Masquerade

Announcing “Masquerade”, presented by the artists of Charleston Crafts Gallery

Open House, Friday May 3, 2024, 5-8pm, in conjunction with the Charleston Gallery Association Art Walk evening celebrations.

In honor of Charleston’s own Spoleto Festival, Charleston Crafts Gallery presents “Masquerade” to feature all things theatrical, whimsical, and artistic. While Spoleto Festival celebrates music, theatre, and dance, the arts can also join in the fun. Come see the work of five of the Gallery’s member-artisans, Nancy Warren, Carrie Helmkamp, Tammy Rudd, John Schumacher, and Selma Andrews. These five artists work in a varied range of media, with the emphasis on imagination and creativity. Come and celebrate the festival season this May in Charleston.

Tammy Rudd is a jeweler creates her own torch fired beads, and fashions these glittering beauties into miniature works of hand-made art. Wear your art while you attend festival events.

Nancy Warren, a fiber artist and jewelry-maker, offers handwoven scarves with vibrant hand dyed colorways, as well as exciting jewelry featuring handmade beads using fabric and fiber techniques.

Selma Andrews, a jeweler working in Polymer clay, offers jewelry with vibrant and intricate designs which feature faces and modernist masks for this exhibition.

Carrie Helmkamp is a clay artist who creates whimsical, fabulist creatures, such as her Gnomies and Kruffles, to charm viewers of all ages.

John Schumacher works in stained glass. His colorful creations feature modern images and vibrant shapes as well as birds, flowers and fish. Brighten up your windows or your walls, so your home can join in celebrating Spoleto season.

While these members are in the spotlight, the work of all the Gallery’s members are also on display and available for purchase, including jewelry, wood puzzles, encaustic paintings, mixed media collages, fiber art, apparel and accessories, as well as functional and decorative objects in wood, ceramic and glass.

Jazz it up

Announcing “Jazz it up”, presented by the artists of Charleston Crafts Gallery

Open House, April 5, 2024, 5-8pm, in conjunction with the Charleston gallery Association Art Walk evening celebrations.

Swing into Charleston Crafts Gallery as we honor the Charleston Jazz Festival (April 18-24). Celebrate art inspired by music featuring five artists in our cooperative gallery. The work of Valerie Lamott, Laurie Prophater, Luann Rosenzweig, Susan Livingston and Tanya Craig will be spotlighted this month. Jazz up your style with art to wear, jewelry and home decor. You do not even need to fly yourself to the moon, just tap on down to 140 East Bay St. in downtown Charleston SC.

Valerie Lamott employs traditional metalsmithing techniques to craft jewelry with a variety of themes. For this month’s show, she is featuring a collection of musical offerings.

Laurie Prophater, a jeweler working in Polymer clay, offers jewelry with vibrant and intricate designs to delight the wearer.

LuAnn Rosenzweig creates gorgeous one-of-kind art to wear garments which are sure to jazz up the wardrobe. Often inspired by Asian themes, her jackets and vests are truly bespoke.

Susan Livingston is a fiber artist who creates fiber collages using hand dyed, hand stitched and found objects with elements on her fabrics. This month, she was inspired by the theme of the song “Fly me to the Moon”, her father’s favorite jazz song.

Tanya Craig creates whimsical, and exciting works in Fused glass. She creates glass plates and trays, as well as mobiles for the home. Her vibrant creations will jazz up your home décor!

While these members are in the spotlight, the work of all the Gallery’s members are also on display and available for purchase, including jewelry, wood puzzles, encaustic paintings, mixed media collages, fiber art, apparel and accessories, as well as functional and decorative objects in wood, ceramic and glass.

Charleston’s destination for Fine Craft since 1989, the gallery is located at 140 East Bay Street, in the heart of the French Quarter, on “Gallery Row”. The gallery is open Daily, 10:00-6:00 and staffed by its friendly and knowledgeable member-artisans. Charleston Crafts Cooperative Gallery is a dynamic community of more than two dozen jury-selected artisans, all from South Carolina, making this the city’s only exclusively local craft gallery. For more information: 843.501.7522 or www.charlestoncraftsgallery.com.

"For the birds"

Group show February 1-29, 2024

Open House: Friday, February 2, 2024

Charleston Crafts Gallery is sharing the spirit of this year’s South Eastern Wildlife Exposition by hosting a group show called “For the Birds”. Feathered friends created in a plethora of medium are featured for the month of February. The gallery is hosting an open house Friday, February 2nd from 5 - 8pm. Meet many of the gallery’s artists at the open house, during the monthly Art Walk. 

A variety of talented craftsmen are inspired by birds in the wild. Each artist takes on a unique perspective of different aspects of the lives of birds. Nearly half of the gallery’s 25 members are showing off their understanding and connections to the natural world surrounding them as they are portrayed in jewelry, mixed media, fiber, glass, paper, wood, and ceramics. Outdoor enthusiasts and bird lovers of all ages will enjoy the creativity these artists have poured into this subject.

