Local Products and Handcrafted Goods
Skylands Emporium
You’ll find work that embodies a respect for tradition with
an adventurous, innovative spirit that comes with command of technique.
Next time you want something beautiful to use or wear, or to give someone
you love, call an artist or visit a gallery in the Skylands. They do
crafts the old-fashioned way;
they learn it.
Salvatore Giardina is
a self-taught jewelry designer. Born in Italy, he came with his family
to New York City in 1960. Sal was well-entrenched in advanced placement
pre-med studies at Brooklyn's Lafayette HS when he crossed paths with
a man named Victor Verdi in Freehold, NJ. Verdi appealed to the artist
in Giardina, and the rest, as they say, is...
jewelry.
Sal worked in Verdi's Manhattan shop as a designer from 1980-82 then went on his own. He opened Ceasars Bay Bizarre in Brooklyn, then a shop in the Bowery in 1985 called Giardino D'Oro Jewelers.
Giardiana
created his first signature line in 1989, called the Aqua Collection,
hand crafted pieces that depict sea animals, water sports and nautical
items. His current line, called Wildlife Jewelry Creations, which includes
more than 100 pieces including waterfowl, horses, deer, fox and others,
is derived from the natural scenery and wildlife surrounding his home
near Old Bridge.
Both lines are made from various precious metals using the traditional lost wax casting process, which involves sculpting a three-dimensional model from wax that includes all the details and nuances that will appear in the final piece. A mold is cast around the model for use as a master mold. Lost wax casting is preferred when an item requires maximum detail reproduction. Some variation in weight, detail and polish is normal as the result of differences in temperatures at the several stages of the process and in the hand work involved. But the technique allows the artist all the subtleties and refinements in the subjects he has so arduously researched and followed from photographs and sketches to casting and polish.
Decoys and Wildlife Gallery, (908-996-6501) in Frenchtown showcases both collections, totaling over 300 limited-edition pieces in silver, 14kt, 18kt, and platinum. For further information about the work you can contact the artist at 917-204-5151.
John
Lee has been a working artist since leaving his art studies at the
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. While he has created many portraits,
landscapes and other artwork, it is wood that finally captured his
heart. He began working in wood after asking a friend to bring home
a carved wooded cross from a trip to Ireland. The friend could find
no such thing, so Lee made one himself. Since then, Celtic crosses
and other Celtic-inspired themes have become the backbone of his work,
and he sells out of his walking sticks, staves and wands at the Pennsylvania
Renaissance Faire each year. Although he occasionally does large commissioned
work "yard sculpture", signs and relief carvings Lee's
Celtic crosses have become his signature item.
In his Liberty Township workshop, John can be found designing and carving staves and walking sticks ranging from simple burned and colored designs and inlaid semi-precious stones to full 3 dimensional carved works of art. "Strangely enough...I was requested to start signing and dating the sticks because people have begun collecting them," Lee says. "The Celtic crosses are the traditional crosses seen throughout Ireland and England, with the ring surrounding the intersection of the cross," Lee explains. "They're more popular than I'd ever imagined."
Lee displays his wares at various shows throughout the region. Some of his work is currently on display (through mid-January, 2007) at the Oxford Township Municipal Building Gallery, 11 Green Street, Oxford. He can be reached at 908-637-8663.
Tammy Scully
Kids
grew up; empty nest. "I needed something to do. I didn't want
to go out and get a real job," says Jeanine Happe. So she built
a studio on her property in the woods of Knowlton Township, and opened
Two Old Crows in January 2006. Since then, Jeanine has had plenty to
do. Happe creates template patterns and provides materials for making
hooked rugs, punch needle embroidery, and cross-stitching, all traditional
forms of needlework that involve securing yarn or thread onto an even-weave
fabric base in decorative or pictorial patterns.
Traditional rug hooking has roots in colonial America, when floor coverings were created from discarded feed sacks and scraps of fabric. By pulling fabric strips with a hand hook through the base, pioneer women created looped pile rugs to cover bare floors. The handwork is revered as folk art, and contemporary rug hookers create chair seats, wall hangings, trivets, Christmas tree ornaments, carpetbags, clothing, jewelry... and rugs.
