APPALACHIAN ARTISANS GUILD
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Members' Gallery
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Brenda Armstrong
Faded Memories
937-780-6101
Brenda has her work at:
N. 2nd Street Mercantile
119 N. 2nd Street
Ripley, OH 45167
513-304-1523
Sonja Cropper, Owner
Ancient Valley Mercantile
107 E. Main Street
Bainbridge, OH 45612
740-634-0052
AncientValleyMarcantile.com
Sunday-Thursday, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday-Saturday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Elaine Balsley
Elaine is self-taught and enjoys creating art in just about any medium, any genre. She's painted just about everything - including portraits, flowers, still life, classic aircraft, contemporary and landscapes.
Many of Elaine’s paintings have been created with mixed media, on an acrylic base, using various Golden brand molding pastes and pumice gels to give texture. Others have an underlying thick layer primed with Gesso. She enjoys painting flowers so they appear larger than life, and the viewer can see the dynamic beauty in nature. In addition to acrylics, Elaine enjoys pastels, watercolor, colored pencil and graphite, and has done several commission pieces. She also creates unique crafts that show off her original artwork.
In 2008 Elaine donated one of her aircraft paintings to a show sponsored by the Pentagon and is now a member of the Air Force Art Program (AFAPO). In 2010, she donated 2 more pieces of art to the AFAPO, and in 2013, has donated three. The program now has a collection of over 10,000 pieces of artwork since 1947 which have been donated by artists all over the country to record the history of the United States Air Force. Elaine is very honored to be in the company of such great artists. Some of her donated works are hanging on the walls of the main floor and Command Section of the Air Force Materiel Command HQ Building, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Fairborn, OH.
A detailed 4-page demonstration on how to paint a Chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy using acrylic paints is included in North Light Publishing’s book, Painter’s Quick Reference: Cats & Dogs.
Elaine has participated in several professional art shows and galleries, including the John Ruthven Gallery, Georgetown, OH, and has had her own gallery in the Historic Oregon District, Dayton, OH. She has been represented by the Art Vault, Troy, OH; Studio 14 Fine Arts Gallery, Tipp City, OH, and is a member of the Appalachian Artisans Guild, and on-line “FineArtAmerica.com”.
A book about her late uncle, B-17 Tail Gunner, S/Sgt William James McQuoid, Jr., who was killed in WWII contains her original drawings. “Letters from the War – Between the Lines” is available for sale on Amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/Letters-Between-Lines-Elaine-Balsley/dp/1643381180/
Visit Elaine’s website, www.orchardviewstudio.com to see the many varieties of art she loves to create!
UPCOMING SHOWS:
MILFORD ART AFFAIRE, MILFORD, OH - SEPTEMBER 23
http://www.milfordhistory.net/events/art-affaire/
APPLE BUTTER FESTIVAL, HUESTON WOODS, OXFORD, OH - OCTOBER 7-8
https://www.oxfordmuseumassociation.com/apple-butter-festival-hueston-woods
APPLE BUTTER STIRRIN’ FESTIVAL, October 20-22, Roscoe Village, Coshocton, OH
https://roscoevillage.com/2023-apple-butter-stirrin-festival/
LAKOTA EAST PTSO CRAFT SHOW
West Chester, OH
Saturday, November 11: Early Bird Admission, 9:00am; General Admission, 10:00am-4:00pm
Sunday, November 12: General Admission, 11:00am-4:00pm
lakotaeastcraftshow.com
SYCAMORE SCHOOL CRAFT SHOW - CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 18
https://www.sbob.org/craftshow
LYNCHBURG VILLAGE CHRISTMAS - LYNCHBURG, OH - DECEMBER 8 & 9
facebook.com/lynchburgartcenter
Elaine also has painting parties in her home studio by appointment and through the Lynchburg Art Center, Lynchburg, OH. Contact her through her website (link above) to set up a date/time. Invite your friends! 6 minimum, 10 Maximum
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Christy Baer
Red K Ranch
www.RedKRanch.etsy.com
Hello! My name is Christy Baer, but everyone calls me "Red". Along with my husband, Keith, we call ourselves Red K Ranch. I'm the creative side and he's the business side. After we both retired from the Marine Corps we were still in Southern California, but that didn't really feel like home. We found our piece of h
eaven in Hillsboro and we love living here.
I learned to crochet when I was 13 years old. It was not my skill that kept me going, as all of my creations were crooked with outlandish color selections, but her desire and passion to create something tangible that kept her crocheting! That was quite a few years ago and even now when I walk into my craft area to pick up yarn and my trusted hook, I get that same sort of excitement. I've always been a hat person in the winter; never without a toboggan. When I began to hone in on her skills, I focused on things that I enjoy wearing and love making. Textures have always been part of my life and color seems to follow close behind. By crocheting and creating pieces that people love to wear has brought me extreme satisfaction and happiness. I also enjoy making blankets, throws, trivets, dishcloths, and baskets for all seasons.