Staffed by its knowledgeable and friendly member-artisans, Charleston Crafts Gallery is a dynamic cooperative community of more than two dozen jury-selected artisans. All live in South Carolina, making the Gallery the city’s only exclusively fine craft gallery. For information about joining the gallery as an exhibiting member please visit https://charlestoncraftsgallery.com/join-charleston-crafts

Announcing the 45th Annual Piccolo Spoleto Craft Show: May 24 - 26, 2024

This May, Piccolo Spoleto Craft Show will mark its 45th year of participation in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Run by Charleston Crafts Gallery with cooperation from the City of Charleston, the Craft Show presents a high quality of original work created by artists in a wide variety of craft media. The three day show will be held in Charleston’s historic Wragg Square under arching live oak trees. This year the show will be held Memorial Day weekend, May 24 - 26. Both emerging and experienced fine craft artists from around the US are invited to apply to participate. For application information please visit https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=12130 

The Application Deadline is February 29.

Charleston Crafts Gallery at 140 East Bay Street, Charleston SC is Open Daily 10am-6pm.

For more information: call 843-501-7522, or go to charlestoncraftsgallery.com.

Share the Joy

It’s that festive time of year again, and Charleston Crafts Gallery, the city’s ultimate artful shopping experience, will host an open house during the Friday Art Walk on December 1, 5:00 pm-8:00pm.

As Charleston’s only source for local fine craft, the gallery has treasures to make your holidays special – and your shopping a breeze.  Staffed by our friendly member-artisans, Charleston Crafts Cooperative Gallery is a dynamic community of jury-selected artisans.

Please join us On Friday, December 1st and browse a dazzling collection of fine craft all created by local South Carolinian artists. Beverages and refreshments will be provided in our new larger space, located at 140 East Bay Street. Making your Holiday shopping a one-stop-shop, fine craft items perfect for Holiday gift giving will be on display and available for purchase.

We offer beautiful hand-crafted items in many different mediums including jewelry, wood puzzles, encaustic paints, fiber art, paper quilling, mixed media collage, apparel and accessories, plus functional and decorative objects in wood, ceramic, and glass. Our new location has also afforded us the opportunity to jury-in additional new talented artisans to our growing Fine Crafts Cooperative.

Created with heart and imagination, the gallery’s one-of-a kind artworks are sure to be cherished. Set the scene for a merry and bright holiday with these exceptional artisan-made gifts:

Stocking stuffers: Smaller treasures such as handmade jewelry, ornaments, lotions, candles, ceramic sculptures, glass and ceramic ornaments, origami and many more.

Cozy gifts: Scarves, handmade jackets, gloves and other items to chase the chill, all skillfully hand-knitted and hand-woven by the gallery’s textile artisans.

Gifts for an artful home: Beautifully crafted wood tables and mirrors, bold ceramic sculptures, plus multi-media, mosaic, encaustic, paper quilling artwork and fiber art for the wall.

Lowcountry gifts: Handmade jewelry portraying local scenes, polymer clay “Charleston Lady” jewelry and ornaments, ceramic mugs and works in wood inspired by the Holy City and our picturesque area.

Gifts of unique style: Gorgeous hand-dyed silk scarves, colorful textile jewelry, handmade purses in fabric and up cycled leather, chic jackets, plus stylish ties for the guys.

Shimmering gifts: Exquisite works of art in stained and fused glass that bring color and beauty into any space.

Gifts for an elegant table: Table linens, mugs, and ceramic and wooden serving bowls and platters.

Amusing gifts: Whimsical Kruffles and Gnomies ceramic sculptures, adorable hand-knitted dolls and creatures, challenging wood puzzles and more gifts guaranteed to bring a smile.

A Harvest of Fine Craft

Charleston Crafts Cooperative Gallery Presents, “A Harvest of Fine Craft”: November 3rd, 5-8 pm

Charleston Crafts Gallery is spotlighting three artists producing fine craft in three very different mediums.These highlighted artists will be on display during the entire month of November. While these talented artists will be featured, the work of all Gallery members will also be on display in our new larger space and all art is available for purchase, including jewelry, wood puzzles, encaustic paints, fiber art, mixed media collage, apparel and accessories, plus functional and decorative objects in wood, ceramic, and glass. Our new location has also afforded us the opportunity to jury-in additional new talented artisans to our growing Fine Crafts Cooperative.

Dedie Story is a fused glass artist and has been interested in creating and making things her entire life. She began with sewing which she still does often. As a garment embellisher, she began making glass beads with a torch. Her glass journey blossomed from there. There is always more to learn. Dedie finds glass to be fascinating, exciting, and ever changing and she endeavors to create designs that interweave beautiful colors and textures and sometimes just a little fun.

