Below is the list of participating Craftsmen and Artisans for the Hickory Furniture Mart Furniture Festival & Clearance Sale. You can also click here to download a printable version of our Furniture Festival & Clearance Sale Craftsmen and Artisans.
FURNITURE CRAFTSMEN & DEMONSTRATIONS
Amish Oak & Cherry
(Level 2, South Entrance)
Amish Oak & Cherry has been family owned and operated since 2001. Their diverse product line makes them one of the leading Amish furniture retail stores in the nation. Amish Oak & Cherry has over sixty-five families building hand crafted, hand finished furniture. Their mission is to provide customers the ability to have their furniture built exactly the way they dream it to be. By doing this, they offer over ten different selections of wood along with multiple finish options. Stop by their showroom over the weekend to watch Amish craftsman, Allen Troyer, from Millcraft, build a nightstand. The nightstand will be given away to one lucky winner at the end of the weekend. Amish craftsman, James Weaver, and his wife, Linda Weaver, from Dutch Creek, will also be visiting Amish Oak & Cherry during the Furniture Festival and Clearance Sale.
www.amishoakandcherry.com
Vanguard Furniture
(Level 4, North Entrance)
Vanguard prides itself on being a fashion leader in the industry. Based in Hickory, North Carolina, its 500 associates manufacture furniture in the tradition that has made North Carolina famous for quality furniture. Whether you're updating the dining room or looking for new upholstery, Vanguard offers a choice of styles from classical to modern, traditional to eclectic, all built for the life you live today. On Saturday, July 29th, outside of Vanguard Furniture Factory Outlet, a skilled craftsman will be demonstrating how an 8-way hand-tied sofa springing system is created. See Vanguard's full product line on display inside the Vanguard Furniture Factory Outlet, located on Level 4, North Entrance and also inside Good's Home Furnishings, located on Levels 2 & 3, South Entrance.
www.goodshomefurnishings.com
MANUFACTURER DISPLAYS
Ekornes Stressless Furniture by Reflections Furniture
(Level 2, North Entrance)
If you love contemporary and European style furniture, visit the Ekornes display at the North Courtyard and learn about the famous Ekornes Stressless chairs that are ergonomically designed for comfort and support. Melt into one of these chairs and watch the informative video in style. Ekornes Inc. is the largest furniture manufacturer in Scandinavia with brand names such as Ekornes and Stressless. Products include Stressless recliners, sofas, loveseats and accessories; and Ekornes Collection sofas. Products are designed and manufactured at seven factories in Norway and one in the US. They are sold in more than 30 countries. Corporate offices in New Jersey serve North America. Known as the Innovators of Comfort, the company's Stressless seating is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) for proper head and lumbar support. Its patented Stressless Glide System automatically adjusts to body weight to determine the proper level of support, while its patented Plus System determines correct headrest position. Marking milestones every decade, Ekornes continues to be a company with a vision to create the world's most beautiful, stylish and ergonomically designed furniture for the home. See more Ekornes products on display inside Reflections Home Furnishings, located on Level 3, North Entrance.
www.reflectionsfurniture.com
ARTISANS
Andrew Atkin
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Andrew is a painter. He has 43 years experience in exploring multiple subjects and methods of painting. He has 25 years experience teaching college level classes and is currently at LRU as adjunct professor of fine art, going on four years. He earned his BFA degree from EKU in 1981 with honors in painting and an MFA from WCU in 1988 in painting/drawing. His work has been extensively collected and has won many awards over the years from various competitions/exhibitions regionally. Andrew currently works out of his home/studio in the Granite Falls area. He markets his work through exhibitions, invitationals, art competitions and through Facebook.
Anne Fredley
Designs by Anne
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Anne began painting in the fall of 2002. It provided a creative outlet as well as a connection to her mom, also an artist, who had passed away in June. She still feels that connection every time she paints.
Since Anne has always enjoyed trying to capture the beauty of nature in photographs, she naturally gravitated toward landscape painting. Much of her inspiration comes from photos taken during a trip to Italy, which included a landscape painting class in Tuscany. She feels such a sense of timelessness and a peace in the subjects she chooses. She uses fairly thin layers of paint and dry brushing to create a softer, more serene look. She hopes to continue learning and painting, as art provides both challenge and fulfillment.
www.NCOilPainter.com
Arsenio Sanchez
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Arsenio Sanchez is a local oil painter. His paintings have been on display at several local shows, including last year's Furniture Festival at Hickory Furniture Mart. His work will be showcased and available for purchase throughout the weekend.
Ellen Ball
Ellen Ball Studios
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Since 2007, metalsmith Ellen Ball has created jewelry made of copper, brass, aluminum and silver. Recently, she added the new "Messengers" line, which are assemblages featuring layers of metals and image transfers. The Hickory, NC native also teaches jewelry making classes throughout the region and is a member of North Carolina Artist-Blacksmith Association of North America.
www.ellenballstudios.com
Jan Brendle
Classy Country
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Classy Country is a duo team of Jan Brendle and her husband. They have been in business for 18 years. They enjoy creating mountain laurel furniture with cow hide and Native American jewelry and silver.
Janet Burgess
JLB Studio
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Janet Burgess loves being an artist! She relishes living a creative life. Her work focuses on making beautiful things for herself and her clients with the intention of enriching life.
www.janetburgess.com
Jonna Enck
Udderly Simple Soap Co.
