JACKI MAYO VAN DYKE ART & DESIGN Whimsical Art and Design inspired by the natural world @jaxattax @fullmetaljacki etherealmaterialshop.etsy.com Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I am an artist born and raised in Augusta, Georgia. I love experimenting with different mediums and learning new skills. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.Making mistakes is a big part of my process. It is how I am able to discover new techniques and ideas, even though sometimes it can be very frustrating WHAT INSPIRES YOU?The great mysteries of the universe and the super cute. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU. I love playing video games, it is my favorite way to unwind at the end of the day. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.We have a great community filled with passionate people who have built and accomplished so much to help build our culture and offer new opportunities to aspiring artists. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?There is a very fulfilling feeling that comes with making things. Occasionally it’s frustrating, but often it feels like play and sometimes therapy WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Mistakes are okay! Mistakes are encouraged! I believe in you! RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
CASSAFRAS & CO. hand stamped natural stone coasters, trivets, and magnets @cassafrasandco @cassafras_coasters Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?My name is Crista Sigrist and I live in Evans. My family moved here 11 years ago from Ohio. I am now retired having spent the majority of my career in marketing/public relations. I started making coasters during empty nest four years ago. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS. I hand stamp with permanent black ink using rubber and acrylic designs on porous natural stone squares of various sizes. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?My love of crafting and keeping busy! FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.After college I traveled the U.S. in the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. I was a hotdogger for one year 🙂 FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.River walk and the food at Whiskey Bar. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?I love making my coasters and trivets be au each one is unique. Creating my designs relaxes me. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?If it makes you happy keep creating! RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
SHELB’S DESIGNS acrylic art and unique woodturning @shelbsdesigns Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?coming soon DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.coming soon WHAT INSPIRES YOU?coming soon FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.coming soon FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.coming soon WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?coming soon WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?coming soon RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
KAY’S OFF HER GOURD Gourd vases, bowls, lamps, night lights, + critters. @kaysoffhergourd @kaylovingood etsy.com/shop/kaysoffhergourd Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I’m Kay Lovingood, a gourd artist from Augusta, GA. Coming from a background of music and photography, I first began working with gourds in 2011 and have grown to become an award-winning artist. I enjoy speaking about my work, showing it off, and even teaching my process. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.Gourds are a wonderfully variable canvas. They can be painted, cut, carved, and drilled. But they grow in the dirt and must be cleaned before any art can happen. The next step depends on what they will become. Bowls and vases need to be cut open, the guts need to be dumped out, and the inside needs to be sanded. On all of them, open or not, I enjoy wood burning and carving more than painting; so I have to draw my design carefully rather than just sketching it. After that, I simply follow those lines with the burner or carver. Sometimes I add color; sometimes I leave the gourd natural. At all times, with every design, I want the gourd itself to be seen; it’s the star of the show. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?Nature quite often is my inspiration, including the shape of the gourd. Some remind me of flamingos, or whales, or penguins. I can combine several gourds to make other animals. I carve and paint flowers on my “canvas”. The natural color of the gourd helps me choose my colors. The God of Creation has given me talent and ideas to create from what He has already created. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.I have a Master’s degree in tuba. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.It’s coming alive again, with lots of local shops WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?God gave each of us some kind of creativity, whether in the arts, engineering, speaking, writing, teaching, or healing. I’ll admit that my creativity spans a wide range, with photography, gourds, performing, and composing music. Gourds are simply the latest step on my creative journey. Gourds are natural, and I feel a connection to them when I hold them and while I work. I don’t feel that with a flat rectangular painting canvas. I’m inspired by the quirky shapes and the individual markings on each gourd. The God who created gourds also created me in His image and made me creative. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Don’t be afraid to try something new. My life has taken me from math major to music teacher to gourd artist. I just followed the path before me. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
APC CERAMICS handmade ceramics including planters, mugs, bowls, plates and sculptures @apc_ceramics Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO? I am Amy Crawford a military brat but Augusta is my home. I am a high school art teacher and ceramic artist. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS. I dabble in ceramic sculpture but I love to make pottery. Sometimes I use hand-building methods but I prefer the potter’s wheel. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Nature, color, functional objects FUN FACT ABOUT YOU. I served in the Army for 4 years FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA. Local restaurants, art galleries and the sculpture trail WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE? It’s my therapy and I love making functional things I can use in my home. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS? Keep making stuff 🙂 RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