Susan Livingston has been a mixed-media fiber artist many years. Some days she spends dyeing beautiful fabrics and some days she spends stitching (always by hand) on these fabrics. Other days she spends walking and collecting the found objects that are often inspiration for her mixed-media fiber collages. Susan’s work includes shibori-resist silk scarves in indigo and other natural dyes, vintage napkins she collects and also dyes, textile panels, and framed mixed-media fiber collages.

Courtney Powers crafts useful upcycled leather accessories, is new to South Carolina, and was born and raised in the D.C. area. She started sewing at the age of 22. After her husband retired and the youngest went off to college, together, they ventured south to the Outer Banks in Corolla, NC. While living there, they both started creating; her husband crafted upcycled pallet wood into useable objects and she started sewing again. Courtney had always enjoyed using fabric remnants but ventured into leather while helping her husband find a new handle idea for his wooden trays. Courtney suggested leather for handles and that was the perfect touch for the trays. Since she was not comfortable buying a hide, she discovered she could purchase new leather left behind as remnants from the furniture industry. Realizing she had previously not given much thought to how and where an item was made, she decided to offer a new eco-friendlier option. That’s when her love affair with leather began. Her style is minimalist and highlights the natural beauty of each unique piece of leather and by not using a template, each piece is truly one of a kind. Her process of design is very simple. She plays with different colors of fabric or leather until something works.

Why the name Restoried? Courtney’s designs are centered around reuse; giving a new story to materials that have been discarded. She uses two types of leather; scrap remnants from the furniture making process or reclaimed leather which she has stripped from discarded leather bags or furniture. She strives to use every scrap, transforming those pieces into totes and from the tote's scraps, a wallet or bracelet is made, leaving only the scrap of a leather “string” she uses to tie her tags onto recycled grocery bags she uses for purchases. Courtney hopes her leatherwork will make people feel good knowing it was crafted by hand here in South Carolina with a purpose of reuse in mind. Using the image of a wild horse, in her logo, honors the places they have lived, such as Corolla, NC and Hilton Head Island, SC., where wild horses have roamed. 

Fused glass art by Dedie Story

Fiber Art Collage by Susan Livingston

Leather work by Courtney Powers

At Home with Craft

Charleston Crafts Gallery is spotlighting artists making functional and decorative fine craft in wood, glass, and fiber, perfect for adding expression to your home. Enriching lives with well designed, beautifully crafted, and extraordinary originality, these artists’ offerings are being featured in the front gallery October 1 - 31. The gallery is open 7 days a week from 10am-6pm. 

Robb Helmkamp is a maker who was raised all over the U.S. by a career Navy father and a clay artist mother, growing up surrounded by both arts and crafts & military history and design. By juxtaposing wood and metal, light and dark tones, smooth and rough textures, his furniture and woodwork is a canvas for expression. Robb enjoys creating unique furniture and sculpture which ask questions, tell stories and make statements about our culture and the never-ending social avalanche we all live in.  Robb currently lives in North Charleston, SC where he works on commissions and makes a variety of projects and products in his home studio. He shows his work in galleries and exhibitions throughout the Southeast. 

John Schumacher was born in Covington, KY, and graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Major in Business and a Minor in Fine Arts. Many of the Civil War era houses in that area included stained glass windows in their architectural design, which he always admired, but could not afford. He decided to build a window himself, and thus began a continuing education, now lasting over 50 years. Moving to Aiken, SC in 1980, John pursued his professional career as a manufacturing manager, and also continued to study the masters of stained glass while refining his skills in lead, zinc and copper foil techniques. His large windows contain hundreds of individual cuts of glass. John's works have earned winning ribbons in regional competitions, encouraging him to continue his efforts.  

After retirement, about 10 years ago, with children and grandchildren living in the Lowcountry, John and his wife Jane have moved once again, to Mount Pleasant. He has converted his garage into a studio and spends many hours creating traditional and contemporary stained-glass pieces. 

Bonnie Younginer is a fiber artist working in wool, silk and cotton. She retired from a 30-year career in Interior Design and now weaves and needle and wet felts the scenery she studies in her beautiful Lowcountry environment. Her weaving methods are plain weave and tapestry style weaving using colorful wool yarns. She draws her own patterns for the weavings referred to as “cartoons” in the weaving world. 

