Out of Our Hands » Devon Beck

OOOH Featured In Lehigh Valley Style Magazine Ad

Devon Beck — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:24:46 +0000

If you pick up the most recent February edition of Lehigh Valley Style and flip to the inside cover, THERE WE ARE!

4O1 Creative has yet again shown their true support by featuring our website for one of their personal ads. Shown is a crisp shot of a computer monitor with the company’s latest website featured (OOOH), complete with the clever tag line, “Handcrafted Websites.” We cannot thank 4O1 enough for showing us off. :)

Check out the photos…we are directly across from Emeril and an ad for the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem!

While you’re at it, do yourself a favor and visit 4O1’s website www.401creative.com to see their professional work first-hand. Not only are we lucky enough to have them as designers for our new site, but they also designed Lehigh Valley Style’s chic webpage as well as other thriving businesses in the Valley. And on top of being stunningly talented, they are undoubtedly the most humble and sweet guys I’ve ever come across.

Kehs, Michael

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:53:14 +0000

I live on a wooded piece of land among the trees, the raw material of my passion. Being close to these giants has instilled a sense of respect and love for nature. My artistic view is most often toward the beauty of all things natural.

My early years in Dad’s shop spurred an interest in woodworking that lasts to this day. I worked as a stone mason for many years. This experience taught me to look for balance in the total piece, and a work ethic to get the job done. I left my masonry job of 28 years to pursue my livelong dream of working wood fulltime. I build custom furniture and artistic wood turning and carving.

Recently I have been exploring caves. This has been an avid pursuit which spills over into my artwork, resulting in critical acclaim. These pieces are in collections from coast to coast.

Jonathan’s Spoons

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:50:38 +0000

Wooden spoons are some of the simplest tools in our homes, yet have an unlimited variety of uses and designs to explore. My collection of handcrafted cherry wood utensils has evolved over 30 years of experimentation in the woodshop and kitchen. These spoons can serve anything, from soup to spaghetti, pudding to pie; they can spread, scoop, strain, whisk, ladle, grab, cut, peel, paddle, or pour. Use them at the stove or on the table.

With proper care, your new Jonathan’s Wild Cherry Spoon will last a lifetime. I recommend that you scrub them with a Scotchbrite pad using soap and water. Occasionally oil them when you want them to look their best – natural coconut oil is my favorite! The color of my spoons will deepen with use, and with age their beauty goes beyond skin deep. I hope you’ll enjoy the balance, function and quality we have built into every utensil and that they will serve you with pleasure for many years.

Jones, Dona

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:48:42 +0000

I design pins, earrings and ornaments out of mixed metals of brass, copper, and nickel silver. I am primarily working in what I call “Torched Copper”. Through repeated heating and cooling with an acetylene torch, I am able to produce a patina of semipermanent color on the surface of copper. The finished piece has a colorful, one of a kind appearance. Every piece is handcrafted using traditional metalsmithing techniques, then they are hand cut and hand finished.

I currently have over 600 designs in my line. I draw strongly upon artworks of past generations and feel my work has a primitive, simple style. The “Torched Copper” finish gives my work an unusual and original look.

Hirneisen, Christa

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:45:28 +0000

After graduating with a textile major from Moore College of Art in Philadelphia, I worked in the print design field for nineteen years. Most of those years were spent working for Jackie Peters Design Studio in New York City. I painted print designs on silk which were then sold to various women’s wear manufacturers including Oscar de la Renta and Liz Claiborne. Back then we were one of the first studios to offer print designs on silk instead of paper. Experimenting with many different methods and techniques was the key. Sometimes we used gutta or wax as a resist and we also painted directly on the silk fabric with brushes or stamps with dyes. Of course each pattern was one-of-a-kind.

In 1995 I took a break to raise my two children. I have taken some of my old silk patterns from my collection and recycled them into purses, bags, totes, pillows, sashes, and scarves. It’s a joy to rediscover these patterns from my past and work them into new items of “wearable art”.

Hersh, Elizabeth

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:42:21 +0000

I first discovered basket weaving in a high school art class. This interest surfaced again many years later as a stay-at-home mom of young children. I was invited to take a basket weaving class and soon fell in love with this traditional art. After further classes, many books and hundreds of baskets later, I was hooked! With the encouragement of God, friends and family, my business, Woven Blessings was born.

Several years later, myself along with several of my colleagues opened Out Of Our Hands Gallery. For five years this was a fun and exciting venture, however I had little time for weaving. After much thought, we sold the store in order to pursue other interests and commitments. Happily, I now am spending my free hours weaving, exploring new techniques and developing new skills while perfecting the old.

I currently live in Emmaus with my husband and two teenage sons. I am a juried member of the Lehigh Valley Guild of Craftsmen.

Hauser, Candace Gail

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:39:09 +0000

Everything I know about designing and creating jewelry is self-taught. Having experimented with many different mediums over the years, I felt almost instantly at home with silver. I find great satisfaction in manipulating it into wearable art.

All of my jewelry is completely hand fabricated. Most of my pieces have a simple, clean, and organic feel. My work isn’t sparkly or “flawless”. I’m partial to silver with a satin finish that has the feel of the artist’s hand, and believe that most pieces get better with time and wear. Each piece is slightly different, allowing my heart and soul to be expressed in the crafting process. I believe this type of craftsmanship allows the owner of each piece to truly enjoy its unique characteristics.

Gualtieri, Karen

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:37:51 +0000

My interest in origami started when I was eight years old and my parents enrolled me in an after school program teaching the basics of origami. I have been self-taught since that time, reading books and experimenting with my own designs for years. I have had the privilege of participating in the Burrillville Arts & Crafts Festival in Rhode Island and receiving an award for Honorable Mention in 2007.

It is incredible how small and intricate the folded designs can become. I have been inspired by many friends and family members to continue with origami, and I am happy to share it.

Giles, Sharon

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:32:09 +0000

My weaving style is both traditional and contemporary. I like to weave functional, practical items which are affordable enough to allow my customers to purchase and enjoy my work over many years. I prefer to work with natural fibers (cotton, cotton blends and silk). My line of apparel and accessories varies from scarves, bags/purses, to tailored jackets, shirts, tunics and kimonos. When weaving my Fiber Designs by Sharon line of apparel and accessories, I always try to keep in mind style, function and price. I am also a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

Ellis, Holly

Devon Beck — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:23:26 +0000

I enjoy working in a wide variety of fibers, techniques and forms. Currently my focus is on surface design and hand painting silk. As a fiber artisan my work exists as a blurry area between art and craft. Each piece of silk is a canvas for a painting inspired by observations and experiences. Each piece is functional and takes on the moniker of craft, therefore it can be called wearable art.

The silk painting techniques I use originated in France and Japan. I work with 100% silk (crepe de chine, habotai, and chiffon), hand stitch the hems, and use top quality French fabric dyes, resists and setting agents. When working in the French serti technique, the design is drawn four times before painting begins. The Japanese technique, called shibori, is an intuitive and abstract process. Silk is bound very tightly to large poles and compressed before painting. The result is an intricate one of a kind pattern of color and shading that can never be re-created. All of the silks I create are one of a kind, hand washable and colorfast.