Mid-Valley Made

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all of the amazing vendors who turned out to our first ever Mid-Valley Made event!

Here are just a few snap shots of our happy shoppers and vendors at the show…

Two young shoppers enjoying the Carnegie Library’s display celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday

Brittany Novak of Shades of Light was creating new pieces of art right there at the show!

Jim Lamp’s wooden clocks were a big hit with shoppers

From wooden clocks to wooden pens, here we have Mark Diller’s booth surrounded by some of our other great vendors

Kat’s Kreations explaining how her herbal remedies work for sore joints and stressed muscles

A display by Mae Designs showing off her new collection of frames.

Oh and there was so much more, but its hard to get photos when you’re so busy shopping!

Check back for next years date and location or follow us on facebook to stay updated! See you next year!

Now is the time…

Come down to Two Rivers Market to see Mid-Valley Made!

Open Friday and Saturday March 2^nd & 3^rd from 10am-6pm

I live in Albany, Oregon with my wonderful wife of 10 years and our two little boys. My boys love to watch me work (from a safe distance, of course) and go to wood stores with me. They always have questions and like to try to guess the different kinds of wood I’m using for projects. I suppose my childlike wonder at discovering new types of wood has rubbed off a bit.

For me, bringing out the natural beauty in wood gives me joy. I prefer not to use dyes to change the color of wood since I feel the natural beauty should stand out. Every piece of wood is hand picked to be unique, so I always look forward to finishing a piece and seeing how it turns out… pun intended :). Handmade wood pens are a perfect item to share and treasure in this age of mass-production since each one has a character and story of its own. To me, writing is much more enjoyable with a quality instrument than a disposable one.

My philosophy is quality rather than quantity which is why I am meticulous in my pen making. I want to ensure that each instrument is precise and the finish is pristine, so they can be used and treasured for years to come. When I first began making pens, I just used a woodturning polish until I found that polishes break down with handling and exposure to finger oils. I use an acrylic finish that is durable and clear to withstand years of use while showcasing and preserving the natural beauty of the wood. The process I use takes more time, but again, my philosophy is quality rather than quantity. While my pens may cost a little more than some others, I’m confident that you will be very pleased with the value of your purchase!

I hope you’ll have the opportunity to see and feel the quality of my products first-hand. All pens I sell are refillable and refill types are noted in each listing. They are simple to replace for years of use. If you don’t see exactly what you want, there are thousands of potential combinations available, so let’s visit!

Kat’s Kreations has donated this amazing basket for raffle! The basket includes bath teas, facial cleansing grains and facial cleansing pads, Lavender Creme and a  scented candle. What a fantastic gift!

And here is yet another gift basket waiting for you at Mid-Valley Made. Gourmet Mix Market has generously donated a basket filled with two savory dip mixes, a sweet dip mix, pie mix, cookie mix, bread mix, and a soup mix. Oh my, I’m getting hungry already!

     The two most frequently asked questions that I receive regarding my carvings  are, “What are they made from?” or “Are they real?”  Simply answered, they are very real, very breakable eggs shells. It is hard to imagine, even for me at times, that it is possible to create these very unique carvings.

     I find egg carving very fulfilling. I am a fully licensed x-ray technologist and very passionate about my career. It requires technical knowledge, a certain level of creativity and precision to produce a film that meets the high quality standards demanded in diagnostic radiology. Two years ago, I suddenly found myself on the opposite side of the x-ray tube and not able to work. Until I am able to return, carving fills many of the same needs that I found rewarding being an x-ray tech. It requires a certain degree of logic, understanding of basic physical laws and precision while still providing a creative outlet. I also find it very therapeutic. When I am carving, nothing else exists. It is a calm, quiet, deep focus creating something as delicate and fragile as a goose egg carving.

     Less than a year ago I stumbled upon this craft. Easter was on its way and I was gathering what I needed to dye and decorate eggs. I intended to blow and disinfect the eggs before I got started. The cordless dremel was nearby and I thought what better way to make holes in the shells to empty the eggs than with the dremel. It worked wonderfully!  But wait, if I can drill a hole, maybe I can carve a line. If I can carve a line, what else can be done? Before my family knew what was happening, the house was filled with eggs. Eggs of all kinds. Chicken eggs, duck eggs, goose eggs, turkey eggs, emu, ostrich and rhea eggs. I was hooked! The dremel was quickly replaced with a high speed rotary tool similar to a dental drill. This gave me the ability to move from the crude, simple shapes I had been carving into intricate, beautiful and detailed designs of most any kind. From farm fresh until finished product, I personally complete each step in this delicate process. The chicken, goose and emu eggs I use are purchased from local farms making these uniquely carved eggs truly mid-valley made. 