Her felting uses dyed fleece, either Merino or New Zealand Corriedale wool that has been carded and pulled into long strips of wool fiber. Handmade embellishments are added for texture and interest. Wet felting calls for the wool roving to be pulled apart and laid out in a way to depict the desired pattern she has designed. The loose fibers are placed on bubble wrap, covered with a nylon mesh and a warm water soap solution is spread over the wool design, the wet fiber is rolled up onto a tube and rolled back and forth until the fibers entangle and form a piece of felt “cloth.” Before drying, the “cloth” is hand manipulated into the desired form. After it is dry it is embellished and framed. Producing needle felted art she uses thin barbed needles. Following the pattern, she slowly pushes the wool yarns (and sometimes silk) with barbed needles into a pre-felt cloth, bonding the yarn to the felt pre-felt. It is then framed. 

While these talented artists will be featured, the work of all Gallery members will also be on display at 140 East Bay Street and all art is available for purchase, including jewelry, wood puzzles, encaustic paints, fiber art, mixed media collage, apparel and accessories, plus functional and decorative objects in wood, ceramic, and glass. Our new location has also afforded us the opportunity to jury-in additional new talented artisans to our growing Fine Crafts Cooperative. 

Jewelry Armoire by Robb Helmkamp

Fiber Art by Bonnie Younginer

Stained Glass art by John Schumacher

It's HOT in town!

Join us for ArtWalk on Friday, September 1st, 5 - 8pm

140 East Bay Street

Charleston Crafts Gallery is highlighting artists whose craft is made with extreme heat throughout the month of September. The Gallery will host an Open House in conjunction with ArtWalk in Charleston, on Friday, September 1st from 5-8 pm. Stop by and see what’s HOT!

Tanya Church Craig creates fused glass artwork. Fused glass is also referred to as kiln formed or warm glass. Primarily making this medium for 20 years, Tanya makes functional objects and wall hangings. She uses abstract art as inspiration in the way she implements color and layering of color.  Her thrill in the process shows through in her unique artwork. All her pieces are one of a kind and are a labor of layering glass and firing multiple times in a kiln until the layers have melted together.

Anne John creates decorative and functional art pieces; wheel thrown from porcelain and stoneware clay bodies. Anne distinguishes her work with the addition of finely detailed decorative elements, such as realistic hand sculpted birds, organic forming and shaping, and precise placement of glaze applications. Her pieces are fired in a reduction gas kiln, which takes the oxygen out of the air inside the kiln and allows her to achieve vibrant hues in her red and shino glazes.

Tammy Rudd produces intricate flameworked glass beads as the focus of her fabulous jewelry designs. To create these exquisitely detailed works of art, Tammy is seated before a fixed torch flame, using one hand to turn the molten bead on its metal rod in the flame, while expertly plying an array of colored glass rods with the other hand, meticulously forming the colorful and complex designs that make her work so distinctive. When the design is completed, the bead is slowly cooled for hours in a specialized kiln; a process called annealing, which hardens the glass and makes it very durable.

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Charleston Crafts Gallery has always shared the passion and creativity

of juried artists, and we’re excited to continue our mission of

showcasing emerging and established artisans,

as well as building relationships among our members and the community.

Stop by the gallery or visit our website to learn

how to become an exhibiting member.  

For more information,

contact the gallery at 843.501.7522 or visit

www.charlestoncraftsgallery.com

Find your Fabulous this March!

“Find Your Fabulous”, celebrates several of our fine craft artisans and their wearable art. The Charleston Crafts Gallery represents craft as an expression of the creative spirit with our artisan made apparel and accessories.

The Gallery is hosting an open house on Second Sunday, March 12th, 2:00-5:00 to showcase three of our talented artists.

LuAnn Rosenzweig is a wearable art fiber artist. Originally, she started out sewing “origami jackets”, consisting of 6 separate squares of fabric sewn together in a straight line. Through folding and minimal cutting, the squares evolve into a swing jacket with raglan sleeves. Recently, she creates much of her wearable art by either “repurposing” or “rescuing” fabrics. LuAnn also handmakes sling purses, long, multi-paneled knit vests, bow ties and hand-dyed silk scarves from her thrift store finds, giving new life to old well-loved clothes.

SHARON WILSON

Nancy Warren is a handweaver and fiber artist, who began weaving in 1976.  Nancy’s weaving is primarily wearables and accessories. She also uses dyeing, surface design and beadwork in her wearable art, and ten years ago began to make handcrafted jewelry with fabric or fiber techniques. At the Gallery you can find two types of her art work: textiles and jewelry.

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VALERIE LAMOTT

Raquel Quiroz is a knitting fiber artist. Originally from Peru, she learned to knit from her mother and grandmother.  She hand-crafts wearable art including knitted hats, scarves, purses, and gloves. Using colorful yarns, her knitted and stuffed children’s “animals” are delightful and so loveable, they are sure to be collectable.

