The Cincinnati Enquirer
Many of the 150 artisans participating in the 29th annual Appalachian Festival, next weekend at Coney Island, will be displaying beautiful and useful things for the home and garden.
Included will be quilts, stained glass, birdhouses, baskets, candles, herbal soaps and dried flower arrangements. Look also for rustic furniture, caned chair seats, wrought iron items for inside and out and decorative fountains. Here is a closer look at four artisans.
Caning by feel
Ted Chism's love for antique chairs led to his learning to cane seats about 15 years ago. The Clifton resident, who has been blind most of his life, does the caning by feel. He uses the "rushing" method, which involves hand-weaving wet cat tail leaves. When the leaves dry, they become taunt.
Mr. Chism does not make the chairs; he just canes the seats. At the festival, he will have children's rockers made in Eastern Kentucky ($100), adult rockers and Victorian chairs ($100-$175).
Assisted by beavers
In his home workshop, Wally Bolduc of Greenhills makes bent-willow chairs and Hoosier-style cabinets.
His specialty, however, are "beaver wood" creations, made of wood salvaged from abandoned beaver dams. The pieces have been gnawed clean of bark by beavers.
Mr. Bolduc uses the wood mostly for the legs of coffee tables that he tops with cherry or walnut (about $400).
Water "fountaineer'
Bruce Mullins of Point Isabel, Clermont County, creates hand-pounded copper fountains for gardens and indoors. His most popular designs are interpretations of three-tier European features.
"Each fountain is different," he says. "Each has its own look, sound and personality."
All his custom-built fountains (from $250) have concealed water pumps.
Strength of iron
Paul Kuenle has been selling handmade wrought-iron items at the Appalachian Festival for 27 years. He makes the home and garden accessories in a workshop on his farm in Beavercreek, near Dayton, Ohio.
A sampling: trellises ($85), planters ($20), whimsical insects ($20-$30), towel bars ($20) and mini baker's racks ($40). Though he can't see his handiwork, Ted Chism of Clifton meticulously canes chairs, many for children. Most are built in Eastern Kentucky's Appalachian counties. Wally Bolduc of Greenhills crafts chairs and coffee table legs from wood gnawed clean by beavers. He'll also sell bent-willow creations at the Appalachian Festival.
