- Home
- Recreation/Events
- Events
- Artisans' Faire
Artisans' Faire
Artisans’ Faire 2023 - Thursday, November 30, 4-8 p.m.
Looking for some unique and special gifts for the holidays? Mark your calendar for this one-day-only event to be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 30, at the Adele Grage Cultural Center. The event will feature local artists and food artisans displaying their unique gifts for the holiday season.
Food artisans include Ferra Bakery, Makenu Chocolate, Grey Matter Distillery, and PRP Wine International.
Gather at 716 Ocean Blvd. Atlantic Beach, FL 32233.
If you are a handmade artist/crafter or food artisan, you can apply to participate in this event HERE. - Our Craft Artisans' Slot is already full. We are still accepting spots for Food Artisans.
List of Artisans
- Terry Selden of Gemmy Jewelry: Gemmy Jewelry was born from a love of natural stones and fashion. Each piece is hand-created and one of a kind with high-quality stones and metals.
- Chelsea Leonard creates hand-built ceramic sculptures of garden gnomes, fairy houses, and other magical critters.
- Jim Cox's Fine Art: When I contemplate starting a new watercolor, I have a general idea of what the end result might be. What excites me about these endeavors is the evolution of the piece. It’s not so much choreography as it is improvisation. In a way, the piece calls out to me as to what it wants. Watching the watercolor develop poses challenge after challenge resulting in a bold and colorful interpretation of the chosen subject matter. Where my personal preference for watercolor style is loose and spontaneous, my paintings tend to be controlled and detailed yet impactful nonetheless. I suspect that’s because so much of my existence has been in a controlled and detailed environment. There is no social, political, religious, or environmental statement made with my work. It’s purely for my personal satisfaction and enjoyment, and should another be affected by its content and presentation I am further enriched and encouraged to continue my pursuit, watching my style and techniques evolve.
- Susan Bolenbaugh uses different medium forms, such as watercolor pencils, to create images.
- Zuzia Soldenhoff-Thorpe creates all raw, pure Baltic Amber jewelry.
- Jeannie Gabrynowicz is a local painter and printmaker who is known for her block and silk screen printed cards and her locally themed silk screen printed shirts. She is a member of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society and sells her work at their shows and at the Atlantic Beach Arts Market.
- Roseann Herud Watercolors are original and/or prints of traditional watercolor paintings by Roseann.
- Karen Elkins of KLE Creations designs handmade jewelry, including earrings, bracelets, anklets, and necklaces that are beaded, knotted, or wire-wrapped. Materials used include semi-precious stones, pearls, shells, crystal and glass seed beads. Settings include gold and silver plate, sterling silver, copper and pewter.
- Bryanne Rajamannar, the owner of Fleurish Felt Flower Co, creates flowers and floral decor/accessories using heirloom quality Merino wool-blend felt. Each piece is cut and crafted by hand. Offerings include individual floral stems, finished decor pieces like wreaths and wall hangings, seasonal ornaments, and accessories. Bryanne has authored two books on how to create felt flowers, as well as DIY kits for arts and craft enthusiasts interested in trying their hand at felt flower making.
- Peter Mignone, using both traditional and modern tools, I create an array of mixed-media pieces that are both evocative and functional. When I am creating with wood, all materials are adapted from sustainable and local sources. Using the tools in my large wood shop, I am able to process large slabs of lumber to design and create wooden sculptures, small furniture, and kitchen tools such as cutting and charcuterie boards. In the forge, I am using raw steel heated in coal. The soft steel is then manipulated into shape to form one-of-a-kind kitchen knives. The finished kitchen knife is forged from eight layers of alternating steel that is then twisted and folded to create what is known as "Damascus steel". Each knife is given a simple hand-stitched leather sheath for protection. Some of my sculptures are created using recycled building materials and my own recipe of Venetian plaster. Most pieces are then hand-painted.
- Nancy Grawe of the Wacky Weaver weaves handmade baskets.
- Larry Goodenow creates handcrafted Cutting and Charcuterie boards, trays, and coasters. Each piece is made using classic and exotic woods and is created with attention to detail, ensuring every item will last for generations!
- Patricia Murphy of Pebblebrook Glass cuts glass to the appropriate shape and adds decorative elements and/or paint, fires to anywhere from 1200 to 1400 degrees, and embellishes as appropriate for the design.
- Katie Bruggner is a local artist whose home and studio are located on Little Marsh Island in Jacksonville, Florida. Inspired by her love of nature and yoga, Katie creates handcrafted glass tableware and glass art. All of the pieces are handcrafted using window glass and early Egyptian techniques. Each one is unique and created with tender loving care. The glass tableware and art are made from two pieces of hand-cut window glass, fused together at 1500 degrees in a kiln, fired on terra cotta or bisque molds for several hours, then cooled overnight. Ground enamels are used for colors and stencils or crochet doilies for the designs. Various effects, such as bubbling and crazing, may occur on certain pieces and are a natural part of the process. Dishwasher safe, not microwaveable, and avoid sudden temperature changes and hot, hot foods.
