Waterford Fair

78th American Crafts & Historic Homes Tour

2022 Demonstrating Artisan

Hart, Ian

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Vigilance Forge

Metal

Ian Hart graduated college in 2017 with a degree in traditionally forged ironwork under the tutelage of Richard Guthrie, a Colonial Williamsburg veteran Journeyman who moved on to teach others the craft through the American College of the Building Arts. Rick instilled in him a value of creating accurate 18th century reproductions exclusively by hand, matching the construction methods, characteristics, underlying geometry and functionality of their historic counterparts. Rick has since passed, but Hart carries his lesson with him through every day: to make a profit when I can, to take a loss if I must, to sleep some nights, and others not, but always to do good work.

Anderson, Maureen

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Tasha’s Own

Mixed Media

The home farm is a family owned and operated venture of love and commitment to reviving the lost arts. They strive to farm in a sustainable manner and are committed to utilizing time-honored “old fashioned” methods as well. These methods both enhance the lives of our animals and maintain our connection to the earth. By offering and promoting products and educational ventures nationwide, they support and encouraging other small farms. They believe that small farms are the backbone of our culture and our country;  producing healthier food, creating superior products and fostering healthy economies and communities.

tashasownherbarium.com

Hall, Marian

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Wooly Dye Works

Fiber/Textiles

I have been rug hooking for 27 years, with many of my designs adapting PA Frakturs. Before rug hooking I did weaving, starting in 1968, and learned dyeing for my weaving fibers.  I then used my dyeing experience to dye for my own hooked rugs and expanded to dye for a few friends.  On retirement I started a small business dyeing wool for other rug artisans and sell at in-person events as well as on Etsy. In the past few years I have started to sell some of the rugs I have made. Three of my rugs have been selected for the Rug Hooking Magazine Celebrations book in the past few years, one winning a Reader’s Choice Award.

woolydyeworks.etsy.com

Helberg, Kristin

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Kristin Helberg Artworks

Mixed Media

Helberg has always been interested in history and a portion of her artwork reflects that.  Whaling paintings and whaling scenes on boxes, as well as sea monsters attacking ships are part of Helberg’s artwork.  She enjoys creating tavern signs that depict imaginary places in Early America.  Having spent most of her childhood in York County, PA, Helberg was immersed in the painted hex signs on barns and fraktur art and uses those images on the decorative boxes.

Helberg’s paintings are in the permanent collections of The National Portrait Gallery/Smithsonian, the Clinton Presidential Library, the Reginald Lewis Museum of African American Art and the Musee D’Art Naif in Quebec.

kristinhelberg.com

Mendez, Roselyn

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Even Rose Love Design

Jewelry

Mendez hand fabricates botanical jewelry in copper, bronze, brass and sterling. Their work is a celebration of the beauty and resilience of nature. Many of the plants that inspire the work are among the most ancient life forms, such as ginkgo and ferns. The jewelry pieces are often boldly colorful, utilizing rich patinas or hand painted finishes. Every piece is hand drawn and hand-cut and finished with techniques that include chasing, stamping and repousse. They combine these handbuilt metal elements with semiprecious stone beads and cabochons culminating in an organic line and feel.

www.evenroselove.com

Chewning, Bruce

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Wood Curious

Wood

Chewning’s shop is a space to clean up and make a mess again. The shop is right outside their office. Some days they step out of their office and into the shop until it’s time for bed. It’s a small shop with lots of tools so everything has its place. It’s referred to it as a “one tool at a time shop.” All the power tools must be pushed to the side to clear space for the one task that he’s working on. Some of these tools are stacked 3 deep against the wall. The craft requires thoughtful strategy, process, and planning to navigate the tools in the small space to create a small wooden object. There are the stacks of wood saved for the next project-the boards milled from a neighbor’s tree, or from a tree their father cut down, or the board saved from a church pew that came from the church they were married in. It’s a collection of memories. Chewning’s space is a place to forget everything else and create something beautiful from scratch. When the floor is inches deep of sawdust and shaving, it’s swept and vacuumed until the shop is clean. Sometimes there’s a big glue up required and that’s followed by more sawdust and another cleanup. The piece then reveals its true beauty of the wood with grain that pops with color, shape, and texture. The best part of the process to see the wood come alive. Favorite pieces are always an inventory of one.

woodcurious.com

Pittman, Benjamin

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Ben Pittman Knives

Metal

All knives are 100% handmade from start to finish with great care taken to create the best possible piece. While the cutlery may be considered a work of art, they are designed to work in both the kitchen and the field. Being of heirloom quality, these knives are intended to make memories and be handed down through generations.

benpittmanknives.com

ARTISAN-SEAL
Landmark Artisan

Stanik, Alex

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Oxylus Designs

Wood

As a third generation furniture craftsman, woodworking has always been a large part of Stanik’s life. He learned this art from his dad and grandfather and has always wanted to put his own vision into the trade. Stanik has been creating pieces of furniture for 15 years and has gained a large amount of knowledge about woodworking. Many different styles of furniture caught his attention. He enjoys working with metal and wood and wanted to incorporate metal into the furniture designs. This style closely represents an “Urban and Loft” design and appeals to a younger generation and incorporates metal accents in each piece. Stanik never wanted to tie himself to one area of woodworking and respect all aspects of the art. He enjoys classic pieces of furniture made from solid wood as well as fresh ideas including epoxy and live edge pieces. Live edge slabs give the opportunity the show off the true lines of a piece and leave everything completely natural. The use of epoxy pours in a piece provides the opportunity to use lumber that might not normally be selected for a quality piece of furniture and gives movement to the design.

oxylusdesigns.com