What's Hot Bucky Balls

Every year we wonder what is going to be the hot seller this year! This year we have several things but the most unexpected for me (Michael knew it would be big) was Bucky Balls!

216 rare earth magnets, come packaged in a little square about 1 x 1". It's odd that a round magnet has a positive and a negative side.
Don't let appearances fool you.

These are more than just super-strong, neodymium rare-earth magnets. They're an addictive, three-dimensional building toy.

They're a moldable desktop stress reliever. They're one-of-a-kind magnetic jewelry. They're a science experiment waiting to happen, and a portable geometry lab. Each BB-sized magnet can hold the equivalent of eight sheets of paper, and together they add up to an infinite variety of amazing possibilities.

Rolling Stone Magazine has named it the toy of the year.

We've given them to young and old and everyone finds them intreguiging. They are not made for children under 13.

We have them here on our website. Where you can also click on a video and see them in action.

Go figure.

Vicki Grant

We took a road trip on Sunday to ceramic artist Vicki Grant's studio.

Her work is fabulous, contemporary and colorful!

An inspiring view of a lake, a studio full of beads, glass, shells, driftwood and other found objects, a wheel, a slabroller and a very creative artist all come together to make amazing art.

About the Artist

Vicki graduated from the University of Maryland School of Architecture and has been practicing architecture for over 25 years. The focus of her work, be it Architecture or Art, has been towards creating visual experiences that engage the viewer both intellectually and emotionally.

Description of Process

“I have always felt that the most amazing forms, structure, color and textures are found within nature and that exposure to these elements have been my inspiration and teacher”.

Sketching is the inception of the thought; It brings an idea to a page that then allows me to move forward to transform the clay to reflect the original conceptual thought. After firing, oil pigments are hand applied, layer after layer, until the final patina of rich hues is achieved.

My studio is filled with interesting natural objects. Porcupine quills, fossils, stones, feathers, wood and shells are incorporated into the piece, again enriching the visual and intellectual experience.

We have pieces available for purchase on our website click here!

Our bags travel the world

When I worked for the Aspen Times in Aspen, Colorado, probably the best weekly newspaper in the country, we got photos from folks reading the Aspen Times from places all over the world.

So about six years ago we started getting photos from our friends with our Carolina Creations bags from all over the world.

On our website we have have great photos from the Cape of Good Hope, the Leaning Tour of Pisa, Sete, France, Switzerland and many places in the states.

Our newest photo is from the Ford Ironman Arizona that took place on November 23, 2009, where I understand they had a record setting event.

Stephen finished 58 minutes faster than last time. Good job Stephen!

Here is a link to the page on our website.

You never know

Some days we have the most talented people walk in the door and introduce themselves. This week we met Melissa Gray.


Melissa does needlefelting with wood and even raises her own sheep just down the road outside of Jacksonville.

She does both one of a kind sculptures and puppets. Here's what she says about them, "I really enjoy making my puppets, my goal is for accuracy, and I strictly limit myself to all fiber, I dye first and do not paint anything, I also don't use glass, beads, or wood as part of the sculpture.. no adhesives, or sewing, no fabrics, or anything but wool. I use the wool my own flock of corriedales provides me.

I think its hard for non fiber people to totally "get" what goes into a puppet... but the reactions of people who know what needlefelting is, it is so intense and rewarding. "

If you don't know what needle felting is here is a description.

What is Needle Felting?
Needle felting is something artists have been doing for years, yet most of us have never heard of such a thing. When we think of felting, we think of flat felt pieces and hats. From now on - think sculpture; think one-of-a-kind; think bears, animals, fairies, dolls etc.

We start with a piece of carded wool, such as might be used for spinning, a foam block for working on and one or more felting needles.

Felting Needles are straight needles with barbs cut along the shaft. When repeatedly pushed into a tuft of wool fibers, the barbs pull the fibers down, compressing and locking them together. The barbs are cut in one direction so that felting or matting together of the fibers will occur when the needle is pushed in and not when it is pulled out.