- Nancy Ruppert: The art of place provides memories, movement, and melodies that allow us to learn, grow, and care. I grew up in Atlantic Beach. I love the ocean, the sea, sand, palm trees, breezes, waves, storms, clouds, and sunshine. The sea is a perfect backdrop for friends to walk, ride bikes, share a cup of coffee, or a meal, listen to music, and to one another. Art is a game that provides each of us the opportunity to play, communicate, share, relax, explore, and expand ideas. It's like golf; you don't have to be a professional to love it. As a child, I worked with embroidery and photography using disposable cameras. As a young adult, my journey included photographing sunrises and pelicans. In the past 15 years, I began painting with watercolor and moved to acrylic. More recently, I have explored alcohol ink, pastels, and multimedia. I see art as play and the opportunity to share the power of the ocean's beauty. I believe we should all play more.
- PossAbilities Plus artists engage their special abilities to express their passion for the world.
- Kymberly Wolfson of Scoot & Kate creates art that is fresh and fun and features a series of hand-painted watercolors of fruits and florals available as original art, limited edition prints, notecards, and stationery as well as whimsical acrylic paintings of nature's creatures, flora, and fauna on unique pieces of wood such as shingles and fence posts reclaimed from around Atlantic Beach.
- Eileen Erikson is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author. Eileen worked as a nurse for 46 years, during which she published her first book, THE PATIENTS OF A SAINT, A NURSE’S STORY, in 2003. She also contributed to NURSING THE SPIRIT, a textbook for nursing students. She is now inspired by her six grandchildren and has written a children’s book for each of them…almost. KAMILLE’S BIRTHDAY CIRCUS was published in 2008 by High-Pitched Hum publishing company. UP IN NATHANAEL’S ROOM was published in 2009 with 1st Books, now Authorhouse. CONNOR’S FIRST SAFARI was published in 2010, and WHEN COLLIN SAYS “GO” in 2013 by Onlinebinding, now Knopf and Sons. Her latest book, ON THE DAY OUR KLAIREBEAR CAME TO TOWN, was published in 2019. Eileen is now working on a story for the newest addition to her family, Carson, who was born this past year.
- Kathleen Furness: Beach walks and faith inspired my work. I began walking on the beach after I retired from a long career as an elementary school principal in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. The beach brought peaceful reflections of all the lives that intersected with mine. As I walked the beach, I saw images in sea shells, just like those that see familiar shapes in the clouds. I was overwhelmed by the features in oyster shells that depict Mary and Joseph in the manger scene. So the inspiration was born to create vintage creches that would house these symbolic interpretations of the nativity, so familiar to all of us. To make Oyster Shell Nativities, I use vintage barn wood, tobacco stakes for the creche’ and oyster shells for the people. The shells are collected on our local beaches and on trips traveling up and down the East Coast, finding the perfect shells. Thousands of shells are collected and sorted to create the best rendition of the nativity scene.
- Jessica Tillman of Elle.Hendrix is a self-taught silversmith who works with sterling silver sheet metal and wire to create sea glass rings. The sea glass is local to Atlantic Beach and genuine.
- Michele Bryan creates garden art & decor consisting of 1)metal plant stakes, cut and bejeweled with glass and other objects. 2.) hanging suncatchers with a mix of glass, acrylic beads, and shells, created resin focal pieces w a crystal prism- (small and large) 3)handmade resin elements with beads and seaglass to create Holiday ornaments.
- Heather Downs of Simply Jeanette: My grandmother loved decorating her home, growing beautiful flowers, setting a gorgeous table, and buying unique gifts for loved ones. As an adult, I realized that her efforts to find beauty in everyday life and share it with her friends and family were one of her greatest gifts. In honor of her spirit, I named my shop Simply Jeanette. I sew handmade décor, dog bandanas, and children’s clothing which are unique and wonderful gifts.
- Cristina Zandomenego: I handcraft leather handbags. I create each pattern, hand-cut all of the material with an exacto knife, assemble the pieces, and stitch it all up with an Industrial sewing machine. All of the clutches and wallets are hand-stitched with Ritza waxed thread. I use hardware accordingly, rivets and snaps when necessary. I hand-cut all of the straps as well and finish all edges with Tokonole, which seals the edges. I typically use leather that is 3 to 4 oz in thickness, which makes each bag lightweight and soft. I like to use a variety of colored cowhide to give each bag uniqueness and brightness. I often add flowers or feathers, which are all cut by hand … one by one. I attach each with Suede lace or rivet them in place depending on the look I want to accomplish. My bags are functional and intended to be for everyday use.
- Scotie Cousin creates outdoor whimsical creatures that bring joy to everyone who sees them.