Visiting One of My "Babies"

Yesterday I volunteered at an art show about two hours away.  It was a guild I'm a member of, and since I couldn't be there all weekend as an exhibitor, I agreed to help out on Sunday.

On the way back home, I stopped by the Kentucky Artisans Center in Berea, where one of my necklaces is in their current exhibition, to see how my "baby" looked in the show.

With apologies for the quality of the photo (I was trying to be stealthy with my phone camera so I wouldn't get yelled at by the show police for taking pictures), here's the necklace.

It's a combination of ndebele, stringing, and needle weaving in the style of Helen Banes and Diane Fitzgerald, with the ndebele section serving as the heart of the centerpiece.

The exhibition is titled The Threads That Bind: Textiles by Kentucky Artisans.  Now I certainly don't consider myself a fiber artist (as you may know, I'd rather smack myself in the face with a flounder than hem a pair of pants), but it was a treat to see my little necklace alongside the beautiful quilts and fiber wallpieces that were also part of the show.  It's kind of amazing how much fancier a piece looks when you slap it up under a glass cover!

Here's a better picture, one taken by a professional who wasn't worried about getting thrown out of the room for having a camera.  You can get a much better idea of the bead weaving from this:

You Are Invited To Join Me In A Happy Dance (and You Won't Worry My Neighbors)

Some really great news came in the mail over the weekend, and I've been bursting to share it with you.

This piece, named "Aphrodite, Born of the Sea," was accepted to be part of a juried exhibition called "About Face" at the Kentucky Artisans Center in Berea, Kentucky (ok, that was a little obvious - as though the Kentucky Artisans Center would be in Tennessee or Arizona).

When I opened the envelope, there was a happy dance outbreak on my front porch.  Yes, once again, I worried the neighbors.  Bless their hearts, I'm really sorry they live so close to a crazy woman.

Y'all watched this piece grow from its status as a UFO hidden at the back of my beading table, and you encouraged me to finish it.  So thanks for keeping me honest on getting it done.

And thanks for letting me happy dance with you!

A Box to Berea

Today, I sent off a necklace to be included in an upcoming exhibit at the Artisan's Center in Berea, Kentucky. The exhibit is Works by Members of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen, opening March 5 and running through August 20.

The Artisan's Center is one of the greatest one-stop-eye-candy-overload-places you can imagine. It's chock full of some of the finest artisan crafts you'll find. Honestly, I have done some serious damage to my wallet shopping for gifts in their shop, and enjoyed every moment.

To say I'm thrilled to have a piece in an exhibit at this location is like saying the East Coast has seen a couple of snowflakes this winter.

"Understatement" doesn't even begin to cover it.

Check out the Artisan's Center website: http://www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov/index.aspx

Or, if you're ever driving on I-75 in Kentucky, by all means take exit 77 and treat yourself to a wonderful hour or so of great art. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Photographic Proof

In my last post (which, if you notice, was more recent than five months ago -- so I'm improving!) I talked about the two exhibitions I was going to be part of. When I went to pick up the pieces at the end of each show, it was such an honor and a kick to see my work in gallery vitrines that I had to whip out the cell phone and take a picture or two.


The picture to the left was from the Berea Arts Council show -- happy to say one piece is missing as it was sold during the exhibition!









The picture on the right was from the Gateway Regional Art Center in Mount Sterling, KY.






Both shows were lovely collections of Kentucky artisans' work, and I was pleased and humbled to be included. And it gave me courage to pursue more exhibition opportunities.