APPALACHIAN ARTISANS GUILD
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Members' Gallery
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Brenda Armstrong
Faded Memories
937-780-6101
Transforming something or re-purposing an object into a piece of art fills me with a sense of accomplishment and expresses my creativity. By recycling an item and creating a piece of art, I feel I am saving a forgotten treasure to be rediscovered in years to come
Brenda Armstrong resides in Highland County just outside of Leesburg, Ohio, on a farm where she enjoys life in the country with her husband Mark, and working in her studio. In her studio, Brenda works with a variety of media to fashion new art from materials that have acquired character through the passage of time. Brenda has designed and created hand-hooked rugs for over 35 years. This is an art that she was taught by her mother, which today she enjoys as a hobby. She feels this was the start of her creative talents. Her interest in making hand-sewn bandboxes came as a result of her love for vintage clothing. She and a friend began the business “Faded Memories” over 25 years ago, with Brenda being on her own for the past 15 years. Bandboxes, popular in the early 1800’s were used as suitcases, hatboxes, collar and trinket boxes, and were made of pasteboard, leather, and wood. “Faded Memories” boxes are made of cardboard, hand-cut and hand-sewn in the traditional way. They are covered with vintage wallpapers and lined with old, damaged periodicals. A bandbox by “Faded Memories” is a piece of the past, preserved for the future.
Brenda designs unique jewelry by taking scraps of her wallpapers, encasing them under beveled glass, and making beautiful brooches and necklaces. She also repurposes vintage buttons, jewelry, and other items creating new and exciting wearable art. Teddy bears made by “Faded Memories” are fully jointed, and many are made by recycling old coats, wool, and fur. Some are dressed in vintage clothing, and each bear has a unique personality. Brenda is a self-taught artist. She is a member of the Appalachian Artisan Guild and The Ohio Designer Craftsmen. She has been featured in magazines and other articles. She has received awards for her displays and demonstrations, and promotes traditional arts through doing programs for clubs, groups, and libraries. She has been active in promoting the arts through workshops and teaching classes for adults and children.
Brenda’s work may be seen and purchased at Artisan shows or at her studio. Open by appointment.
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
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Elaine Balsley
www.orchardviewstudio.com
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!
SHOWS:
Madeira Art Fair
Sunday, May 4, 2025
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Madeira, OH
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Elaine also has painting parties in her home studio by appointment. 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
155 S. Main St. Springboro, OH 45066
Seasonal only Aug-Feb
Hours: Closed Sun. & Mon.
Tues.-Fri., 11:00 AM-6:00 PM
Saturday, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM
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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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Tom & Tracy Burske
Tracy Burske Designs
"Ohio Bag Lady"
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.
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Misty Cowman
mistymariejewelry@yahoo.com
Misty is a 2nd Generation Beadwork Artist originating from western Colorado and has settled in the southern Ohio Valley since 2014 with her beloved husband, Terry.
Her love of beadwork jewelry started as a small child with her mother, sitting around the living room sofa, watching her mother weave small bracelets and necklaces. She started out by selecting beads for her mother to use and eventually began creating small pieces of her own.
As a disabled artist, Misty does beadwork as a form of therapy, meditation, prayer and family connection. Her beadwork is inspired by various themes found in nature, pop culture, and anything that sparks her imagination.
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Robin Dement
EDLYNN'S ATTIC
8415 State Rt. 28
Leesburg, OH 45135
Hours: Friday: Noon-5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM
740-606-3496
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.
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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).
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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 made over four dozen sturdy, practical, long-lasting and elegant creations using a combination of hand and power tools.
She invites children and adults to play with simple Appalachian wood and fabric toys: The dancer and whooies, tops with launchers, climbing bears, various puzzles, and dolls.
As a past professional educator, she 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.
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Steve Kosztala
KOSZTALASCOPES
KOSZTALASCOPES are Kaleidoscope that he designed. Steve is based in Cincinnati, OH in Studio 162 of the Essex Studios on E. Walnut Hills. KOSZTALASCOPES come in a wide assortment of fine wood selections, including cedar, black walnut, oak, mahogany, soft maple, purple heart and pine.
Steve enjoys using ever-new technical and aesthetic solutions to wow his audiences. No two KOSZTALASCOPES are alike! The are created on a lathe, with the pieces meticulously assembled by hand. Each KOSZTALASCOPE employs unique design and engineering solutions.
Growing up in New London, Connecticut in a large family, Steve didn't have store-bought toys. Instead, his seven siblings and he used their active imaginations to create their own playthings out of whatever materials available. Steve always enjoyed both the act of designing and working with his hands. After he graduated from the Boston Architectural College in the early 1980's, Steve pursued a 25-year career with the Hamilton County Building Department in Cincinnati, first as a Building Inspector and then as a Plans Examiner.
After retiring in 2018, Steve put his love of designing and manual work together and took a class on creating kaleidoscopes. He was hooked! Before long, he began crafting wooden kaleidoscopes, fittingly called KOSZTALASCOPES.
With the mind of an inventory, Steve brainstormed on designs and then sketches out his ideas on paper. From the start, he wanted KOSZTALASCOPES to be different from anything people have ever seen. He hit upon the idea of creating kaleidoscopes that could be viewed in any light situation. During the day, one holds the KOSZTALASCOPE up to a light source, such as the sun or an indoor lamp, as in its traditional use.
In the dark, one flicks on a small on/off switch on an attached assembly piece at the base of the KOSZTALASCOPE. In the assembly are an LED light and battery, providing artificial light with which to view the infinite colored glass patterns.
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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.
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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.
In the near future Rachel would like to learn to knit.
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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 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.
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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.
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