My grandmother used to take me for walks in the woods teaching me all about nature. We’d do creative projects together - sometimes using materials found throughout our adventures. I believe this was the foundation of my artistic journey. I love creating in any capacity, but am most passionate about making beads, collecting beads, and learning about different types of beads and their cultural history. I find inspiration from organic colors, textures, and materials as well as from indigenous cultures from around the globe.
I am passionate about living a healthy lifestyle, mindful of ourselves as well as our planet and every living being on it. For this reason, I avoid being wasteful by collecting found materials and saving materials that would otherwise be thrown in the trash. Some might call me a ‘packrat’ but I’m very organized about it. I also enjoy making paper, which is another way to use all sorts of found objects. Then that paper can be used in everything from card making to jewelry making. I have an Etsy shop where I hope to share my passion for beads, jewelry, nature, and health by offering artistic, unique, and mindful products at affordable prices for everyone.

These sachets combine my love of vintage linens and lavender. I enjoy laundering, ironing and hand sewing linens that I inherited, am given, or find at estate sales. I am an avid lavender gardener and the lavender buds in the sachets come from my plants. Give Lavender Sachets for: Valentines’ Day/Galentines’ Day, Mothers’ Day, Hostess gifts, Bridal Showers/Brides’ Maids, Graduations, Travel/trip adventures, And .. Keep some for yourself!

Elizabeth Marcais is the owner of Mud, Twine & Sticks. My education in art started with a B.A. in Graphic Design and Ceramics (my first art love!). Before transitioning to being a full-time natural-dye artist, I was a public school art teacher for 18 years. I live in Madison Heights, Virginia with my husband, two children (and two furry cats named Tonks and Leia, after Harry Potter and Star Wars characters). I create a variety of naturally-dyed handmade jewelry, clothing, and home-goods. My colors come from natural sources like plants, bark, and flowers. I forage, purchase, or grow the plants in my own garden. The ancient Japanese art of Shibori inspires my binding of cloth and pattern making. I often take some of the traditional folds and try to combine them into one piece to create interesting patterns or landscape designs. The majority of my clothes are up-cycled. All of my jewelry is made with up-cycled fabric which is often purchased from the Scrappy Elephant! You can also find my work on Etsy, @marcaismade Instagram, in the artisan gallery at the Lynchburg Community Market in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia and monthly at the Charlottesville City Market. 

As the COO at Scrappy Elephant, Ellen is inspired by all things creative reuse. In this day and age of overconsumption and easily disposable materials, she loves repurposing materials that have been discarded or are unwanted. Her work combines a variety of mediums, including paper, beads, found objects, and paint all embroidered together and framed. All of her materials come from Scrappy Elephant to create one of a kind pieces. When she’s not playing around with the fun things she finds at Scrappy, Ellen is a film photographer, avid reader, and lover of all things nature. She hopes her work inspires other creators to reimagine how we consume THINGS and to take better care of the people and the world around us.

Ellie Plants is a sustainability focused, multidisciplinary functional artwork brand. The purpose behind her business is to create from locally sourced, upcycled and recycled materials; giving them new life, well, in your life. Ellie has been creating art in every medium she could get her hands on since childhood. Because a large part of her creativity comes from weaving in and out of different art styles: she believes you, in fact, do not have to choose just one specialty. As you view her handmade works, you will see a variety of options from scrunchies to soy candles, from dog bandanas to crossbody bags. Each product embodies the same message: from the Earth & for the Earth.

Heather Kiser is a self-taught painter and mixed media artist who lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with her husband and three children. She holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Virginia. Her life-long interest in art was deepened while working on her dissertation, which explores women artists and Victorian poetry. After leaving academia following the birth of her first daughter, Heather realized that she most desired to become an artist herself rather than to write about the work of others. Heather creates multi-layered pieces, drawing inspiration from her academic background, her role as a mother, and her faith. Her work is impressionistic and emphasizes the emotional resonance of her subjects. Fascinated by the ways in which Victorian art forms can be reimagined through modern technology, Heather creates fresh perspectives on traditional cyanotype and pressed-floral art by digitally painting scans of flowers. Heather’s highest goal is for viewers of her art to more clearly see the complex beauty inherent in the everyday world, and in so doing, to experience hope and joy.

I’m a full-time therapist in Charlottesville, VA, and creating pottery is one way that I make time for myself in the midst of my rewarding and healing work with others. Getting my hands dirty with clay or creating something joyful with a colorful glaze is incredibly grounding and healing in itself. My pottery is inspired by nature, which I have loved from a very early age. My mother, a wildlife biologist and artist herself, helped me to develop a respect and understanding of the natural world, and I’ve tried to embody that in my pieces. From a whimsical snake on a vase, a moonrise over the mountains on a mug, or flowers and herbs pressed into a plate - it is all a loving ode to Mother Earth.

I am a 16 year old crochet artist!  A couple years ago I taught myself how to crochet and I’ve been hooked ever since!  Now, I’m the proud creator of MarcaisMade where I sell unique crochet stuffed animals!  I’m currently selling at The Scrappy Elephant in Charlottesville Va, The Lynchburg Community Market in downtown Lynchburg VA, and on Instagram @marcaismade.  I design all of my own patterns so each stuffed animal is a one of a kind creation!

With a degree in Architecture, Professional license in contracting and a quilting/art business, I have been a lover of many creative endeavors for quite some time. Art can find itself in many different mediums and forms and I’m passionate about the hands on exploration and expression of art. Art has been a peaceful space through all seasons of my life yet I can see how it has evolved and grown with each season. I’m now a mother of two and I find my art as a culmination of the various passions and experiences throughout my life. When it comes to drawing and 2-D art, elephants have always my favorite subject for their grace, texture and beauty in movement and form. Sewing is a hobby that began early in my life with my grandmother and ever since 2016 when I spent a summer in Guatemala, I’ve been passionate about upcycling and finding creative purposes through my fabric scraps. Thus, the stuffed whales and elephants were born. I hope each piece of art sparks joy and inspires others to pass it on.