Ferndale Artists Among those at Craft Revival

(Crystal A. Proxmire, 4/21/2011)

The Handmade Detroit Craft Revival at The Loving Touch on April 19, 2011 kicked off Green Week in Ferndale.  Over two dozen vendors sold arts, crafts, jewelry and other unique items in a fun, family-friendly setting.  Crafters from all over SE Michigan gathered for the event, including several Ferndale artists.

Lori Nixon of Made Here is a purveyor of fine hardwood food boards.  These beautiful and sturdy cutting boards are made from black cherry wood.  Each one is hand-sanded and features its own unique grain.  They are sealed with all natural, food-safe, mineral oil. Every board is handcrafted in Ferndale, with wood milled in Detroit.  The paper they use comes from Niles, MI.  Nixon started Made Here as a complimentary company to her husband and brother-in-law’s cabinetry company, Woodwork Unlimited, which has been on Fair Street in Ferndale for over 8 years and in business for over 20.

Nixon had never been to Loving Touch’s Craft Revival before.  “There are a lot of interesting things here,” she said. “And it’s been going well.  A lot of people buy the boards as gifts, and it’s a nice touch that they are made here in Michigan.”  Check out Made Here at www.madehere-mich.com.

Another Ferndalian at Craft Revival was Stephanie Tardy of Phantom Limb.  Tardy was doing editing and advertising work before giving it up to run her own crafting business.  She makes notebooks and other handmade items which she sells on Esty.com, at craft shows, and in independent retailers like Naka in Ferndale.  “It’s my third year here,” Tardy said. “I love Craft Revival because it’s the start of the market season. And I am happy to get out of the house.”  Check out Tardy’s work at www.yourphantomlimb.com.

Beth Nixon has taken a childhood love and turned it into art.  Growing up her father would play music and her brother would give her records whenever he got a duplicate.  When she ended up with a duplicate of Pink Floyd, she came up with the idea to turn the album and the cover into an extra sturdy – and fun – notebook.  Now she makes jewelry, notebooks, journals, bowls and more.

Another unique booth at Craft Revival was by Amanda MJ Holt, who sells items made out of old license plates.  Her website is www.VintageInRetrospect.esty.com.

The Craft Revival is part of Green Week, an annual celebration of environmental issues, put on by the Ferndale Environmental Sustainability Commission.  To find other Green Week events, go to http://oaklandcounty115.com/2011/04/03/3rd-annual-ferndale-green-week-april-16-22.  To see pictures from last year’s Craft Revival, go to http://www.ferndale115.com/20100417revival.html.  And for more Art News, go to http://oaklandcounty115.com/category/art/.