The Cincinnati Enquirer

More than 110 artisans and craftsman from across the country will be at the Sharonville Convention Center next weekend for the Fall Greater Cincinnati Folk Art & Craft Show.

This year's show will feature hand-painted gourds to carefully crafted quilts, custom furniture and one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments and decorations. Here's a sampling of the artisans participating in this year's show:

Quilt art

Carole Collins began quilting almost three decades ago at the urging of her mother-in-law. Today, her hand-stitched pieces sell quickly and she is sought for teaching and her pattern expertise.

IF YOU GO

What: Fall Greater Cincinnati Folk Art & Craft Show. When: 5-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. next Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 2. Where: Sharonville Convention Center, 11355 Chester Road. Admission: $7 Friday, $6 other days. Admission valid all show days. Parking and admission for children under 12 free. Information: 771-7744

Collins' passion lies in creating traditional quilts.

"When you get into quilting, there are a lot of different ways to go," she says. "Some people enjoy contemporary looks and bright or pastel colors. I like the dark, muted colors and quilts with traditional patterns such as 'Four Patch,' 'Log Cabin' and 'Yankee Puzzle.' "

Collins take tradition a step further.

"A long time ago, most people made their own furniture. I'm trying to recreate that by making many of the frames for my quilts," she says.

For this show, Collins' stock will consist mostly of decorative, smaller pieces.

"I make all sizes of quilts, but the ones for the show are doll size," she says.

Prices: $30-$500.

Decorative gourds

Their texture, shape and color is always different, and that's just the way "That Gourd Lady," Natalie Kaltenbach, likes it.

"No two are ever alike," Kaltenbach says of her hand-painted gourds.

The reason is not only because she skillfully paints the Santas, snowmen and other characters on her gourds, but that the gourds are different shapes.

"I have to work with the shape," she says. "A long, narrow gourd means I paint a long, narrow face."

A self-taught painter, Kaltenbach discovered her unusual canvas while traveling years ago.

"I went on a trip, saw some hand-painted gourds and just thought they were wonderful."

Later stopping at an antique store, she purchased a wheelbarrow full of gourds, took them home, dried them out and started painting. After selling her entire stock at a craft show, a career was born.

"My things are real whimsical," she says. "I do a really cool 'Three Wisemen' gourd where I paint the Three Wisemen with their mouths open as if they are singing and then put a music box inside that plays 'We Three Kings.' "

Kaltenbach grows several hundred gourds per year and has a large stockpile of painting surfaces.

Prices: $18-$165.

I don't really know anything else," says Stacee Droit, co-owner with her husband, Bruce, of Arnett's Country Store. "I grew up doing this since my parents started this business."

Only a portion of the merchandise from the family's Illinois shop will make it to the show.

"Dolls are our main selling item," says Droit. "We do signed and numbered limited-edition dolls that my dad still carves the heads for."

Also on hand will be old-fashioned Santas, hand-painted signs made from old door panels, Christmas ornaments constructed from pipe cleaners and sheep's wool and doll houses.

"When you look at these doll houses from the front, they look like log cabins," Droit says.

Inside, the country decor of the 4-foot-tall replicas is authentic, with tiny rag rugs and painted floors.

"We try to build off old ideas, the things people did years ago," Droit says.

Reproduction farm dresses, bonnets and aprons to hang on a peg board or from a kitchen cupboard knob will be for sale

A Christmas favorite is a "Letter to Santa" mailbox attached to an old salvaged porch post.

Prices: $60-$250.