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Charleston’s destination for Fine Craft since 1989, the gallery is located at 84 Society Street, just steps from King Street, in the city’s shopping, cultural and dining hub. The gallery is now open DAILY from 11:00-6:00 and staffed by it’s friendly and knowledgeable member-artisans. Charleston Crafts Cooperative Gallery is a dynamic community of more than two dozen jury-selected artisans, all of whom are from South Carolina, making this the city’s only exclusively local craft gallery. For more information: 843.501.7522 or www.shopcharlesonsscrafts.com

Meet Our New Artists On Sunday, January 8, 2 to 5 pm!

Join us in celebrating “New Year, New Art!” at the gallery in January. 

We’re hosting a reception on Sunday afternoon, January 8, to introduce new makers working in fiber arts, paper quilling and fine furniture. Special displays of new artists’ work continue throughout January and we can’t wait to show you the exciting new work from these creative artisans:

Bonnie Younginer Fiber Arts

Bonnie Younginer is a fiber artist interpreting the beautiful natural habitat of the SC coast. She creates contemporary wall art using felting techniques with dyed fleece and spun yarns. She also weaves expressive tapestries with wool yarn. Creating alchemy with wool, Bonnie’s work captivates the senses with its warmth, color and texture.

Fairoozan Paper Quilling

Fairoozan Abdullah, a paper artist specializing in quilling, works with thin paper strips to craft intricate and decorative wall art and three-dimensional stand-alone creations such as vessels and sculptural pieces. Fairoozan combines her love of paper and her experience in painting to create exuberant, vibrantly colored works of art.

Robb Helmkamp Fine Furniture

Robb Helmkamp crafts original and unique furniture, sculpture and accessories made of various native woods, some pieces with metal accents. Soft contours and subtle curves yield to gentle flow and movement. By juxtaposing wood and metal, light and dark tones, smooth and rough textures, Robb uses woodworking as a canvas for expression.

As an added bonus, our “New Year, New Art!” reception is on Second Sunday when King Street closes to traffic at noon. It’s always a great day downtown – and parking is free. So don’t miss this afternoon of fine craft from our talented trio of new artists. Hope to see you there!

Our Holiday Open House is Sunday, December 11, 2 to 5 pm!

You’re invited to enjoy a festive afternoon with refreshments,
door prizes and complimentary gift wrapping.

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Browse the beautifully decorated gallery and wrap up your holiday list with our dazzling array of ornaments, jewelry, apparel and accessories, plus works in clay, glass, paper, wood and more.

Meet your favorite makers, welcome the gallery’s newest members and see their wood crafts, ceramic creations, mosaics, paper quilling and textile arts.

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Set the scene for a merry and bright holiday with our inspired artisan-made gifts:

Stocking stuffers: Little treasures including handmade jewelry, ornaments, lotions, candles, wood pens, ceramic sculptures, origami and much more.

Cozy gifts: Scarves and gloves to chase the chill, all skillfully hand-knitted and hand-woven by the gallery’s textile artisans.

Gifts for an artful home: Beautifully crafted wood tables and mirrors, bold ceramic sculptures, handmade clocks plus multi-media, mosaic, encaustic and paper quilling artwork for the wall.

Lowcountry gifts: Handmade jewelry portraying local scenes, polymer clay “Charleston Lady” jewelry and ornaments, ceramic mugs and works in wood inspired by the Holy City and our picturesque area.

Gifts of unique style: Gorgeous hand-dyed silk scarves, colorful textile jewelry, handmade purses, chic jackets, plus stylish ties for the guys.

Shimmering gifts: Exquisite works of art in stained and fused glass that bring color and beauty into any space.

Gifts for an elegant table: Table linens, pepper mills, mugs and ceramic and wooden serving bowls and platters.

Amusing gifts: Whimsical Kruffles and Gnomies ceramic sculptures, adorable hand-knitted dolls and creatures, challenging wood puzzles, kaleidoscopes and more gifts guaranteed to bring a smile.

And don’t forget:  Our Holiday Open House is also Second Sunday on King Street, when our main street closes to traffic at noon. It’s always a fun day downtown - and parking is free. So don’t miss this afternoon of festivities!

Creating Craft “Piece by Piece” November 13 to December 10

Join us for a reception on Sunday, November 13, from 2 to 5 

Creating patterns or pictures by assembling small pieces is a timeless craft that includes mosaics, stained glass and intarsia. With “Piece by Piece” as our theme this month, we’re highlighting makers who put together tiny pieces of glass, wood and ceramic materials to make beautiful work.

Meet these artisans and see their creations on Sunday afternoon, November 13.

On View through December 10, Tuesday to Sunday from 11-6.

Meet the Artists

At the “Piece by Piece” reception, you’ll have a chance to learn more about the creative process from the makers themselves:

Owl Intarsia by Ron Herzog

Ron Herzog makes his striking pieces using a process known as intarsia, a time-honored technique using interlocking pieces of various wood species for color, grain and texture. Ron especially enjoys portraying birds and wildlife of the Lowcountry.

