A self-taught jeweler with a fine arts background, Rona Fisher earned a BFA in painting from the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts) in 1980. Rona discovered crafts as a valid artistic medium while living in San Francisco in the early ’80s. She then moved to Munich, Germany, where she discovered a love of goldsmithing, reached an artistic turning point, and began to make jewelry.

Rona returned to the United States in 1991 and immediately embarked upon the adventure of developing a viable jeweler’s workshop of her own. “Making a living as a designer is a continuous process of tempering fantasy with reality,” she says.

As well as being a member of the Online Chapter of the Guild, Rona is a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen since 1993 and a member of the American Crafts Council.  Rona has taught jewelry classes at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts and was the 1992 and 1997 recipient of the Manayunk Purchase Award for Excellence in Design.  Rona was the winner of the 2001 Niche Award in the category of Jewelry, Gold, and the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s 2001 Best in Show Award in the category of Best Contemporary.

Rona’s collection includes rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and earrings crafted in sterling silver and 14 karat gold combinations, and in all gold. Her all-gold selections include pieces in white gold, tri-color gold, and yellow-and-white combinations. Many pieces feature precious or semi-precious gemstones. Her pieces are made to be worn for a lifetime.

Rona’s background in painting and her and five years’ experience as a freelance jeweler in Munich helped her develop a strong understanding of design. This design sense, combined with the expertise of her small staff of experienced, professional goldsmiths, results in uniquely handcrafted pieces. “My goal,” she says, “is always to let the original inspiration come through in the final piece so that the wearer shares in my vision.”

Rona’s partner, Emily Sims, handles the marketing, communications and customer relations end of their jewelry line, while Rona does the design work.  With a background in communication and public relations, Emily has worked full time in the business since 2000.

In Rona’s own words: “Using jewelry as an expressive medium is a balancing act between process and idea. Getting too tangled up in the technical aspects can stilt the flow of a piece, putting the visual emphasis on technique rather than on the beauty of a line or a sensitively placed sphere. For me, intuition is more important than technique. Technique is empty without inspiration.”

A very special aspect of working with an amazing jeweler like Rona is the fact that she can make something just for you. Custom work is always available at her studio. She can design a setting for your own stones, or design a piece for you and provide you with the stones. Or you may want to have her set your stones in one of her existing designs. The possibilities are endless!

More Rona Fisher jewelry at their website: http://www.ronafisher.com/

You can meet Rona and Emily at the following upcoming shows:

March 27 – 28, 2010     

       

        Gaithersburg, Maryland (D.C. Area): Sugarloaf Craft Festival 
           Montgomery County Fairgrounds
           16 Chestnut Street • Gaithersburg, MD 20877          

           Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-5

        Booth #144

 

        www.sugarloafcrafts.com

April 16 – 18, 2010

       

        Timonium, Maryland (Baltimore Area):  Sugarloaf Craft Festival 
           Maryland State Fairgrounds
           2200 York Road • Timonium, MD 21093

           Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-5

        Booth #204

 

      www.sugarloafcrafts.com

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 April 24, 2010

        

        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Spring Open House in Rona’s Showroom      
           104 S. 8th Street, 3rd Floor
           Philadelphia, PA 19107

            Saturday Noon till 4

 

 

 

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May 8 – 9, 2010

                                                                                                      

 

 

 

       Bethesda, Maryland (D.C. Area):  Bethesda Fine Arts Festival

          Woodmont Triangle • Bethesda, MD 

          Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-5

 

        Booth #52
           

        www.bethesda.org

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May 22 – 23, 2010

                                                                                                      

 

          Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Shadyside Art Festival on Walnut Street

          Walnut Street between South Aiken Avenue and South Negley Avenue • Pittsburgh, PA

          Navigational Address: 739 Bellefonte St., Pittsburgh, PA 15232

          Saturday 10-8, Sunday 10-5

        www.artfestival.com    

 

 

 

 

 

 

