Crafters and Artisans at Rockome

Meet the glassmaker, soap maker, woodcarver and coppersmith who worked in the crafters' hall at Rockome Gardens.

Crafters at Rockome

The crafters will be at Rockome creating from 10 until 6 every Wednesday thru Sunday, from May 7 thru September 30. Stop by and see them at the crafter's hall, they are happy to answer questions.

Barbara Alberts, soap and wirework. Barbara uses the same recipes to make soap that her grandmother did. Using spices and other natural ingredients, she can make a variety of fragrances. It takes her around 3 hours to make a batch of soap on the open fire. Some of our older visitors might remember their family making soap like this. See some examples of her work! Barbara also does wirework art. It’s an interesting craft that Barbara hopes to expand on this summer. With wire she can make animal feeders, wine racks, mobiles and do custom work as well.

John Gettinger, glass artist. John has been working in glass for some 30 years. He originally began in college and his interest has grown since then. It takes him a good hour to do an average size piece. Although glass blowing is the best know form of glass art, John uses many other processes too. The glass he uses has to be heated in excess of 1000 degrees in order to soften it enough to work with it.

Thomas Makosky, wood carver. The process Tom uses is called chip carving. He cuts decorative geometric shapes into the wood. Tom has been carving for over 10 years. It takes 3-4 hours for an average piece up to a week for the truly complex pieces. Tom designs the decorations himself, making each piece unique.

Tom Ward, coppersmith. When he was young Tom learned his trade from his father. He still uses the tools his father purchased from a retired metal smith in 1942. Tom enjoys hand making pieces from solid sheets of copper.

Mike Jean has been a blacksmith since 1990. My Grandfather was a blacksmith in Alabama and so was my great uncle Vic.

Uncle Vic's tools are still on display at the Barney Mining Museum in Walker Co. Alabama.

I was the smithy for Billie Creek Village, Rockville, IN for six years and was voted by the visiting school teachers as the best children exhibitor 5 years running. I have smithed for the Van Wert, OH Historical Society; the Paulding, OH Steam and Tractor Show; The Ohio Folk Festival (Good Will Organization), Dayton OH; Wind River Reservation in Riverton, WY and from 1996 to 1999 Six Flags over Mid-America's County Fair at St. Louis, MO. I regularly demonstrate my skills and love for blacksmithing at the annual bridge festival in Parke County, IN. I have done several school demonstrations in Sullivan, IN, Attica, IN, and elsewhere. One of my big draws at these events is stamping children's names on horseshoes. I am basically self taught but have had help from other smithing friends when a problem has been too tough for me to figure out on my own. I mainly concentrate on keeping the craft alive and demonstrating it for the public. Entertaining the children and "older" children is more important than making a large profit. I try to make a majority of my products right on site during my shows, giving the public a greater feel of what I do as a blacksmith. This allows me to make custom made items as they watch. One favorite demonstration is making a wizard face. The most important thing to me at an event is that everyone goes home with memories of good times. We practice the new 3R's; Respect yourself, Respect others and take Responsibility for your actions. We also offer for sale new iron kettles like grandma's in capacities of 2.5 to 19.5 gallons plus other interesting merchandise. For more info

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Barbara Alberts soap

Barbara Alberts

Buy This Soap

Thomas Makosky

Thomas Makosky is a quiet man with an easy laugh and a quip to fit most situations. “I find when I get bored, if I sit still long enough, it goes away,” he says. Makosky has become a master of a decorative woodcarving technique known as chip carving through the age-old method of experimentation and experience. Tom uses objects he designs and creates in his workshop (although Tom is personally against work) as canvases for his intricate, hand drawn patterns. His methods assure that each piece, while perhaps a variation on a theme, is itself unique. These truly one of a kind boxes, coasters, cheeseboards and other custom objects are presented for your enjoyment in 7 different finishes, adding another layer of variety to his palette.

Each piece begins with Tom designing a one-of-a-kind pattern using compass, straight edge and pencil. After deciding which pieces to chip away, he uses a specially designed knife and carefully slices away the wood. Following this, the piece is stained and finished with two coats of polyurethane before the boxes are provided with a felt lining. After this process, every piece is truly original.

Tom’s craft was recognized for its originality by the Arts Illiana Artists’ Choice Award at the 2007 Terre Haute Street Fair. His creations have been featured in several juried Art and Craft Fairs throughout the Midwest. He now demonstrates chip carving at Rockome Gardens.

Tom Ward Professional Coppersmith

At a young age Tom learned from his Father the skills needed for creating items from metal.

The tools he uses today were passed down to him from his father and are considered to be very valuable due to their age. Tom’s father purchased the tools from a retired metal worker in 1942. Tools of this kind are not being manufactured today.

Tom has continued to be interested in making by hand beautiful pieces from sheets of solid copper.

Tom in his workshop

1 Quart and 2 Quart Pitchers

The workmanship is heirloom quality and Tom’s wish is that festival attendees will enjoy and care for his work as much as he enjoys creating his pieces.

30“ Star

Now that Tom is retired he and his wife, Sherry, are looking forward to creating and presenting his work together. Traveling and meeting new people as they showcase Tom’s skills are some of the many benefits they hope to enjoy.

All of Tom’s one of a kind items are hand made and polished to perfection. Any one of his creations will endure the test of time and will become an heirloom to be passed down through generations.

Cup

Wastebasket

Tom and Sherry Ward

West Lafayette, Indiana 47906

Crafters Video

Mike in his workshop

Mike displays the art of blacksmithing for a child in his shop.

Below is a custom sign made by mike jean and is also his logo for his work!

I regularly demonstrate my skills and love for blacksmithing at the annual bridge festival in Parke County, IN. I have done several school demonstrations in Sullivan, IN, Attica, IN, and elsewhere. One of my big draws at these events is stamping children's names on horseshoes. I am basically self taught but have had help from other smithing friends when a problem has been too tough for me to figure out on my own. I mainly concentrate on keeping the craft alive and demonstrating it for the public. Entertaining the children and "older" children is more important than making a large profit. I try to make a majority of my products right on site during my shows, giving the public a greater feel of what I do as a blacksmith. This allows me to make custom made items as they watch. One favorite demonstration is making a wizard face. The most important thing to me at an event is that everyone goes home with memories of good times. We practice the new 3R's; Respect yourself, Respect others and take Responsibility for your actions. We also offer for sale new iron kettles like grandma's in capacities of 2.5 to 19.5 gallons plus other interesting merchandise.

All of Mike's creations are made from scratch and contain only the finest steel and coal that the midwest could offer. Have a custom piece to be made; Mike is YOUR MAN! You can

Mike hammering on the anvil.