My hope that I can inspire others to pick up the craft! I enjoy teaching beginners all things crochet and love it when young people show an interest! I consider what O do an art form. Each of my pieces is made with pride and love.
I would consider it an honor to share my art with others.
Red has items for sale at:
Suburban Hippie Chic Boutique
Ancient Valley Mercantile in Bainbridge
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Cindy Baker
C P Baker Designs
Cindy Baker brings her jewelry-making skills to our craft organization. She got into the jewelry craft when she repaired some inherited pieces. From there she steadily developed her skills working primarily in sterling silver. Cindy is involved with the entire process. She designs, cuts, forms and textures the silver metal as it transforms into beautiful jewelry. A number of skills had to be developed simultaneously to produce the fine sterling silver pieces.
Sawing sheet silver is the most difficult task according to Cindy. She sells her pieces at a local hair salon and at selective craft fairs like our “Cabin Fever".
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Rebecca Burke
Gray House Botanicals
Soaps & Personal Body Creations
100 Water Works Road
Peebles, OH 45660
937-509-0072
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N. 2nd Street Mercantile
119 N. 2nd Street
Ripley, OH 45167
513-304-1523
Sonja Cropper, Owner
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,UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Tracy Burske
Tracy Burske Designs
For over 30 years, Tracy has been an Interior Designer. She started her craft 6 years ago as a result noticing in her workroom, that several bolt ends of fabric from completed projects would be thrown away. She thought that would be a terrible waste, so she developed several bag styles made out of those fabric ends. Tracy also has an endless supply of discontinued fabric samples that turn over by the manufacturers seasonally. She designs and hand sew all her bags. She matches the fabrics, linings, and trims to create a one-of-a-kind work of art.
She makes several styles of bags from tote bags, book bags, gift bags, lunch bags, wine bags, Bible bags, larger weekender bags and her most popular styles wheelchair and walker bags. Tracy now has a design that is perfect for I Pads, Tablets, Nooks and Kindles. The bags are made from high-quality designer fabrics, many with accent trims and tassels. Tracy looks at it as an earth-friendly craft, as she is saving these fabrics from going to the landfill and her bags are useful and reusable. Include in your email, the colors, patterns and the bag style you desire. She will then locate in the workroom suitable samples of fabrics that she will scan and send back in an email for you to make a final selection. Tracy accepts checks on local banks along with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, & PayPal.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Jackie Hetrick-Cupp
Somehow, Jackie always ends up sitting at a sewing machine. After studying Art (drawing, painting, sculpture) at Ohio State University, she has attended many workshops and private classes in drawing and painting. She loves to travel and admire landforms, horizons and seasonal colors. Jackie's country home outside of Hillsboro, Ohio, affords her beautiful landscape views from her windows.
Her great-grandmother and my grandmother were quilt makers. Her mother was a talented garment seamstress and she helped Jackie through my first 4-H dress assignment. She has since made a few wearable items such as Halloween or high school theater costumes, but most of her projects have been home decorating items such as curtains, drapes and blinds. Table runners, hot pads and pillows allows Jackie to experiment with patchwork blocks.
For a time, Jackie found herself sewing pantyhose on an industrial sewing machine in a textile mill in North Carolina.
Recently, she has combined her love of nature and sewing into creating quilted landscape wall hangings. Not wanting to waste a single scrap, Jackie uses her machine to fashion miniature landscape note cards.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Robin Dement
Robin's passion is knitting! Years ago when she was in grade school, her class took a trip to a local museum. The only thing she remembers about the museum is a gorgeous bedspread knitted with five bicycle spokes because the lady who made it couldn't afford to buy knitting needles. Robin decided someday she would learn to knit. For quite a few years after that she grew up, got married, had a family and forgot about knitting. About seventeen years ago, Robin remembered that dream. So she went to the library and got some books on knitting. Robin & her sister sat down and slowly figured out how to knit. She's been going strong ever since!
Robin loves to collect knitting patterns and try new things. She's had the privilege of knitting for Warm-up-America and her grandkids. She's also gotten to teach knitting to others.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Bill Dreger
Spiritwood Studio
1781 Foster Road
West Union, OH 45693
937-373-7102
www.mapletreeinteriors.com
Woodworking, specializing in tables and chests.
