Boylan Heights Art Walk December 2, 2012

Wow what an amazing experience! The weather couldn't have been nicer, the neighborhood was lovely and my porch mate, Leigh Griffin, was awesome!
Mr. Wonderful came with me and helped me set up which made it very quick work. Leigh had been in the location last year so she knew what we were about. Our products complimented eachother. Leigh designs beautiful jewlerery from sea glass, semi-precious stones and sterling silver. If you want to see any of Leigh's work, click on this link http://www.etsy.com/shop/AraLeighStudios
Below are some pictures of  the booth.

It was a great selling day! 26 scarves flew off the rack and I sold both of the small wallhangings.

My friend and fellow CMMAG guild member Donna Sloma, the amazing owner artist of Studio 119 was also there.  All in all it was a great day for all!

Merry Christmas Everone!!

Durham Holiday Market

I had my first show in Durham November 16 and 17th at the Durham Arts Counsel. What a great time! I met some great artists while I was there. Some from Durham and some from Raleigh. Since it was a two day show I decided to leave early from work and get set up so I didn't have to rush. (I'm also not that familiar with Durham) So as I packed the Edge and left the house I had this nagging feeling that I was forgetting something...something...as I ticked off my mental list of what was packed...I was fine...I was just being paranoid...until I got to the Arts Counsel building and unloaded my stuff and started putting things together when I realized that I forgot my scarf display....yep...I forgot the big piece of my display...and it's a one hour drive to my house and an hour drive back....I fought then rising panic and the internal name calling calmed down and decided that I had just been given a new opportunity to find a way to display the scarves I've not yet tried. Thank God I had gotten the grid walls last month!! I also had some extra shower curtain rings so this is what I came up with:

It turned out really well after all so I may just do away with the display rack all together. The grid walls display the Cityscapes I did of Raleigh really well.

Once I got done setting up I had a late lunch at an awesome little restaurant called "Toast" I have to go back.

Crostini Special and a salad!

All in all it was a great sale and if I had Durham Cityscapes, I'd have sold them over and over. Saturday morning I walked around downtown Durham and took lots of pictures....next time I'll have Durham Cityscapes. In fact I'm working on a custom order as I type. I can't wait to see how it turns out.



Getting Ready for Holdiay Market in Durham

I was able to get some of my wall hangings done in time for Holiday Market.

Raleigh #007

Raleigh #008

They are hard to see in photographs, however I've colleagued different pictures of buildings and sights in Raleigh, North Carolina with fabric bits and pieces and created a "city scape".
I have pictures of Charleston, SC and of Washington DC that I'm going to use on future wall hangings.

If you can come to Durham this Friday or Saturday. It looks like they have an awesome line up of artists!

http://durhamartwalk.com/artists/

Raleigh #009

HollyFest November 3

We had a beautiful day to sell at HollyFest last Saturday! It was such a blessing since the original weekend it was scheduled had dregs of Superstrom Sandy coming through. It was cool when we set up. Mr. Wonderful and my self had the vehicle all packed and ready to go Saturday morning so we didn't have such a runaround rush getting out the door. The set up was organized and we didn't have any problems. Mr. Wonderful had to go to work so I was on my own. Luckily artists and crafters are very friendly and helpful people!

All set up!

I had a very colorful display and I received numerous compliments on the colors. I was able to get grid walls so I could display some Batik panels I made. I was also nice to be able to set some personal space behind the grids to keep my stuff and to eat lunch.

I met another couple, Peter and Kathy Firth from Wakeforest. They are the owners. creators of P&K Originals. Kathy makes quilts, book covers and small bags. Peter makes machine turned wooden bowls and other decorative objects. They were both very helpful when I needed to leave for a few minutes. Peter made the shelves shown in the picture. He did a great job!

This is how the booth looked like on the right side. I really need to pay attention to the sheets...they look rather sloppy...

This is a photo of how the left side looked. I think I need to do one of two things with Monique the mannequin; either paint her or put more clothes on her. Although I think my scarf got more attention with her naked....I caught a few guys eyeballing the legs under the scarf.






I'll be at the Durham Holiday Market November 16 and 17.
Maybe I'll see you there!

Hee Hee I got published again!!!

I entered Cloth Paper Scissors Felted Wonders Challenge in June.  I found out I was selected to be in the magazine and then had to sit back and nibble my nails until the end of October when my November/December 2012 issue arrived to see :
1) if I won the Simplicity Felting Machine
2) if I got into the photo spread.
I am happy to report that even though I didn't win the Simplicity Felting machine (Harriet Skinner in Raleigh NC won it! Congratulations  and color snaps to Harriet!! her work is awesome!)
I did get a full page devoted to my Nuno Scarf.

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I think I like that better....

I'm also getting ready for Hollyfest on Saturday at Womble Park across from 301 Stinson Avenue in Holly Springs. It starts at 10:00 AM and goes until 4:00 PM. It looks like quite a nice Festival. Come see me if you can make it.

http://www.hollyspringsnc.us/index.aspx?NID=356

Cell Phone Bags

I don't know where the time has gone...all of a sudden I realized that on Saturday I'll be at Hollyfest in Holly Springs and I have scarves...but a serious lack of Cell Bags! So the race has begun! Below is what I got done this weekend...however I need more...

I took this really awesome class with Lyric Montgomery Kinard called "Apli-Punto" in May 2012.

It's a reverse applique technique and it's fun to do. It really adds pizazz to your project.

So no the challenge is to see how many of these I can get made between today and Friday night and then for the Holiday Market in November and Boylen Heights in December....the race is on!! 

Art Prize in Grand Rapids Michigan

My family had been telling me about Art Prize since it started. I have to be honest and say that I had a real hard time wrapping my mind around it...an art show with art ALL over restaurants, banks, shops, museums sidewalks..EVERYWHERE! I was finally able to get up to Michigan during Art Prize and had my socks knocked off. I didn't get near any of the museums or the foot bridge or to Fountain Street Church where my friend, Jane Petitjean had a piece hanging. But the amazing display of art was phenomenal and the mediums so varied!! Fiber, paint, clay, metal, paper, mixed media, class,..it was all there! I'm going to share some of the pictures I took. If you want to check out more information go to http://www.artprize.org/ Personally I'm planning on being on display at one of the venues in 2013.

My Sister Anne's new Masterpiece

Anne and I got to hang out in her studio while I was at home. She had taken a class with Susan Brubaker Knapp and I think she's doing a smashing job!!

Nuno Felting in Chapel HIll

On Wednesday September 26 I led a Nuno Felting workshop at my friend Leslie F’s home in Chapel Hill, NC.  I had the pleasure of meeting Catherine, Sue, Carolyn, Susan and Andrea. I totally enjoyed a wonderful homemade lunch of Sweet Potato Soup, Salad,  applesauce, mini quiches, Focaccia with  home roasted tomatoes all topped off with carrot cake. Yummmmmmmmmmm. (The lemon grass flavored iced tea was a great thrist quencher!)
After finishing off the wonderful repast, we made out way out to the drive way and started to felt.

So we got the outlines on the table and the bubble wrap laid out.






And start laying out the wool ......

Leslie's kitty cat was getting some sun as we worked away

After we laid out all the wool and wetted it down we started to roll the noodles....

and roll the noodles............. I should 

have brought a boom box to help get a rhythm it would also help with time...

Finally were were done and were able to unroll  our scarves

The scarves came out very pretty!!

They look quite nice hanging in the trees!!

Here are the ladies who made this wonderful day happen!!!

I think they enjoyed themselves :-D I know I did.