Bethany Lowe

Bethany Lowe is a self-taught artist whose love of antiques and holiday traditions has led her into the world of design. Beth began her career as an artist in 1987 when she created her first Nicholas in “the Nostalgia for Nicholas Collection.” Since then her line has expanded rapidly and is marketed through specialty shops, museum shops and galleries throughout the world. Many are based upon folk art legend characters from around the world. However, her most popular designs have been inspired by her own imagination and life experiences.

Through Beth’s work, everything old becomes new again as she captures the warm memories of her childhood growing up on a Midwestern farm. Holidays were a magical time for Beth’s family and the small community she grew up in with costume parties, mummer’s parades, pumpkin - carving contests, and trick-or-treating through the neighborhoods. Families went for horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice skated together on country ponds, went caroling door to door, and built snow forts and snowmen to greet passersby. As a child, one of Beth’s favorite traditions was creating May baskets from paper and flowers - special gifts to be hung on the doors of friends and family.

Years later, these special experiences are reflected in Bethany’s artwork with her new whimsical collections of holiday decorations for your home.

Today, as she shares her imagination and memories with you, Bethany hopes to inspire fresh new traditions for your family.

Dee Foust Collectibles

Dee Foust’s passion for handmade goods is expressed in her line of personally crafted designs reproduced in perfect detail.

Her creative career began in the early ‘90s when she created the Holly Berry Hill Mail Order Catalog. This unique catalog showcased many of her handmade designs as well as other unique American folk artisans’ works. After several years in mail order, Dee decided to close her catalog and pursue other creative avenues. Her first endeavor took her to Iowa, where she accepted an editor’s position with Better Homes and Gardens© Creative Collection. She enjoyed producing several holiday publications, including the Santa Claus Book, and launching the first edition of Simply Creative Weddings magazine. In 2002 Dee licensed her first line of vintage-style collectibles to Bethany Lowe Designs. Now living in northern California, she continues to enjoy both careers. As an avid collector, Dee finds inspiration from vintage treasures. As an artist, she works to pass on the tradition and to capture the imagination of the past.

http://www.deefoust.net

“Hobgoblins” from the vintage collection of Bruce Elsass

Bruce Elsass is never more excited than when he has found rare holiday pieces of ephemera in “mint” condition! His love of unusual and unique vintage decorations has taken him cross-country through antique shops, flea markets, garage sales and collector’s events for the past 30 years. All of the “Hobgoblins” designs, which include Valentine’s Day, Easter, Americana, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, are based on these items from Bruce’s extensive collections.

Growing up in the small farm town of New Knoxville, Ohio, Bruce has fond memories of celebrating holidays with his family - especially Halloween. His creative parents encouraged him to dress up and have innocent fun trick-or-treating throughout the town. Those childhood memories have expanded into a lifelong passion for collecting vintage Halloween and other holiday decorations.

Thanks to Bruce’s diligence in finding and preserving these unique and fragile bits of our past, Bethany Lowe Designs now is able to recreate, or “borrow,” from them so we all can enjoy a piece of history.

Virginia Betourne of “Trout Creek Tales”

These wonderful whimsical folk art designs are the work of Ginny Betourne of “Trout Creek Tales.” Using an old-fashioned layered papier-maché technique, Virginia’s fanciful ideas come to life with humor and wit inspired by her creative outlook on the world around us.

“After earning a degree in forestry and working in the woods, I saw many beautiful places that looked like they could be homes for the gnomes and elves,” Ginny says. “Later, while raising my family, I introduced my children to the mysteries and possibilities all around us.

“Fifteen years later, I still haven’t run out of stories or ideas. I see my frogs hop from their pond to go to the flower garden looking for slugs every morning, and my day begins imagining what kind of party the frogs are having there! It is a simple step for me to see a carrot become a maniacal carrot, or a tomato become an angry tomato. I have a lot of friends on my worktable every day!”

“Dresden Star Heirloom Ornaments” by Glenn and Gail Giaimo

Glenn and Gail Giaimo began collecting Victorian glass and scrap ornaments as a hobby in the ‘90s. Over the years they’ve gathered Victorian materials such as glass bulbs and beads, century-old chromolithographic die-cuts (called scrap), tinsel, crinkle-wire, metallic Dresden paper trims and stars, and fabric trims. The Giaimos began using these vintage decorations to create unique, one-of-a-kind Victorian ornaments. Realizing that these Victorian treasures have become exceedingly more difficult to find, not to mention very expensive, they have collaborated with Bethany Lowe Designs to bring you the “Dresden Star Heirloom Ornament Collection.” These are limited-edition reproductions of their original one-of-a-kind pieces. These wonderfully old-looking ornaments are made with authentic gold Dresden trim from Germany and are produced with the same attention to detail in which the original ornaments were created.

