Children's Activity

Savely, Clay

Tree of Life Potters

Clay

This unique form of ceramics is created from hand-built stoneware clay slabs designed with tedious impressions of Appalachian plants set delicately into patterns and mandalas that are highlighted by iron-oxides and various glazes. Honoring the vast botanical realms of the Appalachian bio-region, each platter, plate, vase, mug, bowl, and jewelry piece is handcrafted and as unique as the plants that were impressed into them. This technique has been passed down from a university level trained father to son, and is inspired by visionary art, indigenous mysticism and the powerful magic found in the lush forests of the Blue Ridge mountains.

The true vision of my art is to reconnect humanity to love and the eloquent healing powers of nature through connection, inspiration, and deeper understanding, thus creating a mutual respect and intention to heal the wounds of our heavily impacted planet.

TreeofLifePotters.com

Rochford, Grace

Designs By Grace

Mixed Media

Rochford has always been interested in history and early American crafts. Through this interest, she became acquainted with the historical American floorcloths. She enjoys demonstrating and educating the public about this craft. During the last 13 years, she has made these canvas products for home as well as for sale. The first piece, a large 8ft. rug is still in her front hallway. Many of designs are inspired by the colonial canvases, although she creates original and contemporary designs. The products begin with natural heavy cotton canvas. This canvas is stretched and coated with primer, artwork done, then a protective coats applied. The final step involves creating a folded under and glued hem. In addition to participating in many shows, Rochford has produced many and varied custom pieces, including historical reproduction pieces. She also worked with interior designers and have taught numerous floorcloth production workshops.

DesignsByGrace.biz

Lanham, Jared

Refiners Forge

Metal

Jared Lanham is a blacksmith that focuses on using traditional techniques to shape and join metal. He makes tools, hardware, functional decorative items, and designs one of a kind commissioned pieces. Jared loves to share his knowledge of the craft with others.

RefinersForge.com

Kara, John

Kara Wood Designs

Wood

Kara Wood Designs has been creating wonderful woodwork for over 20 years. All of the shapes and patterns are original designs done by John Kara. The business started in the early 1990’s and consisted strictly of collapsible baskets. Years later, John got the idea to angle-cut different shapes such as angels, trees and crosses. We work in an individual studio where we use hardwoods and laminations of hardwoods to make the artwork.

KaraWoodDesigns.com

Wolf, Susan

Gourds by Suzanna, LLC.

Mixed Media

My love for gourd art stems from my horticultural interests coupled with my desire to produce a functional as well as decorative product. To briefly describe my work, I pencil a design onto a gourd surface which is used as a template to carve or wood burn the design. To carve, I use woodworking tools, called gouges. By varying the size of the gouge and the position and length of the cut I achieve different designs. On occasion I relief carve with a power carver. After carving I embellish with dyes, acrylics, metallic rubs or patinas. I also use pine needles, sliced walnuts, brass knobs.

I am originally from Lancaster, PA. After receiving my Ph.D. in Biology from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, I moved to VA in 1988 to conduct research at the UVA, Charlottesville, VA and subsequently at a VA Tech Research Station in Winchester, VA. In 2004 I left research to start Gourds by Suzanna LLC . I am currently self-employed and work out of my home in Toms Brook, Virginia.

Grabman, Marie-Helene

Marie-Helene Grabman

Mixed media

“Scherenschnitte”, or scissor cutting, is not very well known in this country. The art was introduced here in the 1700’s by immigrants from Switzerland and Germany. Like much of our art during this time, the style changed and American cutwork became very primitive in style. Today, only a handful of artists in this country practice the original, intricate, European style of scissor cutting – my specialty.

In my art, I use acid-free white, text paper or imported black French silhouette paper. Most of my scissor cuttings are cut freehand, from one piece of paper, using European surgical scissors. Occasionally, I will also add multiple layers of sculpted paper on top or below the base cutwork to add focal points of color or to achieve a dimensional effect. My work differs in one important element from the old European and American cuttings…I never completely attach the cuttings to the back mat. Rather, I float them on the mat to create shadows and a 3-dimensional effect that I feel is important to the final composition.

Kid Friendly! Watch as a cutting is started then take it home and finish it yourself. Learn about the history of this almost lost art.

scissorcutter.com

Gladfelter, Kimberly

Poplar Hollow Studio

Mixed Media

Unique and one-of-a-kind mixed media folk art is created primarily with gourds. Many of the gourds are grown on the PA farm where I reside with my husband and co-artist, Bob. The shape of the gourd is studied to determine what it wants to be. No two gourds are alike having various shapes, sizes and textures. Sometimes a piece is created by individually hand-painting a gourd with it’s original unaltered shape using layers of acrylic paint with meticulous attention to detail. Other times mixed media work is created with paper clay hand-sculpted onto or over the gourd altering its shape and then hand-painted. A multi-step, hand-rubbed aging technique using an umber wash finishes each piece before sealing and adds to the old fashioned charm. Most of the pieces are whimsical and holiday themed. The simplicity of country life on the family farm, the changing seasons, an affinity for treasures from a bygone era and holiday traditions…these things are all celebrated in my work.

PoplarHollowStudio.net

DeWitt, Robert & Dominique

Wood

Our work is inspired by traditional American treenware with a contemporary design sense. Over the years, we expanded our work to include a variety of kitchenware and now custom furniture for the whole house. We use local, regional, and salvaged hardwoods, always keeping in mind sustainable forestry practices. Many of our pieces are made from trees harvested from our property.

DeWittWoodworking.net