The Southwest Mississippi Artisans may not be a group familiar to many people in the area, but its members are hoping to change that.
“We’ve been in existence for several years, but we haven’t really grown a lot,” said SMA president Margaret Dixon. “We’ve kept ourselves a secret, — but not by design.”
For the past three years, the members of SMA have culminated their work months with an annual Christmas arts and crafts fair.
This year, they’re planning a Christmas Village, to be held either the first or second Saturday in December at the McComb National Guard Armory.
The group’s mission is to promote artists and craftsmen who work with natural resource-based subjects or mediums and to promote the work they do in southwest Mississippi.
But a far more vital part of the group is networking — finding out what festivals and art shows are worth the time and effort of craftsmen, learning about other artists and finding markets for their work.
“The market gives you a place to show your wares to the public,” Dixon told a group of members and potential members that met last week at Camellia Estates. Another open house and membership drive will be held this month. “We’ve had a good turnout in the past. A lot of us are better at making what we make and doing what we do rather than marketing ourselves.”
The group expects between 40 and 80 vendors at the Christmas Village, with products ranging from wood carving, stained glass, ironworks, pottery, wood crafts, painted gourds, bird houses, oil and acrylic paintings, photography, pen and ink sketches, water color paintings, soap making, candles, magnetic jewelry, and more.
A requirement of the artisan group is that all work must be handmade in natural media.
The group is always seeking new members, but it already boasts of an interesting group of craftsmen.
Dixon, who has Sunbonnet Scents, makes handmade soaps in small batches. Her products include vegetable oils, animal fats, teas, herbs, milk or cream, honey, clay and grain. She also makes incense and sells pottery accessories.
Pati and Paul Clark of Osyka operate PnP Clark Magnetic Therapeutic Jewelry.
Though not endorsed by medical doctors in the United States, magnetic therapy has been used since ancient times to alleviate body pain.
The therapy is thought to stimulate iron in the blood, creating healthier cells and, thus, healthier bodies.
Magnetic therapy is not for everybody. The Web site www.webmd.com, says that magnetic therapy should not be used on pregnant women or anyone with a pacemaker or other magnetic implant; nor should it be used on children.
But Pati Clark has been a believer since 2004, when she was at a flea market as a vendor in Hammond, La. She was suffering from arthritis so badly that she could not dress herself and was taking lots of over-the-counter pain medicine.
“Another vendor came over and brought some magnetic necklaces for me to try,” she said.
Some 15 minutes later, she said, “I was sitting there, and all of a sudden my pain went away. I started dancing. Everybody thought I was crazy. It felt like somebody touched me with a wand.”
Now, Pati makes anklets, bracelets and necklaces, using magnetic beads, Swarovsky crystals, gemstones, coral and shells. She does about 30 shows a year and said she continues to get letters from people who have been helped by the magnetic jewelry.
SMA member James Church makes hand-turned wooden pens and other products.
Church uses a variety of wood, from oak to maple to ebony, and exotic species. He has an assortment of hand tools — lathes, pen presses, gouges, skews and scrapers — that come in handy when he makes his pens and other items, such as wooden crosses, bottle stoppers, knife-keychains, music batons, letter openers, necklaces — even yoyos.
Laurie Steele and Phillis Waller operate Pisgah Potters. Their pottery business, located off Highway 570 West near Pisgah United Methodist Church is a sideline; Steele is a 911 dispatcher, and Waller is a teacher. They began pottery lessons together, and now turn out hand-crafted pottery in their country studio, with no two pieces alike.
Don and Peggy Tidwell of Summit belong to SMA and operate Painted Creations, offering handpainted decorations and children’s playthings.
The Tidwells will be actively planning the Christmas Village and last week unveiled the painted likeness of a wooden facade that will be used annually for the craft group’s holiday show.
Sonya and Chubby Lowery have Chulson Woodcrafts, for which they carve out school mascots, Santas, jack-o-lanterns, angels, snow men, Uncle Sam and other seasonal items. Chubby, a longtime minister, also makes cypress bird feeders and bird houses.
Glenn Sharp, who operates Sharp Cypress on Highway 98 East, make swings, chairs and other select hardwood products.
Margie Fay Tarver of Wesson sells items from her Gourd Barn. Her hand-painted gourds are transformed into birdhouses, bowls and other items.
Local painter Betty Chighizola is an SMA member as well.
SMA dues are $12 per year, and will be prorated. The group meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at Camellia Estates. For online information, visit www.smartisans.org.
