THE ART OF CEMENT, METAL & STONE
Jessica Tungseth – Metal & Wood Decor
Jessica has always enjoyed making art and has fond memories of “working” with her grandparents in their woodworking business. “They always had something for me to do to make me feel helpful in the shop. Anything from sorting screws to painting or sanding projects they were working on.”
Because one medium would be far too constricting to Jessica, she works with many including, wood, metal, beads and fabric. She’s not afraid to try new things and has recently taken a welding class through her local community ed. “I didn’t want to have to rely on my husband being available to weld my metal creations for me so I learned how to do it myself”
When Jessica first started Created By JT she was a stay at home mother to her 3 children. “I wanted an outlet where I could create and also make a little side money” Her kids have since grown and she has more time to evolve her ever growing business. “I couldn’t do this without the wonderful support I get from my family. My husband, Todd spends most of his weekends driving me to my art fairs and does all the heavy lifting for me.”
You can find Created By JT at art fairs in the Minnesota tri-state area, throughout the US in boutiques and online at www.createdbyjt.com.
Wendy Hightshoe – “Jazzy Junque”
Wendy’s fiber art is created from tiny pieces of fiber which she then uses a free motion technique that enhances the design of the piece. She draws the design idea first, then starts laying it out on the fabric. For over 40 years she has enjoyed creating her own patterns for quilts and wall hangings for family and friends. She has enjoyed making wall hangings that are unique to a person’s hobbies and life, and uses a play on words to make them personal and unique.
Wendy’s jewelry art is a new item this year which started when she created pictures from jewelry for Christmas gifts for her family. She loves the challenge of finding jewelry pieces to use for her creations and turning those pieces into pictures. Her biggest challenge was the picture she created for her nephew, of his dog “Riggz”.
Doug LaBorde, DL Smithing
Doug LaBorde is a blacksmith that hand forges items out of steel or iron. He makes a wide variety of items like home fixtures, decorative and gardens and other tools for grilling and fire place pieces. He uses a coal forge at his shop at home and also for demonstrating to heat the steel for forging on the anvil or other appropriate tools (vise, cone mandrel, swages, punches, drifts).
Doug does electric welding on some pieces, forge welding for others. He tries to stay with the older methods of fabrication but there are places where electric welding is far more cost effective but it is still a hand process, just a little more modern. His demonstration smithy uses no electricity, just coal and hand power and he has made many tools he uses himself.
Julie Beal – Earth, Wick & Fire
Earth, Wick & Fire is a small, family-based business located in Excelsior, Minnesota. The hand-crafted stone oil candles are made out of natural slate that varies in beautiful mineral colors and textures. During the creation of each candle, the characteristics and design are controlled by the composition of the slate and the artist.
With the use of a small rock hammer and the controlled pressure of the strike to the slate, the design simply starts with that first strike to see how it will fracture. The break inspires them to continue to move around the piece, in a fashion of interest and inspiration, allowing the slate to come alive. There are never two candles exactly alike.
Earth, Wick & Fire has created a maintenance free, low profile candle that you will enjoy for years, just add oil. The fiberglass wicks do not burn away and each copper wick holder is hand crafted by them. The reservoir holds 1 oz. of lamp oil and will burn for approximately 5 hours before putting itself out. The addition of essential oils to the reservoir will add a wonderful aroma to your space. Citronella oil may be used outdoors.
It brings them much joy in creating their candles and they hope that you will enjoy your hand-crafted candle for years to come and share them with your family and friends as a unique gift that will hold memories.
Kevin & Deb Pietrzak – Kevin’s Candle Creations
Kevin and Deb Pietrzak dba Kevin’s Candle Creations, have been creating beautiful handmade firestone candles for six years. The candles are made from a natural slate stone. There is no shellac or any other finish on the stone because Kevin feels (as do his customers) that the natural slate stone is beautiful just the way it is.
He creates one to four-wick firestone candles. Each candle comes with a wick, a glass insert, and a funnel. The candles can be filled with either lamp oil, or if you prefer, tiki oil to enjoy outside and help keep the bugs away. Each candle has its own unique character. Kevin and Deb enjoy creating the candles. “It is a true pleasure for us when we meet new people everywhere we go, and they come up and inquire about the candles and remark how beautiful they are.”
Tim Trimble
Tim enjoys creating his unique one-of-a-kind sculptures by using old automotive, motorcycle, farm equipment, and scrap metal. He enjoys the challenge of fabricating some pieces to make them easy for transporting and storing.
Tim’s creations include indoor/outdoor tables and garden decor. He enjoys adding details such as solar lights to his flowers and working headlights to the motorcycles with a lone wolf or a hog rider.