Whale Tail Mosaic by Sara Powell

Sara Powell crafts gorgeous mosaics that express her love of nature with a wide range of subjects from sea creatures to whimsical barnyard characters. And just like nature, Sara’s imaginative work invites us to recreate the experience of discovering natural wonder.

Abstract Stained Glass by John Schumacher

John Schumacher creates award-winning stained glass pieces that contain hundreds of individual cuts of glass, including many recycled pieces. Naturally, his work is displayed in gallery’s windows, where they sparkle with vivid color and an inspiring range of design styles. 

Segmented Turning by Kenny Teague

Kenny Teague meticulously cuts, assembles, turns and sculpts woods of contrasting color and texture to create his complex and intricate artwork. Nature’s splendor comes to life in Kenny’s superb bowls, decorative items and jewelry. 

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While these members are in the spotlight this month, the work of all the gallery’s members is also on display and available for purchase, including jewelry, wood puzzles, encaustic paintings, mixed media collages, apparel and accessories plus functional and decorative objects in wood, ceramic and glass. Plan to stop by – we look forward to seeing you!

Join us in “Celebrating American Craft” October 9 through November 8

Fine craft is all about excellence in working with a specific material,
and we think that’s something to celebrate.

Our theme this month is “Celebrating American Craft” and we’re showcasing talented local artisans working in clay, wood, glass and metal.

The opening  reception is Sunday, October 9, from 2 to 5 pm.

Selected work by the featured artists is on display
Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm through November 8.

It’s always exciting to have an opening where you can meet our member-artisans, learn more about their process and discover what inspires them.

Look forward to seeing these makers and their work on October 9:

Marty Biernbaum: Wheel thrown functional and playful stoneware pottery featuring hand-built designs and Marty’s own specially formulated glazes.

Dan Diehl: Intricate wood jigsaw puzzles that challenge and delight children and adults alike, and also make eye-catching decor objects for the home or office. 

Valerie Lamott: Using traditional metalsmithing techniques, Valerie’s nature-inspired jewelry expresses her appreciation of the outdoors. 

Her new Charleston, South Carolina collection debuts at this show! 

Carrie Helmkamp: Whimsical and quirky ceramic sculptures, known as Kruffles, Gnomies, and Gnoblins make up Carrie’s imaginative, colorful collection of monster pottery and figures.

Dedie Story: Bold designs combine brightly colored glass and Dedie’s unique layering techniques with the ancient art of fusing to create beautiful functional and decorative items.

Kasey Briggs: Intricately patterned woven glass seed bead necklaces and bracelets, plus distinctive jewelry creations crafted with lightweight polymer clay. 

Our gallery has been celebrating fine craft since 1989 and we’re keeping that party going!

“Celebrating American Craft” is brimming with vibrant colors, creative details and hand-wrought textures. The human handprint in a piece of fine craft is a treat for the soul and senses in today’s world of mass produced wares.

During this October celebration, work of all our members is also on display and available for purchase, including woodwork, stained glass, ceramics, jewelry, encaustic paintings, mixed media collages, apparel and accessories. 

New Season – New Style! Hand-crafted “Art To Wear” on view September 11th thru October 8th.

Fall is just around the corner, and it’s a perfect time to see a collection of unique wearables with a cozy hint of autumn. Be sure our “Art To Wear” show and sale is on your calendar!

The opening reception is Sunday, September 11th, from 2 to 5 pm.

The exhibit continues Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm through October 8th.

Fall Layering at Charleston Crafts Gallery

Our fall feature showcases original, hand-crafted apparel, accessories and jewelry created by the gallery’s six fiber artists. Beautiful artisan-made women’s jackets, vests, purses, scarves and textile jewelry are among the artful items on display.

And we didn’t forget the guys! There are also hand-crafted ties, bow-ties and lapel pins. 

“Art To Wear” is inspiration to refresh your wardrobe for the coming season with one-of-a-kind designs by these fiber artists:

Susan Livingston: Hand-dyed and embellished scarves and purses

Raquel Quiroz: Hand-knitted hats, gloves and purses

LuAnn Rosenzweig: Hand-made jackets, vests, purses, scarves and ties

Gini Steele: Ribbon necklaces, hand knit scarves and shawls

Isabelle Tourneau: Lightweight textile jewelry crafted with batiks and vintage silks

Nancy Warren: Hand-woven scarves, silk scarves, hand-marbled apparel, textile jewelry

At Charleston Crafts Gallery, you’ll find a world of ideas for your closet. More than simply clothing, these are works of art to wear. Add a dash of creativity to your style!

A world of possibilities to add to your wardrobe!

During our “Art to Wear” exhibit, work of the gallery’s additional makers is also available, including ceramics, woodwork, stained and fused glass, sweetgrass baskets, jewelry, encaustic paintings and more. Come and admire all the work of our talented local artisans. We look forward to seeing you soon!

