Children's Activity

Witmer, Amy & Joe

Best Demonstrating Artisan of 2023

Cinnamon Treasures

Mixed Media

Amy and Joe Witmer are passionate artisans dedicated to preserving and creating Colonial, Traditional, and Historic items by hand. They specialize in crafting solid beeswax heirloom collectible figures and ornaments using traditional German techniques of molding and carving beeswax, a skill dating back to the early 1500s. They support local apiaries and manage their own honeybee hives to ensure they use the highest quality beeswax.

Each piece they create is unique due to the natural variations in beeswax. The Witmer’s meticulously crafted works are cherished in private collections worldwide, and they take great pride in their detailed, handcrafted pieces that merge history with craftsmanship.

Stop by their tent, just outside the Old School, to learn more about their work and art.

Our products are produced completely by hand using 100% pure and locally sourced beeswax. We scent our beeswax using a custom blend of pure essential oil created only for Cinnamon Treasures. We start with a solid block of beeswax, melt it down, add our scent, then we hand pour and hand finish each and every item that we sell – from scratch. We use antique, vintage, rare, very early, and hard to find chocolate molds to pour into and create our pieces. This makes our pieces very rare and unique because you have to acquire very early and hard to find molds. We also pour using early flat molds, chocolate, springerle, and cookie molds to make unique ornaments. We have a wide range of items with a large focus on Christmas and Santas, to rabbits, turkeys, chickens, pigs, horses, bee skeps and bees, hearts, cats, dogs, etc.! It’s hard to name them all!

This unique art of molding and carving beeswax began in Germany centuries ago with the Lebkuchen bakers. The bakers used their Springerle and gingerbread boards to mold the first beeswax ornaments. This became a holiday tradition. These boards were carved from fruitwood into elaborate scenes of animals, birds, guild workers, country life and St. Nicholas. By the mid-1500’s, Christmas markets were thriving in German towns. There are records of bakers attending these fairs making gingerroot flavored breads, as well as merchants who made wax souvenirs which people took home and hung on their Christmas tree.It is a tradition that we carry on today. We have expanded this tradition to include casting and pouring figures from exceedingly rare and early authentic chocolate molds from makers in France and Germany as well as the US.

We have built a large following of collectors of our pieces and would love to showcase them at your artisan show.

CinnamonTreasures.com

Niskala, Nurit

Nurit Niskala Recycled Metal Jewelry

Jewelry

Nurit Niskala recycled metal jewelry is a fusion of sustainability and elegance. Bohemian at heart, her one-of-a-kind and limited series pieces are handcrafted with love, inspired by the nuances of nature. No two creations are alike, making each a personal narrative, a story told through metal, and a celebration of individuality.

Step into a world where bold design meets ethical craftsmanship. Nurit Niskala invites you to explore the artistry, heritage, and sustainable beauty woven into every piece of recycled metal jewelry—a radiant testament to the resilience of creativity and the enduring allure of repurposed materials.

Member of the prestigious League Of NH Craftsmen

NuritNiskala.com

Linthicum, Lori

Heart’s Desire Pottery

Clay

As a gardener comfortable in the dirt, Linthicum finds satisfaction using that same type of medium, clay, to try and replicate Nature’s art.

Porcelain allows her to create a three dimensional, tactile effect and try to bring native habitat to life for others to enjoy year round in their homes and gardens.

Through handbuilding, slabwork and coiling, the clay is manipulated into buds breaking from the surface just as real blossoms spring from the soil. Mason stains and underglazes give a wide palette to paint the details, then a clear glaze is added and fire to cone 6. Some pieces are further enhanced with lusters.

Some regular visitors may recognize Lori’s work from the Old Mill Shop, where she has sold for many years.

HeartsDesirePottery.net

Kesler, Jonathan

Earthly Arts

Clay

My intention is the integration of art, nature, and the ‘everyday’ life of the patron. This I attempt to accomplish via the creation of forms that may, if desired, have a broad practical functionality which so-by leads to inclusiveness with the life flow of the patron. In turn the subjective art travels with the action creating a bridge for the suggestive surface imagery to promote its theme which is, specifically, nature. Each aspect has a rebounding circular path that in its totality proffers resonance. The art feeds on itself which ‘feeds’ the patron on multiple levels. Such is my intention.

EarthlyArtsPottery.com

Kauffman, Justin

Kauffman Fine Furniture

Furniture

As a period formal furniture maker, Kauffman’s intention is to build furniture inspired by the designs of authentic period pieces and to impart to those pieces a beauty that can be admired and enjoyed, and a functionality that can be appreciated for generations. Kauffman’s hope is that his furniture, having been built with time-tested, period joinery and embellished with period carving, inlay, veneer, and other decorations, will emulate the quality, lasting appeal, and value of furniture from the 1700s and early 1800s. Lastly, that his furniture craftsmanship, conscientiousness, humanity, and dignity will be easily recognizable to those who own it.

KauffmanFineFurniture.com

Foster, Jackson

J. Foster Historic Signs

Wood

Jackson Foster is a maker and painter of trade & tavern signs in the tradition of 18th and 19th-century artisans. His research of historic people and places is the rationale for the majority of his signs. His background in history, design, lettering, and woodworking provides the basis for creating authentic interpretations of early American signboards. He uses reclaimed wood–some boards date to the 1700s–and period-style hardware including
blacksmith-forged hanging irons, nails, and hinges—all making for unique signs in which no two are alike. He continues to refine his craft through research of early American artisans, typographic styles, painting practices, and joinery techniques. Each sign purchase comes with a framed, historic description providing research and background information.

jfosterhistoricsigns.com

Cantilo, Icka

Square of the Bone

Jewelry

I cut each design completely by hand using a traditional jeweler’s saw, then they are fabricated, formed, textured, and patinated. I also use the technique of Champlevé with vitreous glass enamel with sterling silver, rose gold, 14k yellow gold, and nickel free copper sourced from foundries specializing in recycled precious metals. I heavily reference biology and natural sciences such as entomology with textures, patterns and motifs. Because of my quirky sense of humor my work rides the line of peculiarity while also being dainty and precious. I create my jewelry to be highly expressive for a wide range of aesthetics.

SquareoftheBone.com

Yang, Mary Z.

Mary’s Designs

Jewelry

Professionally trained for jewelry designs and enamel artist/goldsmith. One-of-a-kind enamel cloisonné jewelry, original in design, handcrafted with 24k yellow gold wire, fired at 1500°F, set in 14k yellow gold, hand fabrication, with precious stones. We have developed our own techniques and processes with fantastic color results. Yang owns copyrights of the work. Eight awards were received in 2022.