I create hats and fascinators from scratch using a table, sewing supplies, millinery supplies. I cut the shapes from fabric and sinamay (a type of straw), then put everything together by hand sewing.
Tatiana Rakhmanina
Category: Fiber-Textiles
Jeanne Proctor
I think of quilts as paintings made of fabric. The technique of quilting layers of fabric to produce bedding, clothing, and even armor can be traced back centuries. I am inspired by early quilt makers who produced functional pieces that were also truly beautiful, often made with scarce or repurposed textiles. My quilts are based on traditional quilt block designs. My quilts may use a variety of fabrics and colors or may be simply two fabrics. I want my quilts to be used. They are not intended to be stashed away and they are not just bed coverings. I use machine piecing and machine quilting techniques. My fabrics are all cotton and battings are mostly cotton. My hope is that my work is enjoyed by others and that this early American art form is carried forward in future generations.
Tacy Hawkins
I am a hand spinner, weaver, knitter, and crocheter and I like to experiment with felting and other textile related work. I prefer to use natural fibers, but find it sometimes necessary to include man-made fibers.
My weaving includes rugs, place mats, table runners, scarves, and shawls. The rugs are primarily re-cycled cotton or wool. I really enjoy the challenge of re-purposing used textiles into “new” functional items.
I knit, weave, and crochet hats, scarves, socks, gloves, and mittens and I use my hand spun yarn in some of these items. I also knit and then felt wool hats and embellish them with hand embroidery. All items are my own original designs.
I would like to demonstrate weaving on my small four harness floor loom. I will prepare re-cycled clothing/fabric and then weave it into “hit or miss” rag place mats. I enjoy weaving very much and like to share it with others. Both children and adults are welcome to weave on my loom.
Jennifer Lehr
History and the decorative arts merge in my art form. An ingrained appreciation of the art of all the worlds civilizations and especially the early American lifestyle is the core of my being.
My floorcloths are a modern recreation of the classic and historical art form. I strive to provide the viewer with an unforgettable depiction of a truly handcrafted item while showcasing form as well as function. I incorporate a traditional style with custom and modern pattern technique that can be specifically designed for any area in particular. My inventory of handmade floorcloths is filled with a vast array of everything from traditional design to the arrangement of time tested pattern in a contemporary pallet.
I am immersed in providing an ultra-high quality product using only the finest materials available. This combined with my design ingenuity sets me apart from others. The use of modern technique and true hands on approach creates an incredibly durable surface.
Waterford Quilters
The Waterford Quilters Guild of Waterford, VA creates an original quilt to be raffled off each year at the Waterford Fair. The quilt is hand or machine pieced by the members of the guild and is hand or machine quilted. The proceeds are used toward preserving the tradition of quilting and to promote knowledge and understanding regarding the art of quilting. We range from traditional to modern quilting techniques. We also support various causes in the Town of Waterford.
Carolyn Hazelton
My hooked rugs are all my own original designs. Inspirations come from antique quilts, tole trays, weather vanes, photos, geometric patterns and creative imagining. All rugs are hooked on new linen.
Nancy Gibbs
The inspiration for all of my work comes from 19th c. examples, designs and motifs and are original adaptations of period styles. Figurative work (dolls, bears, Santas) are created from cloth and clay with vintage materials used as appropriate and available. My applique work and penny rugs are made of felted wool, which is often overdyed to get the colors I want and are stitched by hand. Each one is an original.
Gary Robinson
Handmade brooms are constructed of broomcorn and sapling handles or hand-shaped wooden handles. Various sizes of domestic brushes, including kitchen and clothing brushes, are made using only broomcorn and twine. The history of broom-making, including Shaker and Appalachian influences, are discussed during show demonstrations.
Cheryl Mihills
I create original pictures using a miniature needle and a single strand of cotton thread producing a series of approximately 1200 loops and stitches per square inch. My technique creates intense detail, surface texture, depth, and a sense of motion.
The technique was used on a larger scale for punched rugs in the 1800s. It was also used on a smaller scale for folk costumes.
I will be demonstrating the technique on a miniature rug.
Kathleen England & Barbara Condon
As children of the 60’s, we wanted to save the world, or at least leave a small footprint. Wool allows us to design and create without guilt.
Our sheep are sustainable, kind to the land, and grow an outstanding fleece just grazing on our back hill. Our 100 ewes produce enough wool to allow us to design and knit many garments and provide our customers with the highest quality yarn. This cycle is repeated every year, making wool an unrivaled renewable resource.
We chose Border Leicester sheep for their easy maintenance and fabulous fleece. Soft, long lustrous fiber that is easy to dye, spin and knit turns work into joy. As the fleece frees itself from the sheep during shearing, we skirt the wool, leaving only the best and most beautiful to be knitted or woven into “one of a kind” garments. Just as a sculptor lets his marble speak to him, the wool speaks to us. It is the inspiration behind our designs.
What an honor to put a new twist on a 10,000 year old craft!
Kid Friendly!
