Shop Local, Shop Handmade - San Nicolas Book Art

Day four - who to feature today? How about San Nicolas Book Art. "Hand Bound Journals for one's life journey!"

I first met this artist, Sandra, when I had a booth down at the Seattle Waterfront Park. At that time her business name was Almond Branch and she was also making a variety of bags. You might remember those from my 2013 holiday sale as she was a featured artist. Sandra has turned her focus solely to her hand bound journals.

Sandra had the amazing opportunity to learn different techniques of book binding in a small studio in Sienna, Italy with her fellow Seattle University classmates. It was such great experience to be in Italy and study the book arts at the same time. She fell in love with book binding and the book arts right away. There are endless ways to create and express herself through the book arts. 

She now creates everyday in her studio in Seattle. Each journal is carefully hand bound and uniquely made. She uses quality specialty paper and thick drawing paper for the inside pages. 

You can often find her and her journals on display at the Pike Place Market.  Follow her on her Facebook page to learn more.

Shop Local, Shop Handmade - It's a Perfect Day

Day three's feature artisan is It's A Perfect Day casual clothing company. Every day is perfect for something. It's a perfect day to laugh, to dance, to play, to love! What's your perfect day?

 

The inspiration for Satya and Aimee Kommini's business came from a deep loss. They asked themselves how can we be happy despite the every day and unexpected circumstances that life brings? The answer was to do something they loved to do and to share that with others. Designing artwork for t-shirts was a natural fit. It was the way for them  to express their creativity and share it with the rest of the world. Their brand name fulfills the promise of finding happiness in every single day of life.

Free Spirit design

 Free like a bird, free like a butterfly, free like the gentle breeze that blows and makes the trees dance. Free spirited you are like the way nature intended you to be. Express that inner free spirit with this beautiful shirt that is an embodiment of you.

Yin-Yang design

 Yin-Yang, a philosophical concept of balance. A pair of opposites that complement each other and are in harmony. This beautiful tee has the words - peace, love, harmony, forgiveness and compassion emblazoned over a hand drawn Yin-Yang symbol.

Visit their website http://www.itsaperfectday.com/ to browse their selection of  men's, women's and kids shirts and sweatshirts; head wear, bags and accessories. You can also follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/itsaperfectday

Remember, every day has something perfect to offer. It is up to us to find that and be grateful for whatever power that allows us to experience this wonderful world.

Shop Local, Shop Handmade - Eastern Wind Glass

 Next up in my month long effort to shine a spot light on local artisans is Dixie at Eastern Wind Glass. her shop is located in downtown Bremerton near the corner of Callow on Burwell.There you will find an assortment of supplies for glass art making, both stained glass and fused glass. Have a stained glass piece that needs repair? Contact the shop to discuss your needs. She also has some of her own glass art for sale and you can sign up for classes.

I love this one!

Classes coming up include ornaments, boxes, kaleidoscopes and plated.There are also kids classes. See the full schedule on her website. A fun event coming up this week is  Evening with Glass  this Wednesday the 19th. For a cost of $25 you will make 5 ornaments while enjoying a social evening with food and drink.

   

One of Dixie's first creative endeavors was studying fashion design. From there she went into retail management. She has now taken her love of color and texture from fabrics to glass. She has been working with stained glass for 20 years and fused glass almost as long. She opened her shop in 2008 to share her knowledge of glass and provide a place for other glass makers to find supplies and take classes. Check the website for the store hours and be sure to stop in the next time you are in Bremerton.

Shop Local, Shop Handmade - LaGrave Designs

Today I am kicking off my month long effort to help promote shopping local and handmade. I am going to feature various artists and their handcrafted work to give you ideas for gifts you might purchase for friends and loved ones on your holiday list.

London Bridge

Dawn at LaGrave Designs creates unique kaleidoscope art using photos of buildings, monuments, flowers and everyday objects. These are so cool and definitely not something you will find at a mall! A perfect gift for the traveler (or armchair traveler) or the person who has everything.

Harley Davidson Museum, Milwaukee

Go to the details page on her website to learn how this Seattle artist creates these amazing wall art pieces. She starts with a photograph, then uses the computer to turn that image into a kaleidoscopic image. Next many copies are made. She then cuts out layers and stacks them. The result is a 3-d work of art.

Fall Leaves

She has many designs to choose from, famous buildings and monuments from all over the world as well as local. Even a few designs for you Seahawks and Dr. Who fans. Holiday gifts should be ordered by December 1st for timely delivery.

12th Man

Recent Work - Flower Jade

Flower jade is a type of jadeite. It comes in many colors. Historically jadeite has been a treasured stone in China as the royal gemstone YU for 5000 years. It is mined in Japan, Myanmar, USA and Guatemala. Flower jade is thought to enhance confidence and self-assuredness, It helps one gain knowledge from dreams and assists with getting in touch with your spiritual side. (This information is provided for curiosity only and is not meant to be medical advice).

All of these are SOLD. 

 Mixed with freshwater pearls.

Restocking Angeline Spa

Today I made another visit to the gift shop at Angeline Spa at the Clearwater Resort in Suquamish. They had sold all but one of the necklaces they purchased from me at the end of September! 

Working with Belinda the manager, we selected another batch of stone pendant necklaces with various healing and metaphysical qualities. Here are are some you will find there:

The Spa is nestled behind the Clearwater Casino and next to the hotel. They serve both resort guests as well as the public. They offer a menu of facials, manicures, pedicures, body wraps and massage for women and men. The manager and staff are very personable and will make your comfort and relaxation their top priority. Check out their website or give them a call at 360-598-1420 for more information. 

Today's Work - Green Brecciated Jasper

This green stone is mined in Africa. Metaphysically it is often used for stress relief and relaxation, but is also said that it can enliven and promote happiness. Like other forms of jasper it is a power, grounding, and protective stone which promotes strength and vitality. Brecciated Jasper is also known to increase physical endurance and fend off dehydration.

All of these have sold.

Mixed with serpentine, soft green glass seed beads and copper.

Mixed with soft green glass seed beads and brass.

Mixed with green glass seed beads and copper. SOLD

Mixed with green glass seed beads and pewter.

Mixed with green glass seed beads and copper.

Mixed with green glass seed beads and copper and a copper smiley face dangle.

Mixed with green glass seed beads and pewter. SOLD

Introducing Past Tunes

If you have been to my sales before you may have heard this duo. Toni Seales and Laurel Stone play top hits of the 16th and 17th centuries on recorders and viola da gamba.

They both play recorders which are a flute like instrument that was popular in in medieval times. Recorders have 7 finger holes and a thumb hole. They are made out of woods or plastics and come in a variety of sizes and registers.

Toni will also be playing a viola da gamba.This string instrument first appeared in Spain and was was popular in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It is similar to a cello.

Both musicians are members of the Bardic Guild of the Society of Creative Anachronism and play at various events around the area. Other places you might run into them include impromptu concerts at the Log Cabin Museum in Port Orchard or contra dances (Laurel plays a mean fiddle!). They will be performing at various times this weekend. I hope you get a chance to hear them!

More Turitella Agate

Continuing to work with this very cool stone this week. 

You can really see the turritella snails in a few of these pendants.

All of these have sold. 

SOLD

 I had an idea in my head of what I wanted to do when I sat down at my work bench. But the stones had something different in mind! I ended up mixing them with rich coppery freshwater pearls!

For this set I switched to a grey freshwater pearl.

Today I will make more of my new earring design. All of the above have since been SOLD.

You can see all of these new designs in person at this weekends Holiday Preview Sale at my studio in Southworth. Hope you can make it!