Fall is definitely in the air, and we’re gearing up for our 27th annual Country Folk Art Festival on September 25, 26, & 27 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Illinois. We thought it a good time to bring you up to date on some of the new & returning talented artisans and craftsmen who will be joining us this fall.
Mt. Prospect artisan Robin Thompson will be offering her exquisitely crafted museum-quality miniature dolls and painted furniture; Michigan folk artist George Thomas will present an incredible display of African-American folk art; Pennsylvania artisans Jeff & Cathy Graybill will offer an amazing selection of painted furniture, tavern signs and painted toleware; Brent & Christa Baribeau from Reading, Michigan are bringing their wonderful wood carvings, folk art, & paintings; Terry Graber with papier mache & paintings; Dan Sigler’s birdhouses; Judy Senk’s teddy bears; Cheryl Decker’s whimsical gourd dolls; Michele MacGill & Nancy Whitmore with papier mache & paintings on wood; plus more to come!
Returning to the show is Kristy Mueller with her zany & fun folk art surprises. Also back for the fall show is Deane Green of Mineral Point, Wisconsin with her wonderful Christmas feather trees and outstanding painted chalkware!
Don’t forget our great homemade food & refreshments by Gene and Joe Heriaud, who offer a vast array of delicious hot and cold foods for lunch or dinner. Yum!
We’ll close for now with a recent comment from one of our long-time customers. “I’ve enjoyed attending your shows for years and I continue to be amazed at the consistent quality & incredible selection of hand-crafted furniture & decorative accessories.”
Watch for more “Blogs” to come with additional information on the participating artisans & craftsmen as well as details on special lectures & events at the show. Be sure to mark your calendar!
Lee & Judy Marks
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Fall Country Folk Art Festival Shaping Up!
It’s a beautiful mid-summer day here in Chicagoland and a good time to do some “blogging” as excitement builds for our Country Folk Art Festival on September 25, 26, & 27 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Illinois.
We’re pleased to say that we will be presenting one of the finest and most diverse shows in many a year, with many of your favorite artisans returning to the show, plus some exceptional first-time exhibitors. Joining us for the first time will be Anne Childs, a multi-talented artisan who will startle you with her incredibly fine reproductions of folk portraiture. Anne’s paintings are a perfect way to augment your antiques collection!
Joining Anne will be an artisan who hasn’t been with us for the past few years...it’s Dan DiPaolo, who’s company name is “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Dan’s whimsical characters have always solicited rave reviews. In fact they were so popular that he often sold out at our Friday night opening! Dan is featured in the August issue of Country Living Magazine. We welcome you back to the show Dan!
Another very talented lady who has never exhibited at our Illinois show will be joining us in September. Her name is Jane Theobald, and she is one of the finest makers of Nantucket baskets in the country!
As always at our fall show, popular folk artist and author Will Moses, great-grandson of the renowned artist Grandma Moses, will make a personal appearance presenting his brand new children’s book “Raspberries,” and his charming New England folk art paintings., both of which he will be happy to sign for customers.
One of our special features will be a free presentation on antique quilts entitled “American Quilts – A Woman’s Art” by Cease Giddings, owner of FolkWorks Gallery in Evanston, Illinois, in the second floor meeting room on Saturday, September 26 at 2:00 p.m. Following her talk, Cease will appraise antique quilts, with a limit of two, for $10 each, with proceeds benefiting Evanston History Center.
On Sunday, September 27, the final day of the show, Tom and Pat Hooper of ASL Pewter in Louisiana, Missouri will offer a free presentation entitled “Pewter, An American Icon.” at 1:00 p.m. in the second floor meeting room. Tom and Pat supplied all of the pewter used in last year’s HBO Special, “John Adams.” After their talk they will raffle off a pewter inkwell. The Hooper’s offer a wonderful selection of authentic reproduction pewter as well as contemporary pieces.
Be sure to mark your calendar and join us for our September show. If you’ve never attended you’ll be absolutely amazed at what you find, from wonderful handmade furniture, to reproductions of American antiques, contemporary folk art, Halloween and Christmas items, to historic replicas, all presented by the award-winning artisans and craftsmen who produced them! You’ll also find the most incredible selection of hard-to-find decorative accessories plus some original antiques, all to make your interior décor come alive!
