Children's Activity

Proctor, Jeanne

Needles and Threads

Fiber/Textiles

Proctor thinks of quilts as paintings made of fabric. The technique of quilting layers of fabric to produce bedding, clothing, and even armor can be traced back centuries. She is inspired by early quilt makers who produced functional pieces that were also truly beautiful, often made with scarce or repurposed textiles. The quilts are based on traditional quilt block designs. They may use a variety of fabrics and colors or may be simply two fabrics. Proctor want the quilts to be used. They are not intended to be stashed away and they are not just bed coverings. She uses machine piecing and machine quilting techniques. The fabrics are all cotton and battings are mostly cotton. Her hope is that the quilts are enjoyed by others and that this early American art form is carried forward in future generations.

JeanneProctorQuilts.com

Waterford Quilters Guild

Fiber/Textiles

The Waterford Quilters Guild of Waterford, VA creates an original quilt to be raffled off each year at the Waterford Fair. The quilt is hand or machine pieced by the members of the guild and is hand or machine quilted. The proceeds are used toward preserving the tradition of quilting and to promote knowledge and understanding regarding the art of quilting. The Quilters range from traditional to modern quilting techniques. They also support various causes in the Town of Waterford.

WaterfordQuiltersGuild.org

Robinson, Gary & Jeannette

Jack Mountain Crafters

Fiber/Textiles

Handmade brooms are constructed of broomcorn and sapling handles or hand-shaped wooden handles. Various sizes of domestic brushes, including kitchen and clothing brushes, are made using only broomcorn and twine. The history of broom-making, including Shaker and Appalachian influences, are discussed during show demonstrations.

Mihills, Cheryl

Mihills Fiber Art

Fiber/Textiles

Mihills creates original pictures using a miniature needle and a single strand of cotton thread producing a series of approximately 1200 loops and stitches per square inch. The technique creates intense detail, surface texture, depth, and a sense of motion.

The technique was used on a larger scale for punched rugs in the 1800s. It was also used on a smaller scale for folk costumes.

She will be demonstrating the technique on a miniature rug.

FiberArts.us

Ratcliffe, Kathie

Nine Patch Studio

Fiber/Textiles

Ratcliffe creates miniature quilts inspired by 19th c. quilts. Using the most effective elements in the design and color of 1800s. pieces, She stitches intricate miniatures adding contemporary interpretation. Each is a complete, backed quilt of cotton fabric, hemmed by hand. Quilt tops are sewn using traditional sewing-machine straight stitching and hand techniques such as straight stitching, cutwork applique, English paper piecing, and foundation piecing. She makes patterns chooses fabric based on the study of 19th c. textiles and quilt construction techniques, thus preserving and validating the early works of artistic expression. Quilts range from 6 to 13 inch squares and rectangles, about 1:12 scale, some with as many as 1,200 tiny pieces. Current work reflects the change in style from early chintz quilts to the bold graphics of later and current times. All quilts are presented archivally framed in wooden frames.

NinePatchStudio.com

Withnell, Susan

Fiber/Textiles

Withnell is passionate about fiber arts and particularly enjoys spinning yarns from animals she has bred, delivered, raised and cared for. Weaving allows her creative needs to explore color and texture, while designing unique items. Susan Withnell was the 2020 Waterford Fair Artisan of the Year!

ewesfulfiberarts.weebly.com

Stanik, Mike & Ruth

Yesteryear Furniture

Furniture

Stanik is a second generation woodworker, and learned most of his skills by working with his father. He has worked with his hands and built furniture most of his life. His passion is to take pieces of rough lumber and fashion it into a fine piece of furniture. About 15 years ago he began to enjoy building furniture using reclaimed American Wormy Chestnut. All of the wood used is reclaimed from structures that have outlived their usage. This sets Yesteryear apart from other craftsmen as they are able to build wonderful furniture that has an incredible history. Most of the pieces built are of Shaker style. They learn the history of how the Shakers built their furniture. During this time in history, metal was hard to obtain and expensive, so they were forced to come up with methods to construct their furniture that achieved the purpose and would last for years. Stanik utilizes as many of these methods as they feel it is still superior to modern methods.

YesteryearFurniture.net

Van Hart, Linda

Toll House Studio

Jewelry

Botanical portraits are pierced, forged, reticulated, granulated, fabricated repoussé body and architectural adornment. This sculptor takes the jewel out of jewelry focusing on undulating and textural surfaces. Asymmetry and kinetic features lend surprising grace to the larger scale of this work.

As in nature, each piece is as unique as its botanical choice though there are many works in each series. Inspired by Spanish Moss and vines hanging from live oak trees, Taos morning glories, calla lilies, ivy, grapes, dogwood, the Heart Armor and Harriet Tubman series evolved from an inverted milkweed pod for a more abstract appearance. A constant voice in this work is the supple technique of diminished diameter forging. Sterling, 80/20 silver, 14-18 K yellow and rose gold, copper and bronze are occasionally combined with rare gems and Akoya pearls. Historically significant botanical symbols are interpreted with contemporary flair using classic techniques.

TollHouseStudio.com