80th American Crafts & Historic Homes Tour
I create fine art in watercolor using Winsor Newton watercolor paints on 300 pound hot and cold pressed papers, I specialize in landscapes, old barns, animals of all kinds and pet portraits.
Everything in life is art. That has been true in my life ever since I can remember. Currently, I am working in mixed media—acrylic paint, vintage paper and, sometimes, found objects. However, for years I worked in textiles, specifically I hooked rugs
and am the author of Hooked on Words, published in 2018 by Ampry Publishing.
Once in a while, some textile form appears in my current work—an actual piece of wool or an image of a quilt or a rug or a sheep. I am drawn to antiques and images
of anything vintage but my great love is for Windsor chairs. I’m very lucky to live in Williamsburg, Virginia, with inspiring history all around me, but I once lived in Waterford which will always be in my heart.
We have been crafting timeless, quality woodcraft furniture and accessories for decades. Using local Virginia Hardwoods and a discerning eye for detail, each piece is thoughtfully designed and made in our Southwestern Virginia woodshop.
Maureen Anderson, teacher, goatherd, beekeeper, shepherdess, soapmaker, mother of 8 and grandmother of 13 has had a lifelong interest in farming, homesteading and herbal medicine.
She began this journey of learning when she was a child, taught many of these skills by a grandmother who instilled a love of herbs, family life and wildcrafting.
Maureen hosts workshops and classes at her historic Home Farm on sustainable living, herbal medicine making, wild food foraging and cheese making.
In March of 2020 she created the Toano Open Air Market in response to the community’s need for a safe and reliable place to shop and local farmers’ and artisans’ need for an income during the Covid closings.
Maureen is the creator of The MotherVine radio program and owner of Tasha’s Own Goat’s Milk Soap and The Home Farm.
We grew up in a home that fostered a love for the handmade. So much so, dad
insisted that craftsmen training came first in our lives. With a heritage of
accomplished inventors and tradesmen, who could blame him?
Our parents took us along on frequent visits to antique stores, galleries, and
other places that sold fine furnishings. Mom always reminded us at the door,
“Look with your eyes, not with your hands.” For us boys, that wasn’t always easy.
Learning traditional methods of artistry—blacksmithing, woodworking, and
leather crafting—was never a chore for us. As teens, we didn’t just apprentice
with master craftsmen, we built our own forge and workshops in the backyard.
Today, we thrive on creating beauty in our lives, and the lives of others. By
transforming natural, raw materials into quality home and lifestyle goods, we
write stories to tell for generations to come. If you love the smell of leather, the
warmth of real wood, and the heft of metal, let us help write your story, too
Hawksbill Pottery produces a unique collection of handcrafted stoneware. Some pieces are thrown on a potter’s wheel while others are hand built with slabs and extruded pieces. Each piece is embossed with original designs and hand painted with lead free studio mixed glazes. Our glazing technique is similar to a batik process. A variety of masking materials are used between layers of glaze to create colorful designs and patterns. All pieces are ovenproof, dishwasher and microwave safe. Unlike earthenware, stoneware has been fired to a very high temperature, vitrifying the clay to create a strong and durable finished product. Each piece is painted free hand with a brush, giving spontaneous life to each piece. We believe this direct process infuses the object with human energy. If cared for properly, your piece should last a lifetime and be enjoyed by generations to come.
Master wood carver Adam Willie has been practicing the trade since 1990 and specializes in hard-carved wood signs and customized horse (tack) trunks and stable products. Adam works with each client to ensure a unique and distinctive design and uses only the finest materials to create a one-of-a-kind product that will leave a lasting impression.