ALWAYS A COWGIRL CHRISTMAS
Western Horseman Magazine, December 2008 Issue
Page 3
table in Camarillo’s living room.
The cowgirl print, titled Making A
Name For Herself, is by Donna
Howell-Sickles and reminds
Camarillo of her mission to
empower young women in and
out of the rodeo arena.
The horsewoman travels throughout the United States and abroad at least 160 days per year. During her trips, she seeks unconventional souvenirs and Christmas decorations found only in quaint antique, craft and secondhand stores, and that reflect regional influence and flair.
On a recent trip to Connecticut, for example, she found a circa 1898 hand-painted lithograph of sharpshooter Annie Oakley, which now hangs in Camarillo’s bedroom.
Cowgirls are a prominent theme throughout Camarillo’s home. They remind her of the capable and confident women who have influenced her life, such as her mother, Avril Meffan, and June Ivory, Liz Kessler, Donna McSpadden, Sharon Shoulders and Jimmie Munroe.
“These royal women of rodeo made a difference through their leadership,” Camarillo says. “They were strong, courageous and independent women who supported their spouses and raised their families while standing proud. They mentored me, and I continue to be inspired by their resilience, sophistication and femininity. I try to incorporate those values into my life.”
were made by her mother,
Avril Meffan.
Camarillo’s other collections harken from the Route 66 tourist heyday, wildlife, national parks and Native Americans. She has three artificial trees, each trimmed in a different theme, that she leaves up throughout the year. One boasts an extensive collection of Skookum dolls made during the first half of the 20th
century.
“They were produced, in part, by H.H. Tammen toy company in Denver, Colorado,” Camarillo explains. “The dolls were a cottage industry. Women assembled 20 to 25 dolls per week at home and received 25 cents per doll. I love the unique color and character of each doll, and they remind me of our nostalgic, Western and vagabond heritage.”
The tree in the living room has a Mardi Gras theme, with shiny, colorful, hand-blown ornaments and beaded garlands. Encircling the tree’s base is a crazy-quilt tree skirt made by Camarillo’s mother, who enjoyed sewing and making dolls. On top of the skirt are vintage toys, including a Howdy Doody doll and a child’s wooden rocking horse from the late 1800s.
Camarillo's heritage.
Sharon's hand-carved, Victorian-style chairs are reminiscent of what English settlers might have brought west. Between the chairs is a handcrafted table with steer-horn legs by Milo Marx. A collection of Paul Solacy prints and a steer head hang on the wall, paying homage to Camarillo’s California heritage.
The room’s focal point is the rock fireplace with mantle. Throughout the year, Camarillo keeps a mix of fresh and artificial greenery on the mantle, reflecting her love for nature.
A bronze sculpture of a cattle drive by Fred Fellows nests on the greens, while clear, twinkling lights peek from beneath the boughs. At Christmastime, Camarillo embellishes the greens with ribbons, floral arrangements and Western stockings.