Trio of Artisans at Dragonfly Farm

By Griffin Okie

We Californians have absolutely turned into "foodies." We love to buy the freshest produce and fanciest ingredients and whether we cook with them or just enjoy them "as is," the average consumer knows what they like and the value of fresh, real food.

So we take it for granted that we all love the best local foods--artisan cheeses, specialty crackers and breads, and gourmet coffees and teas. Now it is time to make these special foods even more appealing, by serving them with and on lovely kitchenware. We recognize that our best food needs to be honored with the proper service, whether it is for ourselves or for friends. When we reach for our favorite foods, it is even better to pair them with our favorite mug, cheese board and serving towel.

Luckily for us, Dragonfly Farm in Healdsburg is hosting Clay • Wood • Cloth for gracious cooking & dining on April 28th and three extremely talented Sonoma County craftswomen are creating a unique show and sale in the Dragonfly Farm patio which will be full of their tastefully and meticulously handcrafted porcelain, woodwork, and handwoven textiles. These items, handmade for the California kitchen, give you that special "I know who made this" feeling while adding beauty to your daily life. The three local ladies will also donate a portion of their proceeds to The Healdsburg Animal Shelter.

The ceramics are handthrown porcelain pots by Amy Halko (www.amyhalko.com). There are mugs, bowls and plates with delicate patterns and subtle shades of many colors, mostly influenced by her life on a large pastoral farm with many animals. Amy’s new work with her latest designs will soon be wholesaled to galleries, so come see her pieces. 

The woodwork – both cutting boards and cooking utensils – are handcrafted from maple, cherry, and walnut by Holly Jordan (www.sonomakitchenlinens.com). She is always looking for "new" historical shapes, like her pie server and the extra long polenta spoon, which ensures that you won't get burned during the cooking process. Her treen – as wooden cooking tools are called – is often decorated with fanciful wood burned "carrot folk" or dragonflies and bees.

And to put in the breadbasket, decorate the table or dry your hands while cooking, you must have a handwoven cotton towel with incredible texture and patterns--a towel you will NOT put in the back of the drawer. The absorbency alone makes you want to reach for this cloth. Marilyn Webster, the weaver (www.whimsyandtea.com), is always looking for new colors in her cotton yarns and the set-up of the loom.

This amazing trio of artists will be showing their wares on Saturday, April 28th, 10:00 to 3:00 at Dragonfly Farm, 425 Westside Road, just south of Healdsburg. Come enjoy their work and the incredible spring flowers. Bring a picnic and enjoy the willow circle; then take home a "pick to order" bouquet of flowers for your newly accessorized kitchen.