Meet the MiM Producers!

Mariposa Native Plants Nursery & EcoCreations

As an avid recycler and repurposer, Beverley integrates those values in her craft work. Her  business, EcoCreations, uses repurposed materials as much as possible. Whether making denim pet toys, yard art, fabric decor, or other items, Beverley hunts at yard sales and thrift stores for most of the materials she needs. 

Beverley started her craft work in 2010, when she lived in San Jose. A group of friends decided to start a quilting group, making lap quilts to donate to hospitals. Over the years, she expanded her sewing into making pet-related items and fabric home decor and machine embroidery. She has recently begun making yard art and working with manzanita.

In 2019, Beverley and her partner Ron started Mariposa Native Plants nursery (mariposanativeplants.com). Initially, they sold only California milkweeds to help restore the monarch butterfly population. But, getting requests from local neighbors for pollinator plants, they expanded their nursery at Midpines Summit to now carry over 100 varieties of native California plants.

From the Barn

Don has been creating unique things out of old rustic wood for many years. The wood he uses is locally grown and milled. He hopes those buying his pieces enjoy the special characteristics of the wood as much as he does. Don makes a variety of products, from side tables and pet beds to "rustically whimsical" wall hangings. Enjoy a piece of Mariposa in your home!

Unforgiven Leather

Unforgiven Leather

Having been an avid crafter most of her life, Valorie specializes in leatherwork and sewing. She loves making her own patterns and coming up with unique designs in a very wide variety of products.  Her inspiration often comes from western tack, animals, celtic design, vintage horror films, and military surplus. Made in Mariposa currently has a collection of leather bags, accessories, flasks, bracelets, hats, barrettes, bookmarks, earrings, and gloves made by Valorie, with more exciting products to come!

Mountain Mud Company

Bio TBD

Squirrel Werx Crafts

Bio TBD

Suzanne Cramer

Bedazzaled children's clothes

Victoria's Handwork

Lorna Fear, a wearable-art maker in Mariposa, has been honing her skills since 1985. Her stay-at-home mom, an accomplished seamstress, small business owner, and avid flower gardener, introduced the young girl to a variety of fabric arts. Lorna experimented with several forms of artistic expression while employed in the San Francisco Bay Area, in escrow and then in high-tech. Fabric arts provided a much-needed outlet. 

During weekends spent at her parents' place, Lorna grew to love Mariposa's Old West vibe. Resembling the set of a favorite cowboy movie, Mariposa's historic downtown sparked a creative flame.  She began to make wearable art pieces that mimic what's found in our gardens, window boxes, and old photographs. Jewel-tone handbags dangle like blossoms8 from flowering vines. Butterflies alight on Lorna's anklets and boot bling. Freesias and pansies adorn French barrettes. Her uses of simulated barbed-wire create distinctive armlets. Charm bracelets depict farming and ranching life, cattle drives, and even stagecoach robberies!

Mary A. Foster

Beaded Jewelry

Magical Art Objects

Uses acrylic pour to create home decor objects

Mariposa Candle Studio

Scented soy candles

Usona Rocks & Jewelry

Tori is a Mariposa native, born at the local JCF Hospital. Her interest in jewelry-making started when she was about 10, doing beadwork. But what inspired her interest in using her hands to create, came from experiences with her family.

Tori initially lived on her family's farm on Usona Road, next to the farm of her mom’s parents. At a very young age, she watched her grandfather do repairs and make things to use on the farm. Her millions of questions were patiently answered and explained as he worked.

When she was 8 years old, Tori’s father left the family and her mother became ill. Tori went to live with her aunt and uncle in La Puente, CA for awhile.  While there, she got hands-on experience In the family electronic repair shop. After school she would help clean and repair clocks, electric razors, toasters, etc.

After Tori returned to her live with her mom, they moved to Merced to live with her father’s mother. Her grandma had a business machine repair shop and, as before, Tori jumped in to help and learn. She mostly cleaned typewriters and 10-key adding machines, and changed typing ribbons. Tori was about 9 or 10 years old. 

Her love of working with her hands drove her to take various shop classes in high school and college. She also taught herself to use a loom. Tori is also a member of the Mariposa Gem and Mineral Club.

Rusty Spur Studio

Art & Life In The American West, Through The Lens 

Charles Phillips, a long-time Mariposan, enjoys the process of taking photos to record the light and color of Nature’s canvas and to preserve western traditions for future generations.

Charles specializes in western/nature scenes and photojourn

Tori initially lived on her family's farm on Usona Road, next to the farm of her mom’s parents. At a very young age, she watched her grandfather do repairs and make things to use on the farm. Her millions of questions were patiently answered and explained as he worked.

When she was 8 years old, Tori’s father left the family and her mother became ill. Tori went to live with her aunt and uncle in La Puente, CA for awhile.  While there, she got hands-on experience In the family electronic repair shop. After school she would help clean and repair clocks, electric razors, toasters, etc.

