BIG Art on Small Business Saturday

My friend Wendy Gingel gets a big congratulations for having
her work accepted in the Anchorage Museum's Earth, Fire and Fiber XXVIII show this year (3 PIECES!!). She also has an impressive schedule lined up including: New Works in Tile, The International Contemporary Gallery -Anchorage, December 1 -31, 2011 and the Smithsonian Craft Show, Smithsonian National Building Museum, Washington DC April 19-22, 2012.

The Gingell Ceramics booth today at the Anchorage Museum Craft Weekend. We were only able to visit briefly as Wendy was busy bubble wrapping all sizes of her SOLD original ceramic ware! Her booth looked great and customers were purchasing not only the smaller works but the large, impressive platters and bowls. I can't wait to see her large wall tiles at the upcoming First Friday show next week!

Small Business Saturday may have been celebrated across the country but BIG ART was being sold at the Anchorage Museum Craft Weekend! I was fortunate to be able to shop "local" yesterday and today and saw many of my talented artist friends and their inspiring booths. I also enjoyed visiting all of the authors at the Read Alaska Book Fair that happened on the upper level of the Museum during the juried Craft Fair.

"The Lindas!" Artists Linda Weatherwax and Linda Smith
at their ever lovely booth today at Museum Craft Weekend.
The "Lindas" are normally my Bad Girls of the North neighbors and
I missed seeing them this year because of our big move.

Terri Atwell with Beadwitched. Daddy-O purchased
me a pair of Pearl, Iolite and Sterling Silver earrings from Terri. Cool how
he shopped while he was skiing today at Alyeska, huh?!

Original, hand fabricated jewelry by Susan Serna.

Susan Serna of Flora de la Luna who creates
jewelry in silver, gold and fine gemstones.

Elise Strauss' booth with her beautiful
lamp work beads.
My favorite was an incredible "Ringed Seal" necklace.
Customers were lining up
to have a chance to purchase her limited
edition Dancing Bear glass ornaments and
her one of a kind feature beads! 

Elise Strauss of Koi Creek Beads

Dog Eat Dog Kinda Day

It’s a good thing our Giant Schnauzer, Nimbus has a soft mouth more like a retriever than that of a K-9 Police Dog that Giant Schnauzers are usually known for. Because before I knew it Nimbus had half a Boston Terrier in his mouth! My felted Boston that is. Today was the Needle Felted Dog Class with artists K.C. Wilson and Elise Strauss. What fun! Growing up we had a Boston named "Bomo"

and I thought it would be funnier (easier!) to felt a little Boston rather than a large breed dog.

All materials were provided and proceeds were to benefit the Alyeska Canine Trainers with the class being held at their Anchorage facility. Elise had warned the class that pets really LOVE the wool used

in the needle-felting sculptures and she was right! As soon as I came home Nimbus followed me everywhere sticking his nose in my bag and couldn’t get enough of my little dog-in-process. When I went to finally let him have a smell and see what was in the bag, WAUMPHH!! In his mouth it went! I was able to slowly back the Boston out with no real damage. It was really pretty funny and such a surprise causing both Gus and I to laugh so hard that Nimbus retreated to his doggie bed to pout in shame. I posted about the felted goats I fell in love with last year and even have some beautiful wool that my friend Margie sent me. Now I have the needles and some felting basics to felt some critters. Not sure you’ll ever see my animals for sale because I think I’d have to charge thousands of dollars due to just how long my little dog (which isn’t even finished) is taking me. There are several exceptional Needle Felting Artists on ETSY

that Elise gave us info on including Kay’s K9s, Motley Mutton, Morning Glory Workshop and Gfelted Designs by Gerry (here is a link to her Blog). If you do get the felting bug, some of the best and innovative supplies are offered by Dream Felt right here in Alaska! Thanks again to K.C. and Elise who both were very patient and even provided band aids and wrap for poked fingers. Here are some additional links for supplies and instructions: New England Felting Supply, Kay Petal Felt Alive, Felting Forum and Brigette Krag Hansen -the woman who is know for starting it all.

Below are some of the samples Elise and K.C. had on display at class.