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       Northampton, Massachusetts: Paradise City Arts Festival 
  Three-County Fairgrounds
          Route 9 & Old Ferry Road
          Northampton, MA 01060
          Saturday 10-6, Sunday 10-5, Monday 10-5

June 26 – 27, 2010 

July 15 – 17, 2010  

                                                                                         
       Guilford, Connecticut: Guilford Craft Expo
          Guilford Green
          31 Park Street
          Guilford, CT 06437
          Thursday 12-8, Friday 12-8, Saturday 10-7

     www.artrider.com 

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Pocono Mountain potter Allen Weichman has worn many hats during his adult life: Army Intelligence, Executive Director of the Monroe County Conservation District, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, Soil Conservationist, and potter and co-owner of Groundhog Blues Pottery.

A founding member of both the Pocono Chapter and the Online Chapter, Al has served the Pennsylvania Guild as State Board member for over 20 years, as VP Membership, VP Administration, State President. and Executive Director.  He has chaired many State Guild committees, including F&M show chair during the great years, Tyler Show Chair and Site Chair, Long Range Planning, and was actively involved in acquiring both Tyler State Park and the Bushkill Gallery for the PGC. He wrote and set up the Review Board for the PGC among many other accomplishments. Currently, he is President of the Pocono Chapter and Site chair for the Pocono State Craft Festival. He also chairs the Festival of Wood for the US Forest Service.  He devotes his volunteer time locally these days.

With his wife Helen he maintains a full show schedule, and is the demonstrating potter for Sugarloaf Craft Festivals.

In 1973,the Weichmans moved to the Pocono Mountains so Al could get his Masters in Environmental Science at East Stroudsburg University.  They became caretakers of a 300 acre farm, with two barns, a lake and stream, and proceeded to fill the barns Noah style with animals of every description, fur and feather and opened their pottery studio in 1973.

Working together for 35 years has allowed them to produce both a functional line of dinnerware, with our trademark carving of mountains and trees being our most popular design,and a line of sculptural soup tureens and jars. Throwing each piece by hand allows them to do custom orders.

You can meet Al and see his pottery demonstration at the Sugarloaf Craft Festival in Somerset New Jersey this upcoming weekend and at the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at Oaks next week.http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/

You can follow Groundhog Blues Pottery blog at : http://site.groundhogbluespottery.com/journal/ They post what’s new and what shows they are doing each week.

Groundhog Blues website: http://www.groundhogbluespottery.com/

You can also find Al at the following shows:

RoseSquared Productions in New Jersey: http://www.rosesquared.com/

Kutztown Folk Festival http://www.kutztownfestival.com/

Pocono State Craft Festival: http://www.poconocrafts.com/

People’s Choice Festival: http://www.peopleschoicefestival.com/index.php

Philadelphia Folk Festival: http://www.pfs.org/PFF.php

Tyler State Park Crafts in the Meadow: http://www.ec4ta.org/commactiv.html

Spring Crafts and Fine Art  Nassau County Museum of ARt Roslyn Harbor, New York http://www.craftsatlincoln.org/

Patriot Arts Festival in Harrisburg: http://www.harrisburgarts.org/artsfest/

Vicki and Hilton in Mexico

Juried members of the Pennsylvania Guild for over 27 years, Hilton is a founding member of the Online Chapter and Vicki is an active member of the Pocono Chapter of the Guild. Hilton has been an active volunteer for the Guild, serving on many show committees,  the Board of Directors for many years, the Review Board and a past member of the Guild Standards committee in metals. They were craftsmen in residence at the Pa Guild State Crafts Gallery in Bushkill, and served as managers of the Gallery to provide a successful market for Guild members.

Hilton also served the Guild as assistant Director for the Guild,  helping to keep the shows on course during a time of transition.

HVQ Byrd jewelry and sculptures are made by what is called bronze fusion, using an oxygen-Acetylene torch to melt bronze rods at 1600 degrees. Every piece is built drop by bronze drop, starting from nothing to create each piece of original art. Each piece is its own sculpture, highly regarded and extremely collectible.

