New Artisans

Hart, Ian

Vigilance Forge

Metal

Ian Hart 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 him a value of creating accurate 18th century reproductions exclusively by hand, matching the construction methods, characteristics, underlying geometry and functionality of their historic counterparts. Rick has since passed, but Hart carries his lesson with him 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.

Anderson, Maureen

Tasha’s Own

Mixed Media

The home farm is a family owned and operated venture of love and commitment to reviving the lost arts. They strive to farm in a sustainable manner and are committed to utilizing time-honored “old fashioned” methods as well. These methods both enhance the lives of our animals and maintain our connection to the earth. By offering and promoting products and educational ventures nationwide, they support and encouraging other small farms. They believe that small farms are the backbone of our culture and our country; producing healthier food, creating superior products and fostering healthy economies and communities.

tashasownherbarium.com

Hall, Marian

Wooly Dye Works

Fiber/Textiles

I have been rug hooking for 27 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

Rigdon, Brook

DenBrook Designs

Leather and Fiber Arts

Rigdon desires to express growth through educating oneself on the skills and craftsmanship of past generations. They use age-old techniques in modern life and style and provide the quality of craftsmanship in leather and fiber arts that our predecessors would have used. This is in order to educate and unite a future generation with those intangible qualities which should never be left behind: freedom, pride, and the desire to learn and grow.

denbrookdesigns.myshopify.com

Mendez, Roselyn

Even Rose Love Design

Jewelry

Mendez hand fabricates botanical jewelry in copper, bronze, brass and sterling. Their work is a celebration of the beauty and resilience of nature. Many of the plants that inspire the work are among the most ancient life forms, such as ginkgo and ferns. The jewelry pieces are often boldly colorful, utilizing rich patinas or hand painted finishes. Every piece is hand drawn and hand-cut and finished with techniques that include chasing, stamping and repousse. They combine these handbuilt metal elements with semiprecious stone beads and cabochons culminating in an organic line and feel.

www.evenroselove.com

Chewning, Bruce

Wood Curious

Wood

Chewning’s shop is a space to clean up and make a mess again. The shop is right outside their office. Some days they step out of their office and into the shop until it’s time for bed. It’s a small shop with lots of tools so everything has its place. It’s referred to it as a “one tool at a time shop.” All the power tools must be pushed to the side to clear space for the one task that he’s working on. Some of these tools are stacked 3 deep against the wall. The craft requires thoughtful strategy, process, and planning to navigate the tools in the small space to create a small wooden object. There are the stacks of wood saved for the next project-the boards milled from a neighbor’s tree, or from a tree their father cut down, or the board saved from a church pew that came from the church they were married in. It’s a collection of memories. Chewning’s space is a place to forget everything else and create something beautiful from scratch. When the floor is inches deep of sawdust and shaving, it’s swept and vacuumed until the shop is clean. Sometimes there’s a big glue up required and that’s followed by more sawdust and another cleanup. The piece then reveals its true beauty of the wood with grain that pops with color, shape, and texture. The best part of the process to see the wood come alive. Favorite pieces are always an inventory of one.

woodcurious.com