This matting/felting process makes a large ball of fluff condense down into a denser mass of wool. Poking more in one spot will depress that area creating a dent or depression in your sculpture to make, for example, an eye socket.

As you can see from Melissas work that description doesn't really do it justice. To see her page on our website, with prices etc.

Here is a video on utube, please note this is NOT Melissa and you'll see this ladys project is very simple compared to Melissa's but it will give you a little bit of an idea. See video!

Justine

Our good friend Justine dropped in this morning and brought us some great new pieces! We have them on our website if you're interested in seeing prices, etc, or ordering.

We're always excited to see what new she has come up with.

We'll be having a show, workshop, and tea with Justine the middle of May 2010.

Watch this blog for more information or better yet sign up for our newsletter and read all about it!

Peppermint Patty Francoeur

This photo haunts me, I guess she seems so far away and alone.

We lost Pepper on November 6.

Pepper had started coughing once in a while in early October but she acted fine otherwise. It was may 3 or 4 times then she stopped.

About the 2nd week of October Lucy got really sick so I took them both to the Doctor. Turns out Lucy has kidney failure and tumors. At 17 we cherish every day we have with her.

But Pepper who has never been sick in her 13 years turns out had lymphoma and we didn't even know it. It went so fast.

Breaks my heart.

Randi Chervitz

I met Randi Chervitz a couple years ago and have been admiring her pieces ever since. While walking down the isle at a show this summer in NYC she ran up to me and said, "You inspired me to start a blog and I love it!"

In August I spoke several times at the Buyers Market of American Craft at the Convention Center in Philadelphia, about blogging. Randi was in the audience.

Randi has been making jewelry since 1987.

She began exploring forms in metal at Parsons School of Design, New York City, as part of her studies there. From Parsons, Chervitz transferred to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, the "Harvard" of metalsmithing, to study with internationally-known jeweler, Richard Mawdsley.

Since graduating in 1991 with a Cum Laude double major in Metal and Fiber, Chervitz has been hard at work keeping her artwork at the center of her life. In 1991, she began selling her work, jewelry pieces that explore fiber techniques in metal. Her influences include couture fashion, its history, expressiveness, and relationship to everyday life. Also important are the transformation of the role of women in the past fifty years, and the emergence of the self as one grows through life.

While building a following on the retail art fair circuit, Chervitz continued her personal and professional development by working in leadership roles in national and local retail stores. These experiences taught her to respect the consumer, as well as created an understanding of how high-end, one-of-a-kind objects influence the mass market.

Developing this knowledge has given her a unique perspective and understanding of how various market segments influence each other, and the impact that can have on artists choosing to make their livings through their art.

Chervitz feels privileged to make her own living through her art-making, and is constantly exploring new ways to create texture through metal. Her crocheted surfaces are her trademark, and hammered and soldered linear techniques reveal new directions.

"I first picked up my grandmother's crochet hook while taking a metal-smithing class in college. She taught me to knit when I was a child, and I always had good feelings about the individual stitches that make up a larger whole. Crocheting silver to make wearable objects quickly became my signature. From that exploration, I have continued on to add hammered metal, and a soldered, linear technique to my repertoire, as I continue to explore how assembling lines creates something significant."

I've shown a few of her pieces here, stop in to see more!

Judaica

Lots of people are surprised when they come into our gallery and find that we have a great selection of Judaica! (We have lots of Christian items too by the way but being in the buckle of the Bible Belt people expect that).

What is this doing in a small southern town?

We have one of the oldest Jewish congregations in North Carolina. In the mid 1880’s, there were many Jewish merchants on Middle Street with family apartments above their businesses.

They held worship services in what is now called the O. Marks building. In 1865, the “Hebrews of New Bern” purchased land next to the National Cemetery for a Jewish Cemetery.

Eventually the group formed Congregation B’nai Sholem and in 1894 the trustees purchased the land now designated as 505 Middle Street in New Bern for the construction of a Temple. Today, their beautiful temple is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Here is a link to their website.

