What a month!

We've just returned from Florida where we spent the last 28 days!

Since 2012 was a tough year for us healthwise we decided a  sabbatical was in order. After 24 years of a week here and there off and vacations often tacked on to a business trip, we determined we were due a rest.

For those who know me - I am easily bored so am always busy, I can't just sit and watch tv, I watch tv and read a book, watch tv and do pottery, read a book and listen to the radio, even when I paint I listen to the NPR news station, an hour of sitting doing nothing kind of scares me - so when we were packing I took lots of books, magazines I hadn't had time to read, paperwork I was behind on, my computer, my printer, on and on.

The first week I did all of the above, the 2nd week I read, swam and rode my bike, the third week more of the same (except I had to go to work for a few days in Philadelphia), then the fourth week repeated week 2. Lots of articles left unread, a few small paintings finished and one big one started but literally we did nothing for much of the time.

Where we went in Florida there really wasn't much else to do. Even though we were on the edge of a huge city. No great shops, nothing to take photos of, no distratiions from just resting within 40 miles!

Which reminds me - we are so lucky to live in a thriving small town with a beautiful Downtown that everyone cares about. Nice, unique shops. Where we were in the middle of Florida there were 2 nice shops, one by itself and the other on a nice street of shopping with small clothing boutiques, a few art galleries and a craft shop or two. And both were an hour or more from where we were staying - through horrible traffic.

But the weather was beautiful and the place we stayed was like an oasis in the middle of chaos - so despite not getting a retail fix we had a wonderful time.

So now - back to work!

Good thing I love my work or it would have been hard to come back. Thanks to Lou, Donna's, Irene, David and Lori for holding down the fort. We're already planning for the next one!

Twins Jane and Nancy Horner Paintings and Fiber Art

Carolina Creations Fine Art and Contemporary Craft Gallery, 317 Pollock St, Downtown New Bern announces their show for April and May, T W I N S.  The opening reception will be during the March ArtWalk, March 8, 5-8 pm.

One 20ft wall divided in half presents the artworks of identical twins Jane and Nancy Horner.   The exhibited works are expressions of two distinctly individual lives.

NANCY CORINNE HORNER

UPTERRLAINARLUTA

While living in western Alaska among the Yupik Eskimo communities, Nancy was inspired by their strong culture.  For the Yupik, the realities of life on the delta underlined the practicality of their traditional culture. Living in a difficult clime, far from job centers and sources of supplies, some still rely on the land for food. Their fishing, trapping, sealing and berry picking are not sentimental reminders of a bygone way of life.  They are practical necessities.  They depend on a close relationship with land, animals, the sea and the spirit world. Alaskan Yupik are upterrlainarluta”,,, always getting ready.”

The artist and her twin, Jane, were born in Springfield, Illinois. Nancy resides in Cary, North Carolina.  She has 3 sisters, 3 daughters and 3 granddaughters. She received a BS in Nutrition (UNCG) and an MA in Community Education (Appalachian State University). She is a Registered Dietitian and a Licensed Nutritionist, and worked as a Public Health Nutritionist for 25 years.

Her skills include beading, weaving, fabric art, doll making, watercolor and assemblage.

JANE ELLEN HORNER

RECONSTRUCTIONS

Jane majored in studio arts and art history, first a BFA, and next traveling to Europe. She then earned a Master of Fine Arts from UNCG, and took off for New Mexico, Washington, DC, Cape Cod and Boston before settling in Northern Vermont for 30 years. Jane lives in New Bern now.

She has worked in the professions of archaeological illustration and fieldwork, early childhood education materials and garden restoration.  Primarily, her life experience is within the world of Fine Arts:  active as a curator of contemporary art, the teaching of drawing and painting, and the making and exhibiting of her own art. She is a Fellow of both the Fine Arts Work Center of Provincetown, MA, and the McDowell Colony of Peterborough, NH. Her grants include the Colman Trust for New England Artists and several grants from the Vermont Arts Council. She is a life-long artist.

Exhibition venues continue to be galleries, art centers, museums and universities -- upon large walls of concert halls, vacant buildings, skylights and atriums, and ordinary walls; and in Montreal and VT, Boston and Cape Cod, North Carolina, Atlanta, North Dakota, Johannesburg, South Africa, the Netherlands, and Inari, Finland.

The work for this show includes paintings and silk screen prints.