Scott Smith of “Rucus Studio”

Inspired by the magic of the holidays, Scott Smith enjoys creating a cast of characters that rekindle childhood memories. He focuses on the lighthearted feeling a child might experience each year when the family decorations are displayed. This is a memory Scott cherishes and hopes to pass on to others.

Scott is a self-taught artist who enjoyed a career as a commercial illustrator and graphic designer. His interest in collecting antique holiday decor led him to begin sculpting his own Christmas and Halloween creations, first as a hobby and then as his occupation. Since 2001, he has focused entirely on creating works of art that capture the natural joy of the changing seasons. Using his vintage collection and holiday ephemera as inspiration, he continues to share visions of holiday fantasy.

The enthusiasm of fellow collectors drives Scott to keep pushing the boundaries of his art, and the attention to detail in Bethany Lowe designs is what prompted him to begin his current association. He sees this as a unique opportunity to lure out the child in everyone.

Casey Mack

What do you say about someone who the last time they went trick-or-treating as a child, they went as a Christmas tree?

Casey Mack began his professional career in architecture, which he practiced for almost ten years in New York City.

Once, when combing the flea market, Casey just missed out on a rare vintage Halloween piece. The memory of that piece stayed with him and the idea of creating his own took hold.

This was something of a family tradition. As a child, Casey spent summers with his grandmother who instilled in him an interest in antiques and the pleasure of crafting. They often made holiday decorations together and those holiday ornaments are still proudly displayed each year.

Although his first pieces were made as gifts for family and friends, other collectors soon expressed interest and encouragement and a new career emerged. Casey maintains his interest in architecture, particularly older buildings, but now enjoys working in an entirely different scale.

Greg Guedel

Greg studied painting at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His venture into woodcarving began with a surprise birthday gift of knives and chisels in 1993. Greg had never thought of woodcarving before but fell in love with the process immediately. As his birthday is in December, Greg’s first carving was of a Santa which started him on his current path. Greg loves pulling characters out of the wood and bringing them to life with paint in great detail. His favorite subject matter to work with are the whimsical characters of the holidays. All of Greg’s carvings are carved from either linden or basswood.

“Captured Carvings” by Anthony Costanza

Very few individuals can say they have made the transition from academia to nationally known artist. Tony Costanza is a self-taught woodcarver creating masterpieces that are regularly reviewed and acclaimed by major trade and retail publications throughout the country. Fashioned from “found wood,” Captured Carvings® are best known for their unique, rough-hewn beauty. Natural cracks and knotholes are used to enhance each carving. Every crack, every knot, every grain of wood is detailed into the resin. Tony’s following is substantial and loyal and we are proud to have the chance to replicate his original artwork.

Teena Flanner

Teena has gathered a following from every corner of the globe for her sparkling, timeless, papier mache collections. The very Ltd Edition Originals, available from the Teena Flanner showroom in Atlanta and the reproductions of her work have been eagerly sought by collectors. Featured in Victoria, Mary Englebriet, Southern Lady, and Country Living, she is a member of the exclusive Country Living magazine Guild.

As a licensed artist new to Bethany Lowe Designs, Teena is excited about the lovely, vintage quality captured in their reproductions of her work. Together Bethany and Teena are hoping to bring her lovely, romantic creations to a wider audience.

Recently, Teena has combined her Virginia and Wisconsin studios into her cozy Elm Grove, WI home to be closer to the people she loves. She is currently writing a beautiful, informative book which will include photos of her home and studio.

Using her collection of vintage ice cream and chocolate molds, Teena lovingly designs her holiday confections to be timeless and classic. With her unique and sparkly touch, the collection is an heirloom to be treasured and tucked away in the attic, gently wrapped in tissue, year after year.

Reddy Teddy Go

Sherri and Terri of Reddy Teddy Go! & co. are identical twins who create eclectic sculptures of childhood fantasies and imaginations and bring them to life using paper mache.

They started creating with clay as children and never stopped. Each has her own personal style and along with their love of nature and fantasy they have merged these two styles to create eclectic one of a kind folkart sculptures. Sherri adds a vintage old time look to each piece and Terri adds a touch of "fun abandon".

Sherri and Terri are self taught artists specializing in halloween witches and spookables, and christmas santas and snowmen. They started their creative career in 1992 making cloth dolls and finally found their passion with paper mache. They have been featured in nationally known magazines and are known worldwide. In their world may you always feel as though you are "somewhere between daydreams and nonsense".

Bethany Lowe Designs is happy to reproduce in minute detail the fanciful work of these two gifted artists.

Debra Schoch

Like many Artists, I am deeply influenced by the antique bug and collecting. A self-taught artist from an early age, I have left my mark on most everything I came in contact with... literally!! I was born in Texas. Grew up all over the southwest and California moved to Michigan, fell in love, married and had a family. Here I stayed.

