January Newsletter

Winter Hours Mon-Sat  10-6 Sun 11-3 Open New Years Day Open until 8 pm the second Friday of each month for ArtWalk Print of Christ Church details Valentine Card Show and Sale  by Craven County School Students Year 10! Each year School Students create valentine cards, learning various techniques in their classrooms. We donate the cardstock and envelopes and they donate the talent. We then sell the cards for $3.50 each and donate all proceeds back to the school art classes. In this way we can promote young artists, show their work in a gallery setting, they learn new techniques, and we can give back to the community. Meet the artists during ArtWalk January 13 from 5-8This year the price of the cards is $3.50. Sally's Painting Party Thursday, January 19 - 6:30-9 pm at Francoeur Studio    Carolina Creations Presents Garden Walk Sally Sutton's Painting Party Paint your own acrylic painting of this image on canvas with artist sally sutton! Thursday January 19, 2016  from 6:30pm - 9:00pm Sip, snack and paint! Click for more information or to sign up.  We have a nice selection of things on sale! Selected  Christmas items Pottery Glass Jewelry More Sale Items only a few sale items are shown on our website!  Through February 1 We need to make room for new art and artists! Shown are a few of the pieces on sale SALE PRICES ARE 40-50% OFF! Papermaking workshop Illuminated Paper Possibilities! Workshop with renowned paper artist Helen Heibert April 29 & 30 in New Bern, NC Turn flat sheets of paper into sculptural forms - the possibilities are endless! Participants will create a sampling of objects that expand and collapse, open and close, fold and unfold. Come explore the creation of multi-paneled structures that can turn into books, tubes, tunnels, lanterns and more. In this workshop, we'll explore various ways to weave papers; we'll turn envelopes into works that convert into wall or window hangings, books or lanterns with an adaptation of the piano hinge binding; and we'll embed wire between sheets of paper to produce lamps or sculpture. Class will run from 10-4 each day with a break for lunch.  Our class will take place in historic downtown New Bern.   There are      numerous restaurants, hotels and B & B's located downtown as well as many historic attractions.  Here's a link -  http://www.newbern-nc.org/ Tuition for the 2 days, including materials, is $270, due upon registration, no later than January 31st.  Cancellations before this date will receive a full refund minus $25 processing fee.  No refund after January 31st unless your space can be filled.  Checks and credits cards accepted for payment.  To register or for more information about the workshop and where to stay please contact Lou Plummer at bowwowmolly@mindspring.com or call 252-672-9052. Meet the artist Tracy Arrington Surrounding herself with an array of precious metals and gemstones ignites Tracy Arrington's creativity. As she plays with these materials, she develops new designs and collections, focusing on pieces that are striking, wearable, and distinctive. Arrington loves the contrast of luxurious gold with the deep steel-gray of oxidized silver; she uses these and other materials in her work. Texture and contrast are an integral part of Tracy's designs. Each element, such as spirals, swirls, and disks, are cut, formed, and textured by hand using a rolling mill or hammer. Sterling silver elements are oxidized to set off the beauty of the gold. Gemstones are individually chosen and hand-wrapped. Each design is created one piece at a time in her Florida studio. After earning a BA, Arrington spent 12 years as a buyer and merchandiser in the gift, home decor, and education fields. In 2008, she decided to follow her passion: she started designing and creating beautiful jewelry. She received formal bench training and continues to study under many talented goldsmiths across the country. She shares her studio with her blue-mitted ragdoll cat, Olivia. We first met Tracy in 2009 at a show. As a member of the Craft Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow (CRAFT), I was assigned to give a critique of her work and her booth. I didn't see her again for a couple of years and was very impressed with the quality of her work and how she had incorporated my suggestions into her displays. We've been pleased to represent her ever since. See more of Tracy's work! Win a $25 Gift Certificate to Carolina Creations!  ____________________________ To enter just email us by clicking here and put in the message line 17 is going to be a good year! Watch for the next Newsletter to see who wins. We always love your notes too! Congratulations to Marcia Alford for winning the December drawing. Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved.

