Amongst the many vendors from Royal Oak, Auburn Hills and Lake Orion expected to participate in Celebrate Oxford’s ‘Art in the Village? Saturday, don’t forget to keep an eye out for these local exhibits sure to make you reach for your wallet.
Susan Karbginsky, Oxford resident and owner of Susan’s Ceramics, has been making ceramics for the past 30 years and this year will mark her fifth year in Celebrate Oxford.
Karbginsky goes through 100 gallons of liquid clay a month and owns over 4,000 molds. No wonder she has so many unique pieces to choose from.
She carries quality bisque, ceramic supplies, ceramic and pottery classes and will start making stoneware in the next couple of months.
She said her exhibit will feature fall-themed items, like pumpkins with humorous faces, personalized pumpkins and lawn ornaments with fairies on flowers. She will also have vases on hand to sell as well.
Karbginsky said her ceramics are a great stress reliever and never imagined her business would get as big as it has.
‘It started as a hobby and it kind of went nuts,? she said laughing.
Her business has also been involved with charities, like the Empty Bowl program that helps the hungry.
‘We went down as far as Southfield to make (ceramic) bowls with first and fifth- graders,? she said.
The kids kept their bowls and then worked in a church soup kitchen and then donated money to the Empty Bowl program.
‘That was really fun,? she said.
Susan’s Ceramics will be selling products ranging from $12 to $67, but Karbginsky’s main concern is letting people know where her business moved to.
Susan’s Ceramics was located in downtown Oxford next to the museum, but Karbginsky felt she needed to down-size a little bit. Her new business is located at 953 S. Glaspie St. tucked back into a block of other businesses.
On a lighter, softer note, Oxford resident Kristine Balinski will make her debut at Celebrate Oxford this year selling handmade children’s quilts, baby t-shirts and fabric bowls.
Balinski, a math teacher at Stony Creek High School in Rochester, said her mother got her interested in the craft of sewing her own clothes when she was 12.
‘I wanted a certain style and I couldn’t find them in the stores,? she said.
By the time she was a senior in high school, she had made all of her homecoming and prom dresses, not to mention sewing bridesmaid dresses for a whole wedding party and the bride.
After going to college full-time to become a teacher, Balinski had to put her sewing on hold.
Once her two-year-old daughter was born, she decided it was time to put the sewing machine pedal to the metal.
Balinski began to create children’s quilts, featuring animal, number, color and letter themes, right from her home.
The quilts are composed of 48 different fabric tiles, with a flannel backside and satin border and are priced at $40. Balinski will be accepting special orders for quilts at Celebrate Oxford.
Her baby T-shirts for sale have pop-culture phrases like ‘Got Milk?? embroidered across the front ($10). Balinski also makes long-sleeved denim shirts with high school logos ($20) and a new fad called fabric bowls Fabric bowls are reversible, meaning the bowl can be displayed two ways with two different patterns and are a functional alternate to a gift bag.
They’re also machine washable and come in different shapes.
‘You can put fruit in it for your table or even jewelry,? Balinski said.
Balinski said she is very excited to be a part of Celebrate Oxford this year and said once she has her new baby, (she’s eight months pregnant) she’ll be happy to make as many quilts as possible during her free time.
‘I’m excited to have (sewing) back in my life,? she said. ‘I’m willing to do anything.?
Another Oxford-based company debuting an exhibit in Celebrate Oxford this year is Stoneheads Garden Art. Owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Aaron Dionne and Cherri Eisele for the last three years.
Stoneheads, which they run out of their home, creates beautiful concrete sculptures, big and small, to decorate any garden. Stepping stones, birdbaths, religious statues and planters are also their expertise.
Dionne said the couple got interested in the business and just began collecting and making molds. They used to have only 30 molds, but Dionne said he made a special trip to Louisiana for a mold auction.
‘My goal was to come back with as many as I could,? he said.
Now, they own about 100 molds and have sold their items, like concrete wizards with brightly colored looking balls, at the farmer’s market in Lapeer, Canterbury Village and at a Lake Orion art show.
‘It was amazing how many things she sold,? Dionne said.
Stoneheads price ranges run from $2.50 to about $80. Small garden animals are priced lower, while large items, like a 160 pound stone planter replica of a Volkswagon convertible, are closer to $80.
Another creative item Stoneheads sells are copper spigots with clear, crystal ‘water? drops, handmade embroidered denim shirts and ribbon-laced flip flops ($10).
Dionne said if all goes well at Celebrate Oxford this year, they hope to keep moving up.
‘We’re too busy to have a retail outlet right now,? he said. ‘Hopefully next year we’ll be able to get into more nurseries.?
To see more pictures of Stoneheads products, visit their website at www.stoneheadsgardenart.com.