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Udderly Simple Soap Company is family owned and operated and located in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina. Jonna Enck and her husband loved the idea of giving their six children nature's most perfect food, raw unprocessed goat's milk, so their home dairy was born. They then decided to try their hand at soap making. After falling in love with the art of hand crafting REAL soap, their business was born.
Their main ingredient, raw unprocessed goat's milk, comes from their very own farm and is hand milked daily from their small, pasture raised herd of milking does: Ivy, Love, Violet and Rose.
To make their soap they use the cold pressed method, which does take the most time, but is the best method for crafting the highest quality soap. This method allows them to preserve all the beneficial enzymes, vitamins and special skin nourishing properties unique to all the natural ingredients in their goat's milk soap. Each small batch of soap is hand cut and cured for a minimum of six weeks for a luxurious and long lasting bar. They use none of the artificial fragrances, dyes, harmful chemicals or toxins that you find in commercially produced "beauty bars." Their handcrafted soaps are full of skin loving moisture rich oils, specially formulated for all skin types. So go ahead and fall in love with the rich creamy lather, the soothing aroma and all the skin nourishing benefits of Udder Simple Goat's Milk Soap.
www.udderlysimplesoap.com
Laura Hampel
Bloomin' Glass Art
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Laura creates colorful micro macrame jewelry. She has been making her craft for almost 40 years. Enjoy custom orders with vintage jewelry or repurposed items.
Pam & Jerry Miller
Twine Designs
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Pam & Jerry Mill make glass "flowers" from repurposed glassware on "stems" with "leaves" made from copper and aluminum.
Their glass art flowers started by creating them as gifts for friend's birthdays, baby showers, anniversaries, wedddings and Christmas - any occasion to be able to make a friend smile. From there they "bloomed". They are a beautiful enhancement to any flower garden or yard. They are one of a kind - no duplicates, very unique!
Reilly Yount
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Reilly Yount - glass artist - worked as an elementary and middle school art teacher for Newton-Conover City Schools from 1978 until 2012 when he retired. He has worked in stained glass for the past 20 years and always wanted to explore the field of fused glass. When Reilly retired, he decided to purchase a glass kiln to start fusing glass and he loved it! He tries to employ different types of glass in his glasswork and is always mindful of color!
Sherry Goodnight
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Sherry learned to sew from her mother at age 6. She has done industrial and garment sewing for a living. She taught herself how to quilt at an early age and later took classes. She has been sewing most of her life. Her work will be showcased and available for purchase throughout the weekend at Hickory Furniture Mart.
Tom Denne
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Tom Denne is a lifelong woodworker and a native of Lancaster, NY. He has both BS and MS degrees in Industrial Arts Education from Buffalo State in Buffalo, NY. Tom taught woodworking and architectural drawing at Washington Park High School in Racine, Wisconsin for 30 years retiring in June 2000. In 2005, he started doing segmented turnings. Segmented turning uses may pieces of wood of difference colors glued together to form intricate patterns and designs. It is not uncommon to have over 1,000 pieces glued together and turned to form bowls, vases and other objects.
Treva Sweezy
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Treva enjoys making handmade items including table top Christmas trees, jewelry, scarves and much more. She has participated in many shows over the years and this is her second time displaying her work at Hickory Furniture Mart.
Varian Lee Swieter
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Varian Swieter lives in the foothills of North Carolina where she creates functional (food, dishwasher, microwave & oven safe) and decorative ceramic art. Varian uses the pottery wheel, along with hand building and sculpting techniques. She has created a unique line of functional stoneware drinking vessels called 'Get A Grip Stoneware TM'. Varian also creates sculpture pieces, designed to hang on a wall, standing sculptures and terra cotta sculptures used for aromatherapy as passive diffusers.
www.VarianLeeSwieter.com
Victoria von Drehle Hecht
von Drehle Images
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Victoria von Drehle Hecht owns von Drehle Images photography studio located in Hickory, NC. Victoria holds an A.A.S. degree in Photographic Technology and is experienced in many types of photography including: Landscape, Fine Art, Travel, Portraiture and Commercial. She also attended the School of Fine Arts at East Carolina University.
www.vondrehleimages.com
COMMUNITY
Catawba Valley Orchid Society
(Level 1, South Entrance)
The purpose of the Catawba Valley Orchid Society is to provide a support group to those interested in orchid culture, whether beginner or experienced. The mission of the Society is to promote and support the passion for orchids through education and conservation. Members consist of a broad array of people from many backgrounds who have a love of orchids in common. The Society meets on the second Tuesday of each month at Catawba Valley Community College in the Life Sciences Building at 7:00 PM. Meetings are free and open to the public. Visit their table throughout the weekend for more information and repotting demonstrations. Local orchids will also be available for purchase.
www.cvos.org
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse
(Level 1, South Entrance)
Need to re-energize throughout the day? Taste Full Beans Coffeehouse offers hot and cold specialty beverages and a variety of snacks and quick lunch items. Stop by their location to view daily specials offered this weekend.
Wooden Spool Cafe
(Level 2, North Entrance)
Sit down, relax and take a break during your visit. The Wooden Spool Cafe specializes in homemade gourmet sandwiches, wraps, specialty burgers, salads and fresh soups. Stop by their location to view daily specials offered this weekend.