The artists listed here have caught my attention at a local show. If you would like to suggest an artist or organziation for inclusion here, please email me!
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| Medieval Moccasins
Inspired by ancient Celtic design, made by Ingrid Weiland. Comfortable footwear for both historical period attire and modern fashion. Additional styles and fabrications are available through their catalog. |
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| Rubaiyat Handmade Shoes
Extraordinary hand made shoes by Louis and Melinda, as seen at Bellevue Arts & Crafts Fair a few years back. By appointment. |
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Polonova
Hand screen-printed socks and gloves, inspired by many of the same art and cultural sources as Lao Hats! I buy a pair or two every year at RAGS in Tacoma. I have never been happier with a pair of socks...
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Revival Ink
Tara Smith uses water based inks and fair-trade textiles (including organic cotton and bamboo) to create these eco-saavy fashions. The art is provided by local artists. She varies the colors and textiles enough to make each one feel like a one-of-a-kind piece. |
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Dreamscape Studio - NEW
Zewei (Willa) O'Connor was born and raised in Shanghai, China, where she studied with a Chinese painter for many years before moving to Salem, OR. She is a self-taught textile artist who has found fiber arts to be the natural way to satisfy her creative needs. She has developed her current style by experimenting with various quilting and sewing techniques to produce wall and wearable art that is unique and contemporary.
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The Green Vixen
Oriana 'refashions' clothing and accessories, including sweaters morphed into wrist warmers, and vintage slips revamped into cocktail dresses, She could single handedly bring the kitchen apron back into vogue... |
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Performance Art
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Payne's Magykes
Purveyor of Japes, Cheap Tricks, and Minor Amusements. Histronics a Specialty. See his website for a performance schedule. Then, see him as soon as you can. He is one of the best magicians on the West Coast and is available for hire for your next corporate event or gala. |
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Graylore Lutes - NEW
Not a performing artist per se, but Weldon Gray is a luthier out of Saskatoon CA. He has been interested in medieval instruments most of his life and has been actively building them for many years. Llutes seem to be his passion. If you have a medieval instrument in mind he can probably make it for you
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PyroSutra
I saw this troupe of firedancers perform at the re-opening of the Seattle Art Museum. They combined gymnastics with dance, and moved through a pretty tight space with flaming, flails, bowls, fans, and hoops, and interracted with the crowd almost as much as they did with eachother. See their website for booking information. |
Garden Art |
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Abraxas Crow Company
Handcrafted from steel by Gunter Reimnitz,, these large-as-life (perhaps even larger) birds of German folklore are perfect for your home and garden. He also offers functional sculpture including weathervanes, garden gates, staircase rails and room dividers.
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Courtyard Art and Designs
Handcrafted metal artworks for indoors or out by Doug Mader. These solid copper bamboo stalks catch my eye at every art show I see him at. Copper leaves and stems have been treated to resist the elements.
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Glass De Vine - NEW
Inspired by Patty’s passion for gardening and desire to create glass art that is both functional and affordable, Larry and Patty began Glass De Vine in 2003. In 2009 they added several new Garden Panels to complement their tables, chairs, arbors and other piecs. One of their pieces graces my front garden. |
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Seymour Stained Glass
Stained glass as functional art, including patio table tops as show at left. Karen Seymour also offers classes, and even does windows :) She currently serves on the board for the Northwest Art Alliance. |
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Dharmaworks
Metal bamboo sculptures and furnishings for both home and garden, created by Paul Wisdom, who is inspired by the timeless elegance of Asian cultures. Available in steel and cast bronze, in a variety of patinas. Beautiful stuff... |
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Winfield Designs
Home and garden art from recycled parts, crafted by Johnathan and Jandellyn Ward. My piece is a steel cattail and dragonfly garden stake which props up one of my peonies in a most elegant fashion.