And yes, there is literally something for everyone in a wide variety of price ranges. People not only shop the Country Folk Art Festival for themselves, they also purchase gifts for Christmas, weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays, finding a most unique selection of things that can’t buy in stores.
You won’t want to miss our fall show, it’s shaping up to be a real “barnburner!” Stay tuned for more “Blogs!”
Lee & Judy Marks
We’re pleased to say that we will be presenting one of the finest and most diverse shows in many a year, with many of your favorite artisans returning to the show, plus some exceptional first-time exhibitors. Joining us for the first time will be Anne Childs, a multi-talented artisan who will startle you with her incredibly fine reproductions of folk portraiture. Anne’s paintings are a perfect way to augment your antiques collection!
Joining Anne will be an artisan who hasn’t been with us for the past few years...it’s Dan DiPaolo, who’s company name is “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Dan’s whimsical characters have always solicited rave reviews. In fact they were so popular that he often sold out at our Friday night opening! Dan is featured in the August issue of Country Living Magazine. We welcome you back to the show Dan!
Another very talented lady who has never exhibited at our Illinois show will be joining us in September. Her name is Jane Theobald, and she is one of the finest makers of Nantucket baskets in the country!
As always at our fall show, popular folk artist and author Will Moses, great-grandson of the renowned artist Grandma Moses, will make a personal appearance presenting his brand new children’s book “Raspberries,” and his charming New England folk art paintings., both of which he will be happy to sign for customers.
One of our special features will be a free presentation on antique quilts entitled “American Quilts – A Woman’s Art” by Cease Giddings, owner of FolkWorks Gallery in Evanston, Illinois, in the second floor meeting room on Saturday, September 26 at 2:00 p.m. Following her talk, Cease will appraise antique quilts, with a limit of two, for $10 each, with proceeds benefiting Evanston History Center.
On Sunday, September 27, the final day of the show, Tom and Pat Hooper of ASL Pewter in Louisiana, Missouri will offer a free presentation entitled “Pewter, An American Icon.” at 1:00 p.m. in the second floor meeting room. Tom and Pat supplied all of the pewter used in last year’s HBO Special, “John Adams.” After their talk they will raffle off a pewter inkwell. The Hooper’s offer a wonderful selection of authentic reproduction pewter as well as contemporary pieces.
Be sure to mark your calendar and join us for our September show. If you’ve never attended you’ll be absolutely amazed at what you find, from wonderful handmade furniture, to reproductions of American antiques, contemporary folk art, Halloween and Christmas items, to historic replicas, all presented by the award-winning artisans and craftsmen who produced them! You’ll also find the most incredible selection of hard-to-find decorative accessories plus some original antiques, all to make your interior décor come alive!
And yes, there is literally something for everyone in a wide variety of price ranges. People not only shop the Country Folk Art Festival for themselves, they also purchase gifts for Christmas, weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays, finding a most unique selection of things that can’t buy in stores.
You won’t want to miss our fall show, it’s shaping up to be a real “barnburner!” Stay tuned for more “Blogs!”
Lee & Judy Marks
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
September, 2009 Country Folk Art Festival
We’ve had a lot of positive feedback on the “blogs” that we ran in advance of our March show, with people saying that they were enjoyable to read, providing interesting background on the various artisans as well as specific information as to the type of merchandise that one could expect to find at our shows. So on with the “blogs!
Many folks who have never attended one of our shows and who have come across our website, will phone us asking just what our shows are all about. So for all who wonder just what we’re up to, here are some tidbits for your perusal. People who attend our shows tell us they have literally been “blown away” at what they’ve seen! They’ve found an eclectic selection of handmade furniture and decorative accessories that they’ve never seen anywhere else. Many of these same people, including our younger customers, said the things they’ve found at our shows have solicited rave reviews and enabled them to totally transform their interior décor and establish a refreshing new look. Their homes no longer look like everyone else in the neighborhood!
And for the guys out there who wouldn’t be caught dead at a craft show, you can relax and eliminate those thoughts completely! It’s perfectly okay to tag along with your wife or girlfriend. In fact, when you see our show we’re sure you’ll be hooked! We’re not your typical craft show that you can find anywhere in the country on a given weekend with the same repetitive and boring merchandise. In fact, we’re not a craft show at all. What we are is a wonderfully unique Americana show featuring the finest award-winning artisans and craftsmen offering an incredibly diverse selection of handmade furniture and accent pieces. And it’s all handmade in America and presented by the individual craftsmen who made it. No imports! No mass-produced merchandise! No gift-show items!