For many years, with the support of my loving husband we did Art & Craft Shows plus an occasional Doll Show with my own designs. During this time I was always learning and experimenting with all types of mediums. The 'magic moment' happened when I tried Papier Mache. This was it! It's easy to get lost in the momemt of creating-some are planned out and others are happy accidents. They are my babies. They all have a familar look or trait, but each is its own character. Faces are what I look at and what I enjoy doing most. All my work is colorful, sometimes humorous, just silly sweet or even a little scary!! At this point in life, I'm just getting into my stride....So many ideas and critters yet to be born.

Bethany Lowe had acquired "HopHopJingleBoo" original creations for her personal halloween collection before teaming with Debra to market handmade paper pulp reproductions of her work. We are excited to add Debra to our wonderful group of talented folk artists.

Allen Cunningham

Seven years ago Allen started on a journey into dollmaking. With a keen interest in antique storybook illustrations, he decided to bring these quaint images to life.

Each of these whimsical small vignettes is meticulously reproduced by hand from Allen's originals. Up to seven different mediums are used in their construction, making them extremely detailed and difficult to create. Bethany hopes you will share in her enthusiasm for the quality and craftsmanship of these pieces.

"Step into my imagination. Dream a little fancy, make a lovely wish, and be swept away by the emotion of a touch of the past."

Sharon Bloom

Having a passion for painting and a paintbrush in hand most of the time, Sharon creates her whimsical ceramics from her California home. Inspiration comes as naturally as the change of seasons with all its varied colors and patterns. Although Halloween is her favorite holiday, she finds great joy in creating designs for the rest of the year.

After earning her art degree in painting, Sharon continued her creative journey where it led to other painted surfaces from canvas to clay. Hand painted plates and other ceramic wares came soon after. With an endless flow of ideas, she loves to doodle in sketchbooks before the idea rapidly unfolds into another. Her affinity with cats and other animals is also a constant source of curiosity.

Sharon believes that living a creative life and sharing her artwork with the world is the best part of being an artist.

Kathy Seburn

Living in Washington County Maryland has been a great source of inspiration. Surrounded by beautiful mountains, valleys, and streams with places like Cool Hollow, Zittlestown and South Mountain, speckled with clapboard houses, iron gates and old stone walls that arouse the imagination.

Growing up, my Grandmother would come visit and entertain me with rhymes and drawings. The fascination never ended, it is part of me. I have a passion for design and writing children's stories

My sister Lisa and I own a gift shop, Wisteria Cove, that has allowed me to create and design for people in my home town. "Bethany Lowe Designs" has given me an opportunity to design for your home town and other hometowns across America"... it is my pleasure designing for you.

Amber Holmblad

Amber has always loved to draw and paint as a child and won her first coloring contest in the 1st grade - which just happened to be Santa holding a kitten. That contest was just the beginning of a life-long love for drawing and painting. After having graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in fine arts, Amber began using her creative talents by becoming a professional graphic designer. She stayed in the design field for 13 years all the while only painting for pleasure in her free time.

About eight years ago, Amber met Beth and Curt Lowe and jumped at the chance to work as part of the creative department at Bethany Lowe Designs. It was really in those years that she developed her love for antique holiday decorations.

A mixed-media collage artist, Amber works in oil and acrylic paints combined with specialty handmade or digitally-created paper applique. Inspired by days gone by, she enjoys creating artwork from her home in Denmark, where she has fun allowing her imagination to wander...

Johanna Parker

Since early childhood, whimsical art has been a natural way for Johanna to express her creative imagination. Her artistic mother led her along the path of crafting, and encouraged Johanna to start exhibiting her folk art at the age of 12. Illustration and paint became the focus of her talents, and as a young adult, she was drawn to the arts in papier mache, discovering that her abilities as a painter complemented her sculptured creations.

After side-stepping into an extensive career as an art director and animator in the television news industry, Johanna has happily returned to a creative niche that makes both herself and her collectors smile. Now, she spends each day designing and creating holiday-inspired characters with vintage appeal. Many of her originals are adorned with her own whimsically illustrated hats, a signature look of Johanna’s that folk art enthusiasts cherish and admire.

Inspired by her collections of vintage holiday novelties and a birthday on October 31st, Johanna admits that her favorite subject matter is indeed Halloween, but all holiday themes are fun to create. Her wish is to spread smiles and cheer with each creation and for every generation.

Vickie Smyers

Growing up in Frankfurt, Ohio that was originally known as Old Town, I have always been fascinated by old things-old houses, old furniture, and old toys.

I remember some of the first old Santa figures I ever saw and feeling the strong connection they brought between the present and so many long ago Christmases.

