Rachel Godollei-Johnson holds the Unsung Hero plaque outside her home in Indianapolis.
Editor's Note: When costumers retire, they don’t really retire…they just find a new way to channel their creativity! Pam Markel, immediate past president of the NCA, is contributing a new column to NCA Today that highlights the activities of retired members. In this first edition, she describes the creative endeavors of Rachel Godollei-Johnson, a retired member who owned Landes Costumes by Rachel in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rachel was honored with NCA's Unsung Hero award at the 2023 convention in Indianapolis for her efforts over many years as NCA's historian.
Rachel Godollei-Johnson, Landes Costumes by Rachel, Indianapolis, Indiana
“The Fairy Marketplace”
Crochet and embroidery keep Rachel’s hands busy. She did “The Fairy Marketplace” a few years ago over several months in about 200 hours. There are over two dozen fairies gathered at the bottom of the garden. A frog, snails, butterflies, a hummingbird, and a pet ladybeetle hide in the ring of mushrooms as well. The fairies sell shells, berries, cat whiskers, feathers, thistle down, beads, pearls, and other small treasures. Trumpeters and a disc jockey provide music while a fairy in a purple poodle skirt dances along. A baby fairy sleeps in a milkweed pod and a blue fairy swings from a cobweb. Fairies ride snails and caterpillars or fly in on dragonflies.
Now retired, Rachel has started another piece, also measuring 24” x 28”, called “Fairy Fall Festival.”