“Throughout her work there is a consistent core of interests: light, a keen understanding of color, and a quest for elegance of form.  There is also a never-ending air of discovery in the artist’s work that clearly illustrates an ability to integrate knowledge, wisdom and skill to realize her personal vision.”

                 --Marc Awodey, ( 1957-2012)  critic, poet and painter, Vermont,

“My work is informed by process. It is an exploratory naturally ebullient way of working that is beyond product”  --Jane Ellen Horner

Twins will run through April 30 at Carolina Creations. Hours are 10-6 Monday-Saturday and 11-3 Sunday. For more information contact the gallery at 252-633-4369, email info@carolinacreations.com, or visit the website at www.carolinacreations.com.

We listen to our customers

A while back a customer came in and told us about a beverage insulator that fits over any sized bottle - made in North Carolina! So we hunted them down and they have arrived!

They'll be great for Father's Day and for all of us this summer.

One size fits all!!

Here is a little more information about them, along with instructions for use!

Truly a one-size-fits all bottle insulator! Keeping your hands dry and your drinks cold is the new fashion-jam. Made in the Freakin USA — Home of the Brave, Land of the Freaks.

But wait, whats that you say? You have a baby but you also enjoy bum-wine? Is the Freaker for you? A match made in heaven, gumdrop. One-Size-Fits-All is no fib or fable. Your little one’s sippy cup can be just as freaked as your forty ounces of Colt. And also your mom’s wine and your kid sister’s Nalgene and your dad’s beer and the vase you sometimes regretably send flowers to your ex in.

INSTRUCTIONS

Freakers Effectively Prevents Unwanted Bottle-Sweat ***

STEP 1

Get a Freaker

STEP 2

Get a Beverage

STEP 3

Grasp the Freaker & mount the beverage on a flat surface. Gently pull the Freaker downwards. Be sure the bottom reaches the base  of your beverage.

STEP 4

Congratulations, my friend. You've been freaked!

Excited about new artists

This is the time of the year we go to shows and search out new artists. One of the things I'm most excited about that we've found so far are these painted Peace art poles by Stephanie Burgess.

They just arrived this week. These beautiful reproductions of hand-painted, hand-etched, decorative wooden poles will look gorgeous in your garden or yard.

The art is printed on pvc and comes with an auger/stake so you can easily put them in the ground. They are even prettier in person.

They are very unique and well priced. Stop in and see them!!

A little bit about the peace poles - The Peace Pole Project is the official Project of The World Peace Prayer Society. It started in Japan in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, who decided to dedicate his life to spreading the message, "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in response to the bombings on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Peace Poles are handcrafted monuments erected the world over as international symbols of Peace. Their purpose is to spread the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" in the languages of the world.
 
Read more about the Peace Pole Project by clicking here. I think I'll have to create one for our yard.

WooHoo

And the winner is Robert Rigsby

Our friend Robert Rigsby brought us this beautiful painting.

     Although Robert has 9 years of formal college education (Appalachian State University, BS from NC State University and DVM from Ohio State University)  his artistic talents are largely self taught. 

He started with water color in the early 80's and sold several pieces at Wake Visual Arts while attending NC State.  He began using oil paint after reading  Brushwork for Oil Painters by Emilio Grupe.'  His skills and plein air technique were enhanced by classes with Mike Rooney.  Recently, courses with Paul McCormick and Jonathan Peedin have enhanced his skill with figure and portraiture.

     Robert now paints full-time from his studio at The Arts Council of Wayne Co. and still practices Veterinary medicine part-time.  He lives with his veterinarian wife, Dr. Kirby H. Rigsby, daughter Morgan, dogs Franny and Eliza, cats Bob, Alex, Anna, and Lionel (the monster), dozens of fish and turtles, snakes, a bearded dragon lizard, 3 tarantulas, 2 ducks and Moo Moo the hamster. 

His goal is to paint that piece that is so intriguing that it causes his wife to pause from her hectic life and say "Wow."   

We think this award winning painting is that one! For more information or to purchase click here!

Fun stuff for our bicycling friends!

We love to bike and have lots of friends and customers who do too! Here are a few things we have just gotten in. Very clever!!

Sculpture - Flea riding a bike! $49

Free trade wire bike earrings $12

Free trade cap bottle cap pin $10

Free trade wire pin $12

You can order them from our website by clicking here then clicking on the image of the piece you want!