I've done drawings, paintings, prints, notecards and tiles of their building.

In addition we have lots of visitors that are Jewish or have Jewish relatives.

We sell quite a lot of Judaica and have items ranging from mezuzahs to menorahs, from gift books to magnets to soap.

So the next time you need a gift take a trip to Downtown New Bern or you might want to look on our website by clicking here.

Meet the artist Deb Karash

We have represented North Carolina jeweler Deb Karash for several years. We love the detail of here work and it's most unusual.

Deb fuses copper, silver, brass and colored pencil into wearable art! She first applies layers of colored pencil to a textured copper surface, she then suspends the copper over sterling to give each additional dimension.

When we asked her about her work she said "Jewelry, for me, is really about intimacy.

Windows, layering, and texture are metaphor for the mystery and richness of personalities. Jewelry becomes a part of people’s lives, a part of their stories. I enjoy participating in the marking of significant events in their lives and hearing the stories they tell me about their jewelry.

Throughout history humans have adorned themselves in a variety of ways. I feel a part of that history, if in a very small way. I draw inspiration from natural textures, fiber, stone, and mixed media painting and sculpture. Surface, color, and texture are as important to my work as are the forms themselves.

I’m constantly grateful to be able to make my living doing something that I love so much. I hope that the joy of making will always be evident in my work.

To see more of Deb's work on our website click here.

Special Order Fee Waived by Sticks through November 15

We just got a notice from Sticks that for orders placed through November 15 they will waive the 10% custom order charge!

'Tis the Season!

We've got a gift for you!!!!!

We will

WAIVE the 10% Custom Order Charge

on all December custom orders

received between today and November 15

Yes!!!!!!

Custom orders received by November 16

can be shipped in time for Christmas .

By November 15 we need to have

* All order information and design details

* All photos and other reference materials

* Full prepayment

Note: All appropriate custom UPCHARGES for detail intensity and special treatments still apply.

What does this mean? Nomally when you pick out the words you want, the images, maybe add your name, there is an additional 10% added to the price. For instance a dining room table might cost $2400 if you purchased what is in our gallery, if we order one to your specifications there would be an additional $240 charge. This offer takes off that $240 charge.

So if you've been waiting to do a special order, now is the time!

Peace sign

The kids have gotten on the Peace sign bandwagon. We haven't seen so many since the 60s. We have a great selection of them at Carolina Creations and a few on our website - click here to see what's there. I'll add to this page as time allows.

I see I haven't posted in a week! Where does the time go?

I am working on the monthly Carolina Creations newsletter that should go out this evening. Do you get it? You can sign up by clicking right here.
In it I talked about Broad Street, Our Downtown Dickens of a Christmas, some ideas for gifts for Christmas, waiving of the special order fee from Sticks through November 15, and more.

This week Carol and I finished the last of the new Dickens Storyboards that will go in our Downtown windows for the holidays.

I answered questions for an article in Niche on Social Networking. I commented on CRAFT's (Craft Retailers Association for Tomorrow whose board I am on) plan to create a nations Craft Week next October. Finished the poster for our Downtown Dickens of a Christmas, wrote countless press releases and created about 12 ads which run in Our State Magazine, New Bern Magazine, Arts Alive, Sun Journal and so on. I will say that doing ads is my least favorite thing to do only because it seems every day someone is after me about one.

It has been a very busy week!

Glass Ornaments by 20 Glass Blowers for our 2oth!

We're having a series of events to celebrate Carolina Creations 20th Year in Downtown New Bern!

Our first is Ornaments, Ornaments, Ornaments! a show of handblown glass ornaments by 20 glass blowers. Some are old friends and some we've never represented before

The show opens during the November 13th, ArtWalk from 5-8 pm (we're ususally there until 9!).

Our artists include Rick and Val Beck, Scott Simmons, Dale Leman, Jason Probstein, Luke Adams, Virgil Jones, Scott Carlson, Dave Kendall, Christina Mayr, Jeffrey Ferrer, Ron Hinkle, Justin Burg, Stephen Kitras, John Bergesen, Lance Sanford, Loretta Eby, Paul Lockwood, Kevin Robert Gray and Thomas von Koch.

