As we make final preparations to kick-off the Makers Market in Downtown Middlesborough - here is a sneak peak of five from the more than twenty artists, crafters, musicians, and food producers invited to participate. Starting on April 4 a storefront at 2008 Cumberland Avenue in Middlesborough will come to life. The public will be invited to have a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and to see and hear demonstrations, performances, and lectures. For more information, visit our website, follow us on Twitter @MakersMarketKY, or like us on Facebook.
"From the time I was a small child growing up in the mountains of Bell County, I would watch in awe while my grandmother quilted. Her fingers, though bent with hard work, made beautiful designs in the quilt using flour sack material. These sacks were made of cotton and had colorful floral designs. I am sorry to say that I never acquired this talent. However, the desire to create never left me. Thinking back, my first recollection of "crafting" was when my oldest daughter was in kindergarten, I made salt-dough Christmas ornaments for her teacher as a gift. The teacher then called to order some of those ornaments as Christmas gifts for her friends. And to my amazement, she offered to purchase them. Wow...crafting and making money at the same time. Sounds like a plan. Through the years I have been very fortunate to do just that. In 1986 I got my first order from Belk's . At that time, there were 5 Belk stores in Kentucky. I then went on to sell to the Kentucky State Parks, ventured out into other gift shops in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Berea and even sold to Dollywood. A dream had been fulfilled. Every medium available was a challenge for me. From rag dolls, woodcrafts, soap making, natural lotion, scrubs and wire-wrapped jewelry... I love it all. I am happiest when I create something that someone else loves too. My "15 Minutes Of Fame" came when 5 of my original designs were on the cover of Country Marketplace Magazine. Since retiring from Belk 4 years ago, I am again designing and selling my handcrafts. We all have been blessed with a gift..my prayer is that you find yours and it will make you as happy as mine has made me."
Harold Jerrell
Photographer
"I developed an interest in photography while working for the Virginia Department of Forestry. However, it was not until about fifteen years ago that I became serious and wanted to know what lay beyond the "auto" setting on my camera. Thus my journey began. In recent years my photographs have appeared in various magazines, books, pamphlets, brochures, and state and federal websites. Several images have been used as cover photographs for magazines and books. I have been honored to lead photography workshops for Pine Mountain State Park, Wilderness Road State Park, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. I present programs for various groups including local, regional, and state garden clubs. My goal in photography is to capture the essence of a special moment and be able to convey this feeling to others. It is my belief that while hiking and photographing one experiences physical and mental growth and most importantly, the opportunity for spiritual renewal by the Master Creator."
Crafter
Hi, I’m Ann Jackson Madon born and raised in Middlesboro, Kentucky. My first creative efforts were doing store displays in my parents’ stores, Jackson Studio and Gift shops. I graduated from MHS in 1973 and eventually attended The American School for Applied Arts in Atlanta where I studied Interior Design. After returning to Middlesboro, I became an educator, first in the Bell County Vocational School teaching retail sales. Later, I became a para-educator, working with first through third grade children. This job allowed me to use my creativity displaying the children’s hard work and developing motivational bulletin boards throughout the school. Those twenty years flew by; I was so happy.
I have since retired to become a full-time Crafter, though I’ve always had this craving to work with my hands and make something unusual. I had already embellished flip-flops for a year or two before they became popular in retail outlets. Then, one Christmas about six years ago, I bought my first tire pot. It reminded me of my favorite Aunt’s house in the country. I knew this was something I could make. I found some tires, then went online for instructions. After cutting and turning many tires, I knew I had found a craft I loved. There are so many possibilities with each tire because each tire is unique. They all keep evolving into new forms. Because I’m at the mercy of my tire store suppliers, I never know what items I’ll be adding. This makes the process really exciting.
Since I couldn’t paint in the winter, I needed another creative outlet. So this year I added a new item to my wares, wind chimes made of silver flatware. I call them “Wind Songs” by miss ann. I’ve had such fun from making these, especially when it comes to naming each set of chimes. I named one made from salad forks “Poke Salad Annie” and one made from soup spoons “You’re Souper.” I began selling my wares mainly to people I know and through word of mouth at my home. I have also displayed a few in some local stores. Now, I have participated in a couple of shows where I enjoyed talking with new people and introducing my newest creations. My dream to continue finding new uses for tires and other unused items, expanding my creative efforts so “miss ann’s retreads” becomes a household name.
Steve McCarty
Stained glass
My name is Steve McCarty. I was born and raised in Bell County. I am recently retired, having worked in engineering for over forty years. I have always enjoyed working with wood as a hobby. I have turned wooden bowls and other items, built roll around lemonade carts, and now I am enjoying putting together wooden baskets, shelves, and a large variety of other items. I also enjoy sandblasting. I have made several designs on glass bottles, jars and clay pots. Miniature tree houses and coal mine entrances designed with rocks and tree branches are another form of my creativity. My brother, Dale McCarty is also an avid woodworker. Like me, he enjoys creating unique projects from wood and metal in his spare time.
Steve Obermann
Stained glass
"I have been working
with stained glass for about thirty years.
I work a lot with the copper foiling technique of stained glass, but
also love to work with the leaded glass as well. I love making windows that can hang in front
of existing windows. I have also made
several windows that have a person's last name in the window. I am very interested in Frank Lloyd Wright
pattern windows and have made three for our home that hang in front of existing
windows. Also about ten years ago I
headed up the committee at our church to have our stained glass windows
restored."
