Artists

On the second Saturday of the month the PFM invites local artists to participate in the market. All artists hand craft their own functional art.

• August 14

Jewelry by GiGi

Designer Jewelry by GiGi is Jewelry made with only the best materials.
I use Sterling, Freshwater Pearls, Gemstones and Leather to create my Jewelry. I started
designing jewelry a few years ago to as a hobby to keep my hands busy in order to stop
smoking. After many people expressed interest in purchasing my Jewelry I started doing
shows. more »

• June 12

Richard Johnston

Some people might describe Richard Johnston as an accidental woodworker.  Although working with wood has been a lifelong interest, Richard never planned to earn money with his wood working it was a hobby that afforded occasional opportunities to build furniture and toys, refinish antiques and renovate several houses.  Retirement from a long career in IT management provided Richard time to focus more attention on wood working.  People began commissioning him to design and build cabinets, trunks and furniture, and he discovered wood turning. Richard learned to shape chunks of wood into useful objects that reveal the beauty hidden inside trees heartwood hues, grain textures, swirls of burls, even insect burrows  and add character to what Richard calls tree treasures.  For several years Richard has sold his hand-crafted items such as pens, paperweights, jewelry boxes and bowls at local art shows.  Richard continues to expand his wood turning skills, focusing on bowls turned from locally grown green (recently cut) wood it’s a terrific way to recycle wood, and produces some surprising results.
Richard Johnston can be reached at PO Box 411, Valley Forge, PA 19481;  (610) 935-1026; email: richjj@icdc.com.

• July 10
• August 14

Kimberton Waldorf School

An artisan cooperative from the Kimberton Waldorf School will be attending our artist’s Saturdays throughout the season.  For the May 8th market, Christiana Mothes has hand knitted socks and felted playthings. Kathleen Sensenig will have felted play-mats and other felted playthings. Student, Hannah Wolfram with jewelry and small items. Iris Fried is bringing things to make small notebooks, post-cards from 11th grade , seeds from the garden , melted record bowls… plant dyed yarn.

Tamara Sheen

Upcycling:

“The term was first used by William McDonough and Michael Braungart in their book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. McDonough and Braungart compared upcycling to the “downcycling” of recycling a plastic, for example, into a lesser grade plastic. To put it simply, downcycling reduces the quality of the materials, while upcycling maintains or improves the quality of the materials.”

Tamara Sheen puts her keen eye to work by creating upcycled jewelery and aprons that reflect the quarkyness and beauty of beads, buttons, pottery, and fabric.  Tiles will be on display for purchase and special order.

tsheen@beaverrun.org

• December 5
• 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
• December 12
• 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Catfish Studio

After specializing in stained glass for ten years Ellen Cohen, owner and proprietor of Catfish Studio began expanding it’s horizons by experimenting with “Fused Glass”.

Fused glass is produced by combining different sizes, colors and shapes of glass into one unique artistic object. The various pieces are “fused” by heating them to approximately 1,400 degrees in a glass kiln, until they enter a semi liquid state, with shapes and colors blending in interesting patterns and colors.

While the first fused glass designs were relatively large, plates and bowls, Ellen’s focus eventually shifted towards fused glass jewelry.

• July 10

Tonya Lov

Tonya Lov Jewelry began in the workshop of Tonya Perri, an artisan whose interests in abstract painting and sculpture blossomed into an innovative jewelry-making technique.

Tonya’s love for color and three dimensional art initiated her innovative approach to jewelry fabrication. Experimenting with hand-poured porcelain and pigments has developed her distinct style of bead-making. Further experiments with sterling silver and 14k gold ceramic over glaze soon became Tonya’s signature style.

www.tonyalov.com more »

• July 10
• August 14

Pure Scents Candle Company

Pure Scents Candle Company is a family owned and operated business, located in Chester Springs,Pennsylvania. We have worked hard to earn our reputation for exceptional quality candles and outstanding customer service. Each candle is hand poured, many to order. Our customer base visits and repurchases from us based on personal experience and word of mouth. more »

• November 28
• 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
• December 5
• 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
• December 12
• 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
• December 19
• 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Dale Burch

Dale Burch is self taught and has been hand spinning over 30 years ago.  She writes, “My love of color and texture found the perfect way to express myself.   Over the years I found that the act of spinning is almost zen like and a wonderful way to relax.
My spinning wheel is a traditional Ashford wheel made of silver beech and is from New Zealand.  Many miles of yarns have been spun on it.  The fibers used include wool, mohair, alpaca, silk, tencel, bamboo, angora, and pretty much anything else that looks like it will make an interesting yarn.  All of the skeins are one of a kind and in many different gorgeous shades.”

• June 12

Jose’ Juico

Jose’ Juico is gifted in the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging known as Ikebana.  The word ikebana means Living Flowers or Bringing Flowers to Life.

Jose’ has been practicing Ikebana for 15 years. He is a 4th degree Master of the Ohara school and a Junkakyo instructor of the 3rd grade in the Ikenobo school.

