Visit Wabash County Ornament Throughout The Years

Visit Wabash County is celebrating its 12th year of the ornament program – this is a major milestone and we are pulling out all the stops! I am just too excited to share this program with you so wanted to take you on a walk down memory lane and cover the last nine ornaments and artists that got us to this monumental anniversary.

2013 – Sue Scamihorn

Sue lives in rural Wabash, Indiana, where she has enjoyed the beauty of nature for more than 38 years. Her desire is to recapture some of the childhood memories common to those who grew up in rural Indiana or for those who simply relish the beauty of our Indiana landscape.

2014 – Katy Gray

Katy’s love of stained glass started nearly 20 years ago. She designs sun catchers, ornaments, and has recently expanded her skill set to include leaded glass work, large panels, and multi-panel series. In 2012, Katy was awarded the Lilly Endowment Teacher Creative fellowship grant.

2015 – Kevin Yenna

Kevin’s love for working with native hardwoods such as walnut, maple, cherry, and sycamore led to his creating the stunning campus ornament piece by piece in his local woodshed. He enjoys carving small birds, Santas, and walking sticks out of basswood, and cottonwood bark.

2016 – Schlemmer Brothers Metal Works

Schlemmer Brothers Metal Works has been a part of the Wabash community for over 100 years spanning, 4 generations of family ownership. The Trolley No.85 artwork was adapted to be cut out of copper by using a water jet cutter delivering a 55,000 psi stream of water tracing at 3X the speed of sound.

2017 – Ron & Kris Moore

After 39 years of business in Wabash, Ron and Kris Moore have been carving out a niche that showcases their artistic talents in the woodworking business known as The Wood Shed. Both Ron and Kris are experts at salvaging and restoring reclaimed wood and giving it life. 

2018 – Angie Rebholz

Angie has enjoyed sewing since an early age. While growing up, the overall structure and design of the Roann Covered Bridge fascinated her throughout her childhood. She fondly recalls riding her bike with friends over the bridge and hearing the creaking of the boards as her tires rolled across them.

2019 – Candie Cooper

Candie Cooper is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining unique materials and color combinations, inspired by extensive travel and her years living in China. Candie is the author of several books and enjoys teaching creative workshops nationally.

2020 – Susan Stewart

Susan Stewart of Sneaky Kitten Studio began making jewelry with dichroic glass nearly 14 years ago. The glass cardinal ornament was hand cut and “painted” with frit (ground glass) which allows for bolder colors. Susan’s whimsical style and artistry is easily seen in her work.

2021 – Tiffany Andrews

Owner of the thoughtfully curated handmade shop Blackcurrant Design, Tiffany creates one-of-a-kind, clay accessories that empower women to embrace their unique purpose. Tiffany has been influenced by different cultures and life experiences which is reflected in her work.

2022 – Maggie Gibbins

Gibbons’ first visit with the Wabash Art Guild to a glass-fusing art studio sparked her instant connection to practicing the art of infusing glass. With a love of photography, Kumihimo bead weaving, watercolor, and infused glass, Gibbins now owns 3 kilns and has learned to blend her joy of painting with glass. Retiring to Wabash from being a police officer in California, Gibbins and her husband, Ken, sought a quieter life that they have found here in Wabash County. “I am constantly learning by trial and error,” said Gibbins, “but it is an adventure that I enjoy.”

2023 – Hannah Burnworth

Hannah Burnworth is the artist behind Milk House Studio and founded Milk House Gallery in North Manchester, IN. Burnworth has degrees in both art education and studio art. She has been teaching art in Indiana public schools and through private workshops for the last 18 years. In addition to teaching, Burnworth loves to create all things paper. Her collage and paper pieces celebrate creativity and design, bringing together a love for texture, color, nature, and experiences in motherhood.

2024 – Erika Tyson

Erika is no stranger to the local art scene, having painted 24 murals in her career, with 17 of those murals being within public spaces in Wabash County. Her largest mural, River Waves, is a 400-foot-long mural on the south side of Wabash and was commissioned by the City of Wabash and Visit Wabash County in 2022. The mural features a bright orange sunset and rolling bright blue waves. The most prominent imagery is a larger-than-life Blue Heron, named River Wing, which is the inspiration
behind the 2024 VIsit Wabash County Christmas Ornament.

– Biz Bishop, Content Manager, Visit Wabash County