Excitement is definitely brewing here at the home office! It’s a cold, rainy spring day, but our plans for the fall Country Folk Art Festival on September 25, 26, & 27 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Illinois are well underway, and we are incredibly enthused with much good news to date. Many of the artisans and craftsmen who were unable to participate in our March show will be joining us this fall, along with some the past masters who haven’t been with us for quite some time. In addition, we’ll be presenting some brand new, recently discovered, highly talented individuals who have never exhibited with us before.
Returning to the show after a long absence will be Dan and Marlene Coble with their amazing examples of painted furniture; folk artist, Tom Kelly with his imaginative, funky carvings; Mike Naylor and Trudy Close with their dried florals and folk art, plus a sampling of original antiques; Mike (Michelle) Ochonicky with her hand-etched scrimshaw; Carole Behrer with her scherenschnitte (historic scissor cuttings) and theorems, plus a number of others!
Watch for many more “blogs” to come with additional details about our show and its participants.
Lee & Judy Marks
Many folks who have never attended one of our shows and who have come across our website, will phone us asking just what our shows are all about. So for all who wonder just what we’re up to, here are some tidbits for your perusal. People who attend our shows tell us they have literally been “blown away” at what they’ve seen! They’ve found an eclectic selection of handmade furniture and decorative accessories that they’ve never seen anywhere else. Many of these same people, including our younger customers, said the things they’ve found at our shows have solicited rave reviews and enabled them to totally transform their interior décor and establish a refreshing new look. Their homes no longer look like everyone else in the neighborhood!
And for the guys out there who wouldn’t be caught dead at a craft show, you can relax and eliminate those thoughts completely! It’s perfectly okay to tag along with your wife or girlfriend. In fact, when you see our show we’re sure you’ll be hooked! We’re not your typical craft show that you can find anywhere in the country on a given weekend with the same repetitive and boring merchandise. In fact, we’re not a craft show at all. What we are is a wonderfully unique Americana show featuring the finest award-winning artisans and craftsmen offering an incredibly diverse selection of handmade furniture and accent pieces. And it’s all handmade in America and presented by the individual craftsmen who made it. No imports! No mass-produced merchandise! No gift-show items!
Excitement is definitely brewing here at the home office! It’s a cold, rainy spring day, but our plans for the fall Country Folk Art Festival on September 25, 26, & 27 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, Illinois are well underway, and we are incredibly enthused with much good news to date. Many of the artisans and craftsmen who were unable to participate in our March show will be joining us this fall, along with some the past masters who haven’t been with us for quite some time. In addition, we’ll be presenting some brand new, recently discovered, highly talented individuals who have never exhibited with us before.
Returning to the show after a long absence will be Dan and Marlene Coble with their amazing examples of painted furniture; folk artist, Tom Kelly with his imaginative, funky carvings; Mike Naylor and Trudy Close with their dried florals and folk art, plus a sampling of original antiques; Mike (Michelle) Ochonicky with her hand-etched scrimshaw; Carole Behrer with her scherenschnitte (historic scissor cuttings) and theorems, plus a number of others!
Watch for many more “blogs” to come with additional details about our show and its participants.
Lee & Judy Marks
Thursday, March 12, 2009
What is Folk Art?
If you’ve attended past Country Folk Art Festival shows or if you’re planning to attend for the first time this spring, and you’re still not exactly sure what folk art is all about, we invite you to visit the booths of the following incredibly talented artisans and witness folk art in all its glory! Steve Meadows from Palestine, Illinois and Alan & Donna Baker from Chicago, offer some of the most imaginative folk art creations you’re likely to see! Steve takes ordinary, everyday items and transforms them into fascinating folk art forms. Alan & Donna Baker take folk art gourd-making to a whole new level, creating whimsical people of all shapes and styles that are sure to bring a smile to your face!
