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Cincinnati Enquirer
Below is an excerpt from The Cincinnati Enquirer, originally published on Saturday, May 2, 1998.
Artisans true to Appalachia
Festival features handmade items for home and garden
Many of the 150 artisans participating in the 29th annual Appalachian Festival, next weekend at Coney Island, will be displaying beautiful and useful things for the home and garden.
Included will be quilts, stained glass, birdhouses, baskets, candles, herbal soaps and dried flower arrangements. Look also for rustic furniture, caned chair seats, wrought iron items for inside and out and decorative fountains. Here is a closer look at four artisans.
Caning by feel
Ted Chism's love for antique chairs led to his learning to cane seats
about 15 years ago. The Clifton resident, who has been blind most of
his life, does the caning by feel. He uses the "rushing" method,
which involves hand-weaving wet cat tail leaves. When the leaves
dry, they become taunt.
Mr. Chism does not make the chairs; he just canes the seats. At the festival, he will have children's rockers made in Eastern Kentucky, adult rockers and Victorian chairs.
Copyright 2005-2007 by Ted Chism. All Rights Reserved.
Revised January 7, 2007. Web site designed by Kate Dudding.