Artisans United Gallery and Shop
4022 Hummer Road
Annandale, VA 22003
703-941-0202
Monday - Saturday 10 am to 4 pm
www.augallery.org
More: Artisans United Craft Gallery
Artisans Brochure
OTHER ANNANDALE ARTISANS
Karen Bowes
Robin Milburn
Dan Burke
Peggy Taves
Jean Lee
Gini Moore
Paul Gesalman
Sylvie M. Kostrzewski
(Copyright © 2012 Annandale Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. (Photographs & images, on this page, and on this website, are not available for use by other publications, blogs, individuals, websites, or social media sites.)
The photographs above are a very small sampling of Designer Baby Accessories by Peggy Taves. Peggy's work and that of other artisans can be seen and purchased at the Artisans United Gallery in Annandale.
MEET THE ARTISAN: Lynn Chadwick
Work on Display and for Sale at the Artisans United Gallery
I have been a “maker” all my life. I was lucky enough to be encouraged by grandmother and my dad.
My grandmother lived with us and made all my school clothes. Before every school year, she would measure me and cut out the pattern from newspaper. I suspect that I was the only child in the Los Angeles school district that wore a matching crisply ironed pinafore to school every day!
My dad was a furniture maker in his spare time. When I asked my dad for money to buy school clothes he gave me money for patterns and fabric instead. I prided myself on wearing clothes I made myself that looked store-bought. When I was a senior in high school I won the local Singer Sewing Contest which came with a Singer Featherweight sewing machine that is still my only sewing machine.
I sewed all through college. When I joined the working world, I had little time. My life as a maker was suspended.
Some years later, I began seeking a creative outlet, I found a bead stringing class offered by the Fairfax County Adult Education program. I went to class with a box of broken necklaces and fell in love with making jewelry.
Over the years I have developed skills through study at the Corcoran School of Art and workshops with master artists at Arrowmont School of Craft, Touchstone School of Craft and Peters Valley School of Craft. Besides jewelry and metals, these schools offer programs in wood, glass, fiber, painting, forging. I encourage anyone interested in learning about a craft to check out the week-long residential programs at these schools.
I will never forget meeting the grandson of the famous chief Red Cloud while I was working on the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe reservation in northern Wisconsin. I was very new to making jewelry. He was a master bead worker. When he asked me if I had any questions I said I didn’t know enough to have a question. He just smiled and told me to always pick my colors in daylight. That’s good advice for every maker and I follow it to this day!
I work with metal, beads, fiber, stones and wood. I am inspired by the world around me—particularly the unusual color combinations that occur in nature. My jewelry is whimsical and elegant. At the Artisans United Gallery I am showing dragonfly earrings made from Swarovski crystals as well as copper bracelets, macrame necklaces and kinetic necklaces combining metal and glass on adjustable leather cords finished with African trade beads.
I pride myself on my lightweight comfortable earrings and easily wearable necklaces and brooches. I always use sterling silver or gold-filled findings. I enjoy the creative feeling of “being in the zone” when I am making my pieces. And I want the people who wear my jewelry to feel that enjoyment too.
The Craft Gallery of Artisans United is a cooperative endeavor, staffed and run by
the independent members of Artisans United, Inc. as well as those individuals belonging to the member Guilds. On a daily basis, visitors will find the Gallery artisans happy to explain crafting techniques and to share their knowledge of where craft materials may be obtained. And, too, visitors will often discover impromptu demos in progress as the artists complete their creations. We are always looking for new craftspeople to join our organization. If you are interested in joining us as a member artist, please ask at the front desk for a membership packet which explains what is expected of you as a member of Artisans United.
If you are looking for gifts, please visit the Gallery where you will find an exceptional range of items appropriate for baby, wedding, mother’s day, father’s day, graduation and housewarmings.
THE CRAFT GALLERY OF ARTISANS UNITED
4022 Hummer Road
Annandale, VA 22003
703.941.0202 . www.augallery.org
10-4 pm Tuesday through Saturday and 1-4 on Sunday
Reproduction of this article or photographs requires the written permission of the author and The ENDEAVOR News Magazine. Photographs are courtesy of the author with all right of use reserved. (Copyright © 2012 Annandale Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. (Photographs & images, on this page, and on this website, are not available for use by other publications, blogs, individuals, websites, or social media sites.)
Copyright 2012 Annandale Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
