DEAR SUN SPOTS: Is there anyone in the Portland or Lewiston area who teaches tole painting, preferably with oils? Also, I have a necklace that is broken that had a small, flat glass bottle about the size of a quarter that contained small chips of sea glass. It was attached to a gold chain. Where can I find such a bottle? Please do not use my name. — No Name, Westbrook

ANSWER: Sun Spots has to admit that before she could look for teachers, she thought it might be a good idea to find out what tole painting is. For other readers who might lack that knowledge, according to Wikipedia.com:

“Tole painting is the folk art of decorative painting on tin and wooden utensils, objects and furniture. Typical metal objects include utensils, coffee pots, and similar household items. Wooden objects include tables, chairs, and chests, including hope chests, toy boxes and jewelry boxes. The practice began in 18th-century New England, and was also extensively carried on among German immigrants in Pennsylvania.

“A separate, related tradition occurs among Scandinavian countries and immigrants, including Norwegians, Danes and Swedes. German tole painting may concentrate more on metal and tin objects, while Scandinavian may concentrate more on wooden objects and furniture. Patterns in the two traditions vary slightly as well. Modern tole painting typically uses inexpensive, long-lasting and sturdy acrylic paints. Good-quality wooden work is sealed, primed and sanded before the decorative paint is applied.”

www.tolenme.com is a Web site specifically dedicated to tole painting in Maine. The group meets regularly and has a newsletter, ALL Toled, to keep members informed of events. Visit their site to sign up for the newsletter and the “contact us” form. If there are classes in Maine, hopefully they will know about them.

As for the glass bottle pendant, online there were some little bottles with corks in them that could be hung from a necklace but they didn’t have glass shards in them. Perhaps a reader will know of someplace locally that sells them.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Approximately 10 years ago, I planted horseradish in a corner of my garden. As the years went by, the horseradish took over the garden. I have tried to dig out the horseradish going down about 15 inches, and the roots are still there. I am wondering if someone could tell me what to do to get rid of the horseradish. — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: I am sorry to report that it looks like you have a lot more hard digging ahead of you. According to every Web site Sun Spots visited, there is no easy way to get rid of horseradish, other than digging up every last bit of it for several years in a row.

It is what is known as a cultivar, so even a small piece of root can start a new plant. That means that rototilling will simply spread the plant further. If the patch is simply too large to cope with by digging, www.garedeningknowhow.com recommends camouflaging and controlling its growth by planting grass around it and mowing regularly to keep it from spreading.

If you want to plant horseradish, it is recommended that you plan to control its spreading by planting it in a bucket or barrel buried in the ground. Cut the bottom of the bucket out first to allow for drainage. Even that method is not foolproof, as the bucket will eventually deteriorate and let the roots spread.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for anyone who can make homemade cloth albums. It’s a three-ring binding album made out of cloth. I need eight. If anyone does these albums, I am willing to pay whatever price they ask. Please call 897-2787. Thank you. — Julie Therrien, Livermore 

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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