Meet Our Artisans

Camelia is an award winning quilter, freelance photographer, author and blacksmith artisan. She’s received numerous awards at quilt shows in Virginia, Texas and Kentucky. Her quilts have been featured in National Quilting Museum and American Quilter’s Society Quilt Show of Paducah, Kentucky (attended by 30,000, featuring quilts from eleven countries and forty-five states). She won a blue ribbon at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, Virginia, attended by approximately 10,000. She enjoys designing and publishing quilt patterns, sharing her knowledge of quilting through teaching and hosting quilt retreats.

As a muralist and watercolor painter, I am inspired and informed in my work by the beauty, cultural heritage, and spirit of these ancient Appalachian Mountains where I live. My local murals can be viewed in southwest Virginia in Richlands, Clintwood, Tazewell, and Southwest Virginia Community College, as well as several in Kingsport, TN. My watercolors celebrate the rhythms of family, nature, and cycles of life. A series of eight acrylics entitled "Tribute to the Stanley Brothers" is permanently on display in the Community Center adjoining the Ralph Stanley Museum in Clintwood, VA.

The magical qualities of light passing through the shapes and layers of colors has drawn me to fused glass. My work is both functional and decorative. It includes vases, bowls, platters, plant picks and ornaments in varying shapes and sizes. I am drawn to bright, vibrant colors. The most common comment I hear about my work is that piece makes me smile. That makes me smile!

My interest in handcrafted soaps began in 1997, upon observing a soap making demonstration at a fair. I love old things and old ways of doing things, so making soap intrigued me. I started collecting and reading books about soap and finally took the plunge into making it. I fell in love with the process and the endless possibilities and combinations! When soap had taken over our home, I slowly began my business.
I make my soap using the cold process method. I use only food grade vegetable and nut oils in my regular soaps, only using animal fats in the old fashioned bar. All my coloring and textures are achieved by herbs, spices and clays. Fragrance is achieved through the use of essential oils only. Essential oils are steam distilled natural plant essences and have no petroleum by-products or artificial ingredients.
Other products have come along in response to customer requests. I make lip balms, lotion sticks, body oils, milk baths, bath salts and occasionally bath fizzies. I am currently testing formulas for linen sprays, another frequent request. All of the items I make and sell are researched carefully and formulated to be earth and people friendly and are not tested on laboratory animals.
When customers use my soaps, I hope they will agree with me. They are ‘one of life’s simple pleasures.’

During my winter in Florida I saw the most beautiful bracelet that had been handmade. I took several classes to learn the skill and became obsessed with making beaded bracelets. I also make necklaces, earrings, and rings.

Hand split and hand planned Bamboo Fly Rods made in the old time honored tradition.

I love to paint and draw people, places and things. I find the challenge of painting from life so rewarding. You can fully appreciate colors and the experience by having the person or object in front of you. I find inspiration from studying artists of the past and the world around me.

Fred First gathers images--in words and light--from northeastern Floyd County. His creative work centers on relationship--to nature, to place and to community. His personal essays and stories are aired on WVTF and in print in several local newspapers. His public writing started on his blog, Fragments from Floyd, in 2002 at age 54. His books, Slow Road Home ~ a Blue Ridge Book of Days (2006) and What We Hold In Our Hands: a Slow Road Reader (2009) are non-fictional narratives of place.

Smiling Cat Studio is named for the happiness and contentment I feel when creating something new, like a happy cat in a sunbeam! Hand-pulled linoleum block prints (linocuts) featuring baskets, cats, architectural details, and flowers are my current fixation, though I sometimes wander into basket weaving, colored pencil, water color, origami, bead weaving, needle arts, and other media.

Inspired by nature, Glenna Fleiner creates original and limited production jewelry, small sculpture, wall art & ornaments. Using ancient and modern metal working skills, she employs a variety of techniques: fabrication, casting, chasing/repousse,die forming, forging, embossing, etching & enameling, creating work in gold, silver & other metals. Glenna's award-winning work has received regional, national, and international recognition.

Charlie and Izetta Fleming are a husband & wife craft team. Charlie loves rocks; one might say “He has rocks in his head”. He cuts & polishes gem stones and Izetta wirewraps the cut stones in gold & silver.

Both fly fish and Izetta hand ties their flies, Charlie does the product testing.

Izetta quilts. Her quilts are hand-pieced and hand-quilted.

Both make gravel flippers (slingshots).

Izetta paints rocks and does storytelling.

They participate in craft shows and festivals.

I create photos which are printed on mounted canvas and then painted by hand with oil paint. I use both digital and darkroom techniques. I use Photoshop extensively to create panoramas, digital collages, and infared effects. My favorite subject is southwest Virginia. I love landscapes. I also work with color photography and do watercolors.
Before retirement, I taught art and photography at New River Community College and I am happy to give out free art and photo advice.

A native of Dickenson County, Eula has been immersed in Southwest Virginia culture all her life, which shows in her work. She has been creating burnings and carvings for over 7 years, and has received many awards and much praise from local fairs. Her work can be seen at the Ralph Stanley Museum gift shop,and the Appalachian Art Center. Her husband, Larry B. Edwards, makes turkey calls and wooden bowls on the lathe.

Fine jewelry: One-of-a-kind sculptural jewelry made of gold, platinum and silver with unique fine gemstones. Commissions welcome. Pottery - Hand formed, hand painted and wheel thrown functional pottery that reflects the beauty inherent in nature. Custom design stained glass for homes or business by commissions only.

DSF Ceramics is operated out of a small home studio in beautiful Blacksburg, VA. Each piece, whether functional (mugs, platters, bowls) or decorative (small sculptures), is hand built with special attention to detail. For more information & photos visit DSF Ceramics on Facebook.

Artistic blacksmithing, traditional and contemporary, functional and sculptural, architectural and small items.

Commissions accepted. In situ design preferred.

Real Wood Designs builds functional household items, including furniture. All projects are created in my studio using local wood.

Greg Galbreath handcrafts openback banjos in Giles County, Virginia. His work is influenced by the classic banjos of the late 20th century but are made to withstand the demands of the modern musician. Using beautiful wood, clean lines and elegant ornamentation he strives to attain a rich, well balanced tone in all his instruments.