Beautiful pewter by Leandra Drumm

To see more of her work and to order click here!

Ceramic Flower Pottery for our Garden Show

Carolina Creations fine Art and Contemporary Craft Gallery at 317 Pollock Street in Downtown New Bern announces Marie DeBois as our featured potter for the month of June.

Marie creates floral ceramics and dinnerware. Her pieces range from serve ware to wall and table art. Her technique is hand built based and begins by rolling out clay into large flat slabs that are free-hand cut to size and shape, then sculpted to form each unique piece. After nearly a week of drying time, the pieces are fired twice; the first time for twelve hours, up to 1971 degrees Fahrenheit, when this process is complete they are under glazed, or hand painted and scripted with a ceramic pencil, clear glazed with non-toxic glaze, then fired a second time for eight-twelve hours to 1855 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maries professional background is in interior design and she loves nature and flowers. What motivates her is "knowing that my work makes people happy!"  Marie Dubois has worked with clay for nearly 25 years and has incorporated her designs with the interior environment in mind, to add that extra pop of color and surprise to a space. Her delicate style and dreamy imagery is reminiscent of pastel water colors embellished with garden flora design.

Hand crafted in North Carolina and available at Carolina Creations!

 

The demise of the greeting card has been greatly exaggerated

As email became more popular everyone said that people would no longer buy greeting cards. Not true! We have been selling as many cards as ever, in fact more!

We love hearing "you've got the best cards!", "I buy ALL my cards here!" and on and on.

We have a lot of cards because I love cards and as we travel I am always looking for new ones.

Here are two of our newest cards!

-Jan Francoeur

 

 

Jan Francoeur or Janet Francoeur whats in a name

Janet Francoeur is my given name. I also go by Jan. I like them both although I like Jan a little better than Janet. But when introducing myself if I say Jan Francoeur people usually say, Hi Fran, which I hate! I sign all documents Janet so most people who correspond with me know me by that.

And of course lots of people don't know how to pronounce Francoeur.

We say Francooooooor. Some people say Francore.

One of my favorite stories about pronunciation has to do with Garrison Keiler., from NPR's Prarie Home Companion.

He was in Oregon and speaking to the Governor of that state and pronounced it Or e gon, and she corrected him saying it should be said Or a gun. He said tomato, tomoto, she said, well Mr Killer I guess it really isn't important if it's pronounced right or not!

Jan Francoeur!

Jan Francoeur making a living with my art

I always hate having my photo taken, like many people, but was pleased with this one that was in the March-April 2012 issue of Artsee Magazine. This is a fairly new magazine "for people that create, support and love art." The photographer is Donn Young.

 

I've been blessed with being able to make a living from my art since the early 70's. Even before we had a gallery I did the art show circuit around Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, Utah, and Florida. Worked in the art department of a commercial printer, did free lance work for ad agencies, did and still do occasionally architectural illustrations and worked in the art department of "The Aspen Times." 

Since moving to New Bern in 1989 we have owned a gallery, Carolina Creations. In addition to paintings Michael and I have also been making pottery for the past 10 years.

It has been a pleasure and we are grateful for all our customers and collectors.

 

CW Veteran’s Recognition Day award

Public Invited to Recognize Civil War Veterans
I was honored to be chosen to help create an award to be given to Luke Martin.  Jan Francoeur

Son of Civil War Veteran to be Honored

Civil War Veterans Recognition Day
Saturday, May 12, 2012, 2:00 p.m.

Four local groups have come together to recognize all those who fought and died 150 years ago during the Civil War.  A coalition of the Climbers Club, the Earl of Craven Questers, the Family History Society of Eastern North Carolina and the New Bern Historical Society invites the public to gather on Saturday, May 12, 2012 to remember Union and Confederate soldiers alike.  A ceremony at the Attmore-Oliver house will feature music and light refreshments.  The gathering will also honor Mr. Luke Martin who is the son of a Civil War soldier.  His father was a member of the U.S. Colored Troops.