If woodcarvings are your thing, we’ll be presenting a long list of the finest, award-winning individuals, all of whom have been featured in the leading decorating magazines as the best in the business! Anthony Costanza will bring his ever-popular angels as well as historical figures and holiday-themed carvings. Vernon DePauw will be offering his fabulous carved eagles, many in the shape of the extremely “hot” Bellamy eagles that are so coveted by today’s antique collectors. Ed Pribyl of New Traditions Woodworks will present some wonderful carvings from America’s past including a new offering of Abe Lincoln, as well as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin plus many other fun characters. Also exhibiting will be Richard Kowal who will be showing his bird and fish carvings along with a new offering of carved roosters.
Textiles will also have a strong presence with Carole Collins, Lady of the Lake presenting her popular hand-quilted doll quilts and her husband, Hank’s folky hooked rugs. Joining Carole will be Jain Faries Robertson with her delightful hand-woven coverlets, place mats and runners. Virginia Bruns of Ginger Babies will offer her popular Victorian needlework, rag dolls, and summer bedspreads.
Have an antique chair without a seat? Bring your chair or a photo and show it to one of our newest show exhibitors, Bill and Bridget Morse of Seat Weavers. Bill will do many different types of seat replacement including cane, and rush. He will demonstrate his seat-weaving technique in his booth.
Looking for a floor covering other than a rug? You’ll want to visit the booth of Turkey Trot Workshops and see Rebecca Phillips selection of decorative floorcloths, made in the style of the originals that were produced 150 to 200 years ago. Floorcloths wear like iron, are easy to keep clean, and add a delightful touch to any room in the house that’s done in traditional or contemporary décor. Rebecca will also be bringing penny rugs and stenciled boxes.
We hope to see you at the spring Country Folk Art Festival on March 20, 21, & 22, at the new Kane County Fairgrounds Convention Center in St. Charles, Illinois. Keep watch for more “blogs.”
Judy & Lee Marks
If woodcarvings are your thing, we’ll be presenting a long list of the finest, award-winning individuals, all of whom have been featured in the leading decorating magazines as the best in the business! Anthony Costanza will bring his ever-popular angels as well as historical figures and holiday-themed carvings. Vernon DePauw will be offering his fabulous carved eagles, many in the shape of the extremely “hot” Bellamy eagles that are so coveted by today’s antique collectors. Ed Pribyl of New Traditions Woodworks will present some wonderful carvings from America’s past including a new offering of Abe Lincoln, as well as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin plus many other fun characters. Also exhibiting will be Richard Kowal who will be showing his bird and fish carvings along with a new offering of carved roosters.
Textiles will also have a strong presence with Carole Collins, Lady of the Lake presenting her popular hand-quilted doll quilts and her husband, Hank’s folky hooked rugs. Joining Carole will be Jain Faries Robertson with her delightful hand-woven coverlets, place mats and runners. Virginia Bruns of Ginger Babies will offer her popular Victorian needlework, rag dolls, and summer bedspreads.
Have an antique chair without a seat? Bring your chair or a photo and show it to one of our newest show exhibitors, Bill and Bridget Morse of Seat Weavers. Bill will do many different types of seat replacement including cane, and rush. He will demonstrate his seat-weaving technique in his booth.
Looking for a floor covering other than a rug? You’ll want to visit the booth of Turkey Trot Workshops and see Rebecca Phillips selection of decorative floorcloths, made in the style of the originals that were produced 150 to 200 years ago. Floorcloths wear like iron, are easy to keep clean, and add a delightful touch to any room in the house that’s done in traditional or contemporary décor. Rebecca will also be bringing penny rugs and stenciled boxes.
We hope to see you at the spring Country Folk Art Festival on March 20, 21, & 22, at the new Kane County Fairgrounds Convention Center in St. Charles, Illinois. Keep watch for more “blogs.”
Judy & Lee Marks
Friday, March 6, 2009
Spring is in the Air
Another snow storm came through today, and as I gazed out the window and saw how beautiful it looked, it reminded me of the wonderfully charming, classic New England winter scenes that Will Moses has painted over the years. Will has truly inherited the “knack” of interpreting the scenic beauty of New England from his great-grandmother, Grandma Moses. Galarina Folk Arts will present Will’s prints, books, and original paintings at our spring show, as they have for the past 27 years!