A career in the hardwood lumber and millwork industries and a lifelong love of working with wood were the impetus behind the birth of the Spiritwood Studio and his woodwork efforts. Through the years, he's been fascinated with the old-hand woodworking techniques and the many antique tools for working wood no longer seen today. He has resisted using labor-saving power tools whenever possible in favor of hand working the wood. "There is a real connection to the piece you are working on when you continually handle it through the process of creating it." Bill works primarily in painted pieces from pine and poplar.
A resident of Adams County, he sometimes uses wood from his property for some of his rustic pieces. Reproduction 18th and 19th century dowry chests have been Bill’s major woodwork endeavor. "I hand-cut and fit the dovetailed corners just as they did over 100 years ago. The task today could be vastly accelerated with dovetail jigs and routers, but the dovetails would be uniformly monotonous and not produce as strong a joint. Hand-cutting the dovetail corners offers strength, character and pride in a piece. The enjoyment of working with wood for the sheer pleasure far offsets the economic rewards. I enjoy a challenge and can make custom pieces for customers. I will make custom pieces from a photograph or if you just have an idea, I will sketch it for you."
Products from Spiritwood Studio are available by contacting Bill at home (above address).
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Diana Harvey
Sturdy, practical, long-lasting and elegant creations for the home, crafted in wood.
4651 Bennington Road
Hillsboro, OH 45133
937-393-2747
For many years, Diana Harvey & her late husband, Hal, have designed and made practical (or just fun) wood and fabric items for themselves and their family, and upon semi-retirement from teaching, Rack-It was born. From large laundry racks, herb racks, tables and chairs to simple toys and wooden kitchen utensils, Rack-It makes over four dozen sturdy, practical, long-lasting and elegant creations using a combination of hand and power tools.
Our demonstration is a very hands-on approach to imparting an appreciation of the ingenuity and expertise of Appalachian craftsmen of the past who used simple tools and readily available raw materials to make the necessities.
We challenge people to open our reproduction of a wood lock on a miniature smokehouse, handing them the large wooden key, and showing the ingenious inner workings through the window at the back of the door.
We invite children and adults to play with simple Appalachian wood and fabric toys: The dancer and whooies (which Hal carves at the booth), tops with launchers, climbing bears, various puzzles, and dolls.
As professional educators, we cannot resist the opportunity to teach why these things were made, how they were made, why they were made of certain materials, and how they worked.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Jack is a self-taught artist-blacksmith dedicated to promoting the ancient art of blacksmithing. Jack’s specialty is hand-hammer, forged, and manipulated hot steel. He gravitates toward Colonial-style wrought iron. He designs his own work that includes candle holders, fireplace accessories, tools and axes. In addition to the Appalachian Artisans Guild, Jack is a member of the Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil and The Artist Blacksmith Association of Northern America.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Rachel Nixon
Rachel grew up in Blanchester, Ohio and live in Wilmington, Ohio. She began crafting when I was around 10 years old beginning with hand embroidery and sewing. She later taught myself to cross stitch. Rachel currently makes hand-painted t shirts, crochet hats and scarves, garden art and jewelry. She also enjoys making jewelry, charms and golf ball markers from polymer clay.
Rachel has a shop on Etsy under the name T-rifx and plans to do some craft shows this fall.
I n the near future Rachel would like to learn to knit.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Bootsie Robison
Locust Hill Farm
Peebles, Ohio
Hand-spinning, Knitting, and Felting
Bootsie had a small flock of Columbia/Rambouillet sheep and found various ways to use the wool they produce. She learned to spin yarn in the late 1980’s, which led to her learning to knit and felt, two very different ways to use wool. Having her own sheep gave her the satisfaction of experiencing the entire process, from seeing lambs being born, to wearing a wool sweater she created from their fiber. Bootsie tried to keep the wool pipeline flowing at all times. Once shearing is over there is sorting, washing, carding and spinning to be done, followed by dying, knitting, and/or felting. On any given day, several of these might activities might come into play. She enjoys sharing her craft through workshops and festivals. Bootsie values the traditions it represents. These were skills our ancestors needed in order to survive as our country was being formed, and it’s important that they not be lost.
UPCOMING SHOWS:
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Kathy West
KWest Pottery
4600 Jester Hill Rd
Bainbridge, OH 45612
Kathy started her adventure into ceramics while working and raising her children. She is self-taught and entered her first show without any expectations in 1985. Since her recent retirement, she has been creating pieces for a couple local shops and has hosted her own show and sale. She has combined her interest in sculpting and working on the wheel to create face jugs.
She enjoys living in southern Ohio and looks forward to working with local shops and galleries promoting her work along with other artisans. She is currently a member of the Pump House, Chillicothe Art League, Appalachian Artisans Guild and Fine Arts Tent for the Fall Festival Of Leaves.