Angela Roberts
Embroidery
With over 35 years of experience working with needle, thread, and fabric, I enjoy adding all manner of embellishments to the surface of fabric. Popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Crazy Quilt offered the maker opportunity to showcase her embroidery skills. My Crazy Quilt is a biographical memory quilt as I have added family jewelry pieces, symbolic charms and beads, and ribbon from my wedding bouquet, along with traditional embroidery and modern fabric and ribbon flowers. In the last few years I have specialized in heirloom wedding gown redesign, updating the gown and altering it for the bride. I have redesigned vintage gowns (from 20 to 64 years old) originally worn by the bride’s mother and grandmother. I design custom veils, headpieces, and accessories (sometimes made from the vintage gown). I also design costumes, working with The Historic Savannah Theatre (GA) for over five years and most recently, with the production of ”Godspell” at Lincoln Memorial University. Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, I have lived in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee alongside my minister husband. I tutor students in math and Chemistry, serve as a substitute teacher, and currently reside in Harrogate, TN.
Jade Robertson
Signer
From a young age, Jade Robertson has always been drawn to music. Starting out at age 6 being classically trained on piano, she has always enjoyed playing and performing. She never really found her place until she discovered the traditional sounds of Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn. Much like these women, Jade has grown up country, nestled in the beautiful, historic mountains of a small town known as Middlesboro, Kentucky. Jade has flourished into a diversely talented artist. From the moment she opens her mouth, she captivates you with her unique sound and powerful vocals. With every note you can feel her love for country music.
Jade has participated in numerous community events and shared her talents with other young musicians within the tri-state area. Combining her instrumental talents and outstanding vocals with her beautiful smile, she will leave you breathless when she hits the stage. Hoping to inspire other young musicians to follow their dreams, Jade will be performing at many different festivals this summer. She hopes to see you there.
Craig Sowby and Ken Wilson
Singers
Craig Sowby grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Utah. He is a classically trained violinist from the age of 4, and started playing drums and percussion at the age of 15. Craig handles fiddle and percussion duties, as well as harmony vocals, with an occasional ukelele. Ken Wilson was born and raised in Middlesboro, KY, but now lives in Harrogate, TN. He is a school teacher by trade, but has played music since age 18. Ken handles the guitar duties and sings most of the lead vocals for the duo. Ken and Craig have been influenced by many different styles of music down through the years, but when they get together to play and sing, the music has a quality and spirit all it's own. The name "Mountain Echo" comes from them both being raised in the mountains, although at opposite ends of the country, and defining a distinctive mountain sound.
Jessica Taylor
Photographer
Though raised in Florida, Jessica Taylor was born in a small town tucked deep in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. There was always peacefulness for her in being alone with nature. Many mornings she could be found at the lands’ end, watching the sun appear in the horizon. She found delight in the way the light changed the sky as it rose higher. However it was not until Jessica’s roots called her back home to Kentucky that she found her passion for photography. It was out on the mountain trails, as she examined the hidden beauty of the land. From the texture and colors of moss, lichen and mushrooms, to the play of light on the daintiest of flower Jessica was hooked right away. Photography added a new element to the peacefulness she had come to find in nature. She began showing people, only to share what they too could find hidden away. Soon people started requesting copies of her work. Normally always found with a camera in tow, Jessica’s photography collection is extensive. Her works have been featured at the Cumberland Gap National Park, and ranges from prints (sizes 5"x7" and 8"x10") to an assortment of coffee table books.
Mery White
Singer
They say she could talk before she could walk, so naturally she'd also sing. Her friends who know her well say... "she fell from a star", because her original hometown of Middleborough, Kentucky was created by a meteorite... which may account for her trailblazing ventures in music and impacting modern time style. Before relocating with her family to Ohio, her father played in a band named Fred Peck and The Boogie Woogie Boys, whose story is featured on WMIK's website detailing some of their music history in the late 1940's and early 50's. Though she grew up in Akron, times were more exciting than 'holidays with presents' when her family made the brief summer visits to her grandparents home in Middlesborough. The car rides down the long and winding roads, gave them an inescapable opportunity to sing together and make harmonies to all types of songs. Regarding the gamut of emotions that music contains, which she describes metaphorically... "It has carried me like an innertube that keeps one afloat through often harsh waves of unexpected experiences and challenging changes that time ushers in". Miss White's vibrantly stirring vocals and lyrical savvy resonates with an infectious and familiar modern mix of genres; classic, rock, rhythm, blues, jazz, country, pop and maybe even a bit of hip hop, bebop... It's all in there! She has had the privilege to work with awesome Akron musicians and artists which include Grammy winner James Ingram, Dave Banks Big Band, nationally known jazz musician Kim Waters and numerous other entertainers. A variety of venues keep her busy performing in intimate night clubs, Casinos, Concert Halls, and Festivals. So, she's still clicking her heels in LA(Lovely Akron) and regularly performs with the local five piece band named 4us. In 2010, she wrote and produced the musical stage play "Lemonade Stand" presented at the Weathervane Theater in Akron Ohio, which highlighted the original music they collaborated to produce on their debut CD titled "The Getaway". Lifes roads sometimes aren't 'yellow brick' ... but she moves forward, superbly performing cover and original music that helps to make... hopes float, dreams soar, love live and simple down home fun.
