Our Artists
In addition to our international partners,we are proud to support and sell the products of more than 15 artists, most of whom are local or have strong ties to Kansas City. From woodworking to pottery, music to watercolor, basket weaving, jewelry, fashion design, and more - we at The Red Thread are grateful and truly honored to showcase the talents of so many creative, hard-working artisans and their crafts.
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Staci Hersh
I create custom wood-burned pieces because I love giving old wood a new life and turning something forgotten into something meaningful and one-of-a-kind. Every piece challenges me to push my creativity further, learn new techniques, and continue growing as an artist. Growing up with a uniquely spelled name, I rarely found anything personalized, so it means a lot to me to create custom pieces for people who may have never seen their name represented before. What started as a self-taught creative outlet during COVID has grown into a passion for creating deeply personal art that tells a story.
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Joyce Kirk
I am a Kansas native who grew up sewing everything from my own clothes to wedding party outfits. I don't remember a time before sewing. So with plenty of fabric scraps, retirement from nursing has given me time to create joy from scraps. I creates colorful and useful items like microwavable bowl holders and cloth bookmarks.
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Frieda Rojas
Frieda Rojas started crocheting at the age of 9, her mother and her grandmother taught her. Now shes creating rugs and baskets.
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Shannon Maendele
Shannon creates handmade pieces with love, patience, and purpose. Crafting has become a meaningful way for her to stay grounded, centered in her faith, and connected to the people she loves most. Every item she makes is created with care and the hope that it brings comfort, joy and beauty into someone’s everyday life. She believes handmade things carry a little piece of the heart behind them, she pours that heart into every stitch and creation.
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EM's Creations
All for the glory to God I love to sew to bring
JOY to others. -

Donnie Alison
I spend most of my free time in the basement just piddling on my new creations.
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Debbie Wetschensky’s
she prefers to paint on a black canvas and lays out her painting in white chalk. This planning allows her to problem solve through to a completed painting or illustration
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HAITI
.The Employees of Home Sweet Home Orphanage created all the products that you see on this page.
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Sri Lanka
The traditional handicraft of wood carving has been around in Sri Lanka for centuries.
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ETHIOPIA
It is our hope that one day these Ethiopian children will be inspired to make some of theses incredible art crafts also.
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CHLOE
Chloe Morales is a mix-media fine artist with custom series inspired by endangered animals and biblical principles.
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CORRIE
I love to tell stories through what I create. Most often the medium I choose to express myself through is collage.
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KAREN MERKEL
I try to see the beauty in old and unused objects and give them new life by using found items in creative ways.