August at the Gallery – The Heat is On!

August temps may be sizzling, but that doesn’t stop our artisans from playing with heat and flame. Some of the coolest work happens when our makers use the hottest methods with glass, wax and clay. Check out these one-of-a-kind artisan-crafted items or  – even better – take break from the summer heat and come see them in the air-conditioned comfort of our gallery.    

Tammy Rudd, Floral Necklace

Jewelry artist Tammy Rudd works magic with glass and intense heat. To create her luminous flameworked beads, she uses an oxygen-propane torch that heats up to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. With molten glass and deft hands, Tammy crafts beads that glow with color and mesmerizing detail. Each of her beads is a tiny work of art that creates fascinating focal points in her necklaces and earrings.

Marty Biernbaum, Ocean Encaustic Painting

Marty Biernbaum’s abstract encaustic paintings bring to mind calming landscapes of sky and sea. She begins her paintings by heating beeswax in an electric frying pan and combining it with resin and pigments before applying it to a natural wood support. She uses a propane torch to melt and stabilize as many as 15 layers of wax to complete each painting. This intense heat process helps develop her colors and smooth the surface. Encaustic paintings don’t need to be framed, so the ethereal and expressive beauty of Marty’s work radiates from the surfaces of her art.

Fred Prudhomme, Lidded Jar

You’ll find the work of six talented ceramic artists  in the gallery and all rely on the tremendous heat of their kilns to convert clay into strong, resilient forms. Typically two trips through the kiln are required (one for bisque firing, another for glaze firing) at temperatures well above 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Just one example of the gallery’s talent is Fred Prudhomme who makes functional pottery in stoneware by both wheel throwing pots and hand-building vessels. Fred’s highly individualized pieces include mugs, bowls, plates and lidded vessels. With crisp lines, warm colors and distinctive glazing, his work feels good in your hands and looks wonderful in your home.

Melanie Davidson, Tree Ring Bowl

The newest of the our ceramic artists is Melanie Davidson. Melanie creates her work by layering different clay bodies of varying colors, then using various techniques to manipulate the joined clay bodies to produce patterns, as well as free random effects. Her agateware pieces are clear gazed to showcase this technique and the natural clay body. Many pieces, such as her hurricane, sediment and tree ring bowls, are inspired by nature. All are both functional and beautiful.

No doubt about it, this art is hot! So step into the cool world of Charleston Crafts to discover all our hand-crafted items. We look forward to seeing you soon! The gallery is currently open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-6pm.

Inspiration Comes Naturally to Our Artisans

The natural world is a powerful muse and source of inspiration for our artisans. Below we introduce just a few of our members whose creative lives are influenced by the beauty of the Lowcountry. Come and admire their work in wood, clay, precious stones and metals – and see how the details of nature come alive in every piece.

Ron Herzog, Eagle Intarsia

Ron Herzog is a woodworker who creates his striking pieces using a process known as intarsia, a time-honored technique using interlocking pieces of various wood species for color, grain and texture. Ron especially enjoys portraying creatures of the Lowcountry, such as the birds and wildlife often spotted in our local woods, marshes and waterways.

Anne John, Gourd Boxes

Anne John is a ceramic artist who adds exquisite natural elements to her decorative and functional art pieces. Her wheel-thrown porcelain and stoneware work is embellished with finely detailed features, such hand sculpted birds, organic shapes and vibrant glazes. At the gallery, Anne’s gourd boxes with their graceful spiraling details are a customer favorite.

John Stoudenmire, Leaf Plate

Another of the gallery’s ceramic artists, John Stoudenmire, is known for his astonishing way of capturing natural elements such as such as leaves, vines and textured bark on his stoneware and porcelain pieces. John lavishly details his work with hand-crafted and raised details, incised and pressed texturing and meticulous glaze painting. Everything John crafts is functional and food and oven safe.

Valerie Lamott, Camping Earrings

Valerie Lamott creates nature-inspired handcrafted jewelry using traditional metalsmithing and lapidary techniques to express her appreciation for the outdoors. Valerie hand casts sterling silver flowers and twigs from actual botanicals, making each one as unique as nature intended. Many of her pieces share the beauty of state parks and other places she loves to explore.

You’ll find many more handmade objects inspired by our natural world when you visit. We look forward to welcoming you to the gallery soon!

Lowcountry Themes Run Deep at Charleston Crafts Gallery

Time-honored crafts thrive in Charleston, thanks to local artisans who celebrate Lowcountry traditions. Think of skillfully woven sweetgrass baskets, deep blue indigo-dyed fabrics and objects that reflect the Holy City’s character. These are the crafts that keep us connected to Lowcountry culture while beautifying and enriching our lives. Visit the gallery to find these crafts, meet the artists and enjoy their creative expression.