What a lineup!

These artists have a combined 200 years of glassblowing.

Many of our glass artists studied and or taught at our own Penland School of Crafts in Spruce Pine, NC, Pilchuck Glass School, Washington State, Appalachian Center for Crafts, TN, Alfred University, Alfred, NY, Corning Glass Museum, NY among other schools.

It's going to be quite a show so we hope you'll stop in.

A Dickens of a Christmas in Downtown New Bern 2009

For the second year in a row I've been chairman of the Downtown Christmas Committee.

We have a great committee and we've pretty much got everything ready to go.

We're going to have the storyboards in the window again and Carol and I have painted 10 new ones to add to the story "A Christmas Carol". Here is a sneak preview of a couple of them.

I love the guy drinking the port!

Some of the highlights of this years celebration.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas

- Many shops will have open houses on the Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving
- Trolley Tours BOTH Friday & Saturday nights
- Salvation Army musical entertainment Friday evening 6:30 pm on the corner of Middle and Pollock
- Santa house gets a new look & Santa will be in Bear Plaza every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
- There will be "kissing stations" in 3 locations decked out with mistletoe.
- Mrs Santa Storytelling at the Arts Council every Saturday followed by a craft project.
- 3 Scavenger Hunts, you'll get a print of one of the Dickens Storyboards suitable for framing.
- Light poles wrapped with lights shining every evening.
- Coloring Contest sponsored by Branch's Furniture.
- Lots of shops open every Friday evening
- The Gifts of the Magi at New Bern Civic Theater.
- Special events Friday evenings at selected shops
- Parade, Flotilla, Symphony, Messiah, Holly & Ivy tour, Tryon Palace Candlelight Tour, Bed and Breakfasts Open House, and more.

For the details visit our Downtown New Bern Blog by clicking here.

Slow Blogging My Two Kittys

I've been slow in blogging the past 10 days.

We've been dealing with two sick kittys.

Lucy (white) is 17.

Pepper is 13.

Hopefully they'll be around a while yet but the prognosis doesn't look good.

They have been a constant source of amusement and company and we're really going to miss them when they're gone.

Ring Holders from Terry Weaver

This summer we met Terry Weaver. Among other great things he makes these beautiful ring holders.


These ring holders are designed as a simple conical shape with 2 lines of color twisted through the center of clear glass. Additional design is created from oxidation that is pulled off the punty. The size ranges from 31/4 to 41/4 high.

Here's a little bit about Terry

I was a licensed architect who started blowing glass in 1988. It began with a 3 day workshop with Jane Bruce and I was hooked. In the early years my furnace time was limited to workshops and studio rental time but the enjoyment and pleasure I got out of working with hot glass increased each year.

In 1998 it lead to the building of my own studio with the aid of one of the techs from “The Studio” in Corning.

From 1999 through 2006, the glass studio was a part time business (if you can call doing 9 to 12 3-day weekend shows a year part-time) that shared my life with architecture and construction. I would light the furnace once a month, let it warm up, blow glass for a short period, and then shut the furnace down.

During that time the complexity and quality of the work improved which was reflected by the increased attention and sales at shows. I believe this period where I slowly developed my own style and ideas with glass has been very important in establishing what my work is like today.

My architectural background has had a strong influence in the shapes, designs and colors that have evolved in my work. I want my glass to be looked at as functional art. I want people to be comfortable using my work and not just having it on display. With this in mind I intentionally make a number of smaller pieces.

I try to keep the shapes clean and simple. Some of the pieces need to be playful with the colors at times striking and at other times soft.

When you are working in the hot glass studio, you know right away that you have hit the shape just right and the personal reward for doing that is immediate.

This and a number of other factors helped move me to put aside the architectural license and allow the studio to become a full time glass blowing business.

Order online by following this link.

