Shaker Woods Festival draws crafters, customers

August 28, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBIANA

Most people who use brooms to sweep floors or perform similar tasks probably give little thought to how they are made or who makes them.

For those who wish to collect such information, however, part of their answer can be found with Bob Wiggins.

“I use a special variety of sorghum” for the bristles, explained Wiggins, of Unicoi, Tenn., who’s been a broom-maker 22 years.

The 72-year-old Wiggins, who also served about 30 years in the Navy, spoke Saturday about his business during the 29th annual Shaker Woods Festival.

He is one of an estimated 208 local, regional and out-of-town crafters participating in the annual festival, a popular craft show that allows artists to demonstrate and sell their pieces.

The event continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today on County Line Road, about a half-mile west of state Route 7 and one mile north of the state Routes 7 and 14 intersection. Cost is $7 for adults; children 12 and under are admitted for free.

Wiggins explained that he makes Appalachian, cobweb, and Shaker brooms by first removing seeds from the sorghum. Then he uses sheep shears, a knife with a leather guard, a cutting device and other tools — most of which are more than 100 years old — to shape and size his wares.

Wiggins explained to onlookers several characteristics of well-built brooms, such as bristles that are even on the bottom. Then he demonstrated that quality by balancing a broom on its bristles.

“If I wake up, it’s a good day; if I can make a broom, it’s a better day,” said Wiggins with a chuckle, adding that he also makes mop heads from cotton.

People who want to spruce up their decks and patios will get many wet and colorful ideas by talking to Fred Gilstorf.

“I’ve made 25,000 of these over 15 years and about 1,500 to 2,000 a year,” said Gilstorf, of Gatlinburg, Tenn., referring to his antique water fountains.

Gilstorf typically begins with driftwood and wood from barns, then attaches antique wheels as well as other decorative parts and a bucket for the water. One fountain features a wine bottle through which water, sometimes enhanced with food coloring, can pass.

One potential customer seemed a bit confused as she viewed several fountains, until Gilstorf quickly explained their simplicity.

“All you do is place water in a bucket and plug it in. It’s set and ready to go,” he told her.

At first, Gilstorf made a few fountains to promote the Gatlinburg area during his career with the city’s Chamber of Commerce. Now, Gilstorf works about 15 hours a day, 365 days a year, he added.

Attendees casually looked at and took in the countless homemade items that featured everything from pies to puppets. Items for sale included glass-blown pendants, Shaker-style and log furniture, doll clothing, jewelry and keepsakes made from silverware, and stained-glass items.

Face-painting and numerous other activities were available for children.

John Bosley and his wife, Patti, were on hand for those who wanted to try a little multitasking, specifically, carrying a purse and part of a favorite singer simultaneously.

The Bosleys run RPM Treasurers in East Palestine and specialize in cutting, shaping, drilling and adding polyurethane to old 33-rpm album covers and records to make vintage vinyl record purses. The couple’s selection at the festival included The Beatles, Rod Stewart, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, The Bangles and the popular movie “Grease.”

The Beatles and Springsteen are the best sellers, John said, adding that the purses sell for $49 each.

Also on the grounds is a one-room schoolhouse that resembles a typical school during the 1800s. During the festival, various crafters use it to teach classes three times each day to children.

One instructor is Sue Usner-Miller of Cortland, who spent part of Saturday conducting brush calligraphy classes.

Most Shaker classrooms separated boys and girls, and the culture had other strict practices, she noted.

“Shaker children were not allowed to play with anything on Sundays unless it was connected with the Bible,” Usner-Miller explained. “Sundays, they were taught something biblically related.”

The Shaker Woods Festival is well known for bringing in unique pieces by crafters from all over the country, noted Sue Ferguson, promoter.

The event also is like a reunion for many attendees with family members from elsewhere who plan vacations to the Mahoning Valley around the festival, noted Ferguson, who runs the show with her husband, Sam.

“Dedication is the No. 1 thing with the people here,” Sue Ferguson said of the crafters.