Women in eye-catching sundresses flitted by Luciene Cruz’s clothing booth at the Lithia Artisans Market of Ashland on a recent Sunday. “That’s my dress,” said Cruz, pointing at one passerby after another, “and that’s my dress.” The Brazilian-born seamstress has been selling her flirty designs at the downtown market for three decades. Overtime, she’s seen trends come and go, but she relies on timeless silhouettes that flatter every figure, and bright patterned fabrics that break through the beige or bland apparel haze.
“Fashion, bold colors and touchable textiles are medicine for me,” said Cruz, wearing a pretty patchwork dress, dangling earrings and gold sandals. “As one of 13 children in my family, I have always wanted to stand out and enjoy myself.”
Cruz is among 50 southern Oregon artists and makers who sell their work at Ashland’s open-air weekend market. Booths are set up in and around Lithia Park at the crossroads of the Oregon Shakespeare Festivalcampus, creekside restaurants and nature …