Connie Alexander - Maker of Collectible Teddy Bears

I met with Connie on a rainy afternoon in her Nevada City home.  Connie showed me to her cozy studio, with sewing machine, cutting tables, and lots and lots of supplies for making her special teddy bears.  As Connie explained, these aren't toys for children but rather collectibles for adults with the heart of a child still within.  Connie uses the very best  materials for her bears - mohair fur from Germany and synthetic furs that look like the real thing.  Her husband Bill helps out too - he installs the joints to make the bears lifelike and often cuts out the fabric for Connie to sew into lovable bears that you just want to hug. Each bear is stuffed with poly fill and  plastic pellets to give it a nice firm, but touchable feel.  Connie also sews coloring book totes and soft, cloth books  for children which are included in her sales booths.

Connie says she started making bears in 2000 and attends many craft fairs and quilt shows each year.  She has been trying to cut back recently on her travels, but says she is still having fun with her business. 

Here is a little side show of bears, Connie at work in her booths and a glimpse into her studio.  Just click the arrow on the picture below and sit back and enjoy!

 

 

Rich Irwin's Fabulous Metal Sculptures

Rich Irwin has been a professional artist since 1965.  He owned a small furniture store in Roseville and started painting pictures to go with various elements of home decor, but soon found that painting wasn't his real talent.  Three dimentional metal sculpture was his forte and he embarked on a successful forty year career with his wife Sue as business partner.

Rich told me that he and his wife participated in as many as 30 shows a year.  In order to keep up his inventory, he worked on his scuptures while they were on the road.  It was a seven day a week, 10 to 14 hour a day job.   After one particularly cold Christmas show in Minnesota, they decided they would try Las Vegas the next holiday season.  It was a win win location with the warmth of Vegas and its abundant cash flow so  they made it their holiday show destination from then on.

When it was time to retire about 8 years ago, Rich and his wife sold their large home in Placer County and moved to a smaller place in Grass Valley. Although he has slowed his pace, Rich still manages to make unique and wonderful pieces in his smaller workshop these days and he is ready for Winterfaire with Victorian houses, elaborately decorated bird houses and smaller dragonflies and roses for your garden.  His bigger sculptures of biplanes and locomotives are filled with rich detail that left me in awe of this fabulous artisan's work.

Please come by Rich's booth at Winterfaire this year. Not only will you love talking with this interesting man, but you will find distinctive art that will make your home and garden sing.

 

Winterfaire Vendor: Jackie Milhous

Jackie Milhous

I paint on glass, wood, tin, and ceramics. If anything else comes in my reach I will paint on it too; sea shells etc.. I also create on ceramics, love making and creating new and usable things. I make spoon rest with bottles, ceramics and also crochet scarves and doilies and tie dye scarves.

Dan's Woodworking

Dan Davis is a house painter and finish carpenter by trade.  About 15 years ago, he started making yard art with lumber scraps and leftover paint from his various jobs and gave his pieces away to customers and friends.  With the down turn in home building, Dan found more time on his hands and ventured out into craft shows with his brightly colored whirly-gigs and birdhouses. 

Dan says that he likes nothing better than to bring his two dogs into the workshop, turn on the rock and roll and spend the day, immersed in his craft.  While looking around in his well stocked workshop, I found a collection of wonderfully rustic birdhouses.  Dan tells me that these are Audubon compliant, with clean out doors in the back of the house. 

I don't think you can go wrong with yard art from Dan.  Using repurposed materials, this local craftsman's work will delight you and find a special spot in your yard or garden.  Enjoy this little slide show of his work and be sure to visit Dan at Winterfaire in October. If you would like to contact Dan directly, you can call him at 530-272-4110 or e-mail him at karendavis3632@att.net

Click on the little white arrow in the picture below to watch a slide show of Dan's work.