Punch needle embroidery, which gained popularity later in the Victorian era, has enjoyed recent resurgence. Sometimes referred to as "thread painting", the technique can depict complex scenes, employing application characteristics of rug hooking to produce products similar to those made from embroidery or cross-stitch. Miniature punch needle embroidery can use multiple strands of thread and result in pieces as small as an inch or two. Tiny little gems of folk art.
Jeanine's designs can take anywhere from an hour to several days to migrate from concept to sketch-on-paper to map-on-fabric. Customers can choose from over 170 bolts of wool dyed in a broad array of designs. The wool is washed so that it "felts", becoming thicker and fluffy; then cut into quarter-inch strips for do-it-your self hooked rugs or punch needle projects.
Happe also makes custom pieces, and by showing her work at a series of local craft shows, she has secured a steady and growing customer base. 908-496-4870.
Jersey farmers make more than corn and tomatoes... things like hand-processed soaps, lotions and other “pamper me” items, always a simple way to indulge. Or home-made clothing and fiber arts. Even more delightful, you don’t have to go far to find these items. In fact, you might never leave home!
"I'm
a bit of a purist when it comes to soap," owner and Branchville
soap-maker Lori Sickley says of her product, Simpler Thyme Soap. "We
use only olive, coconut and palm oils along with our own farm grown
herbs. Each batch takes about a month to complete by a traditional,
and labor intensive, soap making process."
Making cold processed soap involves a chemical recipe that requires careful safety precautions, patience, and practice. The primary ingredients lye, animal or vegetable oils and water are mixed together under precise conditions and transformed into... soap! Enhanced with herbs, spices or grains, some of the three dozen available soap "flavors" include: lemon poppyseed, lavender, basil or rosemary, oatmeal mint and even balsam fir. Special "Smorgasbar" soaps are scented with a mix of chocolate, lemon, almond and other appetizing flavors. The 3.5 ounce bars produce a long-lasting lather that is filled with non-toxic, 100% natural, gentle cleansing properties.
Goat's milk soap, fashioned from real goat's milk cream in place of spring water, is also available. It is left fragrance-free, for those who wish as natural a clean as possible. Another alternative is Castile oil soap, made with pure olive oil, rather than an oil blend, and recommended for babies or those with skin sensitivities. It, too, is fragrance free.
For the past ten years Sickley has traveled to farmers' markets to sell directly to the customer in order "to help people realize there is an alternative to the big brands that eventually took these skills away from the homestead." 973-875-9070, Website
Tammy Scully
At
Dégagé Gardens, six-years young, they grow organic herbs,
perennials and vegetables for sale; freshly potted, picked or dried,
wholesale and retail. With over 125 different varieties to choose from,
including old-fashioned, "open pollinated" heirlooms, the
selection is extensive.
Owner Anne Giller also sells handcrafted sachets, potpourris, lip balms, body lotion, eye pillows and body wraps made from her hand-harvested and dried herbs, vegetable oils and other natural ingredients. Adding these handcrafted goods to her stock has enabled Giller to expand her farming business to a year-round enterprise. She uses whole leaves not cut and sifted pieces to craft her herbal body and home products resulting in "more scent, more flavor and typically more color."
Giller's best sellers are herbal moth-repellent and lavender laundry sachets, but the wide variety can add wonderful aromas throughout your home. For those looking for a little more luxury, the aromatherapy eye pillow and body wraps bring decadent pleasure. Used heated or cool, these deliciously scented wraps provide relief from muscle tension, pulls or cramps while surrounding the user in calming aromas. One of her specialty bath creations is a reusable herbal sachet designed to relax, rejuvenate, stimulate or moisturize, depending on your mood. Giller's favorite product is her Calendula skin relief, made with cold pressed organic olive oil, infused for several weeks with hand-picked herbs, and used to sooth burns and scrapes and moisturize dry skin.
Dégagé Garden products are available on-site at Green Pond Road in Rockaway Twp. or through various retail establishments throughout the Morris County area. She also sells to Whole Foods Markets. 973-586-4584 , Website
Tammy Scully
Heavens
Gate Llama Farm is home to Blairstown artist and children's author
Lydia Chiappini, whose nine llamas provide wool and inspiration for
her fiber arts. The farm "produces raw and processed wool, as
well as hand spun and hand woven, felted and knitted wearable art and
sculpture," Chiappini says. "All of our fiber products are
produced from our llama's wool."