Following the ceremony, participants will proceed to Cedar Grove, Greenwood, and National Cemeteries.  A wreath will be laid at each location honoring Confederate, Union, and U.S. Colored Troops.  A U.S. Marine Color Guard will be on hand to honor the Veterans and the New Bern Fire Department Pipes and Drums will also participate.

The event is free and open to the public.  It will start at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 12, at the New Bern Historical Society’s Attmore-Oliver house, 511 Broad Street, New Bern.  For information call 252-638-8558 or go to www.NewBernHistorical.org
http://newbernhistorical.org/cw-veterans-recognition-day/

Kenneth Pillsworth

We met Kenneth in February and are thrilled to be representing him at Carolina Creations!

Kenneth Pillsworth’s interest in the arts began very early on. Kenneth began his very first jewelry apprenticeship with renowned jeweler William Scholl in 1987.

Kenneth’s time with William would set the precedent for his interests and expectations for this medium. It was this experience in hindsight that would lay the foundation for Kenneth’s career as a jeweler.

In the fall of 1990 Kenneth attended SUNY New Paltz with a concentration in painting. Under the recommendation of William Scholl, Kenneth began working with Jeffrey Allen Jewelers part time while attending classes.

In the summer of 1992 Kenneth began his apprenticeship on Martha's Vineyard, with jewelers Paul D’Olympia and Richard Hamilton. It wasn’t long before Kenneth made the commitment to become a jeweler himself. Kenneth’s ability to take a piece of something from each mentor, has given him a well rounded foundation from which to build his own career and ideas.

In 1996 Kenneth Pillsworth and three other jewelers formed the Edgartown Jewelers Studio. Kenneth continued to share space until 1998 when he decided to create his own studio in his home.

Kenneth is working in sterling silver, titanium, copper and brass.

Here is some of his work, beautiful. Click here to see the details!

Show at good goods

I haven't had time to paint "just for me" in a while. I'm not complaining, we've been really busy at Carolina Creations all year. And of course we went on vacation for 2 1/2 weeks, the longest ever in 25 years. We've been doing LOTS of custom pottery for people, tiles of landmarks, paintings of homes etc, which I love doing but it's not the same as losing yourself in tubes of paint and a blank canvas.

My friend Sandra has a gallery in Michigan and invited me to participate in a show with the theme of Lake Michigan. I grew up in Michigan and every summer we went on vacations either "Up North", to the UP or to Canada.

As an adult, before Michael and I moved away in 1983 I spent just about every weekend participating in art shows all over the state. Of all the beautiful places in Michigan my most vivid memories are of driving along North Lake Shore Drive as a child. It's a winding, hilly drive along Lake Michigan and through the woods. You peak through the trees at the great expanse of Lake Michigan. I don't ever want to be there in the winter but the summer is glorious.

 
I was just looking for a stone building in Cross Village, I think it's a fence I remember at an intersection we would turn at. I see in my research for this post that there are several stone buildings there.

It wasn't just on vacation that we would explore, my Dad also loved to go for a Sunday drive. I'm sure that is where my love for maps and my wanderlust comes from. I think I've been on every single road in Michigan!

He was never afraid to go down any back road. I can remember going down more than one dirt road, only to have to back out a long way because the road got too narrow and rough to go any further.

So, this is what I love about creating the pieces I make, they almost all have some kind of tie to my past or present, and when creating them I get swept up in the experience.

So when I say painting "just for me", this is what I'm talking about!

Jan Francoeur

Wire wrap sculpture Fabulous

 

We love the wire work by Todd Briske!

Man/Woman sculpture

Sorry these photos aren't so great, the work is wonderful!

Gifts for Pepsico Board Meeting in New Bern NC

We were pleased to be able to produce these gifts for the Pepsico Board Meeting this week in New Bern.

 

A great gift for businesses, graduation, groomsman's gifts, we just need 2 1/2 weeks to produce your custom box.

As you can see we can do great detail.

Here is a box with initials. What a great gift!

$38 + $10 for shipping/handling!

Like to order some? Juat give us a call 252-633-4369.

Jan Francoeur