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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-09-28, Page 31PAGE 8 "Outreach Artisan" promotes talented Huron County craftsmen and women BY LYNDA JONES Very often local talent and creativity is taken for granted. Those area residents who have visited Seaforth's newest shop, The Sitting Room, at the Van Egmond House have expressed surprise when told that all the fine work they see has been handcrafted by Huron County people. There are many talented artisans in the area, srome of whom are attempting to earn a living at their craft. However, most find it difficult to both create and market their work; some have given up. With this in mind, the Van Egmond Foundation with the help of a Canada Community Development grant sponsored "Outreach Artisan". The purpose of this project is the promotion of Huron County craftsmen and women. It was felt that the project would be mutually beneficial, that the combination of history and arts and crafts would attract more visitors tot e Van Egmond site. OPENED AT EASTER The result of several months of research, contacts, meetings, cleaning, painting and organizing was the opening on Easter Saturday of The Sitting Room. Gathered in this unique shop are the collected works of over 30 area artisans. The quality of workmanship has been most impressive and the prices have been kept reasonable. The shop adds only a small percentage to cover promotion and operating costs. The goal is not profit for the shop but for the producers. Visitors to The Sitting Room can choose from a wide variety of articles includin ,. wood -turned bowls, candle holders and weed pots; woven . skirts and shawls, placemats, purses; quilted handbags and wall -hangings; stained glass light -catchers, lanterns and terrariums, wrought iron candle holders, coat hooks and trivets; paintings in oils and watercolours and on barn -board; stuffed dolls and animals, knitted and crocheted baby outfits, sweaters, purses and afghans, photography and much more. OTHER OUTLETS There have also been attempts at off-site marketing. Several of the artisans now have their work in shopin Goderich, Grand Bend, Port Franks, St. Marys and Stratford. The crafts people are also most willing to fill special orders and commissions. Although the project itself officially ends in November it is hoped, if enough interest has been shown, to open the shop again next spring. During Ciderfest weekend, be sure to visit The Sitting Room. Several of the artisans will be on hand demonstrating their skills. Perhaps you will find that special Christmas gift or a unique momento of Huron County. Don't run out of gas onC ider f est weekend! CLASS A MECHANIC ON THE PREMISES Our Services Includes • Tune-ups • Oil Changes • Air Conditioning Service • Safety Checks • Tire Service — / AUTOPRO MUFFLERS I wowUFETIME BRAKES SHOCKS GUARANTEE 1 We also carry PROPANE FUEL for Tanks and Vehicle SEAFORTH GULF SERVICE 01111* Management . Jim Floyd and Clair 14/1CClure \G u , f 527-0333 Seaforth Mir Just east of the lights on the right HOURS: Mon.-Thurs. -7 a.m - 10 p.m. Friday - 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Saturday - 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sunday - 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Self-taught craftsman has stained glass at Van Egmond House One look around Elmore and Margaret Stephenson's comfortable house in Egmondville, and you know someone is fond of stained glass. It's used in coached lamps outside the front door, in a hanging lamp in the front hall, in a number of planters and smaller items and in decorations which hang in the large sun room window. There's even an antique Tiffany -style stained glass hanging lamp in the dining room. It has been there since Mrs. Stepherson's father, the late Tom Robinson, moved to town from the Goshen line many years ago. That antique lamp is the only stained glass item in the house that Elmore Stephenson_ hasn't made with his own hands. The Stephensons' personal collection gives you some idea of the variety of itenis, i,tore than 200 in all, that Mr. Stephenson has made since he took up the hobby seven years ago. INTRICATE For the past year he's had neuritis in his right hand, which makes it difficult -to do the intricate work of cutting the glass, wrapping it with copper foil and soldering. That's the Tiffany method; the leaded method, he explains, is a little simpler as it involves fitting the glass pieces into slots in lead strips and then soldering the strips where they meet in the design. While the local craftsman has made a lamp for his daughter, Grace, in the last year, and his work is on sale at the Van Egmond house store, The Sitting Room, he no longer works regularly in his basement workshop. A lamp like the one in the Stephenson hallway (Elmore used a soccer ball for the pattern) takes 20 hours or more to make. A planter in pink and mauve glass is in the bathroom and he's made small jewel boxes. Hanging pieces include a butterfly which has 80 separate pieces of glass, a cardinal, other birds, and flowers and an abstract landscape. The sun porch is also home to another one of Elmore Stephenson's collections: over 150 small bells hang from the rafters of the sloped ceiling. A self-taught craftsman, Mr. Stephenson has a pile of books on stained glass two feet high. The books have been a• source of ideas but he also learns from visits to suppliers, including a glass factory in Kokamo, Indianna. • SOLDER EXPENSIVE • A visit to Indianna at Christmas time 1975 gave Mr. Stephenson the idea to try stained glass. The hobby has become more expensive, with solder now costing more than the glass. PAGE 9 A STAINED GLASS LAMPSHADE—Elmore and Marg- aret Stephenson with a Tamp he made a new shade for. It's really difficult work, but Mr. Stephenson has repaired a few big stained glass church windows, including one from Varna. He explains that the glass used in elaborate scenes in church windows starts out clear. It's then painted with substances and fired. After firing, the individual pieces of glass take on their different colors. The trend now, he says, is to make modern church windows with heavy slabs of colored glass and use cement between the pieces. When you're a stained glass craftsman, you look at church windows with special interest. 'Mr. Stephenson points out some complicated and fine examples of European cathedral windows in one of his books. He hasn't seen those in person but he does notice stained glass windows here at home. "Every church he goes into, he looks them over," Mrs. Stephenson says. Where are the best in this area? He's not committing himself, but "Walton Church has pretty windows," in Elmore Stephenson's opinion.