Coastal Carolina with a Touch of Provence

Brenda Behr will be our featured artist for the months of November and December, with her new show "Coastal Carolina with a Touch of Provence".

Brenda talks about her show...

Having been a landlubber for over thirty years in Minnesota, has increased my appreciation of our coast. Nothing is more freeing to me than standing on the beach and painting to the roar of the surf.

 If one’s state of mind can be linked to the state of one’s art, then surely my plein air coastal paintings make for some of my best art. My paintings of Provence are thrown in as a counterpoint. 

Mostly, they are included because I was just there recently and had the opportunity to paint on some of the same stomping grounds where Paul Cezanne and Van Gogh more than a hundred years ago were initiating the term plein air painting.

We hope you'll stop in and talk to Brenda on November 13 during ArtWalk from 5-8 pm.

Trip Advisor

From Trip Advisor -

Your business rated "excellent" by 14 travelers

We want to publicly thank everyone who takes the time to give us a review on Trip Advisor!

Here are a few of the reviews....

“We stayed for hours and still wanted more!”
Reviewed October 5, 2015
What a wonderful way to spend a rainy day. There are so many items to look out from fine art and handmade creations to jewelry and a little kitsch. All items are made in the USA with most being made right in North Carolina. We had friends in from out of state and between the four of us we still wanted to stay longer than we did. I started a Christmas list .... for others AND one for my 'wants'. Can't wait to go back. The staff are wonderful too. Friendly, and informative. Visited September 2015

“A Spendid Collection of Art, Crafts and Gifts!”
Reviewed October 1, 2015
We've been in the shop before but they seem to keep it amazingly fresh with decorator pieces, painting and prints. As a man very few such shops entice me but Carolina Creations does. Why, it's even entertaining! Nice people! Visited September 2015

“Great shop and wonderful staff”
Reviewed September 22, 2015 credit card Amex Card Member Review
I LOVE this shop. When I am in a new city, I always like to find a piece of jewelry by a local artisan. The staff in this store are incredible, and know their products very well. There was something for everyone in this shop .. don't miss it when you visit New Bern North Carolina. Visited September 2015

“Too bad I had made a commitment not to buy on this trip.”
Reviewed August 19, 2015
Oh, this gallery has beautiful, glass, ceramics, pottery, oils, pastels. The staff is friendly and helpful. Nice to see local and regional art. Visited August 2015

“Lovely Place To Visit”
Reviewed July 2, 2015
I have always enjoyed visiting and browsing at Carolina Creations. Jan and the staff are always helpful in helping me select just the right gift for the occasion.v Visited December 2014

“Surprising”
Reviewed June 8, 2015
How delightful! Just about anything you would want. Displays were appealing and well stocked. Staff was eager to assist and very friendly. Pricing was reasonable. Worth the time to stop and shop! Visited June 2015

“Carolina Creations”
Reviewed June 4, 2015
Carolina Creations is a must see in New Bern. The store has many items from local artists and the owner is a very accomplished artist. Visited May 2015

“Local Artistry Par Excellence”
Reviewed May 19, 2015
Carolina Creations is just what it says: artistic creations of all types by local artists. The store is literally filled with the many mediums of art work by Janet Francoeur, owner, ceramics, metal works and much more. It is a shop that will beg you to take home a souvenir as a memento, or a gift for your neighbor for taking care of your cat while you were enjoying the beauty and beaches of Eastern Carolina. Visited May 2015

“Beautiful gallery, great mix of regional and national work”
Reviewed May 13, 2015
I visited Carolina Creations while on a house-hunting trip to New Bern, and spent over an hour exploring the art and treasures in this store. The product range is impressive, and they feature local artists as well as artists from around the country. I was able to find the perfect gift for my mother, and it was difficult for me to leave without purchasing several pieces for myself! I'll definitely be back, and Carolina Creations will become my first place to look for gifts and home decor. Visited April 2015

Thank you so much!

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The Wizard of Oz Collection Broaches

Jill Elizabeth has created this beautiful collection of broaches depicting the wizard of Oz! 

L. Frank Baum presented her as an extremely kind and gentle character who stood against the oppression and subjugation of people. The character's kindness and magnanimity of spirit was not confined to her own domain, and she was loved not only by her own subjects but also by other people in Oz. 

Just click your heels three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home.” Dorothy of OZ

The cyclone had set the house down, in the midst of
a country of marvelous beauty. This was OZ!
 “Oh dear! Oh dear!” cried Dorothy, “the house must have fallen on her.
What ever shall we do?” “There is nothing to be done. She was the wicked Witch of the East and
she has held the Munchkins in bondage for many years.
Now they are set free,and they are grateful to you for the favor.”

Lion: "I shall be unhappy until I have the sort of courage that makes one forget that he is afraid." Wizard: You have plenty of courage, I am sure. All you need is confidence in yourself." Courage means acting in the face of fear.

Outstanding in his field. A popular and beloved character in the Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum- This is part of his song: I could while away the hours/conferrin’ with the flowers consultin’ with the rain/ And my head I’d be scratchin’/While my thought were busy hatchin’/If I only had a brain. 3 x 1"

The Emerald City is the fictional capital city of the Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books.

“It was Toto that made Dorothy laugh, and saved her from growing as gray as her other surroundings. Toto was not gray; he was a little black dog, with long silky hair and small black eyes that twinkled merrily on either side of his funny wee nose. Toto played all day long and Dorothy loved him dearly.” -L. Frank Baum

All of Jill's Jewelry is made using mirrored chrome, it will never break, tarnish, crack or shatter. The mirrored chrome contains three different elements – polyethylene, aluminum and an electroplated mirror surface. Each piece is wire wrapped and beaded with a coated cable wire. The pieces are all adorned using vintage stones, metal findings, parts, bits and anodized aluminum.

