Holiday Craft Sale at SIU - 2016

Get ready, 'cause it's coming up.  The one we look forward to every year, a great ending to a great season.  The Holiday Craft Sale at the SIUC Student Center is always one of the best shows of the year.  This is the show we have done the longest, and every year it just gets better and better.  We'll be in our usual location at the foot of the escalators with a wide variety of products old and new. 

Have you tried our Shower Fizzies?  Take the lid off, put this in the bottom of your shower, and when the water hits it, peppermint, eucalyptus, and camphor will waft upwards to help open even the most stubbornly stuffed nose.

Dry hands?  You can't do better than one of our Lotion Bars.  This solid lotion melts on to your hands to spread a protective layer, sealing in the body's natural moisture and saving your hands from the ravages of winter.

Some one who's hard to buy for?  Make them up a gift basket of goodies in their favorite scent.  We have a number of products for which you can even mix and match our scenting oils for a unique scent of your own.

Take a look at our unique wine racks, made from wood from the forests of Southern Illinois.  Or they might prefer a solid cutting board.  You won't find cutting boards made of cherry or walnut at a big-box store.

We're sure you'll find something to love at Ruth & John's, so come on out and see us.

Autumnfest, John A. Logan College, 2016

We're looking forward to one of our favorite shows of the year, Autumnfest at John A. Logan College in Carterville, Illinois.  This great event never fails to bring out the best artists from Southern Illinois and beyond.  This is one of your best chances to take care of a big chunk of your Christmas shopping and give your loved ones a truly unique gift, handcrafted by a local artist.

Stop by and see us at our usual spot in the cafeteria.  We've got lots of new products, as well as your old favorites.  We'll be looking for you.

Heritage Festival, SIC 2016

We're back at the Heritage Festival in Harrisburg's Southeastern Illinois College this weekend.  This is always a fun show, with a lot of artists we don't see elsewhere.  Saturday 9:00-4:00p, and Sunday 10:00a-4:00p. We will be in our usual spot in the corner of the gym.  It looks like another beautiful weekend, so come on out and get a jump on your Christmas shopping.

Illinois Wine & Art Festival 2016

This weekend is the Illinois Wine & Art Festival, just south of the visitors center at Rend Lake.  We will be returning for another show filled with some of the best artists in the area, as well as lots of that good Illinois wine.  With 40 artists and 12 wineries from around the state, this is a show you don't want to miss. 

Illinois Wine & Art Festival

September 24 & 25, 2016
Sat 11am - 6pm • Sun 11am - 6pm
12 Wineries • 40 Artists • 4 Bands • Great Food

  

We'll be set up in the middle of the grounds next to Vahling Vineyards.  We've been next to them for a number of shows, and we enjoy having them as neighbors.   This is a great opportunity to sample wines from wineries you otherwise wouldn't get to.  For example, I'm looking forward to seeing what Castle Finn Winery from Marshall, Illinois, has to offer.  And the Niemerg Family Winery from Findlay, Ilinois is a new one to me.

We'll have some new products just for this show, so come on out and see what we've got.  You'l have a great time.

Murphysboro Apple Festival - 2016

We return to the Murphysboro Apple Festival this weekend for another great time.  We've done this show for a long time now, and it's always great to see folks we don't see at any other shows.  It's the one that is closest to home for us, so that makes it special as well.  We've got lots of new products for you, and new scents in your old favorites.  We look forward to this every uear, so come on out and see us there.

Carterville Downtown Art Stroll

We've got a new show coming up tomorrow, the Carterville Downtown Art Stroll.  This one will be on the sidewalks of downtown Carterville (unless it rains, in which case we'll be inside - might have to look for us).  We'll be there 9:00a-3:00p, so come on out and say hello.

Walnut Display Table

I recently completed and delivered this walnut display table to E. Claire Salon.   This is a custom pice, designed and built to fit into a specific spot in the shop.   It was a somewhat complicated project, as I had never made a curved table before, it required a type of joinery I had never done before, and it was my first time applying veneer.  Let's just say I learned a lot from this project.
 

Below is a picture of how it looks in place.

 I'm very pleased with the way it turned out.  If you need a custom piece for your home or business, give me shout and let's see what we can do.

Nesting Tables

In addition to wooden wine racks and accessories, I occasionally branch out into making furniture.  A recent example of this is this set of nesting tables that I made for E. Claire Salon in Carbondale. 

 

These four tables are made of poplar with a painted plywood top.  They are much sturdier and will last far longer than similar pieces made of melamine.  The largest measures 25" x 48"x 36".  I could also make them in other hardwoods.  I think they would be spectacular made of cherry or walnut.

If you find yourself in need of a custom piece for your hope or shop, don't hesitate to give me a call.

Our 2016 Shows

We're looking forward to the fall craft fair season, and we hope you are, too.  Below is the list of shows we'll be doing in 2016.   It looks to be a great season, so come on out and say hello.  We'll be looking for you.

Murphysboro Apple Festival

               Murphysboro, Illinois

               Friday and Saturday, September 16-17

Rend Lake Wine and Art Festival

               Whittington, Illinois

               Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25

Southern Illinois Irish Festival

               Walker’s Bluff, Carterville, Illinois

               Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2

Heritage Festival

               Southeastern Illinois College

               Harrisburg, Illinois

               Saturday and Sunday, November 5-6

AutumnFest

               John A. Logan College

               Carterville, Illinois

               Saturday and Sunday, November 12-13

46^th Annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Extravaganza

               Show-Me Center

               Cape Girardeau, Missouri

               Saturday and Sunday, November 19-20

Holiday Craft Sale

               Southern Illinois University Student Center

               Carbondale, Illinois

               Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, December 1-3

Vulture Fest Cancelled This Year

We were very sorry to learn that Vulture Fest was cancelled this year.  The state has apparently decided to finally take on the bridge in downtown Makanda, resulting in the site being turned into a construction zone.  This is a real loss for the area, as Vulture Fest is perhaps the most distinctive event in Southern Illinois.  The only bright side is that they should be finished by this time next year (unless this is the same crew who built the Murphysboro bridge), and we'll be in great shape for next year's event.

Among the Stars

Join us today at StarView Vineyards for Among the Stars, a celebration of Shawnee Hills wine.  We'll be there from 3:00 to 8:00, enjoying the wine and listening to Kevin Lucas.