A Few Cool Crafters

Well, I promised I would feature some of the artists and crafters I met at the recent Craft Show at the Fred Huette Center in Ghent, and here they are!

Susan Ziegler is a glass artist specializing in serveware. Originally from Palm Coast, Florida, she only recently moved to Hampton Roads, and we are glad she did!  Her lampwork serveware is simple, elegant and striking, as you can see from the pictures.

If you are not familiar with lampwork, it is, as Susan describes, "a traditional process in which designs are formed by heating pieces of glass under a torch to form and create various shapes.  Each design starts out as a clear glass rod, but the hand of the skilled lampworker transforms this material into a work of art."

Susan has a website where you can see more of her designs at www.susanzieglerdesigns.com.

Taff Taliaferro, the self-described, "Turning Man" does some mean turning -- woodturning  that is.  He makes those beautiful wood pen and pencil sets you see around, as well as other goodies.

I only spoke with him briefly, but he was kind enough to model one of his special pens for me -- it is actually a pen that he created using real coffee beans embedded in resin. He said that the pen smelled just like a freshly made pot of coffee when he was making it. (I wonder if those beans were decaf?)

Taff also makes keychains with hidden compartments for spysters, as well as other goods made from turned wood, resins, and plastics. If you want to reach him, let me know and I can get you in touch.

Also in the wooden vein, John Skoczynski had some nicely priced turned wooden bird houses (about $40 each) and creative, challenging puzzles that kept my daughter entertained for quite a while. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of the birdhouses or puzzles, but do have his email address if you are interesed.

Another fun crafter I met was JoAnn Holley from Quiltnista in Herndon Virginia.  I was struck by JoAnn (who BTW is also nicknamed "JoJo") who was as warm and inviting as her colorful quilted artifacts. She had some adorable potholders in the shape of flip flops, which not only were comment-worthy, but looked very functional as well. Another find was the color-coordinated pencil roll, shown here.

What I really loved though, were the "Find It" Bags she had. Inside these birdseed-filled pillows, which felt like bean bags, were hidden little trinkets and baubles. These bags would be ideal for young children in pre-school or kindergarten, or could even keep a bigger child entertained on a long trip.  What I really appreciated about these bags though, is that the pillows are also often used to entertain Alzheimer's patients. What a great and useful gift these little stuffed bags make.

JoAnn also does custom baby and child size quilts, t-shirt quilts, home decor and other items.  Her website is www.quiltnista.com, but it wasn't working yet when I checked.

There were so many great artisans at this craft fair, I still have a few (several actually) to tell you about.  Keep checking back as I feature them through out the coming days.

Trying to Write, But the Cats are Not Helping

Move out of my way, you naughty cats.  I'm trying to write.  Oh, so now your yawning at me, how rude.



Okay, so I see you have no intention of getting up.



Soooo sorry to have disturbed you.  Go right back to sleep -- I know how sleep deprived you are.
(oh wait, no that's me) Scoot over please.

Clearing Out the Clutter

I bought several new items at the Herb and Craft Sale I wrote about yesterday -- just need to find some good places to display them.  I've been an avid antiquer, vintage-hunter, art and craft buyer for so many years now that I've amassed quite a stash. It also seems that one can have too many pretty things, and too little space to proudly display them!

Frankly, I've been overwhelmed with clutter for too long, and for my own sanity, have started to really  do something about it.  Although I have actually been battling the clutter monster for years, my pace has been far too slow to get ahead of it. As a result, not only is my house cluttered, but now my mind as well. The clutter is particularly affecting how efficient I can be. My hubby is also running out of patience. So, I've resolved to go on the warpath and do a full-scale clean out.

As I assess the sources of the clutter, I find that one area that is particularly overwhelming is paper -- bills, junk mail,  catalogues, etc. -- you know what it's like, I'm sure.

Sometimes the sheer number of items sent by my daughters' school alone boggles my mind -- since both of them are at the same school right now, I usually get two of everything, plus some. I have been known to put many of these papers to the side to read later, and then miss something important. So, along with the cluttered house, cluttered mind, and long-suffering husband and children comes the guilt. Not a good mix.

In any case, clearing out the clutter in my home will be a long process, will take a lot of dedicated effort, and a stalwart heart for me, no doubt.  I do have comfort in knowing that I have at least begun the process.

STEP 1: GETTING RID of the JUNK MAIL

Since paper is one of my biggest challenges, one of the first things I've done is to try to eliminate excess junk mail.  Naturally, I turned to some of my best non-human friends, the Internet and Google, to help find out how to go about this excercise.  One great discovery: Ecocycle.org.  At this site I was able to tackle several mail issues at once. I opted to use the link to the Direct Marketers Association to cancel credit card offers, catalogues and other unwanted offers.

In addition to saving lots of trees, I was able to save even more space at home and in the landfills by cancelling the Verizon Yellow Pages.  No more multiple yellow and white pages landing on my doorstep and filling up my trashcans!  To cancel your Verizon Yellow Pages here is the number to call: 1-888-266-5765.

If you are tackling your own clutter problem, feel free to write back! Either way, I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing with it, step by step.

Images in this posting are from: De-Clutter Mind Map by mindmapinspiration on Flickr

Herb Sale and Art/Craft Festival at the Fred Huette Center

While out yesterday, with all good intentions of running some errands with my daughter, I spied a sign along the road that made my heart patter.  Some of my favorite words were on that sign ... Herbs ... Festival ... Art ... Crafts.  Say no more.  My daughter and I made a quick U (really, an L) and headed for the Fred Huette Center in Ghent.

Darned if we weren't getting there just as people were tearing down.
Lucky for us, this is a two-day event, and we were able to return the next day to enjoy the crafters, artists, lovely landscaping, and a messy gyro (Anna had a nicely charred hot dog).  While the cooking herbs were apparently in absentia (were they really all sold before we got there??), there were some healthy hosta plants I picked up for a pittance and some fragrant scented geraniums, which I resisted.

Of course, the best part of any event like this is meeting the artists and crafters.

I was impressed with so many stories of the artists and their work, how creatively some of their wares were used,  and how, in some cases, recycled artifacts were used to create new interesting and often useful goods.

A New Series Begins... 

There were so many gracious and talented individuals, that I decided to write about them over the next few days/weeks and introduce you to some people that you just might want to connect with (not to mention their awfully cute doggies!).  

I hope you'll keep checking in to see who you might meet on these pages  -- and who knows, you might even see yourself!

Pictured above are necklace charms made by Elizabeth Hutley at www.effervescentdesign.com.

A Father Daughter Dance ... In Sneakers, What Else?

Tonight I am left alone while my daughters, age 9 (in two weeks!) and 11 are at a Father/Daughter dance sponsored by the Girl Scouts.

When I was young, I remember that girls and fathers would dress up for these events, but this does not seem to be the case for this shindig.  Hubby went off in a taupey sort-of-Hawaiiany shirt with chino shorts. Younger daughter, the girlier-girl in a hip-hop black and hot pink ensemble, and my oldest, in a Tee and a pair of shorts, with sneakers, natch. (Dress code for the night was apparently shorts).

Of course I wanted to dress them up like pretty dolls, but even getting their hair brushed appropriately is a challenge.  Oh well, just glad that the girls and their Dad can create this special memory together!