Ruth has been an artist all of her life and has recently turned her creative efforts to making one of a kind, professionally crafted, alluring wreaths decorated with silk flowers perfect for every decor, from rustic cabins to Victorian inns.

Ruth has her items for sale at the Chicken House with the garden room open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays (11:00-5:00) and by special appointment.

Ruth’s Background: Visiting Saluda as a child, she was able to finally move to the mountains 30 years ago. She published the town newspaper, the Saluda Signal,

Cover page of one of the earliest Saluda Signal newspapers – March/April 1989

for 21 years, detailing the happenings and newsworthy events of the community’s inhabitants. Ruth assisted in getting Saluda’s downtown listed on the National Register of Historic Places  and has long supported historic preservation. She operated the Whistlestop, a retail which highlighted the arts and crafts created by the Montehala Craft Guild which she started in upstate South Carolina.

Ruth traveled throughout the southeast, attending craft shows selling her one of a kind natural sculptures made from pine knots, burls, lichens and moss among other forest treasures. She won many awards for her ‘woodsies’ and enjoyed searching for unique items in the forests of the Appalachians.