Sharon Soames, Director, Christmas in the Country llc
Sharon Soames, Director, Christmas in the Country
Born of Swedish descent second in line in a passel of six children to a Presbyterian minister and his Southern belle, Sharon lived in California; Edinburgh, Scotland; Shawnee & Johnstown, Pennsylvania; West Seattle, Washington; and for the last thirty-seven years in an historic home on Blakely Harbor, Bainbridge Island, Washington. There with her husband, Steve, they raised three venerable children, Alicia, Dylan and Garrett.
Being born two days before Christmas imprinted a propensity for Sharon to focus on the holiday for much of her creative, productive activities. Nearly fifty years ago she began by selling Christmas cards during primary school. After graduating from the University of Washington in Nursing where she whole-heartedly cheered on the football and basketball teams as a Husky Songleader, she married Steve and moved to Bainbridge Island. As a young married woman she created Christmas fund-raisers and programs at Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church on Bainbridge. A creative adjunct to this early event planning was her own talent in growing and drying flowers and foliage, collecting fallen bits of nature and shells or discarded historical refuse from the beach (remnants from the old mill that operated at Port Blakely) to create pinecone, herb & flower, or shell wreaths in a line she named “Artyfacts & Trashures”, now often referred to as “trash to treasure”. The motto for her home-based business, “Preserving and Designing Nature’s Art”, described the crafting of floral wreaths and arrangements and the teaching of wreath-making classes that occurred at her cottage industry, Rose of Sharon’s, up until 2005. In 1993 as an off-shoot of Rose of Sharon’s, Christmas in the Country was born. For twelve years, her floral design studio was a stop on the tour featuring her Christmas wreaths and Christmas décor handmade by local artists.
“It has been my privilege these last sixteen years as creative director of Christmas in the Country to represent many, many talented artists and their incredible handmade work and to provide for Bainbridge Islanders and visitors to the Island a grassroots, homespun approach to the celebration of Christmas. Many individuals and families over a decade and a half have come to make Christmas in the Country a tradition, to value the community connection, and to honor and support the efforts of individuals engaging their creative spirit and talent. Christmas in the Country has nurtured young budding artists just in their teens, supported the professionals whose art is their income, encouraged the hobbyist, and helped the artist so inspired to continue creating that even arthritis can’t thwart his dedication to crafting as a true labor of love. It is my greatest desire now as I anticipate my future retirement, to secure Christmas in the Country into the capable care of another creative owner/director. If you feel you are that person, please contact me, sharonrs@aol.com. Thanks for your many years of support for Christmas in the Country.”
Our 2009 Featured Poster Artist, Wendy Edelson
Wendy Edelson featured poster artist 2009
Born6 weeks early ,Wendy Edelson spent her first couple years in New York, then moved with her parents to California. It was there in the back of the station wagon with the country speeding past the windows that she began to draw, and draw…..and draw and hasn’t stopped since. Wendy, a self-taught artist, movedback to New York at the age of 16 eager to begin her professional career and to make the rounds of publishers and advertising agencies. After several years she moved further North up to Vermont, where shespent most of her adult life illustrating children’s books and creating art for packaging, posters, advertising, collectibles and grown up books.
She now lives on Bainbridge Island and has recently begun licensingher images for all sorts of products, such as puzzles, cards and bannersandis currently busy with her new favorite passion, creatingfabric collections. She has managed to steal just enough time away from her drawing board occasionally to travel the world and has learned how to whip up a mean Puttanesca sauce and bake biscotti , grow scented flower gardens and heirloom vegetables, learn to dance, be happy, write a children’s book, get married and have a son , love a Corgi and a fluffy gray cat....and the fun’s just begun! Wendy will show her work at Hazel Creek Farm during Christmas in the Country. See more of her delightful, colorful watercolors at www.wendyedelson.com Order Wendy's prints and cards at Imagekind.
Elijah Burnett
Elijah Burnett of Burnett Forge
For thousands of years man has been forging iron into art and functional pieces.Today that tradition continues in a trade that implements the same methods and materials originally employed by early smiths.Elijah Burnett, artist blacksmith of Burnett Forge, strives to continue in the integrity of his craft in order to produce unique, high quality pieces that accentuate your home, garden, or business.From raw steel to a detailed finished piece, each step of the forging process is completed in our forge in Poulsbo, Washington.Elijah began forging under the tutelage of master blacksmiths in a four year European style apprenticeship, and continues to glean from smiths from all over the globe, and then incorporates these global styles into his work.Burnett Forge is built on the tradition of blacksmiths: powerful design, exceptional detail, expert craftsmanship, diverse options, and uncompromising quality.
Nic & Kathleen Marshall and 1930 Chandler & Price printing press
50 + years in the printing business brought Nic and Kathleen Marshall to live and set up their letterpress studio on Bainbridge Island. Nic will be printing personalized stationery using metal cuts and hand set type. This will be a delightful experience as you watch your own or gift stationery being printed. Children will be especially interested in this old time printing and asking Nic or Kathy questions. They are also excited to introduce their first line of letterpress greeting cards with many holiday designs as well as beverage coasters also done on the letterpress by their son Peter.
