Crafts Unlimited

2011 Show

2011-11-04T21:11:00.000-07:00

Today was opening day at our 2011 Crafts Unlimited Holiday Boutique! If you didn't make it today, don't miss it tomorrow! Below you'll find photos taken at our show today!

Please join us tomorrow; Saturday, November 5th, at 9:00 a.m. when we open our doors! Our artists have been busy all year, and we've got lots of new items, and some new vendors as well! We'll be open until 4:00 p.m.

Please bring cash or checks, as we don't accept credit cards. Prices include sales tax this year. Hope to see you there!

Artist #2 - Valerie Blessley

2011-11-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

Happy holidays, everyone! I'm Valerie Blessley, showing work as a harpist and potter. By day, I teach Ceramics/Pottery and Black and White Film Photography at a high school in Vancouver. My clay work is created and sold under the name SAVI Clayworks.

In the evenings and on weekends, when I'm not in my art studio, I can also be found playing Celtic harp, Finnish kantele (zither), and woodwinds with Jennifer Pratt-Walter in our local harp duo, Celtic Muse. I also teach harp lessons to teens and adults. My husband, Dr. Mark Blessley, is my harp builder, and we produce instruments under the name of Blessley Instruments. A life of art and music is busy, but very gratifying.

When working in the clay studio, I like to make functional pottery that has a stylistic flair. You'll see a variety of items from my popular "Tea Bag Minders" to "Finial Jars," cheese & butter domes, and other fun and useful items. I'm heavily influenced by my Finnish background both in my ceramic work and in my music. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I am also drawn to the natural elements around my woodland studio location.

As a graduate of The University of New Mexico's Fine Arts department and as a working artist, I have come to love the richness of clay and the miracle of its transformation into stoneware. Working in clay has been a passion for me for over 20 years, and it continues to challenge and fascinate me. Its only competition is the playing harp, which is also a wonderful journey of 20+ years!

I look forward to meeting you at the Crafts Unlimited Holiday Boutique! Be sure to say hello, and let us know that you've visited the blog. I'll likely be playing a harp, flute or another instrument on Friday and Saturday. Don't worry about interrupting; we "pause" for sales and chats with our wonderful customers.
~Valerie

It's Time!

2011-11-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

Please join us tomorrow; Friday, November 4th, at 9:00 a.m. when we open our doors! Our artists have been busy all year, and we've got lots of new items, and some new vendors as well! We'll be open until 7:00 p.m., with an Artists Reception from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Meet the artists, listen to some live harp music, and refreshments will be served.

We'll be open again on Saturday, November 5th at 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please bring cash or checks, as we don't accept credit cards. Prices include sales tax this year. Hope to see you there!

Artist #33 - Phyllis Flury

2011-10-15T19:46:00.000-07:00

My name is Phyllis Flury - Outside In Style. I create fused glass and leaded glass art work. This is my first year with the Crafts Unlimited Show.

I started working in glass ten years ago. I took a class in stained glass and continued with that form for three or four years. I moved onto fused glass and have been producing fused glass art work for the last six years.

My love of gardening has inspired me to produce art for the garden along with my works for the home.

Artist #30 - Josephine Banks

2011-10-12T00:26:00.000-07:00

Greetings ~ My name is Josephine. I am constantly in the process of creating. Whether it be in my mind, on paper, transformed into a beautiful beaded bag, or colored glass surrounding a mirror or photograph. I am inspired by the world around me...big and small.

I love to knit. I make beautiful knitted amulet bags with high quality glass beads knit into them. I knit custom bags for weddings and special occasions. Gorgeous!

Making glass art creations has also a passion of mine now for about 12 years. I love to make mirrors and frames surrounded by beautiful glass. One of my favorite things to do is seal wedding invitations between glass and surround them with a mosaic of color.

When I am not at my workbench or enjoying my time designing a beaded bag, you will find me sketching, mostly with colored pencil, but I love markers and crayons as well. The combination of the three is really fun.

You never know what you might find here, I must create!

This is my second year with Crafts Unlimited.

I have a wonderful life and I am grateful that I can share my work with the world.

Peace.
Josephine

You may find my items on Etsy:

Artist #12 - Karen Davis

2011-09-18T16:31:00.000-07:00

My name is Karen Davis. My products are mostly re-purposed vintage pieces that are no longer useful for their original purpose such as: vintage plates, stacked and made into mirrors...old watches re-purposed into lockets (with the ability to change the picture)...old china teacups, creamers or other treasures made into pin cushions using old laces, buttons and trims...as well as leaded glass Christmas ornaments using original vintage post cards and other vintage papers.

