The Cadillac of Redware Potters, Ned Foltz

On one of our visits to the PA Guild of Juried Handcrafters Fair in Lancaster, PA, there was a booth that was crowded all day long: Ned Foltz Pottery. Then customers started asking if we had any of his pottery. Publicity came from Southern Living, Country Living, Early American Life and Country Home magazines, public and cable television. However, there was a time he felt another lump of clay was unformed and purposeless. Then he taught art in Cocalico, PA schools and found the Lancaster County redware tradition was dying. It had a rebirth, and Ned became hooked with the traditional style.

He has dug the abundant red clay himself. He made a sgraffito plate for a former ambassador from Mexico and been invited to hang one of his Christmas ornaments at the White House. Sgraffito is accomplished by coating the redware with a slip, then scratching the semidry liquid clay to reveal the red clay beneath with its exquisite design. Some examples of this style are available in our stores.

Ned Foltz is now retired, making the pieces we have extremely collectible. Glazes are lead free. Pieces made by a couple who worked for Ned Foltz, Mayre Landis, are also available. Whimsical Easter eggs, plates decorated with rabbits, snowmen, Halloween characters, a flower pot and traditional pieces are waiting for you to add to your decorations.

Feasting is Over

Now that the major holidays are over, even if you had to celebrate after the fact, how did your table top fair with the company and anxious hungry guests? Did it receive a few dings and scratches? Solution: McKay Table Pads. They are 1/2” thick, insulated and come in different colors for the vinyl top and suede bottom to closely match the color of your table. One price for any length table, plus leaves, up to 144 inches. We have the large paper for you to make a template of your table top. Send it off and voila, life time protection. Leaf bags are also available.

The catalyzed conversion varnish finish on Valley View Oak tables is resistant to about 2 dozen liquids. Be sure to wipe spills promptly. Other things affecting any table finish are dust: wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with a non-ammonia, non-silicone furniture polish or mild detergent; fingerprints, cooking fumes, smoking residue will take away from the original luster; wipe with that dampened cloth; excessive exposure to direct sunlight, high temps & humidity can cause changes to the finish and wood itself, as explained in the last newsletter. Heat: anything that’s too hot for you to hold in your hands needs a hot pad under it. Protect your table now.

Wishes May Come True

How many of you wished for a white Christmas? Judging by the intensity of the weather we experienced in our area in December, it was quite a few, and you got your wish. That did put a wrinkle in our delivery and pick up system, but we tried. Two customers got their wish when they entered the Oregonian’s Furniture Fantasy contest and we’re bustin’ our buttons that they chose to use their winnings at our store. One customer thought it was just a marketing ploy. Your entry was not added to any mailing list, nor to try and sell something by phone. Our Kim Young was chosen Salesperson of the Year. There are at least 3 lines of dining room, bedroom, entertainment and office furniture from which to choose. Handcrafted by the Amish. Some pieces are made by Amish families after they’ve finished with their chores. When we visit them in Ohio, we can hear the portable generator providing their electricity, chug, chug, chug, chug. (Say it fast to get the effect.) Recently added to our office furniture has been River Woodworking, in northern Indiana, building computer, flat top and roll top desks from 1” solid hardwood in a variety of wood species. Paul Yoder learned the art from his father. Some of the desks have secret compartments. Any desk would complement your home or office interior. Consider brown maple: looks like cherry, has the price of oak. Then add a desk chair by F & N Chairs or Buckeye Rockers. It was our wish to have these beautiful items on our floor to show some of the finest furniture made in the USA

Scherenschnitte

No, you didn’t sneeze while trying to pronounce this German word meaning paper cutting. Its origins are in China, 25 AD to 221 AD. Paper was an expensive luxury and paper cutting was highly prized by Chinese royalty. Soon it made its way over the Silk Road to Europe. Today paper cutting is not practiced widely in Germany, except in Canton Bern, but remains popular in Switzerland and other countries. Each of our stores has an example of scherenschnitte featuring one of five PA Guild member artists: Jupi Das, of Harrisburg, PA whose work displays an oriental touch; Sandra Gilpin producing colored scherenschnitte, Marilyn Diener with a Polish style; Marie Helene Grabman, internationally known and featured in the magazine German Life, Feb/March 2009; and Neil Haring of Womelsdorf, PA who was commissioned to produce a piece for Liza Minelli’s last wedding. Traditional artists used heavy scissors; today there is a variety of specialty scissors. Of the artists whose work we display, only Neil Haring uses a knife. The others use fine scissors; Marie Helen Grabman uses fine surgical scissors, to cut from one piece of paper. The large cutting above the mantel in Aurora was displayed in the Detroit, MI Museum of Art before coming to our store. She has won numerous art awards, as has Neil Haring. Themes of the art can be elaborations of nature, folk life, specific celebrations, hearts or flowers.

To make your choice of the lacy designs, you might need to visit each of our stores before making a selection to decorate your home. It’s more than the snowflakes you made in the second grade.

Peggy Karr Retires Patterns

Peggy Karr Glass is the finest fused enameled glass for the table and home, handmade in the USA since 1987. She isn’t retired, but several of her patterns are now retired. Although, different pieces are still available in our stores waiting to be added to your collection, or ready to start a collection. My favorite is St. Nick, the crescent shaped head on a round 11” plate. Daffodils is a close second with bright yellow heralding the start of spring. The 14” platter is sure to put a spark in your home décor. Some seasonal patterns for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, patriotic holidays, Halloween, and Christmas are retired but still in stock in our stores. The above picture shows, left to right, Pastel Tulips, Rainbow Iris and Floral Branch. Hang in your window to catch the sun, use to serve baked treats, display on a shelf or table . Dishwasher safe and microwave safe for warming, not cooking. Your friends will be jealous!