Sue Bliss of Blissful Creations

1222 Mt. Moosilauke Hwy.
Wentworth, NH 03282-3322
(603) 764-8525
blissfulcreations@earthlink.net

After admiring decorative painting for many years, I tried my hand at it upon retirement. Glass is my surface of choice although I also paint on wood, plastic, and fabric. Glass items, which are painted in a special acrylic enamel made especially for glass, are baked to ensure that they are top-rack dishwasher safe.

Flowers are my favorite subject, but you will see a growing number of birds crop up in my body of work.

I paint for the pure joy of creating something pleasing to the eye in my studio in Wentworth, NH. The added bonus comes when someone feels an item is worthy of adoption. Even better if someone feels my work is worthy of giving to a loved one.

Sue Bliss
Blissful Creations

Marianne Fassett of Quilling by Marianne

Enfield, NH
(603) 632-5468
www.quillingbymarianne.com

When Marianne Fassett of Enfield, NH delved into the ancient art of paper curling (called quilling), she discovered the perfect medium through which to express her artistic sensibilities. A self-taught artist with a lifelong fascination with miniatures and a deep respect for the natural world, Marianne curls and fashions innumerable strips of colored paper into startlingly detailed depictions of birds, flowers, trees, and animals both large and small.

Like a painter working with a model or studying a landscape, Marianne bases her work on the reality of what she sees. "I'm trying to copy nature," Marianne explains, "So I Google™ images to find the most realistic representations."

Another of Marianne’s artistic ambitions is to ensure that no two pieces are exactly alike. From Marianne’s perspective, she’s unique, and so is her work. (Quotation written by Diane Taylor.)

Marianne also gives classes and workshops, and does custom orders. Contact her at (603) 632-5468 or via her Web site listed above. View an example of quilling.

Marianne Fassett
Quilling by Marianne

Ramon "Mony" Greene of Monyz Burnz

Charlestown, NH
www.MonyzBurnz.com

Monyz Burnz Pyrography is burning art onto primarily wood, but paper, gourds, and some other materials are also used. It is more commonly referred to as woodburning. I have been a woodburner since I was 12. Over the last seven years, I have really been concentrating on my technique and perfecting it. After being told by family and many friends, I finally decided to take commission work and sell. When I am creating new pieces for others, it brings me great pride to hear the praise of how great it looks and what awesome work I do. I am my own worst critic, so I am pretty meticulous in the details. Doing portraits is the hardest thing and the most rewarding, probably why I love them so much. By creating custom pieces to the specifics of the customers, the end product is even more special when they give it to their loved ones. Woodburning is my meditation and way for me to escape for a few hours and just concentrate on one thing and forget the hustle of the day. I love to explore finding new things to create on. From wooden spoons to gunstocks, I am always looking for a reason to create something to “wow” people when they see it and say “I want one of those for” their loved ones. I use many different types of wood, mostly hardwoods, but I have started to cut my own plaques from sawn lumber. I use plywoods in portrait work to place in frames. Once my woodworking skills improve I may expand to make my own frames.

Ramon “Mony” Greene
Monyz Burnz

Dorothy Hayes of Serendipity Flowers and Crafts

802-295-1932

I have been sewing since I was tiny. I started with a fashion doll, real patterns and a toy sewing machine. Just see where that got me: I tried making custom lamp shades, worked in a dress shop doing alterations, sold sewing machines (Singer), made clothes for my family, and even a suit for my husband. During my life crafts became a hobby; all crafts, any crafts. I try them all. I sew, bead, knit, paint, and anything else that comes my way, and I’m still looking forward to learning more. When I retired, crafts became my salvation in a variety of ways: they keep me busy, my mind active and off my aches and pains. My enjoyment comes from hearing comments about my product, trying new techniques and tools, and getting ideas from magazines, craft TV shows, and life.

Dorothy Hayes
Serendipity Flowers and Crafts

Judy Huff-Lewis of Judy's Country Crafts

515 Lear Hill Road
Unity, NH 03773

My name is Judy Huff-Lewis and I have lived in the area for over 55 years.

I started making things with my hands when I was eight years old. I would take my Mom's scrap fabric and make doll clothes which eventually expanded to Lincoln logs, erector sets, tinker toys, string, wood, and whatever else I could find to create something.

For many years I sewed for the public and got into macrame when I was making lobster nets for Maine lobstermen. They all had different knots and variations for their traps. For 35 years I checked gun stocks for four different gun companies, did custom checkering for many individuals throughout the United States, also did prototype work for a local gun company. In addition, I did weekend checkering demonstrations for L.L. Bean for their store in Maine.

The crafts I do now are: crocheting, sewing, macrame, needlepoint, some crewel embroidery, woodworking, beading, tole painting, and I also dabble in gemstones.

Judy Huff-Lewis
Judy's Country Crafts

Sharon Jones of Ark of Safety

West Newbury, Vermont 05085
www.arkofsafety.biz

I am part of a family of 3 generations trying to be self supportive as a small family farm. We raise Jerseys, have a yogurt business named "Green Mountain Yogurt," grow our own fruits and vegetables and make maple syrup...among many other things. My particular favorite is the craft of soapmaking—soaps, lotions, creams and lip balms.

I've made these products at home for over 10 years. Many people throughout the years, in many different ways have told me that they have tried everything, but this really works for their particular skin problem. This, for me, is a great satisfaction. It's the energizer that keeps me going…and going.

