Sticks 2012 Calendar

Everyone loves Sticks!

Here is their 2012 calendar hot off the press!

You will be inspired and uplifted by this enchanting collection by Sticks, the distinctive furniture, accessories, and artwork created by designer Sarah Grant. The creative, one-of-a-kind pieces will infuse your world with vibrant colors and vivid imagery. Grant's offerings combine beauty and charm--a special treat for every month of the year.

Buy online.

Rick and Val Beck

We just received two new pieces from Rick and Val Beck. Rick earned his Bachelors degree in Art with an emphasis on Glass and Valerie was awarded her degree in Human Services Administration and Political Science. Both went on to Southern Illinois University where Valerie completed Masters coursework in Educational Psychology and Rick earned a Master of Fine Arts with a specialty in Glass.
 
Between 1991 and 1994 Rick was Instructor and Artist in Residence at the Penland School of Crafts, NC. He also served as a teaching assistant at the Pilchuck Glass School, Washington State, and Artist in Residence at the Appalachian Center for Crafts, TN. In 1995 Rick was awarded a SAF/NEA Regional Visual Arts Fellowship.

Rick started working in glass in 1978, Valerie in 1984. They established their own studio in rural North Carolina in 1991.


In 1991, the Becks were among only 100 glass artists selected from among thousands by the Corning Museum of Glass to be published in the prestigious New Glass Review 12. Since 1992, the Beck’s work has been featured six times in American Craft Magazine, as well as Glass Magazine.

Their work is included in numerous private, corporate and public collections throughout the world, including Dutton Lainson Company; Federal Reserve Bank, NC; Glasmuseum, Denmark; Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, WI; Mint Museum, NC; Johnson Wax Corporate Collection; and McDonalds’ Corporate Collection and others.

Very sexy ceramic clocks

When we were at BMAC this summer we stopped and talked to David Carson. We've seen his work many times but never stopped and talked. The work was always beautiful but not really what we were looking for. Well this time he had exactly what we were looking for!

These Clocquette's are a great size, are well done and are well priced!

On top of that we really liked David which is really important to us, we sell great art by people we like.

David's booth was across from our friend Clayton Dickson, whose work we've sold for years. Frick and Frack their badges said..... I won't go into the story but we had a fun time talking to them both.

We're looking forward to many more Cloquette's! We've shown just a few on our website so you'll have to stop in to see the rest.

Something new candles and candle holders

We have been very pleased with the interest in our candleholders and candles this summer! Jan decorates the candle holders and the candles are made by our friends at Barrick Design. We LOVE the shape and the quality of their candles.

Barrick Design began in 1970 when Rick Faulkner and his father, Dick Faulkner, began making candles. From the beginning they were not satisfied with ordinary candles.  Today Rick continues the tradition of creating unusual candles that are wonderful accents for interiors of all styles.  While the forms are contemporary in nature, their simplicity lends them to both modern and traditional settings.

The bottom candle holder also makes an unusual soap dish.  Here we have shown it with a square soy candle which we also carry at Carolina Creations. For availability of the candle holders contact us via email by clicking here.

Ankle Update

It's been 42 days since I crashed my bike and broke my ankle. The first bones I've ever broken.

It has been an experience and guess I have a while to go to get back to normal. The first 10 days were the hardest. The 1st 3 days just had a splint, so the swelling would go down. Every time I moved it was excruciating, the bones moved every time I did.

Then I had surgery, putting a couple plates in and about 8 screws to put my ankle back together. Again, a splint for a week, ankle above heart, hurt like hell. The next two weeks the pain lessened a little each day and this past week it hasn't hurt much, that is until I went to bed. Unless my foot was straight up it hurts when the ankle/metal presses against the cast.

Centenary United Methodist Church Available on our website

On Monday I got the cast off and got a boot. I've been told I should be at full weight bearing in 2-3 weeks. I decided to try to sleep without the boot and it was WONDERFUL! The ankle is very stiff and the incisions are really tender.

I started PT and got some excercises to do at home. The 2nd time I went to PT the ankle really losend up. Go back next Wednesday so we'll see what kind of progress I can make before then.

First Presbyterian Church - Available on our website

It's been a nice month actually, I've gotten a lot of work done, a new card for my 2011 ornament, lots of commissioned pottery pieces, a new painting of First Presbyterian Church, a new painting of Centenary United Methodist Church, a new Family Circle, a print to go with "A Slice of New Bern", I've worked on our website, worked on A Dickens of a Christmas in Downtown New Bern, read a couple books and generally slowed down a little.

Michael has taken the brunt of my slow down picking up the pieces, waiting on me and hauling me around.

Looking forward to being mobile! Starting to get the hang of the crutches.

The best thing about the whole experience so far is that slow down. Maybe it will be a new trend for me!

American Craft Week Demonstrations October 7 through 16

Dan Nelson painting

This year for American Craft week we'll be having some demonstrations in the Gallery in addition to the continuation of Elaine O'Neil's fabric collage show.