Hilton and Vicki Byrd do juried art shows across the country and are represented in several well known galleries.

So who are these incredible artists?

I have known Vicki and Hilton Byrd for a long time, and love them completely. They met 36 years ago in Mexico,as a matter of fact, while they both there finding themselves. Vicki’s background as a dancer encouraged her to use the human figure as an expression of human aspiration. Hilton’s background as a psychologist encouraged him more to use the human figure as an expression of character and whimsy.

And so you dance!

When you meet them, you get a sense of how complete they are…how comfortable in their beings, how much joy they find in each other, how delighted they are for each new person they meet and each new experience theyhave.

They love to travel, having lived in Wisconsin, the Virgin Islands, Pennsylvania and…who knows where they will wind up next?

Their family is completed by their three children, Kurt, Quijana and Oliver,  their extremely talented and handsome best grandson in the world Wendall, and their beloved Petite Bassett Griffon Verdeen Ra.

The Famous Ra

With Kurt in San Francisco and Quijana and Oliver in Hawaii, they have lots of reasons to travel and take advantage as often as they can.

A Dancing Life

They are constantly an inspiration to  me, just in their way of accepting and challenging the world. I believe that an artist puts a piece of themselves into every piece they make, and you will be in a better place with a piece of these artists in your heart.

Hilton explaining why YOU need his work more than he does

From their first studio located on Willow Creek Crossroads near Corvallis, Montana to their return to the family farm in the Cumberland Valley of Pennsylvania, Karri Benedict and Rod Meyer have been making pottery together for more than 30 years.

Karri Benedict and Rod Meyer

Rod began working in clay in high school in Portland, Oregon in the days when high schools had terrific arts and crafts departments, went on to four years of college at University of Puget in Tacoma, Washington, where he studied under Carlton Ball and graduated with a Fine Arts program. Pennsylvania native Karri’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania is in History of Art and Architecture. After college she moved to Montana to teach art and recreation at an institution for the developmentally disabled….but mostly as a great adventure. Her knowledge of clay comes through books, workshops and years of hands-on-experience on our studio.

Rod demonstrating

Presently they work out of their studio near Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, with the rolling fields and orchards of the scenic Cumberland Valley as inspiration. Moving back to the family farm in 1985 to help out her ailing father, a dairy farmer, Rod learned to feed cows in between throwing pots while Karri did the milking and glazing. Today Karri and Rod are the owners of their family farm, where they share a one hundred and fifty year old farm house with her dad.  Recently one of her brothers returned with his family to the homestead with a welcome contingent of kids, dogs, cows, and several 6 toed kittens to play with Rod and Karri’s beloved chocolate lab Sophie. .

Teaset

Together Rod and Karri produce a line of functional pottery, showing their work in such notable craft events as the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts (PA) and the Richmond Craft and Design Show (VA). Juried members of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, they have both been active members since joining the Guild in 1985. Showing for the first time with the Guild in 1986, Karri served two terms as Guild President and several years as State Board Secretary while Rod has been active on Show Rules and Site Committees for the Guild shows. They spent several years as craftsperson in residence at the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen’s State Craft Gallery in Bushkill, where Karri managed the Gallery.

Karri and Sophie...sharing an ice cream cone?

Their work shows a great respect for fine craftsmanship, and their sense of design is strongly influenced by function. Using simple elegance of form and pure color they create useful objects, which are pleasing to look at, touch and hold They produce a full line of functional pieces for the kitch en, bath and home. One of their favorite pieces to make is the colander. “I think I get the most satisfaction from making and selling the berry bowl”, Karri said. “I am a gardener and a cook, and I know that these functional and attractive pieces are on duty in kitchens wherever we sell our work…holding grapes, apples, onions and even jalapeno peppers!”

An original idea is their Marguerita salters. “I never imagined how many devotees of this simple folk drink there were out there!”, Karri said.

Recently they remodeled an old favorite… the pie dish, and they are hoping that their customers like making pies (and eating them!) as much as they do.

