Bridge Opening Celebration

Here are some photos of Downtown merchants walking the new bridge just before it was opened. We are thrilled to have it back.

Photos by Lou Plummer.

Thanks Lou!

Finally!!

The main entrance to our downtown, the Alfred Cunningham Bridge, has been closed for 34 months.

During that time we have had the worst recession since the great depression, Broad Street, the 2nd main entrance to our downtown, was under construction for almost a year, and this year we've had the worst winter anyone can remember.

And we survived!! Whew.

Our new bridge opens tomorrow!! I can't wait to start a new painting of it. Even though it structurally isn't as interesting as the old one, the fact that it has light poles like those we have downtown and will have flags with a back drop like our skyline it can't be anything but beautiful.

I'll post more photos once the bridge is actually open.

New Bern Ornament

Just in! Our New Bern Ornament 2008 has just arrived. I started doing a new ornament each year starting in 1985.

Below shows how I go about designing my ornaments. If I don't have an idea myself I often ask our customers for suggestions. This year they said how about the Trent River Bridge.

I looked through my photos and found this one. Then I start to doodle and do rough sketches. I like to have the ornament very "open" with a lot of the metal cut away.

I keep drawing it over and over until I get it "just right".
Then I send it to some friends in New England that make a die and stamp them out. Totally made in the USA!

To purchase and to see all the ornamanets go to our website by clicking here!