Llamas are native to the Andes Mountains in South America They are closely related to the alpaca, another exotic species often found on Skylands farms. Llamas require a barn, a fenced in pasture (up to five llamas per acre), fresh clean water, grass, hay, grain, and a mineral supplement. They are prone to heat stress, requiring cooling fans during the New Jersey summer, and need to be sheared in the late spring. Llamas have large, beautiful eyes with long lashes, and are very intelligent.
Chiappini creates delicate, ethereal sculptures of llamas, complete with Mylar wings if desired, from felted fibers. These flexible sculptures are sure to delight any child's heart, especially if they have read one of the llama-themed books Lydia has penned and illustrated. An adjunct professor at Warren County Community College, she also paints custom llama portraits in oil, acrylic, watercolor or bronze. Chiappini sells her wares at local crafts shows throughout the year. 908-362-5604, Website
Tammy Scully
The home-baked goodness of foods made “from scratch” and desserts painstakingly prepared using only the highest quality ingredients are always in season. Breads, pies, cookies, candies and other appetizing delights made locally are sure to be fresh. Plus, you get to try the best family recipes around!
Blueberry
Health, Inc. is a partnership between New Jersey blueberry farmers,
Rutgers University and the Herbalist and Alchemist company, based in
Washington Borough. The project initiated and partially
owned by growers develops, markets and distributes all
natural blueberry products.
Currently, two products are available. Jersey Blues blueberry iced
tea comes either sweetened with organic cane sugar or unsweetened.
Blueberry Solid Extract can be used as a delicious spread, or you can
mix it with yogurt or cottage cheese. The iced teas are sold at many
health food stores, farm stands and local markets. The spread is sold
exclusively through Herbalist and Alchemist
908-689-9020, Website
Tammy Scully
Enchanted
Chocolate is a dream come true for owner Donna Kingsbury, as well as
for the satisfied customers who taste any of her delectable chocolate
creations. Tucked inside the rustic Best's Fruit Farm on Route 46 just
west of Hackettstown, the atmosphere speaks of down-home, homemade
goodness. "I try to be like an old-fashioned chocolate shop. I
use all old-fashioned recipes," Kingsbury says.
Using only natural ingredients, Kingsbury hand-dips the chocolates piece by piece, using a chocolate pot, not a machine, to handcraft each piece. The center fillings of these candies are, of course, homemade by Kingsbury as well. Her small-batch methods, result in a taste unlike, and far superior, to that of the typical boxed chocolates.
Donna makes milk and dark chocolate filled with everything from maple to raspberry, and nuts to nougat. Lollipops and other molded chocolate, sugar-free chocolates, and coated raisins, cherries, coffee beans or pretzels are also available. Gift baskets in a wide range of sizes will fulfill any desire. Stop in 7 days a week and see for yourself how enchanted this chocolate really is! 908-852-5151
Tammy Scully
Based
in Sparta, Maria Weingrad has been offering up her home-baked goodies
via the internet and at the Olde Lafayette Village Farmers' Market.
Established in 2005, Everything Homemade specializes in "baked
goods made with what I call 'real' ingredients and lots of love," she
says.
After learning to bake at her grandmother's side, Weingrad wanted to continue the traditions passed down from previous generations. Realizing that supermarket baked goods were filled with preservatives meant to extend shelf-life, not create a pleasing taste, she decided to offer products baked with wholesome, natural ingredients that actually taste as good as they look. There are no hidden ingredients or chemicals with unpronounceable names.
"What you see is what you get," Weingrad says of her products. In fact, Weingrad advertises her simple ingredients prominently on her website.
"The old-fashioned comfort foods from our past" are the foods Weingrad bakes with care; like chewy oatmeal raisin cookies, buttery linzer tarts, thick fudgy brownies, date nut bread, creamy carrot cake, Christmas cookies and Wassail cider for the holidays. For Valentine's Day, a heaping helping of Killer Chocolate Cheesecake might just do the trick. Birthday and specialty cakes are made to order with choice of cake flavor, frosting and filling.
Everything Homemade can ship some items. There is free delivery within a 10-mile radius of Sparta, and a nominal delivery charge for destinations a bit further away. Orders can be placed online or by phone 973-972-8000.