We’re privileged to have two of the finest potters in the country joining us at our spring show. We’re excited to have Sue Skinner and Joe Jostes of SJ Pottery returning to our show with their outstanding selection of redware and salt-glazed stoneware pottery. And Joe and Deb Huntley of Wisconsin Pottery will present their redware, sgraffito, and stoneware pots, many with “spring” themes. Traditional American pottery, made in the same style as when it was originally produced 150 to 200 years ago is one of the great decorator items to be found at the Country Folk Art Festival. Pottery, whether a single piece or as a grouping of multiple pieces, looks absolutely great on a cupboard, dry sink, bucket bench or garden shelf in virtually any room in the house.
A traditional favorite, Trudy Close and Mike Naylor of Trudy’s Folk Art will offer their ever-popular dried florals and folk art, plus a surprise or two from Mike who always manages to find some incredibly fascinating original antiques to enhance their booth display.
In the celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, Maria Pfropper was commissioned by The Chicago Public Library to produce an original folk art montage painting featuring various historic events connected with his presidency. Click here to view the image. And click here to read the press release. Maria will be bringing a limited number of prints of this painting to the show.
Rugs, rugs, everyone needs rugs! Three of the nation’s finest rug-makers will be returning to our spring show. Judy Robinson’s Country Textiles from Ohio will present her wonderful hand-crafted rugs, a perfect fit for any room in the house, whether done in traditional or contemporary décor. Judy will be bringing her spinning wheel to the show to demonstrate her techniques. Joining Judy will be the renowned Wisconsin Hooker (rug-hooker, that is) Peggy Teich. Peggy’s charming and folky hooked rugs are an absolute delight for people who collect antiques and American folk art. And last but certainly not least is Barbara Kemp of Hooked on Rugs, offering a wondrous selection of punch needle rugs and kits, whose vast selection of traditional designs make outstanding accent pieces!
You won’t want to miss this amazing gathering of award-winning artisans and craftsmen at our spring Country Folk Art Festival on March 20, 21, and 22 at the new Kane County Fairgrounds Convention Center in St. Charles, Illinois. Stay tuned for upcoming “blogs.”
Judy & Lee Marks
We’re privileged to have two of the finest potters in the country joining us at our spring show. We’re excited to have Sue Skinner and Joe Jostes of SJ Pottery returning to our show with their outstanding selection of redware and salt-glazed stoneware pottery. And Joe and Deb Huntley of Wisconsin Pottery will present their redware, sgraffito, and stoneware pots, many with “spring” themes. Traditional American pottery, made in the same style as when it was originally produced 150 to 200 years ago is one of the great decorator items to be found at the Country Folk Art Festival. Pottery, whether a single piece or as a grouping of multiple pieces, looks absolutely great on a cupboard, dry sink, bucket bench or garden shelf in virtually any room in the house.
A traditional favorite, Trudy Close and Mike Naylor of Trudy’s Folk Art will offer their ever-popular dried florals and folk art, plus a surprise or two from Mike who always manages to find some incredibly fascinating original antiques to enhance their booth display.
In the celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, Maria Pfropper was commissioned by The Chicago Public Library to produce an original folk art montage painting featuring various historic events connected with his presidency. Click here to view the image. And click here to read the press release. Maria will be bringing a limited number of prints of this painting to the show.
Rugs, rugs, everyone needs rugs! Three of the nation’s finest rug-makers will be returning to our spring show. Judy Robinson’s Country Textiles from Ohio will present her wonderful hand-crafted rugs, a perfect fit for any room in the house, whether done in traditional or contemporary décor. Judy will be bringing her spinning wheel to the show to demonstrate her techniques. Joining Judy will be the renowned Wisconsin Hooker (rug-hooker, that is) Peggy Teich. Peggy’s charming and folky hooked rugs are an absolute delight for people who collect antiques and American folk art. And last but certainly not least is Barbara Kemp of Hooked on Rugs, offering a wondrous selection of punch needle rugs and kits, whose vast selection of traditional designs make outstanding accent pieces!
You won’t want to miss this amazing gathering of award-winning artisans and craftsmen at our spring Country Folk Art Festival on March 20, 21, and 22 at the new Kane County Fairgrounds Convention Center in St. Charles, Illinois. Stay tuned for upcoming “blogs.”
Judy & Lee Marks
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Blogging along on Lincoln’s 200th Birthday!