Rod, of course, loves firing the Raku..the unpredictable nature of the firing process is a nice counterpoint to making the production stoneware.

They work in two distinct glazes with their raku- a copper metallic in both matte and luster, and a clear crackle with polychrome underglazing. Rod has conducted many raku workshops to introduce potters to this four hundred year old firing process and has won many awards.

Raku Bowl

Karri is a founding member and current treasurer of the Online Chapter, and they are both active members in the Cumberland Valley Chapter of the Guild.

In Karri’s own words: “Rod and I joined the Pennsylvania Guild for the retail sales opportunity, but we quickly realized that membership gave us an opportunity to take an active part in an organization that was fostering the re-emergence of the craft movement. Being part of a group that recognizes and rewards what you do as important is no small thing. We also had the opportunity to help tell the story of craft making”.

Karri said, “What I find exciting about the Guild today..after more than 20 years with the organization.. is how we have adopted the web as a medium for both education and sales opportunities”.

Rod and Karri will be showing this week at the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen show at Montgomery College in Blue Bell, and next week will take part in the Cumberland Valley Studio tour.

Website: http://www.willowcreekpottery.com

Upcoming shows:

This week! A Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair

http://www.pacrafts.org/
2nd year in our NEW LOCATION, same great show! Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen
Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA

October 17 & 18, 2009

Holiday Open House

http://www.cumberlandvalleycrafts.org/
Cumberland Valley Craftsmens Guild
Greencastle, Waynesboro, Chambersburg Area, PA

Oct. 31, Nov. 1, 2009

A Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair

http://www.pacrafts.org/
Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen
Manheim Township School, Lancaster PA

November 14 – 15, 2009

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/festivals/gaith/november/
Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Gaithersburg, MD November 20 – 22, 2009

With a Fine Arts degree under her belt, she went back to school when her two sons were 2 and 3 to get a BA in Advertising and Design. Her 20 years as a graphic designer greatly influenced her design sense which she has brought to her unique jewelry line.

Arlene has developed a process of combining different mediums…fusing, fabricating and texturizing the metals and sometimes incorporating handpainted silks.

This process using handpainted silk was developed with her sister, a fine artist and silk painter. One evening talking long into the night they put their heads together and came up with an idea where they could combine their talents. At 3 am the silk concept was born! (It took a year and a half of research to develop a way to prevent the silk from changing, or loosing it’s color, when imbedded in resin, as well as how best to create the bezel.)

All metal work is done first, then cut pieces of handpainted silk are placed in the handcrafted bezel and resin is used to fill the bezel. Each piece is then sanded and polished for a silky smooth gem.

She distinguishes herself as a “Jewelry Artist”, not a jeweler. Arlene says, “ A jewelry artist takes more chances .We’re freer with our designs, use of color and materials”.

I think what strikes me first looking at Arlene’s work is her use of color…the textures and richness of the stones she chooses, the subtle tones of the handpainted silks and how it all works together. You know her work the minute you see it……the mark of a designer craftsperson.

In her own words: “The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen has allowed me to express myself through my art, and to present it to others in the community,” Arlene said. ” I have also made so many friends within the guild, that have become like family.”

Married to her husband Stan Freed for 25 years, Arlene and Stan are involved in ex racer greyhound Rescue. They share their home with Smurf and Rosie, two beautiful greyhounds with a taste for remote controls and cordless phones. Also joining the family is Smoky the cat.