Each piece of mirror is hand-cut using a scroll saw. The edges are then sandblasted and burnished. The piece then gets drilled and the stones are all set in there bezels. The pieces are then wire wrapped and beaded. Every piece of jewelry then gets steam cleaned, signed and dated. 

Her jewelry is very easy to care for. The easiest way to care for your pieces is to simply take a bit of warm water with some Mr. Clean (or any other cleaning agent or dish soap) and a soft brush (an old toothbrush works just fine!) and give it a gently scrub. Run it under some warm water and pat dry.

The collection all started in the early 80’s – Jill was presented an opportunity of a lifetime.  An acquaintance had just recently purchased all of Swank cufflinks over run of stones. He was then offering them to Jill to buy the entire lot – she couldn’t refuse- Jill and Scott took a chance and spent their entire life savings on theses stones. Jill often designs a piece around one of these vintage stones, when the stones are gone the edition is retired.

WooHoo

We have won these awards many years in a row and we never take it for granted.

Thank you Sun Journal readers for voting for us again this year!

It has been a wonderful journey since starting our business in our beautiful Downtown 25 years ago!

The friends and artists we've met have been a real blessing.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Sallys Painting Party Monets Bridge at Giverny October 22 2015

Carolina Creations Presents

Monets Bridge at Giverny

Sally Sutton Painting Party

Paint your own acrylic painting of this image on canvas with artist sally sutton!

Thursday October 22 from 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Sip, snack and paint!

All supplies and snacks will be provided so all you need to do is be ready to enjoy some time with friends creating your own painting! 

Sally will have the image drawn out on the canvas, she will lead you through painting it.

Wear clothing that is casual or bring an apron. Cost $55  Location: Francoeur Studio, 229 E Front    Register here or by calling 252-633-4369. 

If you get lost the evening of the party call 252-626-3376.

Due to the fact that the class size is limited cancelations must be made 48 house in advance so we can call people that are on our waiting list. For cancelations made less than 48 hours in advance - the fee will be held for you to use toward an upcoming painting party. 

Price:  $55.00  to register click here

2016 Calendar by Jan Francoeur

For the past 6 years Jan has created a desk calendar, that comes in a cd case, which features art work depicting New Bern.

This years calendar contains paintings of

Christ Church

Centenary

First Baptist

Tempe B'Nai Sholem

Presbyterian Church

St. Mary's Free Will Baptist

Temple Baptist

Tabernacle Baptist

Broad Street Christian Church

and Riverside Methodist Church

The calendar is $15

and can be purchased online!

New tree jewelry by Keri

"I love the 3-dimensional and tangible aspects of jewelry.  I think it is wonderful to be able to touch and wear a piece of handmade art.  I thrive on knowing that each piece of jewelry I make is meant for someone special, even if I don't know who that person will be.  My goal is that you will find something that excites you and makes you feel good when you wear it."

Keri Kelley has been making jewelry for more than 10 years, and making art for as long as she can remember.  She is mostly self-taught and has taken workshops at Penland School of Crafts and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.  

After earning an Associate Degree in Wildlife Management in 2004, she decided to follow her desire and need to create something every day.  Her designs are greatly inspired by her love of the natural world.  

Each piece is crafted by hand, creating a one-of-a-kind work of art.  Designs may be repeated, but the finished products are never identical.  

Keri lives with her husband and their 3 dogs and 2 cats in North Carolina.

We think you'll love Keri's work!

2015 Christmas Card Christ Church 300th Anniversary

Christ Episcopal Church, Pollock Street, was established in 1715, making 2015 its 300th Anniversary year, so I chose the church for my Christmas cards.

Before the church building was built, church members met in homes, the first church building was completed about 1750, it was demolished about 1824 after the completion of the Second Church. 

The First Church site in the corner of the churchyard has been studied by archaeologists. The present short walls indicate the exact outline of the foundations.

The “Second Church” was consecrated in 1824 and it burned in 1871. Only the walls survived, to be re-used in the “Third Church.”

The present building, usually called the third church, was consecrated in 1875 and is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The brick walls with their pointed-arch window openings that remained after the fire were used in the reconstruction.

The churchyard of Christ Church served as the only public burial ground in New Bern until 1800 and several thousand people are buried there. During the Yellow Fever epidemic in 1799 it was necessary to bury many of the victims in mass graves, which were located near the present north property line. The Vestry declared the churchyard full as a result of these burials.

In 1800 the parish opened Cedar Grove Cemetery. Christ Church turned Cedar Grove over to the City of New Bern in 1853. The 1875 church and the parish house are believed to be on top of graves. (Information obtained from Christ Church website).

Finished!!

 

Cards are $10.50 for 10

Order by clicking here!

Yard Plants Too

Continuing from my last post my sister asked for more photos! So here it goes.

The plants on our balcony has been suffering a little from the hot summer we've had but they still make me feel good as I sit in the evening looking out the window.

 

On the right is my garden art pole, which I love.

Here is a link to more of them.

Those of you who know me know my "uniform", a brightly colored shirt over black. I just got a new one and stepped outside last night to water and a hummingbird flew up within 3 feet of me, thinking I'm sure, what a huge new flower in the garden!

A Few more new plants in our garden ---

Commonly called cats whiskers -

Since we haven't had a lot of flowers in our garden it is nice to see that we are getting some hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. That was one of my goals, to create habitat, especially for the bees that have been struggling so much.