There’s art and chemistry in making creams, lotions, and cold processed soap. Everything is measured out one by one. It's all done from scratch. All the oils I use are from vegetables or nuts. For some soaps, I use clay colorants so that I can make colorful gift sets. It is a joy to work with colors. I also enjoy creating the labels.

My most unique craft is the shampoo bar. It’s different, and it really, really works. It lathers like nothing else, and has no chemicals. This is getting more and more popular with people.

Quality is very important to people, and I hold myself accountable for making the best quality product  that I can. I appreciate all those who have supported me in my craft, and also, thank you for your support for LACA.

Sharon Jones
Ark of Safety skin care products

Andrew Raymond of Woodcrafts and More

andrewraymond@woodcraftsandmore.net
www.woodcraftsandmore.net

My primary hobby is working with wood, when I am not watching my kids. I love to create things using wood products as my base medium. I have had a lot of inspiration from religious readings of Christ and his foster father Joseph. My own father was very hands on with working with me; on Sundays we would do household projects together; making shelves, putting up walls or putting down floors. It was always gratifying to see the final product; knowing that I have created something that serves a purpose or has some special meaning to someone. So I enjoy creating products that have meaning or serve a purpose.

Starting a project is always a toss up; I have more things I want to make than free time. I like to pick projects that I can complete in a timely fashion that way nothing is left hanging around wasting space, time or money. I have my primary materials of choice being oak, pine and cherry. My father in-law owns his own saw mill so rarely I have to search for a place to find wood.

I love to make things for my daughters; once they were ready to ditch the cribs I made them some nice cherry beds that reused the same mattresses. I have made many pieces of furniture for my kids that include their own solid oak table with stools, which have turned into the time out stool, to small pieces for their dolls. Recently I have branched out and started scrolling and stamping. I have started scrolling crucifixes made from curly maple, red oak, cherry and more. I find that these are fun and only take an hour or so. Then when my kids are sleeping I have started stamping making greeting cards and stampings on wood. I have also picked up sign making using more of my professional degree in design and manufacturing. I have made plaques for businesses as awards for employees and personal name plates for offices.

Andrew Raymond
Woodcrafts and More

Lois Taitague of Wood 'n' Whimsy

ltaitgue@sover.net

My first attempt at crafting was as a child, using my father’s welding rods and scavenged yarn, trying to teach myself to knit. That was a failure, because I knew nothing about the process. As young as six, I worked on embroidery while my siblings played outdoors on the farm.

Eventually I did learn to knit and crochet, and added crewelwork, macramé, etc. to my skill set. I found that refinishing furniture led to building things on a small scale, which led to shelf-sitters of snowmen, Santa figurines, and leprechauns.

As if that wasn’t enough crafts to know, I learned to make jewelry. I work mostly with gemstones and make a variety of bracelets, earrings, and pendants, researching each type of stone and including the information on the tag. I also make dream catcher earrings and pendants, including the history with each item.

As a “wanna be” artist, I do a variety of small items in various shapes with painted scenery, sometimes with quotations or wisecracks added, that can be hung. Other items I create are: wristbands crocheted from micro-fiber or macraméd from hemp fiber, small pins such as ladybugs, Christmas trees, etc.

At this point in life, I continue to have a diverse interest in all types of crafting.  For this reason, many of the items I make are one-of-a-kind items, like skullcaps for cancer patients, or baby items like hats, bibs, hooded baby ponchos that ease over the head and don’t require struggling with getting arms into sleeves, and blankets.

Having been raised in New England where they believe that idle hands get into mischief, I was taught to use each moment constructively; therefore, crafting is a way to fill the empty spaces...the down times. Even if I did not sell my crafts, I would make my own jewelry, sweaters, gifts, etc. just for the pleasure of being able to say “I did it myself!” There is nothing as satisfying as looking at a completed project, whatever it may be, and knowing you did the best job you could and someone else would get enjoyment from it.

Lois Taitague

Fay Youells of Wee Pine Manor Crafts

Lebanon, NH

Tole painting is my release of an inner need to make something that tells a story through the picture when it is finished. I traveled from craft fair to craft fair over several years looking at people’s tole painting becoming more interested and fascinated with the technique. My start in the art form was a series of lessons at a local craft store and a lot of practicing. From these experiences I was hooked. My hobby became a passion that grew into a business.

I choose to paint on surfaces made from natural base products such as wood, slate and metal. My favorite natural surface is raw wood because it lets the paint age more quickly and naturally. I feel relaxed, enjoyment and satisfaction when the paint is flowing smoothly and all the techniques come together. This combination of feelings gives me a level of personal pride in the way the final piece comes to life. What I mean when I say the piece turned out well and comes to life is…the paint flowed well, it didn’t dry to fast, had all of the depth, shading and light placement I wanted, and the final finish brought out all of the subtle highlights. Satisfaction also comes from knowing that my works ends up as a useful item enjoyed by others. My feelings are further enhanced by the expressed joy and excitement about the object’s cheerfully painted face or the uniqueness of the particular piece as expressed by the person who is acquiring the item for themselves or as a gift for a friend.

Much of my work is a one of a kind item made from other artists’ patterns or original art taken from my photography. I paint using traditional techniques and innovative products to present a varied collection of finished products on an array of surfaces. The enjoyment of others who are acquiring my work is my silent “a-ha!” moment and a source of renewed energy to keep painting.

Fay Youells
Wee Pine Manor Crafts