This year I'm resurrecting a craft I did 30 years ago...Posey Pop-up stick puppets! I found my old supplies in perfect condition and have decided to make them for this Christmas. Also my granddaughter, Elizabeth, will be joining me this year with some very pretty hand dyed silk scarves and accessories (pins and hair clips). She is a "starving artist" college student and is going to use the sale of her scarves to help finance her senior year at Portland Art Institute. We're both looking forward to another fun event at Crafts Unlimited!

I owned a silk & dried flower and home decor shop in Gresham for about 18 years called Silk Bloomers and when I closed it a friend and I started a small antique business with a space at Monticello Antique Market Place in Portland where we still are today. I soon had a collection of china and began to see other ways to use it rather than just putting it in a china closet. I have enjoyed working with my hands for as long as I can remember, and I especially enjoy re-purposing vintage things. There is something very satisfying in preserving old things so they can still be enjoyed today. I don't consider myself an "artist" - more a crafter and am very honored to be a member of Crafts Unlimited. This is my first year as an official artist, and I have been at the show the past two years as a guest artist. I live in Troutdale with my husband, two cats and a beautiful view of Mt. Hood. I am blessed to be the mother of 5 incredible daughters, 10 equally incredible grand-children and 1 stupendous great- grand child!

Back this year!

2011-09-06T23:33:00.000-07:00

After a year away from the show, we are excited to announce that our harpists, Valerie and Jennifer, will be back! They were sorely missed, and we are very pleased to have them returning to our show!

Our artists are busy working on designs for our upcoming show, which will be held this year on Friday, November 4th and Saturday, November 5th. Watch your mailbox for our postcard reminders coming soon!

We have some new artists signed on to join us this year! We are very pleased to welcome Kimberly from Truly Scrumptious! Her cookies, cupcakes, tarts, and other delicious yummies are to die for!

Please check us out on Facebook! See the link below at bottom left. Hope to see you at the show!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

Our 2010 Crafts Unlimited show was a big success! A big thanks to all our wonderful customers, and if you missed it...mark your calendars for our 2011 show: November 4th and 5th!

Our artists are already hard at work creating beautiful one-of-a-kind artwork for our 2011 show! Hope to see you there in just 10 short months! Meanwhile, may 2011 bring you health and happiness!

Day one done.....!!!

2010-11-05T21:51:00.000-07:00

If you haven't been to our show yet, don't wait! You've just got one day left! After a very busy opening today, we still have lots of great stuff! Lots of antique and vintage items this year, as well as high-quality hand-crafted designs....so don't miss out! Our artists reception was well-attended, and we look forward to making this second year addition a permanent part of our Friday nights. Hope to see you there!

Dates for this year's show!

2010-10-26T18:20:00.001-07:00

This is our 35th anniversary! Be sure to join us on Friday, November 5th from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, November 6th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

You won't want to miss our Artists Reception Friday evening from 5:00-7:00! We'll be serving delightful appetizers, refreshments, and it's a great opportunity to meet our artists! Irish Country Folk Trio "Maggie's Parlor" will also be on hand to provide music. Last year this new addition to our show was a big hit!

A reminder that while we don't charge an entry fee for our juried show, we gladly collect canned food donations for the food bank. Hope to see you at our show!

Artists #1 & #13 - Lesa Angelo Randall & Jenifer Rudolph

2010-10-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

Over the years we two sisters have enjoyed making vintage and primitives crafts. We try something new every year to share with the great group of guests that join us. This year our new items are rug hooked Santas, doggie bed rolls, and bark cloth satchels. We collect throughout the year; vintage wares, primitives and antiques to share at Crafts Unlimited. Christmas of course is our favorite time of year!

Lesa (top) has been at Crafts Unlimited over 25 years, while Jeni (bottom) has been a member for 12 years.

Artist #8 - Nancy Watson

2010-10-22T23:48:00.000-07:00

My name is Nancy. I'm currently a bus driver (have been for 19 years!) and LOVE being outside. My family and I began Lacamas Lavender Farm in early 2003 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I read quite a few books, and came across the herb Lavender that appeared to have homeopathic healing opportunities to those that were ill. I quickly became entransed by this herb, and the tilling was underway!

We wanting to start small, but after configuring the plans for where the Lavender was to be planted, the planning actually turned into a 700 order! Changes were being made every second.

As I started chemotherapy and after radiation, my love for this herb grew stronger everyday. I found myself outside most of the day, enjoying all what I could before nightfall.

I am happy to say that I have been cancer-free for 7 years now, and plan to keep myself that way. Our Lavender farm has more than tripled in those 7 seven years.

I have been with Crafts Unlimited for four years. I also sell my products at Farmer's Markets during the summer.