Twig Kids

The twig kids have arrived!

Ashley has been a fiber artist for about 11 years now. She decided to live her dream and go full time about 2.5 years ago and absolutely loves every minute of what she does.

TwigKids are fully jointed, organic dolls that can be posed in many positions. They are made of 100% cotton and recycled materials. TwigKids are made for both adults and kids 5 years and older and are durable enough to withstand the excitement of young imaginations! They measure approximately 20 inches long.

TwigKids are inspired by a childhood drawing that Ashley discovered several years ago. She decided to create a doll version of the drawing because it made her laugh and it also represented the innocents of her young mind.

The Twig Kids promote environmental consciousness that people of all ages can relate to. 

How cute are they!?

New Bern at Christmas

Sallys Painting Party

Carolina Creations Presents

Garden Walk
Sally Sutton Painting Party

Paint your own acrylic painting of this image on 11 x 14" canvas with artist Sally Sutton!

Thursday January 19, 2016  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 Street, New Bern "click here to see location on the map".  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.

To sign up click here!

Christmas Already Yikes

Where did the time go? I can't believe I haven't posted in almost a month,

When I started Carolina Creations I found out that many of my friends that have galleries across the country started out as artists then at some point quit making their art and just became gallery owners. Just might not be a good word because there is a lot to it. A lot.

So on top of that add creating art work and it really becomes a lot lot lot!!

I was determined 26 years ago that that would not happen to me, and it hasn't. I will admit it has taken its tole but with the help of the ladies at Carolina Creations I've been able to continue to do both things. Sometimes things fall by the wayside, like this blog, but generally I've been able to keep all the balls in the air, at times better than others.

That being said last year Marty said I should do Christmas pottery, I thought about it but the time just got away from me, I had too many commissions and other things taking my time.

This year Irene said I should do Christmas pottery, so I thought I'd try it with a dozen pieces. They sold within 2 days, so almost every day for a couple of weeks I was painting Christmas pottery!

Here are some of the pieces I did. Next year I'll get started earlier.

Colorado Return Final Post Sculpture made from trash from the ocean

My last day in Colorado we went to see, “Washed Ashore, Art to Save the Sea.” The traveling exhibit at the Denver Zoo.

The exhibit features 15 giant sculptures of sea life made almost entirely from trash collected from beaches.

It was developed by the nonprofit group The Washed Ashore Project to create awareness about marine debris and plastic pollution through art.

The sculptures were amazing!

From their website:

We collect trash that has been removed from beaches through volunteer community cleanups. This trash is then washed, sorted and prepared for the creation process. Each sculpture is designed and directed by a professional artist and then formed through a collaboration of Washed Ashore team members, volunteers and students.

A work of art is born. From tons of plastic pollution, monumental sculptures have arisen to awaken the hearts and minds of viewers to the marine debris crisis.

Our art pieces and educational programs travel the nation to inspire change in consumer habits.

About 300 million pounds of plastic is produced globally each year and less than 10 percent of that is recycled.

It is difficult to estimate how long it will take our trash to decompose. For some estimates take a look at this list in NOAA’s Guidebook to Beach and Waterway Cleanups.

Every year we add millions of pounds of plastic to our oceans that collect in gyres. What is a gyre?

An ocean gyre is a large, slow-spinning vortex of ocean currents caused by trade winds and the earth’s constant rotation. There are five major gyres in the world’s oceans that collect, churn and disperse millions of tons of plastic pollution from every continent. Rather than an island or garbage patch, the world’s ocean gyres are a constantly moving “plastic soup” with plastics found in every depth of the water column.

Sea turtles and other marine life can mistake plastic for food.

Plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways is a global crisis. Each year, sea birds, whales, seals, sea turtles and other marine life die after ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in it. Plastic pollution has spread into all marine habitats and every level of the food chain. According to a report released by the World Economic Forum and Ellen MacArthur Foundation, at our current rate, we can expect to have more plastic than fish, by weight, in the world’s oceans by 2050.

Can we turn this around? It seems doubtful.