to Camarillo's House |
 1890's Rocking Horse |
 A Gift for Every Guest |