Ikebana is the arranging of cut natural materials (flowers, branches and leaves). Before doing the actual arranging, one must first prepare or condition the materials in order to extend their life in a man-made vessel or container.

Once the materials are conditioned, composition can begin. Ikebana is a discipline based on a minimalist approach.  It seeks to show the beauty of the flower, branch and leaf without any one element competing with the other. Jose’ brings an added dimension to his arrangements by growing many of the plants he uses in his compositions.

The mechanics of assembling materials are another key factor in this art. The basic tools are: vessel, ken zan (needle- point frog) and clippers. If the mechanics and composition are carried out according to the basic principles of Ikebana, the result should be an arrangement of sculpted elegance.

Jose has added one more step in his creation of Ikebana arrangements. In his studying of Ikebana, he noticed that appropriate Ikebana containers were difficult to find in the U.S.  He decided to create his own hand-built clay vessels. With a one-of-a kind container displaying an Ikebana arrangement, Jose’ strives to enrich the beholder’s life with a true work of art.

• June 12

Camphill Village Kimberton Hills

Located on 432 acres of farm, gardens and woodlands in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Kimberton Hills is also a local center for culture and a model for sound ecological living.  Founded in 1972, Kimberton Hills is part of the international Camphill movement that provides programs and services for children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities.

Working with the wool from local sheep we prepare and hand-spin yarn which we then knit or weave into a variety of articles or sell to other knitters and weavers. We dye much of our handspun yarn with natural plant dyes, growing and gathering dye plants is also part of our work.  These dyes also give the wonderful colors for our plant-dyed silk scarves. We use only non-toxic mordants.  Because we are working with natural components, our products vary seasonally.

Recycling and re-using natural fiber fabrics is also a major activity of the textile workshop.  Strong, all-cotton washable rugs are woven from strips of old blue jeans.  Wool, silk and cotton rags are also used in an expanding variety of products.

In the wood workshop, we make wooden utensils and other items using wood from non-endangered species of trees.  In keeping with our commitment to sustainable practices we are moving toward using only the wood of fallen trees from our own land.  Many items are completely handmade, others are cut using machines and then assembled and finished by hand.

Some of the items we currently produce include:

• woven rugs made with recycled fabric
• fleece rugs
• place mats and napkins
• woolen scarves, mufflers, and hooded capes
• silk scarves which we purchase and dye using natural plant derived dyes
• kitchen spoons, ladles, cutting boards and spatulas
• clocks, boxes, book stands, candle and card holders
• small toys dollhouses, doll cradles

Visit Camphill Village Kimberton Hills online at www.camphillkimberton.org

• June 14
• December 5
• 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Jim Rendi

Local woodworker and author of Traditional Windsor Chair Making, Jim Rendi, will demonstrate how to make Windsor chairs using traditional hand tools similar to those used in the 18th century. He will have several unique Windsor Settees for sale at the Market.

• August 9
• September 13
• October 11

Veghead Designs

Veghead Designs started from seed in 1979 on a small farm in Central Pennsylvania where Nicole Schwartz was raised. The community values of reducing waste, recycling goods and refurbished everything under the sun were instilled. Nicole was transplanted to the fertile soil on Phoenixville where she and her husband started growing their own seedling. Nicole makes safe, organic toys and clothing for little sprouts and more established vegheads. Email Nicole at ndilliplane@gmail.com.

• May 10
• June 14
• July 12
• August 9
• September 13
• October 11
• November 8
• May 16
• June 13
• July 11
• August 8
• September 12
• October 10

Victoria O’Neill

Creative activities for alll ages with Artist Victoria O’Neill.

May 16 – Come and create a beautiful watercolor butterfly wand!
Jun 13 – Come create a special and unique handmade book called All About You!
Jul 11- Come make a tiny colorful clay bug and a sweet little home for it!
Aug 8 – Come Learn How to Make Mandalas!
Sep 12 – Come create your own 3-D barn and farm animals picture!
Oct 10 – Come and create your own pet spider, and then take it for a walk around the market!

ARTIST VICTORIA O’NEILL
bringing people together through the arts
www.ArtyPantz.blogspot.com
610-644-8088

• May 10
• June 14
• August 9

Patricia Tolton

Patricia Tolton comes from a long line of potters. Her family emigrated to Ohio from the pottery regions of England in the early 1900s. Her interest in clay started with collecting ceramics from potteries her ancestors worked in during the Arts and Craft Movement. Her interest in making ceramics started as the last potter in the family approached retirement. Not wanting to see the traditional work of her family end, she started her study of clay.

Patricia found scenic tile and mosaic blend perfectly with her twenty years experience in landscape and floral design. Having learned of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works while studying horticulture in Doylestown, Patricia has spent ten years learning the process developed by Henry Mercer.