Alethia Manigault, sweetgrass basket close-up

Aleathia Manigault is a master of sweet grass basket making, an art that came to South Carolina in the 17th century with the arrival of enslaved West Africans. The skill has been preserved by the Lowcountry Gullah community and passed down through generations. True to tradition, Aleathia uses local sweetgrass, bulrushes and pine needles, weaving them together into circular designs and binding them with palmetto fronds. Her award-winning baskets, each signed and dated by the artist, are prized by collectors.

Susan Livingston, Fiber Collage

Susan Livingston, a mixed-media fiber artist, works with natural dyes to create silk scarves, textile handbags, table linens and fiber collages. Browsing her work in the gallery, it’s easy to see that indigo is one of her favorite hues. Indigo was vital to South Carolina’s economy from the mid- to late-1700s, when it was grown to produce blue dye, primarily for English textile mills. Second only to rice as an export, indigo was also a labor intensive crop involving the toil of thousands. The beautiful blue hues in Susan’s fiber artistry honor the cultural memory of indigo’s place in Lowcountry history.

Selma Andrews, Charleston Lady Necklace

Selma Andrews brings Charleston’s character, and characters, to her jewelry and decorative objects. Her colorful “Charleston Lady” necklaces and ornaments are whimsical expressions of the city’s past and present characters. Selma works in lightweight polymer clay to craft each Charleston Lady bead for her necklaces, adding a floral or abstract pattern on the reverse side to create two necklaces in one. Each piece artfully captures the essence of an intriguing lady and, if they could talk, the lively stories and historic gossip would surely flow!

You’ll find  many more handmade objects that reflect our local cultural heritage when you visit the gallery. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Gallery Artisans at Piccolo Spoleto Craft Show In Wragg Square, May 27-29 and June 3-5

Charleston’s annual celebration of fine craft is almost here! It’s time to put the 43rdAnnual Craft Show on your calendar and look forward to strolling under the majestic oaks at historic Wragg Square, where more than 40 artisans will display pottery, woodwork, jewelry, textiles, apparel and more. As you browse the show, you’ll meet these members of Charleston Crafts Gallery. We invite you to stop and say hello and admire their work.

Dan Diehl, maker of intricate wood jigsaw puzzles. Dan’s original designs, ranging from whimsical to challenging, delight both children and adults and also make eye-catching decor objects.

 Marc Tannenbaum, a gallery woodworker, crafts peppermills, pens, clocks, keepsake boxes, bottle stoppers and other items. Marc combines exotic woods in special patterns and often adds semiprecious stones, such as turquoise or geodes.  

Anne John,  a ceramic artist whose decorative and functional art pieces are distinguished by finely detailed decorative elements, such as hand-sculpted birds and organic shapes inspired by the natural world.

Mayako Blackburn, a creator of bold and contemporary ceramics that are inspired by nature, especially the beauty of the ocean.

Tammy Rudd, a jewelry maker whose luminous flameworked glass beads create designs that glows with light and color.

Sharon Wilson, creator of one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that display meticulous craftsmanship in metalwork accented with pearls and sparkling gemstones.

Caroline Sandlin, whose distinctive designs combine handcrafted components with natural and vintage elements to create contemporary pieces of wearable art.

Susan Livingston, a mixed-media fiber artist who works with natural dyes such as indigo and often embellishes her work with hand-stitching, applique and found objects. Susan’s booth displays fiber collages and her colorful, naturally dyed silk scarves, textile handbag and vintage napkins.

The Craft Show is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 6 pm and Sundays 11 am to 5pm during the last weekend of May and first weekend of June. Admission is free. See you there!

Always Something New!!!

FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS THRU 7/31/20

There is always something new in the
Charleston Crafts Online Shop .

In addition to new items, the Online Shop now offers GIFT CARDS…THE PERFECT GIFT FOR EVERYONE!

Support Covid-19 Response Fund...Find the Perfect Gift...Support Local Artists!!!

Throughout April, Charleston Crafts will be donating 10% of all sales
to the
Tri-Counting COVID-19 Response Fund
The Tri-County Covid-19 Response fund was set up to address the
emerging needs presented by the impact from Covid-19…Coronavirus.

Each member of Charleston Crafts Co-Op is a small business owner as well as an artist. In the online store you will find designs in a wide variety of mediums, prices and ‘personalities’. Pictured below are a few of the many items available for immediate shipment from ShopCharlestonCrafts.com.

Here and Now-March

Are you seeing a great deal of not quite navy-not quite royal in design this year? Pantone, The International Color Institute, has declared ‘Classic Blue’ as the color of the year for 2020 and members of the Charleston Crafts Co-Op are utilizing this blue in many of the products available for purchase in the gallery.