Art in the Garden

For a slide show of all the great art available this weekend at Art in the Garden click here!
Art in the Garden

Plants and Plates

This weekend at Art in the Garden you will see these whimsical garden decorations made by Brenda. She also has a collection of sedum plants in the cutest containers! 

Art in the Garden

 One more day until my garden is filled with art! Friday 4-8pm and Saturday 10-5pm enjoy the last lingering days of summer while strolling through gardens with refreshments while browsing beautiful and locally handmade art.

Fused glass art and pendants, pottery, photography, glass and driftwood wind chimes, whimsical garden art, crystal sun catchers, beaded jewelry, and more!

Featuring:
Ann Haines - Beadware; Noelle Morris Photography; Linda Ricci - Side Door Pottery; Kandyse Tobias - Blue Fox Glass; Brenda Ackermann - Plants & Plates; Kim Pinkerton - Wind Dancer Glass & Pottery; and Dixie Armfield-Rogerson - Eastern Wind Glass.

Updated Photo Links

I have updated the slide show photo links on the right side of my blog page so check them out. I still have to do the Beaded Earring slide show, but I have to decide which ones to feature as I am sure pictures of all 1200+ pairs of earrings I have made is a bit too much to wade through!

Many of the items have been sold since the pictures were taken, but I still include them so you can see what kind of work I do. For example, most of the agate necklaces in the Stone Necklace album are selling as quickly as I make them, but I still have a few more loose stones and hope to find more. If you see something you are interested in be sure and send me an email at beadware@wavecable.com.

Happy browsing!

Recent Work

Some pieces made last week....

All have been  SOLD

 Agate with rust seed beads and gold accents.

  Agate with bronze and antiqued gold seed beads and a brass clasp.

Moonlight with stars and moons.

 This purple one is already sold!

 

 Autumn glass garden.

Another version.

 Look at all those glass gardens!

Juliana - it's a great little store

I just came back from meeting with Jenny the jewelry buyer at Juliana, a fun little boutique in Port Orchard. Be sure and check them out when you are in the area. For hours and directions go to their Facebook page.

You can now find these Beadware pieces at Juliana....

I just made this agate, copper and bronze glass necklace this morning! 

 Another dark grey agate

Purple crystals and glass with a honey bee toggle clasp.

Triple strand "Bits 'n Pieces" glass beads

 

There is also a purple crystal and pearl bracelet, a double stranded pink pearl bracelet and matching earrings and 2 bead art pins - one in greens and one in purples. 

 

Stop in and tell them you heard about their store from Beadware!

Guest Bloggers Lenny & Bruce on Originality and Inspiration

Lennie and Bruce Beet (Snooter-doots™) were discussing the creative process recently, over a warm cup’a Joe.   Snooter-doots are the perfect example of originality and inspiration.  Their artist, Gina McCauley, wanted to make a fun, durable toy for her grand-dog, and as she was already knitting and felting warm hats and caps, she pulled out some left over yarn and started knitting free-form. 

The results were the origin of what is now the phenomenon called Snooter-doots, whimsical and unique, handcrafted, art-dolls of felted wool.   They have morphed a bit from that original creation (which, by the way, the grand-dog loved)  into soft-sculpture critters with tons of personality.  Snooter-doots are now spreading joy and whimsy throughout the nation when ‘adopted’ by their new forever families.  They are even named with birthdays, all ready to go!

Lennie and Bruce find it interesting to consider where creative inspiration comes from.  True artists find their muse in many places.  Snooter-doots are inspired by nature.  Gina draws from her horticultural background, love of the outdoors and food, through a system of ‘what if’s’.  She designs and develops her own ideas into loveable characters that have become quite collectible.  Strict adherence to the artist’s creed, ‘thou shall not copy’, results in unique and original pieces that bring long-lasting joy and pride to their owners.

Patrons can best support true and original artistic concepts by talking to the artist about where their inspiration came from and how they make their product.  Look-alikes are not original artistic concepts, and do nothing to enhance a person’s collection.  Accept only the best, the real McCoy, from a true artist. 

Snooter-doots are handcrafted in Seattle, WA.  They are available online at www.snooter-doots.com and at many fine gift shops throughout the Pacific Northwest.  You can also ‘adopt’ them directly from the artist at local arts/crafts fairs and festivals.  Follow Snooter-doot adventures on Facebook at www.facebook.com/snooter-doots; Lennie and Bruce would love to meet you!

