The Blog: A Completed Project

When the blog became a year old in August, people asked me how long I expected to continue. My answer: indefinitely. And so it was a surprise to me when in October I had an inner sense that it was time to move on. I had started the blog for fulfillment, and I realized I had become filled full — delightfully so — even though there were more artisans on my list to interview.

I want to acknowledge my daughter Lisa Gumerman, a web developer who encouraged me to write a blog, directed me to the information and workshops I needed, and customized aspects of the free WordPress theme “Twenty Twelve” for me.

Many thanks to all the artisans who have enriched my life immeasurably by sharing the secrets of their work. It has been a fabulous experience. Below they are listed by category of their craft but in no particular order; several belong in more than one category but are listed only once. Each one taught me something unique.

Please keep their work in mind as you complete your holiday shopping. Several have store fronts, as do artisan aficionados Katie Friedland, Mandy Moscatelli, and Lisa Gibson. The shops, their owners, and their locations appear below the list of artisans.

The Artisans

Ceramics                                                                                                                                                 Susan Sternlieb                                          Slumping                                                                              Cindy O’Neill and Heather Bartmann    Wheel throwing, glazing, and firing                                        Chris Wolff                                                  Wheel throwing, clay selection, and raku                              Diana Begner                                              Crystalline glazes                                                                      Kristin Gruenberger                                   Playful design                                                                            Steve and Jane Fry                                     Making your own clay

Fabric and Fiber                                                                                                                                              Kay Dudek                                                  Felting wool for jewelry, sculpture, and pictures                  Anne Phillips                                              Felting alpaca wool for evening wear fabric                          Una Walker                                                Hooking wool yarn                                                                      Alice Waterson                                          Weaving                                                                                        Kimber Baldwin                                        Spinning                                                                                      David Johnson                                          Tapestry weaving                                                                      Becky Margenau                                      Temari                                                                                            Kelly Gallagher-Abbott                            Long-arm quilting                                                                        Barbara Yates Beasley                            Fine art quilts                                                                              Phillippa Lack                                            Silk painting                                                                                  Fran Bowen                                               Needle felting for small figures                                                Mickey Ramirez                                       Wet felting wool of Jacob sheep for hats                                Kristin McMahan                                      Upcycling old linen into dresses for little girls                        Holly Myers                                               Handstitching animals of wool felt                                          Pat Abbitt                                                   Quilting stuffed animals                                                            Megan Tilley                                              Weaving with fiber, wire, and glass                                Anne Bossert                                            Fiber art by commission

Glass                                                                                                                                                         Kathi Dougherty                                         Fused glass                                                                                 Dottie Boscamp                                          Blown glass                                                                         Gayle Stringer                                             Glass beads  (lampworking)                                                     Karen Cannon and Anne Meier-Davis    Stained glass                                                                      Mary Barron                                               Fused glass

Jewelry                                                                                                                                                              Jacki Marsh                                                 Beads from around the world and back in time                   Jennie Milner                                              Silver and resin                                                                       Heidi Gore                                                  Selling beads, making jewelry, teaching the craft               Allison Freeman and Dana Biebel          Steampunk                                                                               Edú Muñoz                                                 Peruvian design                                                                         Carrie Lambert                                          Crocheting with wire and beads                                       Ryan Gardner                                            Gemstones and silver                                                                 Tom Linenberger and Mark Videan       Gold, silver, and gemstones

Metal                                                                                                                                                               Larry Pryor                                                 Copper wind art and sculpture                                               Carey Hosterman                                      Bronze sculpture

Wood                                                                                                                                                              Dave and Ellen Kisker                              Marquetry                                                                                 Mike Wilkinson                                         Multi-colored functional objects                                               Jamie Lauren                                            Upcycled furniture                                                                       Aaron Nuland                                           Toys                                                                                               Jennifer Kalous                                         Upcycled furniture                                                                       Anne Bossert                                            Furniture in original designs

Other Crafts                                                                                                                                                    Tiffany Miller Russell                               Fine art paper sculpture                                                              Jeff Icenhower                                         Leather from the arts and crafts movement

The Shops

Here are places you can shop up to the last minute. Shops are listed from north to south.

Jukebox Quilts                           Fort Collins              owned by Kelly Gallagher-Abbott                           Kelly makes and displays art quilts, but her store’s specialty is providing everything people need who are inspired to do the same.

Trimble Court Artisans             Fort Collins            an artisan cooperative                                           All of the artisans who sell work here have responsibilities at the store. Here you can find work by these artists featured on the blog: Mike Wilkinson, Becky Margenau, Fran Bowen, and Chris Wolff.

Goldworks                                  Fort Collins             owned by Tom Linenberger                                    Tom and fellow artisan Mark Videan sell the fine jewelry they design and create from Tom’s store on Old Town Square.

Bead Cache                                 Fort Collins            owned by Heidi Gore                                                Heidi sells the jewelry she makes as well as a wide assortment of beads and supplies for making your own.

Medeiros Music                         Loveland                 owned by Mike Medeiros                                        Mike has a variety of handmade stringed instruments to choose from, some of which I had never seen until I walked into his store.

Rabbask Designs                       Loveland                 owned by Jacki Marsh                                              Jacki sells not only her jewelry but the jewelry of several artisans at her store. She carries many other types of locally handmade art as well, some functional, some just lovely.

Rocky Mountain Bronze Shop  Loveland                owned by Carey Hosterman                                  In front of his studio Carey has a display room where you can buy small bronze art.

Evergreen Gallery                      Evergreen                owned by Lisa Gibson                                         This privately owned gallery carries a wide variety of art and handmade goods, all from Colorado artists and artisans.

Show of Hands                            Denver                    owned by K. Friedland and M. Moscatelli            Katie and Mandy are devoted gallery owners who carry handmade goods from Colorado and around the country.

Please think “handmade” whenever you’re shopping for a special gift — and have a beautiful holiday season.

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8 thoughts on “The Blog: A Completed Project

  1. Pat Abbitt

    Sally, thanks so much for all your insight into local artisans. I never would have know about many of them. And certainly wouldn’t have know how they made their lovely works of art.
    I also thank you on behalf of It’s a Zoo! I’ve gotten quite a few customers from you blog.
    Thanks again!
    Pat

  2. Janice Whitaker

    Sally,

    Your blog has been as amazing as it has been educational. Many thanks for all of the information you have shared with your subscribers! I’ll miss my weekly dose of Handmade on the Front Range. I’ve saved all of the blogs to a folder, however, and will continue to refer to them. Well done!

    Janice

  3. Kathy Kuenzer

    What a wonderful service you have provided for the artisans and the people who love their work. I learned so much about techniques I never knew existed. The blog was beautifully put together and well-written, and I thank you for your professionalism. With all of your talents, you will continue to do surprising things in the world! Best wishes–

    Kathy

Comments are closed.