     Many of my items can be found in my etsy shop at  www.etsy.com/shop/craftycarvings. Custom or personalized items can be requested and arranged by e-mailing me at ask_amy2@yahoo.com.

(photos and text courtesy of Crafty Carvings)

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Dyl Pickles (sharing a booth with Mae Designs) is donating this adorable and reversible butterfly apron to the raffle!

And whats this??? Two Spotlights in one post!

EclecticAims has made these custom coasters using their own photography of our beautiful Willamette Valley.

Check back soon to see what other great prizes you could win this March 2nd & 3rd!

From my teenage years working with my uncle, a contractor with a strong disdain for covering up the beauty of wood with paint, I have had an interest in all things wood. I have particularly always enjoyed works that exhibit a simplicity of line, a minimum of extraneous ornamentation, and an appreciation for the natural characteristics of the woods used.  Now, almost 30 years later, I am the one selecting woods, seeing designs, and making the objects that I hope others will find beautiful and useful for years and years. 

Since 2004 I have been working from a shop I created after removing the horse stalls from a metal barn on the 2-acre property we bought in Albany, Oregon after moving from Virginia, where I had been serving in the Marine Corps Reserve since leaving active duty in 2001.  Having completed the final 9 years of my 20-year service in 2010, I have now fully traded that uniform for a shop apron, and I design and build furniture, cabinetry, and fine gift items full-time.

I particularly appreciate working with hardwoods native to the U.S., and have several favorites among the hardwoods native to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.  As we continue to realize the cumulative costs and environmental effects of transporting both raw materials and finished goods across oceans and continents, it is very satisfying to me to be able to offer my local clients beautiful pieces crafted from wood that has never travelled more than a few hundred miles.  When a project calls for woods from outside this area, I ensure that I am buying FSC-certified lumber in order to ensure that neither of us is contributing to illegal or unethical harvesting of hardwoods.

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(text courtesy of Walnut Vales website, photos from etsy)

Albany’s own Brittany Novak of Shades of Light is donating this adorable charcoal piece to the Mid-Valley Made Passport Raffle! Just one of 16 great prizes you could win by coming to Mid-Valley Made this March 2nd & 3rd.

There will be 2 raffles each day so get your passport stamped and put in that raffle box for a chance at some amazing prizes!

Like so many people in the USA, I was laid off work after ten years of working for   the government.  I used this time as an opportunity to go back to school and become a Licensed Massage Therapist, where I learned how to make my own oils and creams using homegrown organic herbs and natural essential oils.

People are becoming more aware of the unhealthy effects pesticides, preservatives and synthetic chemicals have, not only in what we eat but also  

what we put on our skin. Research has demonstrated the remarkable therapeutic healing properties of herbs, and as a result more and more people are looking to natural ingredients for their skin care  products.

A flower in the Marigold family called Calendula is one of the greatest first aid herbs for the skin.  It soothes and heals sore, angry, or inflamed skin, containing natural anti-inflammatory properties. My “Happy Feet Foot Balm” contains Calendula, soothing dried cracked inflamed feet, dry cuticles and hands, and minor abrasions.

Another herb that grows like a crazy weed is Comfrey, which is also excellent on damaged tissue such as sprains, bruises & scars promoting cell repair.  I use these and other amazing herbs in my “Sore No More” pain relieving salve bringing relief to muscle and joint pain, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic injuries and diseases.  

By making my own body and bath products I can be assured of their contents.  I have more control over the freshness and purity of my ingredients. So it is important for me to grow most of my own herbs and use only natural preservatives, high-grade essential oils and other organic ingredients.  

I find myself always looking forward to creating new healing products that bring relief to those who suffer from not only physical pain, but that calm the mind and spirit as well.

(all photos coutesy of Kat’s Kreations)

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