There's something for everyone at this year's Art Under the Elms

Apr. 20—Whether you're an artist yourself or simply enjoy others' work, there's something for everyone at Art Under the Elms.

As part of the Dogwood Festival, Art Under the Elms will continue today from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lewis-Clark State College campus. The event features live music, art, craft vendors and food trucks and stands.

At one booth was Tim Jones of Omni Laser Art of Coeur d'Alene. His artwork combines digital illustrations that then use a laser to create layers in wood for a three-dimensional effect.

Jones used to have an electrical sign shop, and the last thing he purchased for his business was a laser. The business then closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and Jones started making wood art.

"I kinda lucked into it," he said. "Now it's all I do."

Jones makes designs on Adobe Illustrator and then uses a computer numerical control machine, or CNC, as the laser cuts the pieces to the design. The pieces are cut individually and then layered on top of each other. He keeps each wood layer-thin, about 1/8 inches, so the completed pieces don't get too thick.

Jones also stains the wood different colors and uses lighter colored woods like Baltic birch, sandy wood or maple. Then he can stain them the color he wants.

Jones' woodworking has a variety of styles from geometric to a forest theme or steampunk. Jones said he'll get stuck in different phases or go with something he enjoys.

"I like mountains, so I do a lot of mountains," he said.

Jones is attending Art Under the Elms for the second year in a row. He likes meeting new people and being outside makes it feel like "a day at the park." Being at the event reminds him of how grateful he is that he made the decision to buy a laser that allows him to do something he loves and create art for others.

"I cannot believe how lucky we are and people are enjoying it," Jones said. "I don't have to sell it. They either like it or not."

Others at Art Under the Elms were also happy to share their passions, like Dianne and Steve Wright of Wandering Pines Ranch of Weiser, Idaho. Dianne Wright was already working on spinning a new batch of yarn on her Lendrum spinning wheel.

Her two feet worked the pedals back and forth, making the wheel spin, turning a clump of a Targhee wool and silk blend into a strand of yarn. From there the yarn can be dyed and used for knitting or crocheting to make hats, shawls and scarves, among other items, which she also makes and sells.

Wright gets her wool from her own alpacas, and gets other wool from friends. She started spinning her own wool about 11 years ago and has knitted most her life.

"Learning to spin my own yarn is a progression, I guess," Dianne Wright said.

It has its benefits too.

"I can get the color I want and the material I want," she said.

Wright bought her first spinning wheel at a yarn shop and she always wanted to try it.

"(The Lendrum spinning wheel) is what you would call a workhorse," she said. "It's designed to do a lot of spinning."

Wright said there are different styles of spinning, and wheels that accommodate various styles. The Ashford spinning wheel is more traditional and looks like the wheel in "Sleeping Beauty." Wright also has an Ashford spinning wheel, which she said works well. It isn't as heavy duty, but she likes the look of it.

That's one aspect to spinning she enjoys, other than the craft itself. The wheels can be in the living room and not be out of place and look decorative. It's also an easy activity to do while talking or watching TV.

"The standard joke at our home is that I spin through a movie and he (Steve) sleeps," Wright said.

She started spinning using alpaca wool and learned later that the material is one of the hardest to learn to spin. But she didn't have issues with it.

"Angora bunny, that's definitely harder to do," she said.

That's because it's thinner and there's lots of fly-aways — strands of fiber that want to come off the yarn. But Wright said most wools are easy to learn.

Beginners to spinning can use blends, which Wright said is easier than one specific fiber. Wool can be found at processing mills that have a variety of blends and colors. Wright suggested people interested in learning more about fibers, whether they're crafting with knitting or crocheting, or learning to spin, can attend the Grazing Hills Fiber Arts Festival in July at the Latah County Fairgrounds in Moscow.

Those who didn't get enough to eat at the various food trucks and stands can wander over to Brush Creek Creamery, out of Deary, for some cheeses.

Debbie Yantis was giving out samples of some of the favorite cheeses, including marinated Labneh. Labneh is made from strained yogurt, and the creamery adds fresh garlic and other spices and the cheese is marinated in oil

There are also cheese curds that have flavors like huckleberry, Hatch Green Chile and ghost pepper Montasio. Yantis said Brush Creek Creamery tries different flavors and troubleshoots what's working. The creamery partners with a dairy in Othello, Wash. — Dan Maur Farms — to make sure the cows are fed and treated well.

Yantis said the creamery rotates out what they bring to events and picks what's most popular in the area. For Art Under the Elms, that's the huckleberry cheese curd.

"Everyone seems to be liking that," Yantis said. "It's our first time bringing it."

Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297.