IVY HILL INTERIORS hand painted ceramic and porcelain homewares and decor @ivyhill_interiors Meet The maker WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I’m Cayt, Augusta native and the creative force behind Ivy Hill Interiors. My passion of historically significant interiors and furnishings has lead me to saving pieces of a by gone era and breathing life back into them. All in an effort to preserve fabulous furnishings and bring timeless pieces to the incredible clients I meet along the way! DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.I always let my passion lead me, even when the vision is still forming! So I seek out pieces that speak to me, whether that be creatively or through my knowledge of interior design and furnishings. I always evaluate each new piece with an indepth understanding of how it served in past designs. With that understanding I’m able to select finishes that preserve the historic charm while making them suitable for modern interiors! WHAT INSPIRES YOU?Historic homes and their interiors are what keep my creative wheels spinning! Following the evolution of interior design and furnishing has allowed me to see how much past design elements influence today’s trends. As a lover of the arts, preservation is the foremost principle at Ivy Hill. So bringing overlooked furnishings back into the spotlight brings great joy and meaning to my life. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.I’m the pink sister iykyk FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.The historic charm! All the work that’s gone into preserving and revitalizing Broad Street over the last decade has made downtown a hub for small businesses and the arts! WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?Forever a daydreamer, I’m always lost in thought of what I’d love to create next. In a creative state I’m able to connect deeply with my inner self. As a busy mom of 2 time for inner reflection and silence is so rare! By making time to create I’m able to bring beautiful things into the world, all while unwinding from the chaos that can be motherhood. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Follow your passion! The pressures of creating crow pleasers can steal your joy of creating. Make what brings you joy and your audience will find you! RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
MUDDY SPRINGS POTTERY handmade pottery. @muddyspringspottery Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I am Kattie Herring from North Augusta. I am a special ed teacher at day and play with clay whenever I can. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.I make functional pottery. I love how I can start with a mud from the earth and fire it to over 2000 degrees to turn it into ceramics. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?I am inspired by my ancestors. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.My great grandmother and great uncle were both potters. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.Knuckle Sandwiches! WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?I love the purpose of the event and the atmosphere. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?I love using things that I make with my own two hands. Keep making RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
VIRGINIA K KNITS handmade knit toys, hats, decor, etc. @virginia.k.knits Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I’m Virginia Wayt, I’m from Aiken, SC, and I knit! But I’m also employed full time and working on a Master’s degree in Environmental Science. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.I’m really drawn to color, so usually I’ll buy yarn of fun, bright colors and then figure out what to do with it. I love making little friendly buddies! WHAT INSPIRES YOU?’m inspired by Olek, the yarn artist, they make massive installation artworks and it’s just so beautiful to me. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.I have spoken to the fastest knitter in the world. I got into contact with her through my knitting instagram, @virginia.k.knits FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.I love the many cool restaurants that are around downtown. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?Making is everything to me. It’s anxiety relieving for me, and making little critters that other people find comforting makes me feel like I’m doing something good. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Make weird stuff. Make silly things. Don’t be afraid for things to not work out, because it’s better to try and learn than to be so afraid to fail that you never start. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
CROOMER ART unique ceramic pottery @croomerart @croomerart etsy.com/shop/CroomerartByNiki Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?Hello, my name is Niki Croom. I am a ceramicist based in Greenville, SC. I received my BFA from Alfred University in Alfred, NY concentrating in ceramics and painting. I currently work for two different ceramic artists as their assistant. Creating whimsical and unique ceramic pieces is my passion. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.I throw and alter forms that are simultaneously delicate and robust. I use underglaze to intuitively decorate each piece with pattern, relatable imagery, and subtle humor. I then brush/ dip glaze over the piece and it’s fired to cone 6. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?I get inspiration from my pen and ink illustrations and my paintings that focus on the female figure. I also have many shelves of mugs in my studio that I’ve bought or did art trades for that inspire me. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.I love listening to audiobooks while I work! And I’m obsessed with coffee, tea and Harry Potter! WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?It’s what I’ve always done. As soon as I’m inspired (which is very often) I have to create. It’s how I process the world around me. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?Whenever something doesn’t work out, like a piece broke or you were rejected from a show, there is always something to learn from it. Use what you learned from that failure and try again. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
LINDSEY DAVIS punch needle and painted artwork Meet The Artist WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?I grew up in Savannah, but have spent most of my adult life in Rome, GA. I was a professor of chemistry at Berry College there until last year when my husband and I moved to Augusta. I’m now part time at AU, which allows me time to paint and punch needle. DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.Sometimes I start the process knowing what I want to paint or punch needle, and other times, I know what colors I want to use and go from there. I research the main focal point and I do a few sketches until I’m happy with what I have. For punch needle, I typically do one layer of paint before I start the punch needle parts and once I’m done punching, I’ll go back in with paint and add more layers until the cloth is covered. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?Most of my work is inspired by nature or somewhere I’ve traveled. My happiest moments in life are typically when I’m either outside or traveling (ideally both). I’ve also always been really fascinated with maps, so that has become a part of my art as well. FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.I have over 8 years of experience in puppetry. A few years ago, I played the part of Milky White in my community theater’s production of the musical, “Into the Woods.” Milky White is a cow and it involved wearing a backpack and moooooving around on stilts. FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.I really like all of the local shops. For example, my favorite store downtown is Art on Broad. The owners are so lovely and I enjoy seeing the work of local artists. WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?Until recently, my creative efforts have always been dedicated to chemistry. My research specialty is in the design and synthesis of molecules for use in pharmaceuticals. I’ve never had the time to focus this creative energy in a more traditional “artistic” effort. I love that mistakes don’t matter. I can paint over it or re-punch that area. It’s nice to play around and have fun knowing that these artistic “experiments” are really just that – fun! WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?I would advise others not to take themselves so seriously. It’s hard to do when one’s identity is being an artist. But I think there’s so much artistic freedom that comes with letting go. RETURN TO VENDOR PAGE
