81st American Crafts & Historic Homes Tour
Handmade, one at a time Carpetbags made in Woodstock VA. Made from upholstery fabric, with leather rope handles, fabric straps and brass or antique brass locking mechanisms. Wooden bottoms with brass stud feet. Inside pockets, some with zippers.
My carpetbags have been in movies like Tombstone, Bewitch, The Lone Ranger, Hell on Wheels (western), Last Man Standing and many more.
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.
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!
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.
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.
The Ray family has been participating in the Fair for more than 38 years, and are pleased to be joined by their son, Dennis, who continues the family’s tradition of creating natural botanical wearable art through a unique copper electroforming technique.
Dennis says “My art has been my sole vocation and my passion. Every year, I travel around the world on a mission to collect samples from nature, historic trees, vineyard leaves, noteworthy plant cuttings and return to my studio where I capture them in copper. Often finished with lush patinas and accent paint, each piece I create is one of a kind just as in nature.”
They have been honored to work on special projects with the White House, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the World Wildlife Fund. Their work is also featured in Madeleine Albright’s book Read My Pins.
After earning my BFA and working for years in all aspects of an art gallery, including the role of jewelry buyer, I studied pre-Columbian jewelry techniques through an apprenticeship with a master jeweler. My work is done simply with 14-karat rolled gold wire using no solder or casting, just pliers, wirecutters, and most importantly, my hands. My focus is on filigree and intricate braided patterns, as well as contemporary, distinctly handcrafted pieces.
I design and make contemporary sterling silver jewelry using traditional metalsmithing techniques and tools such as hammers, anvils, mandrels, and torches.