New Bern 300th Anniversary Souvenirs

We have some great souvenirs for our 300th anniversary! Magnets, pencils, mints in a commemorative box, coaster, lapel pin and more.

You can order them right off our website if you can't come in.

Many of these items are exclusive to Carolina Creations.

For more information or to order click here.

Great Bird Sculptures Boxes and Jewelry

We're thrilled to have received birds, boxes and new jewelry by Jim and Tori Mullen. We have represented Jim and Tori in New Bern off and on for about 8 years. Last year we ran into them at a show and saw their new birds, they're fabulous!!!

We had a few in June and they didn't last long.

Jim Mullan is a self-taught artist who grew up in Southern California with an enthusiasm for nature and history. As a teenager he became intrigued with old watches, vintage toys, and scientific instruments. In the process of taking things apart and putting them back together, he began pairing some of the old pieces with his favorite things found in nature, such as, bird, dragonfly and animal components to create one of a kind mixed media jewelry and assemblages. In 1980, Jim exhibited at his first art show in Florida and enjoyed it so much that he decided to set up shop in Pompano Beach. Shortly thereafter he began exhibiting full time in juried art shows across the country.

Tori’s passion for antiques and jewelry began as a child. Her inspiration was her father, a jeweler and antique watch collector. While working in his jewelry store in Port Charlotte, Florida, she became interested in the vintage stones and spare parts that her father used for repairing jewelry and watches. She set her sights on designing jewelry and started creating unique one of a kind earrings and bracelets. She met Jim in 1985 at a show and they soon discovered that they shared many of the same interests in old watches, jewelry and antiques.

The couple combined their individual talents and formed a partnership in work and in life. Their fascination of birds, nature, and antiques is still present today and their vast collection of vintage hardware, bird carvings and watches fill up their studio.

Can't get in? Click here to see some more of their pieces.

Welcome Hadley!

Just in! We have just received these great stick in the muds and pot pals.

A graduate from the Herron School of Art, Hadley currently works in ceramics, bringing sculpture to outdoor and garden settings.

We love her funky animals, they'll dress up your garden or flower pot with a bit of humor.

Best Place to Buy Art and Sculpture Best Gift and Speciaty Shop

Thank you to all that voted Carolina Creations the Best Place to Buy Art & Sculpture and Best Gift and Specialty Shop!

I was talking to Chris at Branch's on the sidewalk when Jaclyn from the Sun Journal walked up and said she'd been looking for both of us, and she handed us our awards. Branch's won best Furniture Store.

I'm sure that there were other Downtown winners as well.

This is many years in a row but we never take it for granted. Thank you!

New Bern Christmas Card 2009

I just got my new Christmas Card in. I've been doing a new Christmas Card for New Bern every year since 1992.

They are $9.50 for 10 cards.

The inside of this years card says "Sending you 300 wishes for the new year", making reference to our 300th anniversary.

Every year is different, different styles, different looks. Below you'll find some of the previous years cards. I try to keep the previous years cards in stock as well.

If you want to purchase some you can call us 252-633-4369, or order online and we'll send them right out!

Click here for the New Bern gifts page on our website where you click on the image of the cards you want to order, give us your info and you're done!

Mayoral debate

Here I go politicking again, I can't help myself.

I just heard the Mayoral debate. Frank Kerr said many things that were just totally wrong.

If I was going to run for mayor I would darn well know about this!

He was complaining about money being spent on sidewalks downtown, and other infrastructure downtown and wondered why he didn't get a sidewalk in front of his house.

I don't know how many people know it but if you have property from the Trent River to Broad and the Neuse River to Hancock you pay city taxes, county taxes AND a Municipal Services District Tax which is 18 cents per $100 valuation. So we are triple taxed.

The money from the MSD Tax goes to pay for the new sidewalks, new sewers, parks, light poles, etc. We pay for all of improvements with this special tax. So, Mr Kerr, if you want better sidewalks etc. Why don't you get together with your neighbors and agree to a special assessment in the form of your OWN Municipal Services District, you too can be tripled taxed but it's well worth it.

