Many arts festivals offer an opportunity for artists to return to a favorite festival and reconnect with fellow artists and patrons who appreciate their art or craft. Then there are the artists and craftspeople who are new to the festival circuit, and are introducing their talents for their first time.

Poulsbo artists Karyn and Terry Cott fall into the latter camp, as they will be making their first appearance at the Poulsbo Arts Festival this weekend, Aug. 19 and 20 at Waterfront Park.

The retired couple sell their handcrafted wares under the name Cott’s Wood-n-Glass, and have been testing the waters at the Kingston Farmers’ Market and the Port Gamble Arts and Crafts Festival. This will be their first appearance at the Poulsbo Arts Festival (formerly known as Arts by the Bay).

Karyn creates fused glass pieces such as bowls, plates and wall hangings, while Terry is the woodworker. He likes to build kaleidoscopes, “because there are so many moving parts,” as well as a variety of two and three-dimensional objects.

They have begun collaborating on projects such as wooden serving trays inset with panels of fused glass. They recently created a garden gate for a client featuring intricate woodworking and small panels of stained glass. Karyn contributes bits of broken glass to the kaleidoscopes.

Terry retired several years ago after a long career as a wooden pattern maker for the navy, and turned to spending more time on his woodworking. As a wooden pattern maker he created wooden molds that were then used to form mechanical parts out of metal. It is an exacting skill, but not highly creative. Now, he gets to do what he wants.

“It’s a passion for me,” he said of woodworking. “I like to build practically anything.”

Scattered around his workshop in various stages of construction are inlaid wood picture and mirror frames, benches inset with glass panels and other experimental projects.

Karyn retired last year after a career in medical technology, and she too has turned to her hobby practically full time.

Terry’s woodshop takes up what used to be a two-car garage, while Karyn works in a smaller adjacent space. She only needs room for a few workbenches and her kiln.

Karyn has been involved in art all her life, but is particularly drawn to working with glass.

“What excites me is the texture you can put into each piece,” she said, whether that’s glossy, matte or textured. Many of her pieces feature elements from nature, such as a green plate inlaid with imprints that are the result of ferns being laid on the glass, then fired in the kiln.

While some glass patterns are predictable, some are not.

Karyn explained that “pot melts” are created by putting glass shards into an ordinary clay flower pot and suspending it in the kiln. When the glass melts it runs out the hole in the bottom, creating a large puddle of glass which hardens into a colorful disc. Karyn then embellishes this shape with a multi-colored glass border, which is again fired. The result is a truly one-of-a-kind creation.

The Cotts are representative of the many fine artists who will be present at the arts festival, which also features a full lineup of musical acts and performers as well as food booths.

Performing Saturday in the Kvelstad Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. are Todd Houghton and Friends, guitarist Gilbert Yslas, Liberty Day Danceworks, storyteller Kathy Currie, Kitsap Square Dancers and guitarist Peter Spencer with bassist Liam Graham.

Sunday’s lineup includes folk artist Juliet Wyers, Hampton Blues and gypsy jazz with Ranger and Re-Arrangers.

New this year, the Poulsbo Art League will have numerous members set up to show and sell their work and the Verksted Gallery will have artists demonstrating and selling their works.

The Poulsbo Historical Society is coordinating walking tours of historic homes in Poulsbo, led by Judy Driscoll, during the two-day festival.

The Poulsbo Arts Festival, sponsored by Cultural Arts Foundation NW, takes place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 19 and 20 at Poulsbo’s Waterfront Park.