Meet The Members
ACF has had many talented members (100+ for 2019!) See below for more information about some of our members.
Lee Ritenour
For the Love of Wood
Lee Ritenour was reading an article in the 1989 edition of Wood magazine when she came across and article about Judy Gale Roberts and her beautifully detailed Intarsia woodworking – creating three-dimensional pictures with pieces of wood that are various sizes and colors. Lee fell in love with this type of project and began self-teaching and practicing. She has been creating Intarsia items for a few years now using her scroll saw and lots of sanding equipment. Lee’s creations are mostly whimsical characters such as “Grumps”, a monkey design she created herself.
You can find “Grumps” and many other creations by Lee at the ACF Christmas Show this coming November. You can also email Lee to ask her about ordering something special.
For the Love of Wood
Jamie Dobiesz
Dobez Designz
Jamie grew up in Bigfork, Montana but moved to Las Vegas when she met her husband, Mike. Mike and Jamie formed a self-owned business – Dobez Designz – and they create beautiful jewelry products that incorporate both metal and wood. Jamie has made jewelry for many years and cuts all the stones used in her jewelry herself. Some pieces even include dinosaur bone!
You can find their products online through their website, Facebook and Amazon. Jamie and Mike also sell their products at the Kalispell Farmers Market and the Columbia Falls Community Market.
Dobez Designz
https://www.facebook.com/DobeZDesignZ/
Alicia Gower
Giddy-Up Pup Photography
Alicia graduated from the University of Texas with a BS in Film Production and Cinematography. Then she moved to LA and attended the American Film Institute for Cinematography. After graduation, she worked as a motion picture camera technician, a camera assistant and a Cinematographer for 20 years. When she moved to Montana, she began taking still images of “all things Montana.” When a friend saw her “Super Moon” photo and told Alicia she would buy it, Alicia was inspired to start selling her images at the Kalispell Farmers Market. She also became the photographer for local dog shows, horse shows, the Event at Rebecca Farms and the Northwest Montana Fair.
Alicia’s photos can be purchased from her website, at local craft shows and various retail locations around the valley. You can also view her display prints at Northwest Automotive, Flathead Seafood and Montana Horse Works.
Giddy-Up Pup Photography
Alyssa Martin
Martin Marvel Designs
After mother of three, Flathead-born Alyssa Martin made a 4th of July wreath for her mother and loved the feedback, her craft addiction snowballed. Since 2018, Alyssa has made over 200 wreaths and has sold and shipped all over the US. She makes custom wreaths and home décor that incorporate a “whimsical” design and use a variety of materials. She also makes custom women’s hats, gnome candy dishes and floating candy dishes.
You can find Alyssa and her products through Facebook and at various craft shows around the valley including the ACF Summer Show and the Kalispell Farmers Market.
Martin Marvel Designs
Julie Frederick
Jamit! Jams, Jellies and Conserves
In 2016, Julie and her husband, Lowell, started exploring small business options for retirement. Growing up on a farm in Virginia, Julie well-remembered making massive amounts of jams, jellies and conserves in her mother's steamy kitchen during the August heat waves. So, Julie dug out her mother's coveted recipes which were developed during the depression era, a time when sugar was scarce and so jams and jellies were preserved with moonshine instead. Julie made good use of her chemistry background and developed a modern day version of those amazing jams.
Julie and Lowell sell their products at the Kalispell Farmers Market from May through October, the ACF shows in the summer and winter, and multiple holiday shows. They are also featured at Murphy's Liquors and the Apple Barrel in Kalispell.
Jamit! Jams, Jellies and Conserves
https://www.facebook.com/Jamit-Jams-and-Jellies-735938239864118/
Jacqueline Whitehorn
Jewel Basin Jewelry
Jacqueline is a Montana native and has been blessed to live in a state where she is surrounded by such natural beauty that gives her artistic inspiration. Jacqueline has many areas of talent. She dabbled in photography, watercolor, tole painting, and Norwegian rosemaling before she discovered her passion for making jewelry 15 years ago. She currently resides in Bigfork, just a short distance from Glacier National Park, where she lovingly creates handcrafted pieces of jewelry. Whether you are looking for a present for someone special or a fun gift for yourself, you can't go wrong with one of Jacqueline's beautiful hand crafted pieces!
You can find Jacqueline’s jewelry at various craft shows and farmers markets, in Kalispell at Soucie Soucie Salon and MediSpa, Flowers by Hanson, and Mountain Valley Foods; in Bigfork at the Bigfork Art and Cultural Center gift shop and The Eric Thorsen Gallery; in Columbia Falls at the Meadowlake Resort; in Seeley Lake at the Grizzly Claw; and in Great Falls at Gallery 16.
Jewel Basin Jewelry
406-314-2022
Victor Brozovich
Heavens Peak Photography
Victor Brozovich has been a landscape, macro, panoramic, wildlife and landscape photographer for more than a decade but began selling his art in 2014. Since then he has also been creating time lapse sequences in his favorite place, Glacier National Park. Over the years, he has hiked more than 3,000 miles and collected more than One Million photographs of the park in all its glory. Victor hikes up trails with a motorized dolly attached to a 4 foot rail carrying professional-grade equipment to gather these unique views to create these stunning images.
You can buy Victor’s photos as matted, metal and wood prints, note cards, greeting cards, custom calendars, magnets, tote bags, waterproof stickers and many other items on his website and at local craft shows and farmers’ markets and various retail locations around the valley.
