Veteran Spring Creek Artisan Shirley Seay has been weaving special creations for decades.
She is the only active charter member of the group who continues to create original, handmade products, some knitted and others by fancy needle work and fibers.
“I began doing Swedish weaving after taking a local Extension class in the early 1950s in the Salem City Hall basement,” Seay said. “I learned other weaving techniques from former Salem weaver Kathy Love and then I trained under Master Weaver Barbara Overby, Columbia.”
Seay said there is a demand for Swedish woven products, because the weaving technique is somewhat rare and isn’t found often in craft and antique shops.
Her handiwork will be featured during the Artisans Springfest event 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, located at the corner of North Hickory Street and East Rolla Road.
Seay, 84, a native of Kenosha, Wisc., remembers when the group’s original Summerfest event held in June was the highlight of the season, attracting up to 5,000 people, according to the group’s scrapbook of newspaper clippings and other memorabilia.
“This year we celebrate 28 years of Spring Creek Artisan’s offering unique, handcrafted collectibles and fine art,” Seay said. “While each Artisan in the group has a specialty, everyone is pretty versatile in their craft skills.”
Seay spends the cold winter months immersed in her weaving. It was especially comforting this year, after the loss of her late husband, Judge William E. Seay, last year.
Her Swedish woven huck towels and table runners are an example of her exceptional craftsmanship.
Seay said Swedish weaving dates back centuries to the 1930s and 40s, when Swedish hand weaving became popular on huck toweling.
“Unlike typical embroidery, it is done on the surface under “floats” or top threads. There are no visible stitches on the back of the fabric,” Seay said.
Her detailed huck towels, knitted hats and fun fiber-filled button bunnies will be among the unique crafts available at Springfest.
The Saturday show will feature a variety of fine arts and crafts made by several local artists, and will include many items that were planned to be available during Christmas Fest and Hearts Day, when severe weather forced cancellation of both shows. The group hasn’t hosted this spring show during the past few years, but it was added this year to replace the two weather-cancelled shows.
“There will be a student art display, featuring a sampling of Upper Elementary and William Lynch Elementary School artwork, lemonade and cookies, and a special table for all the Christmas and Valentine items left over from our cancelled shows,” said Artisans President Russ Biros.
Springfest will feature many choices of original, quality, handmade collectibles and fine art and crafts made by area Artisans and craft demonstrations. There will be paintings, sketches, folk art, dolls, wall hangings, needlework, soap, batik and woodwork.
There will be lots of gift ideas for spring, Easter and Mother’s Day.
The Salem Public Library will also hold a mini book sale, with information available regarding the new library design, funding, and completion.
Salem’s Artisans group has been making handcrafted collectibles and fine art for more than 28 years. The Bonebrake Center of Nature and History serves as the group’s meeting place and contact office.
They lean toward the old, traditional arts stemming from our American heritage.
Products are made from scratch. The artisan creates from raw materials as opposed to assembling ready-made objects.
Founded in 1986 as a non-profit organization, which promotes both original craft and fine art media, the Artisans group now has about 15 members, who encourage and share their ideas and materials.
Artisans members include: Russ Biros-wood carving, JoAnne Biros-quilting and fabric art, Carol Broyles-painting, Linda Flieg-fiber arts, Sandy Flinchum-painting, Kathy Freeze-stained glass, Bill Germain-wood working, Rose Gibbs-painting, Tana Kettner-pottery, Judy Patterson McKinly-basket weaving, David Plank-watercolor, Margie Moll-jewelry, Courtney Miller-felting, print making and pottery, Wanda Nickles-pottery, Ellen Reynolds-quilting, charcoal, painting, Seay- knitting, needle work, fibers, and Davis Spurlock- wood turning and carving.
For more information contact the Bonebrake Center at 729-3400.
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