Robin Johnston, a new artist coming to TroyFest, said she loves bringing vintage items to life again.

Johnston said her husband and she started out as stained glass makers. However, as they explored more about the craft, she found her calling for making jewelry.

“When we made the glass, we had leftover pieces, scrap glass,” she said. “I’m the kind of person who hates throwing things away. These are such beautiful glass and I want to turn them into something of use, and the passion just grew from there.”

Johnston said the medium of her craft is mostly reclaimed or repurposed material from copper.

“I like to go to antique stores to find items to work with,” she said. “I like to incorporate the old, the vintage feel with my jewelry and bring it to life again.”

Johnston said her jewelry are one-of-a-kind pieces.

“I don’t always know what I’m going to find at the stores or have any idea of what I’m going to do with the items. When I see something so fascinating and so unique, I let it inspire me to see what it turns into after I work with it.”

One of the jewelry pieces Johnston is bringing to TroyFest is Grandfather Time. She said she bought the old pocket watch from England and wove a tree made of brass and stone chips inside it. She called it little bonsai but Johnston said more people know it as the Tree of Life.

Coming to TroyFest for the first time, Johnston said she looked forward to meeting her artist friends.

“We are like an extended family,” she said. “We don’t see each other very often but we always want to catch up. I’m hoping to run into some of my customers at the festival as well.”

Johnston said she is joining TroyFest thanks to her artist friends.

“I am extremely excited for my first year with the TroyFest Art and Craft Festival. I have a dear friend who has been an artist at the festival for many years, and she recommended that I come this year.

“All my artist friends who have been to TroyFest have spoken highly of the festival. I have visited Troy a couple times on my work trips and I really enjoy this little town.”