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Wilburton Pottery
Distinctive handcrafted artisan tiles and garden ornaments. Their garden tiles and ornaments are winter hardy and can be left outdoors year round. These products are also impervious to damp or hot conditions, and work well in the kitchen or bath, or over the fireplace. |
An Artful Home |
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Trespasser Ceramics
Unique and opulant artwork by Andrew Tarrant. I own a pair of his custom made pieces - a Viking Ship toasting cup and a Chinese bowl with a dragon runnng around its rim. Visit his website for his catalog of both production and custom pieces, as well as his extensive resume. |
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Jeanne Wood Pottery
Another potter friend of mine who impressed me with her medieval cookpots that you can actually cook in. She offers both contemporary pieces and medieval reproductions. |
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Pepper Passion
Bruce Morgan hand carves pepper mills, from exotic woods, merging his two passions of woodworking and cooking with hot spices. His website also offers information on the history of pepper, and a selection of high quality peppercorns and sea salts. |
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Blowing Sands Glass Studio
David Smith was introduced to the art of glass blowing in 1978 and spenttwo years in a materials artifacts lab where he did analysis on mans earliest evidence of ceramic processing, the pigment used in cave paintings, and worked on the project tracing the transfer of porcelain technology from China down the silk road to Europe. |
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Jerry Hill Designs - NEW
Honoring the arts, culture and traditions of the First Nations People, their art, Jerry started carving at age 7, learning both art and values, and the importance of living everyday awake to the possibilities that surround us. He now crafts incredible home lighting fixtures and jewelry and is available for commission work. |
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Josh Cote Fine Sculpture
I bought a wire fish for my garden from him last year, and was pretty amazed when I went to his website. Wire, wood, and granite are among his mediums. Pick a subject, it looks like he can probably replicate it. |
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Paul Lewing Custom Tile
Unique hand painted tile murals for kitchens, bathrooms, fireplaces, signs, and all other tile applications. Paul will depict any image in any style or color, and offers both stock pieces and custom work. He has also published a book on China paint and overglaze. |
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Old Time Computer - NEW
Althought this site is still under construction, I could not wait to add it here. These custom-made keyboards and framed monitors are completely functional, but with a 19th century/ steampunk aesthetic. |
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Seth Rolland
As seen at Best of the Northwest in 2003, Seth Rolland designs contemporary furniture. This glass-topped hall table with a mix of wood fanning towards the floor is just one example of his ingenious designs. |
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Weyland Smithy
For the pre-19th century kitchen, reenactor camp or your weekend ranch, Torvald Sorenson will hammer out your custom order in traditional black iron. One of the friendliest blacksmiths I've ever had the pleasure to meet. |
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Bifrost Blacksmithing
Blacksmithing goods done the traditional way, in Ketchikan Alaska. Shown at left is a photo of an ulu I bought from him, a forged steel blade set into deerhorn, shaped as though it was made for my hand. It has become one of my favorite kitchen tools. |
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Long Life Candles
Very impressive hand dipped and interlaced pure beeswax candles by Deena and Talbot. They have other fun styles such as Endless Knots, Vagras, six and eight braids, Sweet Heart Twists (very nice for weddings), and even Lightning Bolts and very fun self standing Rockets.
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Axis of Hope
A prayer wheel is an ancient Buddhist prayer tool. Made of metal, leather, or wood and ranging in size from a soup can to a 500-gallon drum--each prayer wheel is inscribed and packed with written prayers. Each time it spins, a prayer floats to the heavens. Shown at left is Chris Moench's "Tree of Life" wheel, a table top piece about 18" tall. |
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Other Arts |
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Jon Fathom, Stone Carver
I met Jon in Ketchikan Alaska last year, and bought some small Inuksuks that he had carved from Glacier Jade and serpentine. I give him one of my cards, which he recognizes from Best of the Northwest when he was a participating artist a couple of years ago. What a very small world … |
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KOBO
Jim Baoshu caught my attention at the Pike Place Market as a calligrapher and carver of Chinese chops, the stone seals that Chinese officials used as a signature on court documents, and which artists still use to sign their paintings and calligraphic scrolls. He will translate your name into Chinese and carve a chop for you. |
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Wil Kerner the Cutout Kid - NEW
Every individual has some form of disability, typically the inability to grasp it. Will is an artistic savant living with autism. With swift scissor snips and colored papers Wil creates vivid images that have emotion and depth. Each piece shares a story and a bit of Wil’s world. His art images engage and captivate, and are so characteristic of his feelings; every cutout, whether person-like, animal or object, for Wil, exudes incredible vitality.
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Art Galleries and Organizations |
Northwest Art Alliance
The NWAA produces art and craft opportunities to increase public understanding, awareness, and appreciation for the handmade. They assist artists and art businesses by joint purchasing of marketing materials and by partnering with other organizations to increase the visibility of handcrafted arts. The Best of the Northwest shows now have the reputation among the public attending, as well as with the participating artists, as one of the best arts and crafts shows in the Northwest. Lao Hats has participated in the Seattle shows since 2002 and is a proud member of the Alliance. |
Brookfield Craft Center
Brookfield Craft Center is located 10 miles north of Danbury, Connecticut. Its 2.5 acre campus contains five teaching studios, an exhibition gallery, a retail sales shop, housing for visiting faculty and picnic areas. It was founded in 1954 "to stimulate interest in handmade objects of good design, to act as a clearinghouse for information related to handcrafts and to act as a sales outlet for the encouragement of practicing craftsmen. Classes at the Center range from such traditional crafts as ceramics, weaving, metalsmithing, woodworking and stained glass, to boat building, business skills, home restoration, photography, design theory and decorative art techniques. Lao Hats has participated in their holiday show since 2003. |
John Michael Kohler Arts Center
The John Michael Kohler Arts Center presents contemporary American art with emphasis on craft-related forms, folk traditions, new genres and the work of self-taught artists. JMKAC is a not-for-profit organization established in 1967 for aesthetic and educational purposes. Its mission is to encourage and support innovative explorations in the arts and to foster an exchange between a national community of artists and a broad public that will help realize the power of the arts to inspire and transform our world. Lao Hats has participated in their “One & Only” holiday show since 2005. |
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