Heavens Peak Photography
www.heavenspeakphotography.com
www.facebook.com/HeavensPeakPhotography
Christy Smith
Dirty Trails Soap
Dirty Trails Soap was started by Christy and Chere’, a mother/daughter team, who collaborated to make vegan, palm-free handcrafted soaps that people could not resist using. While Chere’ has gone on to achieve her educational dream of earning her PhD., her mother, Christy, continues to craft the luxurious cleansing soaps using only top-quality oils and butters. Dirty Trails Soaps are set apart from many others because it is lovingly handcrafted in small batches in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Whether you are looking for that special gift for a business client, or to pamper your guests at your bed and breakfast, Dirty Trails Soap can create that unique guest soap for you.
You can buy Dirty Trails Soaps on her website and at local craft shows and farmers’ markets.
Dirty Trails Soap
Suzanne Tutvedt
Fencin’ Fancies
Living on a family farm has given Suzanne a never-ending supply of old fence posts and barbed wire. She started making Santa Posts in the fall of 2017 and decided to try also making snowmen and bunnies. She loves how rewarding it feels to be creative and make something new from something old. Suzanne now makes barbed wire wreaths, barbed wire stars and wheat-filled mason jars in addition to her adorable fence posts.
Suzanne sells her products at craft shows, Facebook and various stores in the valley.
Fencin’ Fancies
btutvedt@hotmail.com
facebook.com/Fencin-Fancies-188313608522630/
Lois Wisher
Cora's Closet Bowtique
Lois has lived in the Flathead Valley for nearly 30 years. She began making bows for her daughter who was in competitive cheerleading while growing up. Lois’ six children are all grown and have children of their own now. She formed ‘Cora’s Closet Bowtique’ and started making ‘hair pretties’ for her then-5-year-old granddaughter Cora, about ten years ago. Cora is now 15 and Lois is still enjoying making quality and unique products that actually stays put in any type of hair. She uses double prong alligator clips lined with ribbon and silicone grips. Lois’s hair accessories are made with fabric, vegan leather, wool felt, grosgrain ribbon, paper flowers and other embellishments.
Lois sells her products at craft shows, farmers markets, on Facebook and at Sassafras in Kalispell.
Cora’s Closet Bowtique
406-250-3214
facebook.com/corasclosetbowtique/
Dan & Jami Erickson
Blaine Mountain Salsa Works
Jami and her husband Dan “The Salsa Man” started making their delicious salsa after being blessed with a bumper crop of tomatoes one year. They gifted their homemade salsa to friends and family and were encouraged to sell their product. They now make and sell salsa in 7 different heat levels and are growing in popularity every year!
Jami and Dan sell their products online, in 15 different stores in the Flathead, 9 stores in Missoula, at the Kalispell Farmers’ Market and at various craft shows.
Contact Dan & Jami
facebook.com/blainemountainsalsa
Jill Preston
Just Jill Studio
Jill is blessed with a bit of the Blarney, bit by the Muses and gifted with a driving love for beauty and order, creating is a must for Jill. She sees beauty as the innate core of everything. She has chosen many mediums throughout the years to express what she feels. Writing, photography, macramé, silk flower arranging, scrapbooking, dried flowers, needle arts, sewing, and sign making. Her latest endeavor is etched glass. Melding creativity, technology and old school sand blasting to create unique pieces. She collaborates with her companion Dennis to design custom orders.
Contact Jill
Judy & Maurice Crawford
Earth Treasures
Judy & Maurice have always enjoyed rocks and making things with them. When they retired they moved to a place where there were lots of long pine needles! After making stone pendants for several years they wanted to do something different. So they learned to do baskets and have been experimenting ever since. They are focusing, at present, on using pine needles and stone slabs, along with other embellishments, to make a variety of shaped baskets. Judy & Maurice also make jewelry from stones and gourd art. Earth Treasures can be found at shows. They plan on putting products in 1 or 2 shops this coming year. Stay Tuned. They also do special orders.
Contact Judy & Maurice
Jeremy Mays
Simply Amaysing Woodworking
Jeremy started woodworking in his free-time. When he retired from the US Air Force in 2014, he decided to make a full time career out of his passion. He now makes cedar ornaments, Montana shaped picture frames and much more. You can purchase Jeremy's products online through his web site or facebook page and by phone or text.
Contact Jeremy:
Rosanna Bradford
In Rose's Garden Custom Treasures
Rosanna began crafting by making Christmas gifts for her 5 sisters. She soon discovered how addicting this hobby can be. She now makes a verity of items including: jewelry, hair accessories, book marks, sun catchers and ear muffs. You can find Rosanna's products online through Facebook and Etsy and in person at local farmers markets and craft shows.
Contact Rose
Next Meeting
Wednesday November 20, 2019
7:00pm
Flathead Building Association
309 Main Street
Kalispell, MT 59901
Want to be ACF's next Artist of the Month?
Just fill out a copy of our Artists Profile form and bring it, along with a few product photos, to the next ACF general meeting. Can't make it to the next meeting? You can also send your completed form and photos to our email or to our PO Box:
Artist and Craftsmen of the Flathead
P.O. Box 1684
Kalispell, MT 59903
Artist and Craftsmen of the Flathead
P.O. Box 1684
Kalispell, MT 59903
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