If Honest Abe could see the spectacular furniture and accessories being presented at our upcoming show I think he would be impressed and well pleased! It’s great fun to think that Lincoln would have seen most all of these pieces in their original form during his lifetime. And we’re certainly fortunate that a number of today’s contemporary craftsmen and artisans are making outstanding reproductions of the extremely scarce originals, just as they were made 150 to 200 years ago!
Did you know that ASL Pewter (http://www.aslpewter.com)who will be participating in our spring Country Folk Art Festival provided all the pewter for last year’s John Adams Special on HBO? Tom & Pat Hooper are wonderfully talented artisans who make all forms of traditional pewter as well as contemporary pieces.
We’re thrilled to have Randall & Susy O’Donnell (http://www.randallodonnell.com/) returning to the show, presenting exquisite reproductions of formal period furniture. Randall, who also does custom pieces, will be demonstrating some of his furniture-making techniques in his booth at the show. We have witnessed an example of Randall’s custom work when we got to see a reproduction fireplace mantle and surround that he created for a customer in Illinois. Exceptional!
And talk about fun. You’ll want to see Windsor chair maker, Jim Van Hoven (http://www.periodwindsors.com/) demonstrate in his booth...”How to build a Windsor chair on a Weekend!” For those of you who don’t know about Windsor chairs, they were originally made in England. The form first appeared in this country about 1720 in Philadelphia, eventually taking on a unique American style. Windsor chairs are considered to be one of the most comfortable chairs ever produced, and the outstanding reproductions available from Jim at our show are not only comfortable, but sturdy! Unlike English Windsors, the versions made in this country were originally painted and much more graceful in design than their English counterparts. Various different woods were used in the construction of American Windsor chairs, and in order to disguise this fact, most all of them were painted, providing a much more pleasing appearance. Incidentally, antique American Windsor chairs retaining their original painted surface make any died-in-the-wool collector’s heart skip a beat! And of course, the high prices will do exactly the same! But fear not, Jim’s Windsors are definitely affordable!
Nancy Rosier, of Rosier Period Art, (http://www.rosier-period-art.com) an outstanding theorem painter, who was a guest speaker at a Colonial Williamsburg Symposium last year, will be joining us once again in March. The Williamsburg Symposium was entitled “Remember me when this you see” Embroidered and Painted Arts of the New Republic. Nancy will be presenting her authentic reproductions and classic interpretations of this incredibly beautiful art form, which are a perfect highlight for traditional or contemporary décor. A theorem is a type of still life, with stencil forms painted on paper or velvet.
We’ll end our “Blog” for now, but watch for upcoming ones! And be sure to mark your calendar for the spring Country Folk Art Festival on March 20, 21, & 22 at the new Kane County Fairgrounds Convention Center on Randall Road in St. Charles, Illinois.
Lee & Judy Marks
Did you know that ASL Pewter (http://www.aslpewter.com)who will be participating in our spring Country Folk Art Festival provided all the pewter for last year’s John Adams Special on HBO? Tom & Pat Hooper are wonderfully talented artisans who make all forms of traditional pewter as well as contemporary pieces.
We’re thrilled to have Randall & Susy O’Donnell (http://www.randallodonnell.com/) returning to the show, presenting exquisite reproductions of formal period furniture. Randall, who also does custom pieces, will be demonstrating some of his furniture-making techniques in his booth at the show. We have witnessed an example of Randall’s custom work when we got to see a reproduction fireplace mantle and surround that he created for a customer in Illinois. Exceptional!
And talk about fun. You’ll want to see Windsor chair maker, Jim Van Hoven (http://www.periodwindsors.com/) demonstrate in his booth...”How to build a Windsor chair on a Weekend!” For those of you who don’t know about Windsor chairs, they were originally made in England. The form first appeared in this country about 1720 in Philadelphia, eventually taking on a unique American style. Windsor chairs are considered to be one of the most comfortable chairs ever produced, and the outstanding reproductions available from Jim at our show are not only comfortable, but sturdy! Unlike English Windsors, the versions made in this country were originally painted and much more graceful in design than their English counterparts. Various different woods were used in the construction of American Windsor chairs, and in order to disguise this fact, most all of them were painted, providing a much more pleasing appearance. Incidentally, antique American Windsor chairs retaining their original painted surface make any died-in-the-wool collector’s heart skip a beat! And of course, the high prices will do exactly the same! But fear not, Jim’s Windsors are definitely affordable!