After Tori returned to her live with her mom, they moved to Merced to live with her father’s mother. Her grandma had a business machine repair shop and, as before, Tori jumped in to help and learn. She mostly cleaned typewriters and 10-key adding machines, and changed typing ribbons. Tori was about 9 or 10 years old. 

Her love of working with her hands drove her to take various shop classes in high school and college. She also taught herself to use a loom. Tori is also a member of the Mariposa Gem and Mineral Club.

Rusty Spurs Studio

Yard art, home decor, and photography

Stone Fly Maker

David makes and sells fishing flies. He also teaches fly-tying classes at the MiM store. 

David started tying flies in 1964 at the age of 10. In 2009, he was hired by Bass Pro Shops to make and sell fishing flies, as well as teach fly fishing to people of all ages. 

In David's beginner fly-tying class, he discusses what it means to fish with hand-tied imitations of these flying insects, including insect growth stages, their relationship to trout feeding, stream water habitat, and the feeding patterns of trout.

David's goal is to make fly-tying simple, educational, and rewarding.

Rivas Quilts

Bio TBD

1440 FAB

Gabriel is a California native who grew up in the Santa Cruz area. He joined the Coast Guard after high school and traveled the Pacific from Alaska to Panama. He has always been the creative type and has experimented with many forms of art. He builds and paints canvasses, builds things out of wood from candle holders to picnic tables, and he occasionally gets the welder out to melt metal together. Recently Gabriel started working with a laser cutter/engraver and he's greatly enjoying it!

D&L Glass & Gourds

D & L Glass & Gourds is a joint venture between husband Dave Smith and his wife Laura. Dave is a self-taught stained glass artist who began perfecting his craft around 2009 when their new home needed some beauty for their windows. His enthusiasm for glass work expanded from there with windows, hanging glass items, and decorative pieces circulating to family and friends in the area and out.  

Laura retired in 2016 and felt she needed a craft to keep her busy and occupied, so picked up a class in gourd painting, which quickly became a passion. Dave and Laura were avid scuba divers and travelers in their younger years so it's not unusual to see ocean and travel scenes depicted in their work. Laura spent time with the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico so much of her work shows some southwestern flair. 

Both joined Made in Mariposa in 2016 and have been showcasing their work since then in the MiM store at the Visitor Center and now in the new MiM store in downtown Mariposa.  Come in and see their beautiful pieces and maybe take one home for your own windows or tables, or to share with a friend.

The Misty Oak

Nature has always been the most substantial influence in my life as an artist. For many years colored pencils were my medium of choice as I created works of landscapes and wildlife. After being blessed to have the opportunity to live and work in places such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and the San Gorgonio Wilderness, I was truly inspired by those areas and the cultures and natural environments found there. Those inspirations opened my imagination to create works which combined aspects from the natural beauty of those areas, as well as the cultures of the communities found there.  

My artistic journey has expanded to exploring and using natural fibers, stone, metal clays, glass and objects found with both natural and cultural origins. Combining these various mediums and elements is a constant journey to reflect and show appreciation for the beauty found all around us. My true passion is creating works that showcase that environment and community, but have truly added passion to my desire to create those works and teach others to find their creative interests and help them produce works of their own, as they explore their journey of creation. 

The Misty Oak

Growing up in the “rust belt” of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, my younger years were spent in rural communities while working on farms, in construction and then in the steel mills to pay my way through college. Having that background gave me a passion for building, creating and repairing anything that was broken. I truly enjoy creating works from items that aren’t normally associated with artwork, and repurposing and recycling items to create something unique. My greatest joy is creating something that someone can use or appreciate in their daily lives. My mediums are metal, glass and wood and combinations of those elements. Creating works of art, tools, furniture or decorative hardware has been an enjoyable and worthwhile journey, and passing those inspirations and skills on to others is just as rewarding. 

Vicki D. Thomas

Mariposa artist, Vicki D. Thomas has enjoyed many decades painting in acrylic and watercolor, loving the transparency of watercolors as they blend one into the other, creating pleasing shapes and new colors. Her vividly painted flowers and floral still-life pieces are her favorite subjects. Many images have appeared on various giftware items such as teapots, tea infusers, tapestries and music boxes. She also has prints and cards in her inventory.

Included in her collection are multiple images of Yosemite National Park. 

The artist enjoys painting children and adults and is known to have an attraction for fantasy and whimsical themes. Her experience drawing people comes from many years as a fashion illustrator when she had a freelance business in Los Angeles. There, she also taught watercolor to young people and adults.

Vicki has exhibited and sold at numerous galleries, art shows, and is involved in art competition where she has received awards in juried shows. She is an active member of Yosemite Sierra Artists (Oakhurst) and enjoys the camaraderie and shared information from the other members.

Vicki is also a young adult fantasy writer. 

Visit her web for more images and information:

www.vickithomasartist.net 

www.yosemitesierraartists.org 

www.vickithomasauthor.com 

Inspired Gemstones
Jewelry

Glori Shop
Bio TBD