Children's Activity

Kirk, Roger

Kirk Ceramics

Clay

The founder of Kirk Ceramics, Roger Kirk, makes functional and decorative ceramics in his studio in Washington, D.C. He also teaches high school and adult ceramics classes in Montgomery County, MD.

Roger has been making ceramics since 2009, when he took his first ceramics class at UCLA. Many failed and successful pots later, he sells his work at markets and through his website.

Roger’s style is inspired by traditional English and Japanese pottery, but with a contemporary twist. He hopes the handmade feel, functionality, and professional finish of his ceramics will help to make people’s homes happier places to live.

kirkceramics.com

Hollenbaugh, Kelly & Gary

ThreeRingJewelry

Jewelry

Born the oldest of five into a modest family, I learned early on that to have the material things I fancied I would need to make them myself. I soon became adept at seeing a piece of clothing or an accessory and reproducing it using the materials at hand. This ability to thrift and fabricate came in useful in my early career where I not only wrote and acted but designed sets and costumes for the theatre. Later, on a whim, I took a workshop in metalsmithing, and my love of sterling silver was born.

In learning to manipulate hot metal; bending and diminishing, piercing, adding granulation, fusing, and soldering, I soon realized my uncanny talent at reproduction had found an artistic home. I love to see something that piques my interest and then figure out, first, how it is made and second, how to make it my own using mixed metals and unusual components like glass, leather, and metal clay. Often working in a series or with a particular design element, each of my creations is one of a kind. My customers enjoy choosing from the different looks that spring from the same design family. Together in our studio my husband and I produce sterling silver jewelry with pearl, gemstone, 14K gold, and bronze accents.

I am truly inspired by other jewelers, art deco architecture, and kinetic sculpture.

ThreeRingJewelry.com

Giles, Harriet

The Weavery

Fiber/Textiles

I weave rugs in a range of designs that evolve to reflect the changing tastes and moods of our society. I adapt simple weave structures to become devices for showcasing color, enlarging the scale and using nature for color inspiration. Because my rugs are often ordered on a custom basis, I also work with my customers’ palettes as well. The interplay of design, color, and woven structure gives each rug its integrity and individuality.

I am moving in a direction of greater sophistication in weave structure. Twills, Swedish Ripsmatta, and multi-harness block designs are finding their way into my repertoire. These offer more depth, texture, and intrigue without becoming too complex visually for a large item that will be integrated into a unique interior space.

Materials include cotton, wool, linen, and strips of cotton and wool fabric recycled from industry wastage when possible.

theweavery.com

Carson, Joseph

Wood

All pieces began as deadfall, firewood or bonfire remains. Each one emerges from the will of the wood and the whim of the turner. Grains and colors are natural. Highly figured and colored woods are spalted, in the early stages of decay. Knots, cracks, and wormholes are highlighted and stabilized with epoxy or CA glue. All are finished with a food-safe mix of beeswax and mineral oil.

Hart, Ian

Vigilance Forge

Metal

I 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 me a value of creating accurate 18th century reproductions exclusively by hand, matching the construction methods, characteristics, underlying geometry and functionality of their historic counterparts. He has since passed but I carry this lesson with me 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.

For several years I managed a modern architectural iron shop in Northern Virginia, designing massive custom stair railings and similar projects, from conception to construction and installation. I was surprised by the lack of care that my colleagues had in terms of craftsmanship and excellence in design, not just from coworkers but also from architects and design firms that were supposedly classically trained. The jobs were big, they were interesting, but they didn’t satisfy the quality and standards of the work that I valued. Over that period I worked part time in the evenings producing my own work, until last year, when I left the company and opened my own shop full time.

People often say “as long as it works, who cares what it looks like.” I cringe a little every time I hear this. In my experience, if it looks right, it is right, and while people may not realize it, things are distracting if care is not placed into their design and creation. While B+ work may have no fault with it, the little extra decoration, feature, or degree of quality goes a long way in transforming work from acceptable to exceptional. This is my goal today; to provide people with tools, hardware, furniture and furnishings that are a joy to look at, use, and will work as well as someone can ask, not just now, but through heavy use into the far future. Historically people relied heavily on their tools and could not afford to have them break or to replace them frequently. Because of this they are perhaps the best teachers a craftsman could look to. It is not solely with misplaced nostalgia that I look to my forefathers of the crafts, but also because I believe that we might learn lessons in how to shape our future.

VigilanceForge.com

Hall, Marian

Wooly Dye Works

Fiber/Textiles

I have been rug hooking for 28 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

Pittman, Ben

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.

Instagram

benpittmanknives.com

Stanik, Alex

Oxylus Designs

Wood

As a third generation furniture craftsmen wood working has always been a large part of my life. I learned this art from my dad and grandfather and have always wanted to put my own vision into the trade. I have been creating pieces of furniture for 15 years and have gained a large amount of knowledge about woodworking. Many different styles of furniture have caught my attention but none that I was drawn towards. I have always enjoyed working with metal and wood and wanted to incorporate metal into my furniture designs. My style closely represents an “Urban and Loft” design. This style appeals to a younger generation and incorporates metal accents in each piece. I never wanted to tie myself to one area of wood working and respect all aspects of the art. I enjoy 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