Spotting a Counterfeit

I recently got a lesson in how to spot counterfeit money. An artist friend of mine handles money in her day job and gave me some tips on what to look for. For $10 and larger, hold the bill up to the light with the face towards you and look for an identical face watermark on the right side. There should also be a security thread running top to bottom towards the left side.For when I don't have enough light, or I don't want to be so obvious, she also gave me a spiffy pen that you make a small mark on the bill and it will change color if it is not the real deal.

For more detailed info you can also check out this website: http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-spot-counterfeit-money

View from my tent - Painted Water

Last weekend I was next to the most amazing painter. 

Ian has been painting for more than 20 years as well as composing his own music.

 His latest works are mini-paintings. Original master peices that are very affordable.

Mount Rainier is the subject of many of his paintings.

You can see more of his paintings and hear his music at his website www.paintedwater.com.

Agates

 A few new necklaces with agate pendants.
All have been  SOLD

It was a dark and stormy night.......

Earlier this week we had thunder and lightning - pretty rare for out here. My pets were freaked. The dark day must have been what inspired me to make these new glass gardens.
All have been  SOLD

 Stormy Nights - dark gray, black, frosted and clear glass beads

Starry Nights - black, clear, frosted and silver glass beads

After that I shifted gears to something a bit more cheery....Carnival!! 

Silverdale Art Alley this Weekend!

Announcing the first annual ……  

Silverdale Art Alley!!

Saturday July 30^th 11 – 8pm

Sunday July 31^st 10 – 5pm

Lowell Avenue, Old Town Silverdale

In conjunction with Silverdale Whaling Days,

 the Silverdale Art Walk and Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery

are hosting Art Alley, featuring more than 3 dozen local artists and their wares!

(Beadware will be there on Sunday only)

Jewelry

Photography

Pottery

Metal Sculptures

Glass

Wood carved birds, benches, boxes and furniture

Beach glass mobiles

Wind chimes

Fabric arts and clothing

Handmade cards

Garden art

Pastels and watercolors

Enjoy the fun of Whaling Days, browse through the gallery and support your local artists.

Don’t miss the Great Kitsap Duck Race, Sunday 3pm at the pier!

Whaling Days: www.whalingdays.com

Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery: www.oldtowncustomframing.com

Beadware: www.beadware-designs.com

Lending a Hand

Last week I started a new gig helping out a fellow artist. La Grave Designs creates kaleidoscope art from digital pictures. Her art is so popular that she is finding it difficult to keep up with demand. She is still doing the creative part of her process, manipulating the digital photo into a kaleidoscope and selecting the portion to print out. Once copies of the image are printed, I follow her instructions to cut out various layers and then stack them using foam tape squares. Check out her website for more details on the process and to see examples of the finished framed pieces of art.

The Dahlia. My first try made with guidance from the artist. It is more than just using scissors. There were lots of little tricks and tips she gave me as I was working on this first one. Cutting in a certain direction, how you hold the scissors, the type of scissors, moving the piece and not your hand and on and on. I have since improved greatly. This one I will keep as my guide for future dahlias.

 Each layer is stacked on small sticky foam squares. They reminded me of stale marshmallows!

I cleared off a small space on one of the work tables in my studio. Light was really important for me to cut accurately. I finished all my dahlias and today I am going over to the artists house to stack all of the pieces she cut out over the weekend. Our goal is to have her well stocked for this coming weekends Bellevue Art Fair!

View from my Tent - Lavender

 Despite the rainy weather I had a wonderful time at Lavender Farm Faire. I had a booth at Olympic Lavender Farm, right in the lavender field. What a beautiful location! There was a small collection of vendors and buses of folks arrived every hour to browse, listen to music and enjoy the various demonstrations.

 The lavender field was just behind my tent. It smelled wonderful!

 Llamas in the lavender

Friday and Saturday we listened to a bluegrass band and Saturday there was an all female marimba band.

Across from me was Tiarani Samsi and her whimsical pottery. She also had a collection of beautiful batik and painted silk wall hangings, scarves and wraps as well as notecards.

My favorite bank is the little purple guy second from left on the middle shelf. Such personality!

Recent Work

In preparation for the Lavender Faire I was busy making all things lavender. During my busy summer season many things sell before I get them listed into my online store - so please feel free to shop from this blog. Just send me an email if you see something you like.

All have been  SOLD

 This is a very sweet little necklace with lavender glass seed beads and assorted crystals. 

The center crystal is a teardrop.

 A magic jasper pendant with dark purple glass seed beads. 

This one has sold, but I do have more of these beads. 

 Three strands of satin lavender glass seed beads and a pink quartz pendant.

A lavender agate hangs from satin lavender glass seed beads with a magnet clasp.