Local craftsmen and women lined up along the Riverwalk that runs along the Coosa River on Saturday, selling their handcrafted wares to those who came largely for the music.
“The only thing that we required from our artists is that their items be truly handcrafted,” said Tiffany Robinson, events director for the city. “I think we were able to draw an interesting variety.”
Among those on hand along the Riverwalk selling their handcrafted products were a pair of ladies from the Auburn-Opelika area. Stephanie Edstrom of Auburn designs and sells artisan handcrafted jewelry and Kat Scarborough is an artist specializing in original artwork and custom portraits. She also does dyeing with indigo ink.
“This is what I do,” said Edstrom. “This, and I have two kids. I’m a full-time mom and I design jewelry.”
Edstrom works largely with sterling silver, sometimes incorporating such natural herbs and spice such as dill, cayenne pepper, mustard seeds, hibiscus and corn flower.
Scarborough, on the other hand, has a career as an art teacher. She teaches art to students in grades 3-5 at Opelika Elementary School. She, too, is a Mom with two boys, ages 6 and 1.
“I’ve always painted,” said Scarborough. “My bachelor’s degree is in fine arts from Auburn and I have a degree in art education from Montevallo.”
Scarborough explained what she does with indigo dyes, pointing out that dying with indigo was a precursor to photography.
“I started experimenting with indigo dyes when I was in school at Auburn,” Scarborough said. “It’s fascinating to me.”
Edstrom said she started making her jewelry in 2001. She was the first local artist to be profiled in Jule Magazine, the magazine of Auburn University’s Jule Collins Smith Museum of Art. Her jewelry is sold in the museum shop as well as at Terry Furuta Designs and Studio 305 Salon in Atlanta.
Others along the Riverwalk were selling hand-painted signs, honey and other bee-related products, wind chimes, children’s clothing, photography, soaps, pottery, carvings and more.
