Orchard Artworks Crafters Participate in Crafts in the Meadow this Weekend

Crafters Kathy Makransky and Leslie Friedman-Rifkin create wearable art that goes together like bread and butter, chocolate and peanut butter, milk and cookies. You get the picture!

Kathy, a retired school administrator who lives in Northampton Township, has been bead knitting for about four years. She applies this technique to making jewelry. Leslie, who lives in Lower Merion, creates hand-woven wearable knitwear such as sweaters, vests, and scarves. She has won awards from the Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers for her fiber arts. Previously she ran her own company, Leslie Friedman Designs, for many years.

Kathy and Leslie met at Orchard Artworks, a cooperative gallery in Bryn Athyn, about three years ago. When they started working together at the gallery, they noticed that their wearable art went well together. After that they started doing craft shows together. "People are always amazed that we don't plan or coordinate our craft wear ahead of time," says Kathy. "Yet our items just happen to go together—Leslie's knitwear and my necklaces. We are able to make multiple matches of sweaters, scarves, vests and necklaces."

Kathy learned bead knitting from a cousin who developed a method of creating knitted jewelry that she calls the "covered ball technique." She knits pieces of fabric, wraps them around wooden balls, and makes them into colorful necklaces. She works with about 80 different fibers and many "seed beads" to create the unique jewelry.

Leslie's wearable art is finished with antique buttons and meticulous stitching. The items are available in a wide array of colors.  Leslie will take orders for one of her available designs based on the customer’s color preference and size.

This year they will participate in Crafts in the Meadow, a juried invitational craft show, for the second year in a row.  Nearly 100 artists will display their arts and crafts at this show at Tyler Park Center for the Arts.

Besides arts and crafts, attendees can enjoy live art demonstrations, children's activities, live music, food and more. Potters, blacksmiths, wood turners and other artisans will demonstrate their craft to show attendees. Visitors will descend upon the historic Victorian barn at Tyler State Park, the former headquarters of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

"Since last year's show, we've both added more colors and fibers," says Kathy. "Leslie has added some new styles of sweaters and vests that are very popular this year. Our theory is that all you need is a sweater or scarf and a necklace and you're set to go!"

One of Kathy and Leslie's specialties is coordinating an outfit for any occasion. "It's possible to dress our work up or down depending on what you want," says Kathy. "We think that shopping for gifts, or for yourself, should be fun and we make every effort to do that."

At this year's Crafts in the Meadow, another fiber artist, basket maker June Statmore, who lives in Washington Crossing, will join Leslie and Kathy. Look for them at booth 12B, under the name, "Fiber Collective."

John Danaher and The Quiet Men will be performing this weekend. Other performers include Jim Arkus, Christian Roebling, Dave Bond and Real Country, Matt Simon and The Good, Fiddle Sticks and Graham Craig and others.

Crafts in the Meadow will be held this Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $6; children 12 and under are free. The entrance is on Newtown-Richboro Road (Rt. 332) in Richboro, PA (Northampton Township).

For more information, visit www.tylerparkarts.org. You'll be able to print out a postcard for a discount coupon.