Friday, December 16, 2011

Time for a break

My suitcases were much emptier on the return trip to Washington!  

A huge thank you to the hostess with the mostess Carolyn, and to all who came and shopped in MN. I sure enjoyed visiting with everyone. My inventory is very much depleted so the next few months I will need to focus on creating new things. But first I am taking a much needed break! Happy holidays to you all. Ann


Sunday, December 11, 2011

Minnesota Sale

This weekends sale in MN has been great. Thanks to everyone who has stopped in to shop. One of the best parts is all the visiting I get to do with friends, old and new! Not to mention hanging out with the hostess, Carolyn. We are having so much fun. And due to all the requests, we have extended it one more day! So if you missed out stop in this afternoon. After that it all gets repacked into a carry on for the return trip to WA.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Yesterdays Work

More of my new earring style - these have been so popular and I wanted a good selection for my trip to Minnesota this week. I've added a new "twist" to some of them. I made some last week in plain silver, sliver with black and silver with cobalt blue, but forgot to take pictures and they are now packed. If they make it through this weekends sale I will post pictures when I get back.

All have been  SOLD


Green Opal. I love this stone!! It is the matrix that surrounds opals. 
There are small flecks of opal throughout the stone. So rich looking! This one sold the night before the sale. I have a few more of these stones so will make more when I am back in my studio.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Beadware Holiday Sale - Day Two

We spent the afternoon happily crafting sweet grass and cedar bark ornaments 
under the guidance of Jo and George Hart of Wilderness Basketry


They brought some beautiful examples for show and tell. 



 Thanks to all who stopped in this weekend. 
It is always fun to see old friends and have the chance to visit.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Beadware Holiday Show - Day One

Thanks to everyone who came out today for Beadware's Holiday Show & Sale. 
If you did not make it here is what you missed....

A selection of jams, infused olive oils and gift bags filled with pancake mix and handcrafted elderberry syrup.

Beautiful displays of fused glassware and jewelry in a myriad of shapes
and sizes and all colors of the rainbow.

A wonderful performance by Past Tunes. We learned about their various instruments and about the period music that they play. What a delightful way to spend the afternoon!

We will be open again tomorrow from 11am to 4pm.No more music, but starting at 1pm there will be a basketry demo and you can make your own cedar ornament!

Friday, December 2, 2011

New Work - Ocean Jasper

In preparation for this weekends show I have made a few new things.
This design has been extremely popular. I began using square agates for the pendants and those flew out of my booth. I was unable to find more, but found some ocean jasper that was close. These have also been very popular. The ones I made for last weekend all sold. I apologize for the less than stellar pics - my studio is torn apart for this weekends show.

All have been  SOLD


These two are my favs



And some more of my hand-hammered copper earrings - some with a twist!
And also some silver (ones not pictured).

And then something different, hematite, glass and silverplate.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Introducing Past Tunes

Back by popular demand!! On Saturday during Beadware's annual Holiday Show & Sale come and listen to the beautiful music of Past Tunes, the best dang pre-Baroque duo in Port Orchard! Grab a glass of cider and a cookie or two and nestle into a comfy chair. Laurel and Toni will then treat you to musical romps through the festive Renaissance with a nod to medieval roots of our modern Christmas carols, on authentic gut-strung Viola da Gamba and wooden Recorders with a dash of Gemshorn. They have performed at my home several times and it is always a very pleasurable experience. 



Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Introducing Blue Fox Glass

At my holiday show and sale this weekend you can finish off your holiday list 
with some FUNctional art glass by Kandyse of Blue Fox Glass

She had been doing stained glass for 15+ years, 
but when she bought a kiln in 2009 fused glass became her new addiction!  
Perfect for your holiday table!
Pendants
So many choices......



Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Introducing PNW Plants

Another artisan at this weekends sale will be Tana of PNW Plants. She handcrafts jams from elderberries and other berries, rhubarb, herbs, peppers that she grows in her yard. On occasion she secures organic oranges for marmalade or Yakima produce and Montana Huckleberries to make jams as well.  
This year in addition to elderberry jam she will have Montana huckleberry/elderberry Syrup bundled with pancake mix and a spatula.
Her infused olive oils are organic and infused with herbs from her yard. She will also have 5 freshly potted indoor Hoya Plants. Her items sold out quickly last year so come early if you want these!
 

Monday, November 28, 2011

Introducing Wilderness Basketry

Every year I do 2-3 shows out of my home as a special treat for those on my email list. My annual holiday show and sale is fast approaching!  On Dec 3 & 4 at my home in Southworth shoppers will find Beadware's jewelry and gifts, beautiful fused glassware by Blue Fox Glass, and herbed olive oils and homemade jams of PNW Plants as well as music by Past Tunes and a hands-on basketry demo. Each day this week I will profile one of the artistisans.


Sunday will feature a hands-on basketry demo by Jo and George Hart of Wilderness Basketry. Jo grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, near Berea. She has 2 passions in life, plants and basketry. She has studied with many Native American master basket weavers from the Pacific Northwest plus local basket artists as well as a noted Applachian white oak basket maker. She has been a member of the Seattle Vi Phillips Basketry Guild for many years and has taught in Washington and Oregon. Her work has been displayed in the Kitsap County Indian Museum, local libraries, local and state fairs, and in Washington galleries.  Recently, she was featured in a basketry article in the Westsound Home and Garden Magazine.


Her husband, George, grew up in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He is a wildlife biologist by trade and has devoted many years to the gathering, harvesting, and preparation of natural materials. He has also studied with Native American and local artists. He uses cedar bark, cedar and spruce roots, and local grasses and sedges in his baskets. His prefered technique is coiling.

On their website you can see last years class schedule. They teach in their studio located in Seabeck.You'll also be treated to a view of their amazing gardens!

Come learn from these skilled experts how to make your own cedar ornament. Demos will start Sunday at 1pm.


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Handmade Weekend Shopping

This weekend if you are one of the brave that will be out shopping - I recommend not only shopping local, but also small! Supporting a small local business as well as local artist can have a much bigger impact than buying from a big chain store. And you can find unique items rather than one of thousands. Two local suggestions are:

Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery in Silverdale. Here you will find a variety of beautiful artisan crafted items. Paintings, photos, clothes, jewelry (including Beadware) and pottery. And if you need something framed, Maria the owner does a fantastic job of that.


Another option is Juliana - It's a great little store. This boutique is located on Piperberry, near the intersection of Bethel and Sedgewick. In addition to Beadware, you will find a variety of locally made items.




Wednesday, November 23, 2011

This weeks work - Ocean Jasper

 A few new things so far this week. The necklaces all have an ocean jasper pendant. The second and third ones sold the following weekend. Things go quickly during the holidays! Good for me, but not so good if you wanted one. I will be making more and will post pictures here.
All have been  SOLD

And a custom order for gold bangles.


Tuesday, November 22, 2011

View from my tent - Garden Poundings

This past weekend I had a booth at the Bremerton Food and Gift Show. It is fun to wander and see what other artsy things are there.Being a gardener I loved this booth. 
They are created by using a hammer to make a print of the plant onto cloth. 
 The resulting piece is then scanned into the computer and a digital image is created to preserve the vibrant colors.

The artist uses plants from her own garden near Wallingford in Seattle. Doesn't this look like a lovely place to work? Go to her website Pederson's Garden Poundings to see the variety of cards and prints that are available.




Wednesday, November 16, 2011

very sparkly gift

This fall I received a gift of a whole box of old chandelier crystals. Thanks Brenda! Some very interesting shapes and a few were huge. Now what to do with them. 


Ornaments!! 
 
 The purple one is a special request.
I created a short beaded figure eight loop  in either silver or gold to hang them from. 
Then I added ribbon and a hanger. 
It is cold and rainy out today so I have all day to create these sparking beauties. You can see them in person this weekend at the Bremerton Food and Gift Show. Imagine how nice they'd look on your tree!