276 Art Exchange

Big news! Ruth & John have their wooden wine racks, accessories, and cutting boards in a new gallery. Look for our stuff at the 276 Art Exchange, 142 W Lane Street, Equality, Illinois.

 I stopped by with an assortment of pieces, figuring that they would pick a few which they thought would sell to put in their gallery.  Turns out they took everything I brought!  Not only that, they put them into their display which looks a lot better than my own.  Now I need to find a way to up my game.

The 276 Art Exchange is a beautiful gallery, with a high caliber of art.  They've just opened up, but they've been working on this for two years, so it seems to be a well thought out proposition.  This is a great addition to the Southern Illinois art community, and we encourage everyone to take a trip and check them out.

Custom Made Cutting Board

A couple of quick pictures of a special order I just finished.  This is a solid cherry cutting board, thirty inches long by fourteen inches wide by about two inches thick, with live edges on two sides.  It was coated with mineral oil, then finished with a mineral oil/beeswax paste.  Pretty nice, eh?

 Is there something you need made?  Let us know what we can do for you.

Vulture Fest, Makanda, 2019

Get ready for one of the best and most distinctive festivals in Southern Illinois.  Yep, I'm talking about Vulture Fest in Makanda, this weekend October 19 & 20.  We've been doing this show for a number of years. and it just seems to get better and better. Not a craft fair, not a music festival, not a gathering, but a unique combination of all these things.  You'll find some of the best artists in the area, some great bands, and the best people watching you're likely to find.  Tiny little Makanda has become a mecca for artists and outsiders, a place where people can be themselves.  

 So drop by and prepare to have a fantastic time.  Take a look at all the great art, hear to wonderful music, absorb the funky vibe that is Makanda.  You'll be glad you did..

Wine & Art Festival at Rend Lake

We're going to a big on this weekend, the Wine and Art Festival at Rend Lake.  We've been doing this show for some fifteen years, and we look forward to it every year.  Lots of great artists, bands, good food, and us!  

We're really ramping up our products, and we've got lots of new things this year.  You should check out our line of cutting boards, beautiful pieces made from local black walnut, cherry, hickory, box elder, and coffeewood.  You won't find these in the big-box stores.

We've also got some exciting new pieces to show off wine bottles for your wine loving friends.  Lots to see and do this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12 and 13 at the Illinois Artisan's Center off of Exit 77 in Whittington, Illinois.  It will be a great time, so come on out and see us.

DuBois Center Fall Festival

Join us at a new event (for us), the 2019 DuBois Center Fall Festival at the Dubois Center in Dubois, Illinois.  This is a one-day event, Sunday October 6, from 11:00-5:00.  We've never done this one before, but we are assured it's a really fun time.  Of course, it will be even more fun if we see a lot of our favorite people there, so come on out and say hello.  We'll be looking for you.

Ruth & John's 2019 Shows

Folks, we've got a big season coming up for Ruth & John's.  Lots of shows, lots of goodies, lots of opportunities for you to make a dent in your Christmas shopping.  We have all sorts of new things for you to see, and I think you'll like our improved display.  So stop by, say hello, and find a present for all of your favorite people.

October 6

               DuBoisCenter Fall Festival

               DuBois Center, Dubois, IL

October 12-13

            Wine and Art Festival at Rend Lake

            Artisan’s Center, Whittington, IL

October 19-20

            VultureFest

            Makanda, IL

November 2-3

            Heritage Festival

            Southeastern Illinois College, Harrisburg, IL

November 9-10

            AutumnFest

            John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL

November 23-24

            Artsand Crafts Extravaganza

            Show-Me Center, Cape Girardeau, MO

December 5-7

            Holiday Craft Sale

            SIU Student Center, Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois Made Expo

 Been missing us?  Then come to the Pavilion in Marion this weekend for the Southern Illinois Made Expo.  This is a great chance to see the works of many of the talented and hard-working people of our region.  Not just, or even primarily, a craft fair, this show highlights the products and services of many native businesses.  You will want to see this one, if only to gather information on lots of things you may need in the future.  

We'll be there with new products, as well as your old favorites, and we're looking forward to meeting lots of new people.