One of my most popular items is my own recipe of Herbs de Provence. It is a hand-blended variety of 13 unique herbs and spices that will be sure to delight your loved ones when you create your next meal.

I also offer a trio of sachets featuring a delightful display of hand-picked variety of patterned fabric which is hand-sewn with hand-picked and dried Lavender from this year's crop! Each trio is tied together with a beautiful arrangement of ribbon.

This year I have an all new look to my Lacamas Lavender Farm products (think French!), complete with that wonderful Lavender, you will be able to catch the fragrance when you come in the doors! Have a great day!

Click below to go to my website:

Artist #32 - Nancy Farland

2010-10-22T23:41:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Nancy Farland. I have lived in Vancouver for 33 years. I am married with two grown boys and a beautiful grandson. In addition to Crafts Unlimited, I am a member of Creative Arts Community, and have served on their board for 22 years. My background is in fine arts. I graduated from Portland State University with a degree in art, and a focus on jewelry design and construction.

I joined Crafts Unlimited in 2001. I have always enjoyed creating. As a young girl I cut colorful paper into shapes and enjoyed rearranging them into eyecatching designs. I didn't know terms like value, or hue, or negative and positive space. I just knew that I liked the way some colors and shapes looked with each other. That was the beginning of my love of collage. Since then, I have worked in charcoal, pastel, watercolor, oil and acrylic. In the past few years I have also explored photography and altered images, using these images in card and jewelry designs. Lately, my love of loves is acrylic monotype collage.

I'm drawn to color and pattern, especially the patterns found in nature. Birds, tree shadows on a sidewalk, glorious gardens, fallen leaves on the lawn, distant hills receding in the mist, exquisite patterns in natural stones - these are the things I am drawn to. I like to start my paintings with a monotype underpainting. Choosing my colors carefully, and controlling both paint and water, I try to mimic the effect of some of these natural patterns. Most of my collages are composed of hand-decorated papers, making each piece truly unique and difficult to duplicate. Much of my work is rooted in my love of nature and natural patterns.

Working loose and free with my acrylic paints, I always find myself thinking of my favorite art quote:
'As soon as you accept the accidental effects, they are no longer accidents. They are necessity – the part of yourself that you could not expect or design beforehand. Thus the realm of your creativity grows wider.' (Kazuaki Tanahashi)
These freely painted backgrounds will be nothing I could have planned, and they will lead me to develop paintings that are rich and unique.

My garden is a constant source of inspiration. I love the changes in the seasons, and joyfully capture images of perfect blooms, frosty seed-heads and snow-capped boxwoods. Birds visiting my garden become unsuspecting subjects in my work, as I photograph and study their silouettes and habits. Lately, I have been making some bird ornaments, each hand-formed and adorned with a leafy pattern.

Some day I hope to retire from my day job in a local school district and devote more time to my artwork.

Artist #15 - Sharie Harter

2010-10-21T23:07:00.000-07:00

Hi! My name is Sharie Harter and I have been with Crafts Unlimited for about 20 years. I'm sure my love of sewing came from watching my grandmother and my mother sew. At a young age I asked my mother to teach me...and that's where it all started! I made alot of my own clothes and enjoyed that, but as I got older I found that I loved making crafts. For several years I participated in a bazaar with my neighbors and friends in my home then school bazaars and then joined Crafts Unlimited!

I love to sew, but I think snowmen and santas are my favorite things to create. I also make ornaments, angels, baby blankets, bibs, cats and anything else I can find time to make. It's always fun to see the finished product after I put all the "parts" together and add all the doo-dads!

I have lived in Vancouver all my life. My husband, Ron, is retired and we enjoy spending time at our place at Lake Cushman. We love spending time together and enjoy kayaking, beach trips, traveling, camping, wine tours, concerts and time spent with family and friends. We have one daughter, her husband and our beautiful granddaughter. I also enjoy working in my yard, baking, lunch with my BFF's, volunteering at SHARE with the backpack program and learning how to golf ... Life is good and feel so blessed!

Stop by and check out all the beautiful, unique crafts that this show has to offer! See you there!

Artist #6 - Alex Farnham

2010-10-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

What is my artwork about? It is about history. It is about texture. It is about life. My work is simple and unassuming it is meant to be used and enjoyed over time. Its hidden beauty should be discovered as you hold it in your hand and drink from it. Your hands should feel the texture that has been left by my tools. That is what a handmade functional item is about. You should get to know me as you fondle your glass. Each small flaw should be remembered; it should tell the story of how the glass was made.

With each piece that I make, I try to convey my history. I was raised in Stockton, New Jersey, not far from where Washington crossed the Delaware. I grew up surrounded by old things like antique ceramic jugs and early medicine bottles that had been buried, sometimes burnt and then unearthed. These shapes continue in my work. At times I altered them like time sometimes does, squashing them and bending them.