Although I loved those old holiday gents, I really couldn’t afford them so I decided to make just one Santa. That was over 20 years ago, and there is always just one more.

Along the way, vintage Halloween became another interest and passion. It’s such a fun way for me to express my creativity. I am proud to join all of the many talented artists represented by BLD.

Vergie Lightfoot

I announced at the age of nine that when I grew up I would be an artist and live in the mountains. Although I have always made things, my career as an artist started when I was 29. Then, in the spring of 1995, I moved to the mountain and have been there ever since.

One of my favorite sayings is "Imagine such a thing." It is curious how an idea takes shape once conceived and how magically the process proceeds until the piece is born. If my work inspires people and brings them enjoyment, then I feel as an artist I have done my job.

Halloween and Christmas hold special meaning to me because they give me the opportunity to express the child-like feelings I had when I was nine. Plus holidays, let’s face it, are cool! Thank you for being a part of this new chapter in my life. I hope you enjoy seeing the holidays through my eyes.

Charlotte Lyons

Charlotte Lyons’ creative repertoire includes a happy mix of design, art, and craft- as well as illustrated books and articles she writes about creative life. Trained as a teacher, she has developed techniques for painting, needlework, collage, and design that infuse her work with the vintage charm of handmade keepsakes.

After growing up in a household decorated with colorful textiles and flea-market finds, Charlotte’s work is still inspired by the humble designs of traditional art and craft and the inventive use of everyday materials. Her work as a designer has been featured in Country Living, Victoria, Rosie, Romantic Homes, Woman’s Day, Better Homes and Gardens, All You, Where Women Create, and Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion. Presently, her artwork and product concepts are licensed to a growing list of companies for the marketplace. She has appeared on the CBS Early Show, DIY, and HGTV.

Born and educated in St. Louis, Charlotte raised three artistic daughters in a bright pink house near Chicago. Presently, she lives in a green house along the Hudson River in New York with her husband and daughters.

More information about her work is available on her website: www.charlottelyons.com and crafty blog: www.housewrenstudio.typepad.com.

Margaret Haire of Maggie's Memories

Margaret Haire has many fond and special memories of going with her mother and grandmother to the Old German Village of her large Midwestern city to search for just the right gift or Christmas decoration. Based on that early love of all things pretty and old, Margaret and her husband, Dennis, began collecting antique Christmas, and then eventually, other holiday decorations.

In the early 1990's out of a love of family, faith and tradition, Margaret began to create whimsical pieces inspired by the charming bisque-faced Rolled Cotton People imported to North America at the turn of the last century. Maggie's Memories was created in memory of her mother and her grandmother and in honor of her daughter, Maggie, who is the fourth Margaret in a row.

Margaret is a self-taught artist who desires each of her pieces to tell a story, bring to mind a special memory, or evoke feelings of warmth, playfulness, and love. Margaret and Dennis invite you into the delightful world of Maggie's Memories charming little people.

More information about her work is available on her website: www.maggiesmemories.com.

Renée Nanneman of Need'l Love

Renée Nanneman entered the needlework industry in 1984, a young designer with original patterns for counted cross-stitch; Need'l Love was born. Always a step ahead of current trends, Renée's creative vision moved her exclusively cross-stitch company into the quilting industry in 1995 with the publication of Woodland Threads. This first-of-its-kind book mixed wool appliqué penny rug designs, fabric wallhangings, dolls, & wearables. Renée worked with each designer personally, brainstorming, inspiring and encouraging each one to stretch their own creativity in their unique folk-art style. Renée then wove the vast array of wool designs, hooked rugs, quilts & other home decorating items into a collection of over 25 beautifully photographed books that have a life of their own.

Renée partnered with Andover Fabrics in 2006 and now designs cotton fabrics for quilting. Renée's current self-published books promote her fabrics with collections of quilt designs. Visit www.needllove.com to view Renée's collections.

Artists currently creating under the Need'l Love Collection are Renée Nanneman and Lesa Dailey.

Kim Kohler

Kim Kohler was born and educated on Long Island, New York. Her original career was in accounting. Then, in 1995, she purchased a snowman to paint and the results so impressed her professional artist husband that she began designing and painting wooden folk art.

In 1996, on a risky whim, Kim rented a store front and filled it with her art and other local artist's offerings. It worked so well that Kim entered the art world full time and eventually opened a second store.

In 2001, Kim moved to Florida, where her career took another turn when she began designing fabric dolls with wonderfully expressive hand-painted faces. Eventually she also started her own pattern line which is known today as Veenas Mercantile. Her work has been shown in magazines and on various websites as Kim continues to design vintage and primitive dolls and patterns. Kim would like to thank Bethany Lowe for giving her the exciting opportunity to design for her and be able to share her work with so many others.

Kim's Art can also be found on her website at www.veenasmercantile.net.