Here's the schedule!
October 8 Dan Nelson Plein Air Painting
October 9 Dan Nelson Plein Air Painting
October 11 Jan Francoeur Clay Sculpture
October 12 Gayle George Copper Jewelry
October 13 Jan Francoeur Clay Sculpture
October 14 Karen Britton Polymer Clay Sculpture
October 15 Shirley Erickson Handkerchief Angels
October 16 Janet Lokken Crochet Jewelry

New Bern Ornament 2011

When I design my ornaments, actually any piece of artwork that I do, it's a process. I wish I could say I just sit down and whip it out. But it doesn't work that way.

I've been doing a New Bern Ornament every year for 17 years.

Every year I panic and think there is nothing more to do. Then eventually an idea comes along. Sometimes they work out, and sometimes they don't.

This year, after several sleepless nights I came up with this years design.

It features the Ada Mae which is moored across the street from my home. I can see the mast sticking up above the galley. The other feature I like is the new lily sculpture which is just around the corner from our house.

I'm lucky that I have hundreds of people that collect them. I don't date them because we try to have all of them available.

We have a great place around the corner from us - Etched in Time - that has engraved the date on the back of some of them for us for those that want the date.

The ornament starts as a very rough sketch, this year on the back of a brochure.

I usually redraw it two or three times then come up with the final drawing.

I show what areas I want cut away.


I send the design off to a company in New England that produces it for me.

......and voilà it comes back like this!

They are 2 " x 3 3/4", $ 13.50. You can purchase online by clicking here.

Tribute to the victims of 9 11

To Honor and Remember the Brothers and Sisters of the
NYPD, Port Auth PD and the FDNY
Who gave the Supreme Sacrifice on Sept 11th 2001

The Flag Display has over 400 American Flags,each with a name or picture, and their assignment that fateful day ten years ago. The Display is in the church yard of Christ Episcopal Church, corner of Pollock and Middle St, Downtown New Bern.
The display set up will begin at 10am Friday Sept 9th 2011.

At 12 Noon there will be a public dedication ceremony and be open to the Public for viewing.
The Memorial Flag Display may be viewed through the entire weekend.

This memorial is a project spearheaded by Phil Buffa, a retired Washington D.C. firefighter.
 
Photos by Lou Plummer

American Craft Week Essay Contest

 

Write an Essay and Win a gift certificate for $250   

I am on the board of the CRAFT Retailers and Artists Association for Tomorrow - CRAFT - and for the second year we are sponsoring American Craft Week October 7-16. We will have demonstrations at Carolina Creations during that week. 

Across the nation artists, galleries and museums will be celebrating American made crafts. 

This year we are holding two essay contests. You can enter one or both topics. There will be one prize for each topic.

Essay Topics:

Topic 1:  Cultural roots of American craft

Many forms of American craft have their roots in one of the multitude of ethnic groups that make up the rich cultural life of the U.S. today, or in a particular period of our country's history. Talk about one of these that has particular meaning to you, and tell us its "story". (Example:  sweet grass baskets and their roots in African slave groups, and their agricultural use in early America).

Topic 2:  Importance of craft in contemporary American society

Making, buying, collecting and learning about American craft is "hot" now for many reasons. Why? Trends such as eco-awareness, reactions against the flood of cheap imported goods, recognition of the importance of buying locally, a desire to use one's hands in this digital age are all some examples of what is driving a renewed interest in American craft. What do you think the reasons are for American craft's resurgence today? What do you think means for the future of American craft?

Contest Rules

• If entering both topics, submit them separately
• Deadline is October 30, 2011    You must include the following:
  • Your name - Mailing address - Phone Number - Email Address
  • Your favorite American Craft Week Participant (include city and state) hopefully it will be Carolina Creations!!! 
• Either mail your entry to:
  • American Craft Week, 1530 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC  28203
• Or email it to info@AmericanCraftWeek.com 
• Look for the winning entry at AmericanCraftWeek.com in December, and in this newsletter. 
• Members of the CRAFT Board and their immediate families are not eligible.

ArtWalk Friday September 9 5 to 8 pm featuring work by Elaine ONeil

Carolina Creations Fine Art and Contemporary Craft Gallery, 317 Pollock St in Downtown New Bern features the work of Triangle North Carolina based fabric artist Elaine O'Neil. September 1 - October 18, 2011.

The official opening of the show will be during ArtWalk, September 9, 5-8 pm.

Elaine creates textile collages, each image using a myriad of fabric colors and textures, all painstakingly sewn together to create whimsical and realistic portrayals of scenes from the mountains to the coast.

The subjects of Elaine's work focuses around a sense of place, and the life that happens in that place. She tries to establish  the emotional bond we have with special places, stitching the memories together with a sense of humor and delight.

Elaine starts with a simple sketch and approaches the creation of each textile through snip and cuts, using her scissors like a painters brush, slowly revealing the image, with layer upon layer of fabric, stitched into place using a variety of colors and textures.

Her hope is to evoke the feeling of pleasure and delight, where life is simple, sweet and full of endless possibilities.

Elaine grew up in Maine and began sewing as a girl. She attended the Philadelphia college of Textiles and Science earning a BS in textile design. She is great-granddaughter to a lighthouse keeper, granddaughter to a farmer, daughter of an ardent seamstress, all of which contributes to memories she depicts in her textile collages. Her work has been used in several publications and she has illustrated 2 children's books. Her work is shown in galleries along the coast.

Carolina Creations is open 7 days a week. For more information about this show call the gallery at 252-633-4369, email info@carolinacreations.com.