Meet Our Artisans

Detailed penciled drawings and watercolors of scenes of area vistas, culture, portraits including persons, events and sites.

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.

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.

The Allegheny Chinquapin usually bears one well-protected nut per prickly burr. The tree, once found in abundance, has been decimated by the same blight that wiped out the American Chestnut.

These jewels from nature are made to raise awareness of a vanishing species.

All work is thrown on the potter's wheel. The thrown forms leaves me with a blank canvas that I can make my marks. Pushing in and out, cutting the clay are some of the ways I do this. These marks and alterations setup the glazing process. Spraying glazes allows me to have a rich and flowing surface. The flowing glazes intermingle with the changes in form. Each firing brings a new element of surprise and keeps things fresh. In the end I want to show energy and movement that give the form life.

All of my jewelry is hand made using the highest quality beads and findings available. My bead work involves a variety of techniques that include bead weaving, stringing, wire wrapping and knotting. I love to use glass seed beads but I also use crystals, pearls, gemstones and whatever else catches my eye.

Basket Weaving: I use flat and oval reed along with oak frames and hoops to weave traditional baskets for everyday use or decoration.

Rustic Furniture, built with sticks slabs of wood and carved

I got hooked on glass as a medium three years ago after taking my first jewelry class. I love doing things that use a kiln, it is always like Christmas when you open them up. At least three layers of hand cut glass are carefully designed and placed in a kiln. It is then fired to 1500 degrees, slowly cooled to anneal properly, then reshaped if necessary and fire polished. I am finding glass a fascinating medium especially the dichroic, I always look for something new that someone will enjoy.

Woodturning is my passion! I love working with all types of wood that I harvest myself to create works of art than can be used or to be just admired.

I especially enjoy working with non-uniform pieces, such as burls and figured wood to give my work a unique piece that only Mother Nature can provide.

Please visit my website often as I will be adding pieces when they are finished.

My fascination with fibers began in the mid-90s after I attended the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. An interest in the use of colors has grown from attending fiber events and weaving workshops, and from involvement with weaving guilds.

I primarily weave functional items: towels, table linens, scarves, stoles, and baby blankets. Every aspect of our lives can be enhanced with fiber, color, and texture...it warms the home and the heart.

All pottery is hand built using coil, slab or pinch methods. Individual pieces are hand painted in under paints and then glazed to seal the design. Baskets are different in size and some are designed for use and others for show. All reeds are dyed by artist and chosen to give the basket an individual look.

Sue Woods specializes in homespun creations including Christmas ornaments, pillows and rag jackets with frayed raw edges. She has designed and creates a variety of snowmen, patchwork pillows with handstitiched inspirational quotes, angels, Santas, dolls and more. Sue also does one of a kind, custom-made items.

It was the smell of the wood that drew me to my neighbor's workshop when I was young. I began making wooden toys for my daughters then I started to make old fashioned toys. My wife and I founded Mountain Kids Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children. All sales are donated to Mountain Kids, which has grown along with my toy making. I am currently designing a catalog and a web site. My time is filled with good work and great excitement about the years ahead.

My mother was a home ed teacher and taught us to sew. We continue to sew “in her memory”. We make fabric items such as reversible vests, aprons, pocketbooks, totes, fleece throws, napkins and hand towels that hang on kitchen handles.

I have been weaving rag rugs and placemats for more than 30 years. My rag rugs are made from recycled materials as well as new materials salvaged from factory cutting rooms. The placemats are made from cotton yarn or material from factory overruns or cutting rooms. All items are machine washable. The average size of a rug is 24 in. by 42 in. and the average placemats are 12 in by 18 in.

Handmade crafts for all occasions. Christmas stockings, pillows, tree ornaments and halloween cats are just a few of the many items available. Write or call for a complete list of items, photos & prices. We also produce blueberry jam, jelly and sugar-free jam made from organically grown blueberries.

My studio is located at my home in the beautiful mountain town of Blacksburg, Virginia; where I live with my husband and dog.

Each necklace, earring or bracelet is an unique design; inspired by beautiful gemstones found in nature, such as Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Lapis, Jade, Turquoise....
And by the ocean ....with freshwater pearls, coral ,and sea glass collected along the beaches of Maine, North Carolina and Florida....

All the findings are of fine copper, sterling silver or 14k gold-filled....many of the clasps have been designed to be worn as the focal point of the piece.... including original designs in PMC or Precious Metal Clay, a clay-like substance that when fired in a kiln becomes .999 silver.
...my copper, including shawl pins, are hand-etched.

My jewelry can be created for any special occasion, especially weddings. For the bride, the mother-of -the-bride, or bridesmaid...a necklace, bracelet or earrings can be custom designed to match the style of your gown and your personality...and, is the perfect gift to remember this day