Spirit of Union Point a new book by New Bern native Karen Dodd

North Carolina native and New Bern resident, Karen Dodd will be at Carolina Creations during the first Art Walk of the year, Friday, March 12 from 5-8PM.

She’ll be available to answer questions about writing her latest book, Spirit of Union Point, the first in the Riverwalk series.

Ken Grubel, Sun Journal book reviewer said, “…the outcome will surprise you. I think this is the first mystery I’ve read that would double as a guidebook” to New Bern and its Civil War history.

The book can be purchased on our website as well, by clicking here.

Brenda Behr - plein air - don't miss her demo

A couple weeks ago I got to watch Brenda Behr work on paintings for our show "Summer in the City" which Donna and I hung at Carolina Creations yesterday. I was really intrigued, she works so differently than I do!

Next Friday July 11 is our artwalk from 5-8 pm, Brenda will be demonstrating her distinctive calligraphic style of plein air painting.

Brenda has come home again to North Carolina after spending 30 years in Minnesota acting as an art director.

While in Minnesota her fine art took the back seat to her job and it wasn't until she returned to North Carolina to take care of her ailing mother that she began painting full time.

Plein air painters usually work in an opaque medium such as oils or acrylics but Brenda has develped a style with watercolors that just sings with color and movement.

She loves to paint local landmarks and has done so from Raleigh to the coast. Pieces featured in this show include "Mustards Last Stand", "James Reed Lane", and "Ada Mae" to name a few.

She also will do a special piece just for you, contact me at janet@carolinacreations.com and I'll give you the details and set up an appointment for you. For something REALLY special if you have a wedding in your future would be to have her paint your wedding!!! I can give you details on this too. Here's a couple paintings she did at a recent wedding.

To see more of the paintings that will be in the show go to our website by clicking here!

Brenda also works in oils and has done a wonderful paintings of the now not there Trent River Bridge.

In addition to Brenda's work and her demonstration, local author Karen Dodd will be signing her new book "Begin Again Quinn" which you can read more about, and we'll have wonderful new paintings by Mary Page Whitley, Janet Dixon, Jean Dexter, Ruth Heppler and Mike Rooney.

Of course we'll have refreshments and you'll see all your friends!

Have a great day, Jan

Begin Again Quinn by Karen Dodd - Booksigning

Once again our local author Karen Dodd has delighted us with a book that takes place in our neighborhood!

Karen's new book, Begin Again Quinn, is a story of a woman who is finding that retiring to coastal Carolina is everything she dreamed of with a few complications like old boyfriend, new boyfriend, ex-husband, and lots of new friends and volunteer activities. But when some of her friends are involved in fatal accidents, she wonders if a serial killer is targeting single older women along the Crystal Coast.

The book captures local areas such as New Bern, Morehead City, Beaufort and Atlantic Beach and is a good weekend read. Carolina Creations even gets a mention!

Having won honors at three Romance Writers of America chapter competitions, Begin Again, Quinn is a great book if you enjoy "Family, faith, and feel-good stories with a hint of salt air."

We have the book at Carolina Creations and we'll be having a book signing for Karen at our July ArtWalk which is the second Friday of July - July 11th from 5-8 pm.

That night we'll also have a demonstration by Brenda Behr and her watercolor plein air painting. I'll write about that in some up coming posts.

Over the weekend we had a reception for 85 Landscape Architects at our house from 6-9 pm. It was fun to see that that many people could fit comfortably. The Chelsea catered it and by 10:15 we were relaxing on the porch, and it was as if no one was ever there. They did a great job of cleaning up!

Stop in and see us this week! We've got lots of great things for wedding gifts, graduation and Fathers Day.

Jan Francoeur