Frank Hyldahl

Growing Grafted Wood Rings is Sustainable Forestry as Eco-Technology and Right Livelihood Working closely with trees is my heartfelt passion. It is my experience that our greatest gifts have come with our ability to observe nature’s patterns and tendencies. Back in 2003, I began tying twigs and including objects in trees. I was seeking to develop a kinder and more creative working relationship with trees, a relationship where I didn’t have to destroy trees, like using lumber to make my livelihood. By 2008, my focus on growing and sustainably harvesting grafted wooden rings was getting thumbs-up feedback for comfort and continuing durability. Family trials evolved into a Field-Trial Program, where Tree Rings were outright gifted or minimally priced and we were assured contact to glean feedback as the grafted rings experienced life’s challenges on more fingers. By 2010, gently massaging tree twigs into grafted wooden rings evolved into our business, Green Wood Wizard. The first wooden rings we sold were wedding bands. Affirming our organic process, that sale brought a friendship that assisted us in creating both our Facebook page and online Etsy shop. Growing Tree Rings is an evolving, exciting and humbling experience. I am grateful to be working with nature at nature’s pace and allowing this deepening resonance. To find the trees are working with us, even the shoots of surviving American Chestnut on the edges of our property, is exhilarating. It is my personal vision that the making of Tree Rings be regional and sustainable and the marketing be cooperative. In recognition of the challenge of not having elders and with hopes of kindling tree-shaping tendencies in humans, I look forward to increasing tree-shaping and carving collaborations with other respectful humans.

DOROTHY BRANDTS

My objective is to give the cut lines a purpose and have them add flow and movement to the design. The love of the outdoors and of nature's critters, beautiful blooms, and foliage have been my inspiration. It was only fitting that I combined my love of nature with my love of the color and light of stained glass in my glass works. My art career started as a painter, thus I like to think of my work in glass as if I am painting in glass. So I named my studio "The Art Of Glass". I work my panels on a large light table where I can monitor how compatible each new selection of glass is with the rest of the glass in that panel and how they all react to the play of light passing through them. When buying glass, I hand pull each sheet to make my selections. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I am at the glass warehouse. When I look at a sheet of glass it tells me what it wants to be. Along the way I have studied with well known glass artists. Subjects ranged from stained glass design, composition, construction, and reinforcement for architectural use and how to use fusing and sandblasting techniques for modern glass. I have made stained glass panels from as small as 6 inches square to as large as 5.5 feet by 7.5 feet. Some only consist of few pieces; others have many hundreds of pieces. This allows me to provide the pleasure of owning and enjoying a piece of stained glass at a price compatible for each and everyone. With each project I strive to improve my skills and produce a piece of art to be enjoyed for years to come as much as I have enjoyed creating it. Magic Happens when you add rays of light dancing through the vast variety of glass and colors available. I have fallen in love with stained glass.

Ann Childress

I make wheel-thrown and hand-built stoneware pottery designed to be used in the kitchen, at the table and in the garden. Nature provides the inspiration for much of my work in both form and color.