(FORTUNE Magazine) – Peggy Bargon played no part in any Arkansas land scheme and never made a secret oil deal with Iran. Yet like Susan McDougal and Marc Rich, Bargon received a presidential pardon last month. Her crime: making Hillary Clinton a gift. In 1994 the First Lady gave a speech near Bargon's hometown of Monticello, Ill. As a thanks, the First Lady received a Bargon-crafted "dream catcher"--Native American art made from feathers, string, and beads, designed to stop bad dreams. What followed was a nightmare: One of the feathers (which Bargon says she found at the zoo) came from an eagle, violating federal migratory-bird laws. Federal agents raided her farm, and in 1995 she pleaded guilty and was fined $1,200. We asked her about her life as a convict.

Q: First of all, congratulations.

A: Thank you. I'm thrilled.

Q: How did you find out?

A: I waited all day Friday. I knew there was a round [of pardons] coming. Nothing happened. I got up Saturday, and President Bush was maybe 15 seconds into his address when my cell phone rang. It was a reporter who said he was reading my name on the Washington Post Website. I thought I'd react like a cheerleader and jump for joy. But my knees gave way, and I was down on the floor sobbing.

Q. You don't get called when you get a pardon?

A. They haven't called me yet.

Q. So, has this changed your life?

A. I feel like a boat anchor has been lifted. I used to be happy. I had a career going, a bright future. Then this thing happened. For 6 1/2 years, I've been depressed. I don't feel that way now.

Q. Has Marc Rich or Susan McDougal contacted you yet?

A. No, no. I [told] someone, though, that all of the people who were granted pardons by the President should get together for a reunion every Inaugural Day.

Q. Have you started planning it?

A. No, it was a joke.

Q. You must have had some pretty bad dreams wrapped up in that dream catcher.

A. Well, I've had a lot of nightmares since. And when everything in the White House happened, I thought, "Was it my dream catcher that brought all of this bad luck on all of us? Maybe it just doesn't work."

Q. How much did this cost you?

A. By the time I got to court, $10,000. Then a few thousand more for this pardon attempt. But, hey, that was the best money I had spent in a long time.

Q. Monica Lewinsky used her presidential run-in to launch a line of handbags. Any similar plans for dream catchers?

A. No, no. Not at all. This was a chapter that needs to be closed.

Q. What about a career in migratory-bird laws or consulting on pardons?

A. I continue to educate the public: All birds except the common house sparrow, the pigeon, and the European starling are covered by federal law. The crow, the blue jay, the cardinal--you can't possess any of those feathers without a license. And if you sell any of those feathers for whatever reason, plan on going to jail.