Arlene has an active show schedule. You can see her work at the following shows:

Wheaten Village  October 3 and 4 http://www.wheatonarts.org/

Sugarloaf Gaithersburg Show Oct 9,10 and 11 http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/

Morristown Kiwanis at the Armory Oct 16-18 http://www.morristowncraftmarket.org/

Tyler Craft Center Show October 23 to 25 http://www.ec4ta.org/

Sugarloaf Somerset Show Oct 30 to Nov 1 http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/

Sugarloaf Oaks Show Nov 6 to  8 http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/

Pennsylvania Guild Show at Manheim November 14 and 15   http://www.pacrafts.org

Sugarloaf Gaithersburg Show Nov 20 to 22  http://www.sugarloafcrafts.com/

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Trunk Show

Louise: I started stained glass in the late 70’s I think,
and got totally obsessed with it. Got into painting and firing glass,
sandblasting it, fusing it, and now melting it in a torch. I cast glass
as a hobby when I have the time. I have been on the chapter board for a
long time, serving in several positions- standards chairman, shop
chairman, vice president, president, state rep, and now standards chair
again. On Sept 15, 2001, I did my first bead show- didn’t expect much
but sold really well, and the rest is history. I did that show with a
friend, and on the way home, we decided since there weren’t any local
bead shows, we would produce our own. How hard could it be? So the
Berks Bead Bazaar (http://berksbeadbazaar.com) was born in 2002, and has
been very successful. I did both stained glass and beads for a year or
two, but the beads won. At this point, I exhibit mostly at bead shows,
doing only a few craft shows- my chapter’s 2 shows (spring and Holiday
show), and the Hidden Treasures Tour in the Allentown area. (Plus the
new Tyler show now in late October!) Most of the bead shows I participate in are
produced by bead societies.

I love making beads in my torch! At some point, I was overwhelmed with
beads so I started putting them into jewelry, and discovered I really
enjoy that process too. Last year Stackpole Publishing asked me to
write a book about how make beads (Glass Beads, Tips, Tools and
Techniques), and that was published last Aug. It can be purchased or
ordered at any book store.

In 2000, I designed and programmed my first website. Unfortunately, I
haven’t done anything to it since. Just this week I have been working
on it, but it will be a long, slow process since my old program is so
old it won’t install on my new computer. I had to get a new program,
and there will be a long learning curve! I have kept my show schedule
and teaching schedule current, and look forward to starting a blog.

Several years ago, the Goggleworks, a huge community art center, opened
in Reading, and I have been teaching lampworking there. By the way, the
term “lampworking” means melting glass in a torch. It is an ancient art
(think Egyptian), and the term came from the early lampworkers using oil
lamps instead of torches. I concentrate on making beads. I love the
idea of people wearing my works of art, keeping my beads close to them.
Many of my beads are very organic in design, and customers often ask me
what kind of stones they are; I take that as a compliment. (Check out the link to
Louise’s website)

My next show is Sept 26-27 in Allentown PA sponsored by
Innovative Beads Expo, (http://www.innovativebeadsexpo.com/), Oct 3-4
in Vienna VA sponsored by the N VA Bead Society
(http://www.nvabeads.org/), Oct 31-Nov 1 Reading-Berks Guild of
Craftsmen Holiday show (http://www.rbcrafts.org) at the Kutztown U
fieldhouse, Nov 14-15 Hidden Treasure Tour
(http://www.hiddentreasurestour.com). Plus the Tyler show in Oct. Plus
I am teaching a few classes in there. In between everything, I make beads!

Welcome to the new blog of the PA Guild of Craftsmen’s Online Chapter!

My name is Tara Gentile, the designer of this site, as well as the editor of two blogs, Scoutie Girl and Handmade in PA. This site was created using Wordpress, a FREE & easy-to-use blogging & content management software.

What is a blog? Simply enough, a blog is an journal, a website-based newsletter, a marketing tool, and a great way to draw search engine traffic to your brand. Blogging helps you connect with your customers – key to marketing your arts & crafts business – and keep them up-to-date with your life & work.

I specialize in blog design and also offer creative business consulting services, copywriting, and public relations services.

Interested in how to get started with a blog? Check out a series I wrote for Handmade in PA, called the HiP blog challenge. In 4 thorough posts, I outline simple steps to begin your blogging experience or improve the return your current blog is giving you.

If you’re interested in how I can help you start blogging or improve the internet marketing for your business, don’t hesitate to contact me via email. Or check out my portfolio site: taragentile.com.