Nancy Rosier, of Rosier Period Art, (http://www.rosier-period-art.com) an outstanding theorem painter, who was a guest speaker at a Colonial Williamsburg Symposium last year, will be joining us once again in March. The Williamsburg Symposium was entitled “Remember me when this you see” Embroidered and Painted Arts of the New Republic. Nancy will be presenting her authentic reproductions and classic interpretations of this incredibly beautiful art form, which are a perfect highlight for traditional or contemporary décor. A theorem is a type of still life, with stencil forms painted on paper or velvet.
We’ll end our “Blog” for now, but watch for upcoming ones! And be sure to mark your calendar for the spring Country Folk Art Festival on March 20, 21, & 22 at the new Kane County Fairgrounds Convention Center on Randall Road in St. Charles, Illinois.
Lee & Judy Marks
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Our Very First Post - Lee Marks
As I’m sitting here at the computer on a cold, blustery winter day my thoughts turn to spring and the excitement brewing, as we plan our 27th annual Country Folk Art Festival. Many folks who check out our website or phone us are not really clear in what we’re all about.
So, for all who wonder just what we’re up to, here’s some tidbits for your perusal. People who attend our shows tell us they have literally been “blown away” at what they’ve seen! They’ve found an eclectic selection of furniture and decorative accessories that they’ve never seen anywhere else. Many of these same people, including our younger customers, said the things they’ve found at our shows have solicited rave reviews and enabled them to totally transform their interior décor and establish a refreshing new look. Their homes no longer look like everyone else in the neighborhood!
And for the guys out there who wouldn’t be caught dead at a craft show, you can relax and eliminate those thoughts completely! It’s perfectly okay to tag along with your wife or girlfriend. In fact, when you see our show we’re sure you’ll be hooked! We’re not your typical craft show that you can find anywhere in the country on a given weekend with the same repetitive and boring merchandise. In fact, we’re not a craft show at all. What we are is wonderfully unique show featuring the finest award-winning artisans and craftsmen offering a incredibly diverse selection of handmade furniture and accent pieces. And it’s all handmade in America and presented by the individual craftsmen who made it. No imports. No mass-produced merchandise. No gift show items.
A great example for the men who need a little urging from their wives would be to visit the booth of the Great Northwoods Trading Company. Owners Mike & Nancy Patek, former TV set designers, offer a collection of wonderfully creative signs, boxes, fishing & hunting memorabilia as well as holiday-themed items, ideal for your own home or as a gift for that impossible-to-please friend or relative.
Enough “blogging” for one day, but please stay turned. We’ll be sending along some great news about the many exciting artisans & craftsmen who will be joining us at our March show. Think Spring! Stay Warm! Lee & Judy
So, for all who wonder just what we’re up to, here’s some tidbits for your perusal. People who attend our shows tell us they have literally been “blown away” at what they’ve seen! They’ve found an eclectic selection of furniture and decorative accessories that they’ve never seen anywhere else. Many of these same people, including our younger customers, said the things they’ve found at our shows have solicited rave reviews and enabled them to totally transform their interior décor and establish a refreshing new look. Their homes no longer look like everyone else in the neighborhood!
And for the guys out there who wouldn’t be caught dead at a craft show, you can relax and eliminate those thoughts completely! It’s perfectly okay to tag along with your wife or girlfriend. In fact, when you see our show we’re sure you’ll be hooked! We’re not your typical craft show that you can find anywhere in the country on a given weekend with the same repetitive and boring merchandise. In fact, we’re not a craft show at all. What we are is wonderfully unique show featuring the finest award-winning artisans and craftsmen offering a incredibly diverse selection of handmade furniture and accent pieces. And it’s all handmade in America and presented by the individual craftsmen who made it. No imports. No mass-produced merchandise. No gift show items.
A great example for the men who need a little urging from their wives would be to visit the booth of the Great Northwoods Trading Company. Owners Mike & Nancy Patek, former TV set designers, offer a collection of wonderfully creative signs, boxes, fishing & hunting memorabilia as well as holiday-themed items, ideal for your own home or as a gift for that impossible-to-please friend or relative.
Enough “blogging” for one day, but please stay turned. We’ll be sending along some great news about the many exciting artisans & craftsmen who will be joining us at our March show. Think Spring! Stay Warm! Lee & Judy
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