PORT ANGELES — An ornament from the North Olympic Peninsula will be on display on a Christmas tree in the White House’s Blue Room this year.
Designed by Franni Feeley, who owns Franni’s Gifts in Port Angeles, the 8-inch-in-diameter ornament is covered in moss and insignias from throughout the Peninsula, as well as images of banana slugs, whales and other critters native to the area.
Feeley was selected by the North Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau when the organization found out Friday that an ornament from the area was requested from the state Visitor Bureau for the White House tree, said Mary Brelsford, communications manager for the North Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau, which is based in Port Angeles.
The tree in the Blue Room is themed “Travel,” she said.
“It was a tall order and quite a challenge,” Feeley said.
“I had some things in my store and went from there. I also went up to the [Olympic National Park Visitor Center] and picked up one of their pins.”
The moss-covered ornament will evoke the idea of the iconic national park and the surrounding areas, Feeley said.
Feeley said she mainly focuses on gift baskets at her shop and has never done a custom ornament before.
“When I was done, I thought it was kind of fun, but when I was doing it, I was a little nervous, not really knowing what they were looking for,” she said.
“I have a creative streak, so even though my specialty is gift baskets, this was a fun project.”
The ornament, which Feeley worked overtime Monday and Tuesday to finish, was set to be shipped off to Washington on Wednesday.