• May 10
• September 13
• October 11
• May 9
• June 13

Diving Cat Studio

Flameworked glass beads, hand crafted jewelry, pottery and clay sculpture by Markels Roberts. To create the beads, no two of which are identical, I melt the glass in a torch flame of up to 2,000 degrees. As the temperature rises, the glass melts and moves, similar to the way the elements heat and form in the earth’s core. Colors and layers of glass converge and marry, mysteriously creating a visual and totally unique wonder, which I then couple with hand-formed sterling. The piece realizes its ultimate completion only when it and its wearer come together. Visit Diving Cat Studio online at www.divingcatstudio.com.

• November 8
• May 9

Wendy Walton

Wendy Walton has been working in clay since the age of five. She was educated in the Waldorf style of education which encourages creativity and self-expression through art. Wendy continued to work in clay in her college years and later at Diving Cat Studio. Wendy has been drawn to the beauty and sometimes hidden meanings in Asian Art forms. Each of her Wish Jars, Meditation Spots, Palm Stones, and Zen Rocks are based on elements of Asian culture, their legends, and the power of nature. Wendy feels her pieces bring enlightenment and inspiration into the life of the owner and helps to create a force of positive energy in any space. Wendy is also making nature inspired functional pottery such as platters, trays, dishes, and bowls perfect for serving the fresh ingredients from the Farmer’s Market!

• June 12
• August 14

Reis Renditions

Deb and Rick, based in Charlestown Township, are juried in the Chester County Craft guild and sell handcrafted work at the market. Their useful and beautiful artwork mixes multiple medias to create unique gifts and decorations. The items include clocks, desk accessories, frames, and jewelry, which each combine different natural wood and rocks. The wood and rock are cut and polished from raw materials to retain their natural beauty. They also produce Nantucket style baskets made out of reed or colored fishing line with hand made bases and handles. New this year are necklaces with multiple woods, and magnetic frames for wallet size photos.  Most of their craft items are on their web site at www.reisrenditions.com.

• September 13

Nell Hazinski

The handmade pot’s task is to nourish. Handmade objects that are made thoughtfully and carefully ritualize and enhance the food we eat, nourishing us with a quiet loveliness to accompany our daily tasks. The pleasure of a well-formed bowl or a balanced mug is not a small thing. With each use, there is a life-sustaining celebration of the human connection between everyday objects, the spirit of the maker and user, and food.

My personal history with clay has been diverse. I’ve had studios in Colorado and Pennsylvania and taught at several Chester County studios including Chester Springs Studio, Main Line Art Center, and Wayne Art Center, as well as SUNY Binghamton and Seisen International School in Tokyo, Japan. I’ve owned and managed a cooperative craft gallery, and been a resident at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia.

Currently my studio, Milkhouse Studio, nourishes my love of pottery each and every day. You can find my work at Artisans Gallery & Café in downtown Phoenixville, or visit my studio at 167 Sycamore Lane in Phoenixville. Call to arrange a visit: 610 917-3168.

• July 12

Sandy Malamed

I need to be busy and have always felt that the best use of my time is creating something. I am a student of observation and enjoy interpreting what I see in my everyday world into something beautiful and hand made. The things that I see and experiences that I have are translated into little stories that make great subject matter for my picture quilts and also for pottery. I collect phrases, stories, and words that give me immediate inspiration for either a quilt or sculpture and turn to my list when working on a new piece. My husband , our two daughters, and I enjoy a peaceful life in the countryside of Chester County Pennsylvania. As a result, farm animals and country life are favorite subjects and recurring themes in my work.

When creating my textile pictures I am minimally concerned with straight lines and precise measurements. It is these aspects of traditional quilting techniques and styles that I find too confining. I choose to focus completely on the visual impact of the finished project which I believe gives my work a folk art appeal. The work is primarily composed of cotton fabrics and batting. Occasionally vintage linen, buttons, beads, and Mexican milagritos are added. All of the pictures are hand appliquéd and quilted. They are sold framed.

My pottery is hand built, although I have begun experimenting with wheel-thrown pottery. My current work focuses on a series of bird sculptures that are carved and painted after nature. The pieces are mounted on a variety of wooden architectural salvage pieces including artifacts from the old Phoenixville Iron Foundry. Functional pieces are often constructed in what I call “quilted pieced pots.” Small individual elements are created and then combined to form the finished piece in a matter not too different from designing a pieced quilt.

Visit Sandy’s website at www.cityfolkhandwork.com.

• July 10

Cara Graver

Cara Graver’s hand built and wheel thrown pottery uniquely celebrates the essence of fresh, local abundance. Crafted in a studio made by hand out of local clay (The Cob Studio), kitchen, home and garden ware inspired by nature has caused one PFM shopper to remark ‘this looks like it was just picked rather made by hand’. The Cob Studio is a magical environment where you are invited to join in classes and workshops to cultivate your own inner artist through clay, writing, painting, drawing and hand work; or attend talks, tours, open houses and other events. For a complete brochure please contact carabgraver@aol.com.