In Case You Missed It

I hope you didn't miss our last ArtWalk!

We were packed with people viewing our new show "The Iconic Lighthouse" and watching Mike Rooney demonstrate.

As the evening wore on Mike moved his easel indoors and finished his painting. As people came in they signed up to win the painting!

At 7:30 a smiling Mary Peeler walked out with it.

Our ArtWalks are always fun, we don't always have a demonstration but there are always lots of your friends to greet!

Our next one is November 13. We're going to be featuring glass ornaments by 20 glass blowers to celebrate our 20th Anniversary in Downtown New Bern!

The Bridge

I went kayaking the other day to take a look at the progress being made on our new bridge over the Trent River, I took a detour on the way because it was so calm, and paddled out to see the Neuse River Bridge.

As most of you know the state closed our main access to our Downtown in May of 2007 to replace a bridge that was built in the 1950s crossing the Trent River.

It was a swing span bridge and the topic of many paintings done by myself and other artists in the area.

We are at the Confluence of the two rivers, the Trent and the Neuse and our Downtown is on a peninsula.

Like everyone else I am getting pretty anxious to have it be completed.

I was pleased when I passed under the new bridge to see we have some decorative light poles. I sat on the design review committee and I understood that there would be nothing decorative about the bridge and that we would need to raise the money for anything like this. So I don't know if the city paid for these light poles or what but I'm glad to see they are there.

The bascule is in place!! Can't wait to see it go up and down.

Samantha Freeman

We are pleased to introduce you to one of our newest jewelry designers, Samantha Freeman. We are always looking for the latest and greatest designers and we me Samantha on a recent trip to Philadelphia.

I think what I really like about her work is the way she constructs her pieces and the clean lines.

The jewelry designed by Samantha Freeman is a synthesis of nature and high tech. Educated first as a biochemist, she soon transferred to Parsons School of Design to pursue a jewelry career.

She is inspired by the world beneath the waves on frequent scuba diving trips, and the exotic cultures of any far away country.

In her studio, she creates jewelry that is timeless. Materials used range from anodized aluminum, to sterling silver and 18k gold, and natural elements including various gem stones, coral and shells.

All pieces are made entirely by hand using a wide variety of jewelry skills.

Classical yet innovative design is combined with old world craftsmanship to make pieces that last for generations.

The giving and receiving of jewelry is not essential, but brings beauty and romance to life.

View from the Porch MS Bike 2009

It was an exciting morning on East Front Street as over 2000 bicyclists started their ride raising money for MS! Here are just a few shots.

Purse Hangers

People have been asking for purse hangers so while we were at the shows last month we looked until we found some really nice ones, made in the USA!

If you don't know what they are - a hook to hang your purse on a table when you're in a restaurant so it doesn't have to sit on the floor.

I have to admit when I first heard about them I wasn't convinced but they are actually pretty cool and do the job. And we have a great variety, some with lots of bling, some with stones like turquoise, and so on.
Ours also have this clever way they fold up and come in a cute box with a velvet bag to carry it in your purse. Some even have a mirror and a pill box bult into the design.

They are well priced from $13.50 to $19 and will make a great stocking stuffer!

New from Sticks

We've gotten some great new pieces in from Sticks! Clocks, calendars, activity boards, a beautiful new rectangular dining room table, chairs and bench to match, sofa table, end table, clocks, mirrors and more!

Did you know that each of these pieces is one of a kind and there will never be a piece just like it ever?

And did you know that we can totally personalize any piece. We can put whatever words you want, even your family names, we can pick the colors, the illustrations, the possibilities are endless.

Christmas is just around the corner and it takes time to build the piece (yes each piece is built by hand when we order it), then the idea for decoration is finalized, the piece is carved, and then painted, and coated with polyurethane.

SO... if you want something specially made for you by Christmas we need to know it within the next few weeks. But we have lots in the gallery right now so you just might find the perfect piece already made.

We do layaway so you can pick it out now and have a few months to pay for it.

Want to see a few more pieces we have in stock? Click here.

