Getting crafty: local artists showcase their art at holiday craft fairs
Nov 13, 2022
Jesse Duboc of Wonky Paw Creations says that stained glass art requires a lot of patience. These pieces were created by business owner Jeannine Ludovicz.
Debbie Rock has been quilting for 38 years. She started doing craft fairs in 2012. Her specialty is quilted purses and baby accessories.
Wendy and Michael Cobb displayed handmade cutting boards made by their son Michael Cobb Jr.
Teresa Wrightington of Teresa’s Treasures creates decorative stones for indoor and outdoor use. She also creates hand painted mirrors and crosses.
Janis Johnston and her crafts created with clothes line.
Josy Shurtleff of Autumn Spice Arts created small festive paintings.
The sun broke free from the clouds to shine through the stained glass of the Wonky Paw Creations suncatchers.
From dolphins to cupcakes, there were handmade stained glass creations for every customer’s taste.
Local artists sold suncatchers, sweaters and everything in between at the Wareham Historical Society Holiday Craft Faire and the First Congregational Church Holly Fair on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Being the first holiday craft fair since the pandemic, Wareham Historical Society President Angela Dunham was surprised by the turnout.
“I am very pleased with all the talented vendors here today, even with the weather,” she said.
Wonky Paw Creations, a custom stained glass company owned by primary artisan Jeannine Ludovicz of Assonet, Mass. of was created in 2012. Dubuc, an apprentice with the company transferred his skills as a blacksmith to the art of stained glass, with an added attention to detail. Once he determines the pattern he wants, Dubuc shaves down each piece of glass to fit with the other pieces.
“It’s like making your own jigsaw puzzle,” he said, “you have to be precise.”
Depending on the size and pattern of the piece, they can take anywhere from weeks to months to create. In the future, Wonky Paw Creations hopes to offer stained glass classes.
Mary Nyman of Seascapes, Etc said she was happy to share her handmade jewelry and paintings with the community.
“I am lucky that I can do something creative during the pandemic and these violent times,” she said.
A Wareham resident, Nyman has been bringing her art to craft fairs for 20 years. She has participated in fairs in Cape Cod, Fall River and Rehoboth, creating earrings and necklaces from natural stones such as agate, jasper, lapis and labradorite.
In addition to the Holiday Craft Faire, the Historical Society also held a gift basket raffle to raise money for a scholarship which will go to a Wareham High School senior.
That same day, the annual Harvest and Holly Fair of the First Congregational Church was also a success for vendors, shoppers and the church.
Vendor Janis Johnston of West Wareham recently found a creative use for clothesline rope. Johnston uses the rope to create baskets, bowls, placemats and even “mug rugs,” elongated coasters with room to place a snack.
“I got the idea off of Pinterest,” Johnston said with a laugh.
This was her first year at a craft fair displaying the rope-craft, although she has participated in other fairs offering quilts.
From wooden slabs to metal saw blades, the painting of Josy Shurtleff live anywhere but on a standard canvas.
“My husband suggested that I try painting on shingles, like house shingles, and it got going from there,” said Shurtleff, of Carver.
Shurtleff paints animals, particularly birds, as well as landscapes.
The fair offered a raffle for gift baskets, a silent auction for games of golf, homemade lunch and goodies to raise money for the church.