Every tumbler that I make is a small painting created by the layering of frits and powders. It might be a landscape or a study in color and pattern. I try to approach each piece as an investigation. What will happen this time? What secret will be revealed as I work that I can investigate further in the next piece that I make?

Please click below to visit my website:

Artist #19 - Julie Koch

2010-10-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

I make knit and sewn items, jewelry, mosaic tables and windows, antiques, ornaments, wool rugs, Santas, sock monkeys. My new product this year is sweater bears. I have been with Crafts Unlimited since the beginning, and am the last original member.

I live in the Cascade foothills east of Battle Ground with my husband and assorted critters. We have two grown daughters, and four grandchildren who love to make things, so there's always something going on! We enjoy time at the coast, refinishing antiques, and puttering in the yard. Every year, I challenge myself by taking a class in something new, or out of my "comfort zone". In my not-so-spare-time, I like to spin and knit. We have a new cashmere goat, so watch for fuzzy hats next year!

Artist # - Mary Sauter

2010-09-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

I started knitting at age eleven. I took a break during my middle years and started again in my 60's. I now live on the Washougal River and have my own fiber arts studio. We offer day retreats in our 1-1/2 acre forest garden at the river.

I make fiber art: hats, scarves, booties and jewelry. I am back this year at Crafts Unlimited, after an absence the past couple of years.

Artist #29 - Eleanor Van Tilburg

2010-08-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

I have been a member of the Crafts Unlimited group for over 30 years. I mostly do Christmas decorations, wreaths, and home decor. For many years I have sold dried flower arrangements and have grown most of the flowers. When not in the garden, my husband and I enjoy traveling and spending time with our 5 grown children and 11 grandchildren.

Artist #24 - Vicki Mucha

2010-03-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hi, my name is Vicki Mucha. I have been with Crafts Unlimited for 23 years. I live in the hills above Washougal on Bear Prairie. I love to paint. I have been painting for 25 years. I paint on wood, glass, tin, crocks, silverware and most anything else I can find. My favorite things to paint are my cypress knees. They let me be as creative as I want and have been very popular. Although my love is for Santas and Christmas items, I also like to paint flowers and spring things. I recently started beading and love to bead on silverware. I am always looking for new ideas to share with you. Watch for some new products this year. I am in the process of starting a website so check back to see when it is ready.

Besides painting, I love backpacking, kayaking, hiking and gardening. I also like to quilt, sew, cook and spend time with my grandchildren. I have two grown boys and 5 grandchildren. My husband Mike cuts all my wood and builds all my chests and boxes for me. He just recently retired and we plan to do some traveling.

Please click below to see my new website:

Artist #11 - Julie Crumpacker

2010-03-10T17:25:00.000-08:00

I have been with Crafts Unlimited for five years, and sell my handmade all-natural hand & body crème, gardeners healing salve, intense therapy for hands and feet, goat's milk soap, vegetable based soap, bed bath and body spray, whipped shea butter. Stay tuned for some exciting new scents!!!

I always have had a thing for great smelling soaps. I had the opportunity to learn the craft from a massage therapist who ended up being my business partner. She later decided her time didn’t allow her to dedicate what the business needed, so on my own I went. Once you create soaps it natural to morph into other bath and body products. Along with my passion for natural body products I also have a thriving antique business and reside at Monticello Antique Marketplace in Portland, OR. Be sure to stop by. You may also want to check out my blog:

Artist #25 - Laurie Johnson

2010-03-03T21:40:00.000-08:00

Hi! My name is Laurie Johnson, and I have been with Crafts Unlimited since 2004. I design primitive crafts; raggedy dolls, snowmen, santas, framed samplers, wool penny rugs, and paper mache' figures. You'll find me at several local bazaars throughout November, but Crafts Unlimited is far and above the best!

This year, in addition to all my primitive goodies I've been working on, I'll have some mohair bears, mittens I've crafted from upcycled wool sweaters, and some domino altered art necklaces.

I have been designing and selling my craft patterns and finished items on my website since 2003. You may have seen some of my patterns in Country Sampler and Create and Decorate magazines. Besides my primitive designs, I also like to quilt, garden, collect antiques, and spend time with my family. My husband and I have five children, live on a farm, and raise sheep and cattle. Hope to see you at the show!

Primitive blessings,
~Laurie

Please check out my website by clicking on the logo below:

Never too soon to start thinking about Christmas!

2010-01-20T21:44:00.000-08:00

Crafts Unlimited is stepping into the computer age! During the course of the year, we plan to have information on our show, photos of the artists, and new products we'll have featured at our show, posted on our new blog! Stay tuned!