Our New Show - The Iconic Lighthouse

We have hung our new show, the Iconic Lighthouse and it looks great! All new work never seen before.

We have already sold 3 pieces out of the show.

What we've been finding

Michael and I travel looking for new artists to represent and this year we've found some great ones!

Two I'm going to introduce you to today live in Michigan right near my sister Gail.



Trudi and Eric Cooper create beautiful wire wrapped diachroic glass jewelry. We have many pendants and earrings in fall colors, it's very well priced as well.

Both attended Beliot College and studied art, Eric concentrating on photography, later sculpture and Trudi received her teaching certificate with a specialty in art. She also was a College level Teaching Assistant in Bronze Casting and Sculpture. After working in stained glass for some time they began creating dichroic glass jewelry and sculptures with her husband Eric.

"We work with a special type of scientific glass called dichroic glass. Developed by NASA to reflect ultraviolet light from the astronauts' reflective visors, dichroic glass is used by scientists to separate and filter specific colors of visible light. Its ability to reflect color in a beautiful way makes it a perfect material for jewelry.

Over the years, through experimentation and "happy accidents", we have developed techniques that involve layering a complex collage of dichroic and other art glass and firing multiple times in our kilns to 1700°F. In this way we achieve vibrant colors, textures, complexity and depth.

Working together, we build from each other's techniques. Although we have separate tasks within the process, our creative collaboration is constructive and dynamic.

Our studio is in a small converted barn behind our home in rural southeast Michigan.We have won numerous awards and ribbons, but our greatest reward is seeing how beautifully our jewelry harmonizes with those who wear it.

We have been working on reducing our environmental impact from our start 10 years ago.
- The glass we use to make our Jewelry is 80% recycled glass.
- We sell our work on through galleries significantly reducing the amount of driving we do.
- We recycle and compost.
- We've replaced every bulb in our studio with a Compact Flourescent.
- We walk from home to work.
- We pay a little more for our electricity supplier's green generation program receiving 100% green electricity
- Our kilns are not energy hogging. The bill for our studio is about $50/month
- We have purchased carbon offset for 32 tons of carbon a year with a company called NativeEnergy. The offset is through wind power generation at the Greensburg Wind Farm. We have been offsetting for 6 years.

Calculate your footprint and see what it takes to make it smaller: NativeEnergy
NativeEnergy is the company Al Gore recommends.

And our three kids, 18, 20, 22, are studying to save the world. SUSTAINABILITY!

You MUST come see their work!

Slow Blogging - Just back from NYC

Well it's been a hectic month! We spent the last week in NYC at the Gift Show. I was pleased that a gallery owner and an artist came up to me and said that after hearing my talk on blogging in Philadelphia they both started their own blogs!

We found some neat things for the fall and Christmas and met with some of our artist friends and other CRAFT members. CRAFT is a national organization that I am on the board of. We have 200 members of both artists and galleries like ours whose mission is to promote American Craft.

Our hotel was on 53rd and 6th Avenue and from the place that we ate breakfast you could see Central Park. It was beautiful.

I want to remind everyone that our show "Circle of Eight" will close soon.

Our next show will be "The Iconic Lighthouse" which will be hung on the 1st of September with the official opening on September 11 ArtWalk from 5-8 pm.

New Painting

I actually got to paint today!!

Seems like I don't get as much time to paint these days as I'd like. And it probably doesn't help that when I do have time I have to decide "do I do a drawing, a watercolor, an oil or work on clay".

"They" always say, "pick a medium and stick with it". Well I did that for 20 years, I did ink drawings, mostly architectural renderings. I loved working in ink and still do.

However about 20 years ago (how can it be that long, am I that old?) I started adding color to my ink drawings, then add ink to my watercolors, then working with clay, then most recently, probably 5 years ago started doing some oils.

My ink drawings and watercolors are pretty tight and my clay is more whimsical. What I'm working toward in my oils is looser handling with more emphasis on color.

Don't know if it's exactly done yet but it was fun to do.