Happy Fourth of July

Lauenstein glass candy canes  and pendants

Are you ready for the 4th of July coming up this weekend?    What are your plans - going to a parade, fireworks, a cook-out or just a get together with family? Statistics say over 150 million cook-outs will be hosted on the 4th.  Most cooking hot dogs!

The Gallery is known for its all American and all handmade craft items and has some great red white and blue items to add to your wardrobe and decor for the 4th.  Choose from a fun sparkly hat, elegant cuff links, rustic birdhouse or colorful hand blown glass. All in patriotic colors!

Lyndall business card case  and Minnehan cuff links

 Did you know that Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson served on the committee that picked the eagle for the national seal (Franklin wanted the turkey.)  Aren't you glad they chose the majestic bald eagle instead.

Wheeler birdhouse

We all know our country's colors are red white and blue but how did that idea come into being for our flag?  Folktales say that George Washington interpreted the flag int his way:  the stars were taken from the sky, the red form British colors, and the white stripes signified the secession from the home country.  (Info from The Old Educator)

 

Paper hat by Jennie Hart Robinson

Have a fun holiday and be sure you visit Ruby Tuesday and Rednesday for more red this week.

Fused Glass Sushi Plates by Raquel Stanek

Mosaic lamp - 8 1/2" x 4"

Known for her mosaics, Raquel Stanek hails from the Seattle area and uses all locally produced stained glass for her projects.  Her fused glass plates provide a fun element to the table. They are the prefect size for serving sushi.  Her bird ornaments add color and whimsy to any part of the home. A new peice for the Gallery,  is this lovely accent  lamp using her birds and mosaic techniques. 

Fused glass ornament

Sushi plate

What are tree burls?

J. Crowe locust bowl

Our woodcarver Jerry Crowe uses mainly burls for his bowls.  What exactly are burls and how dot hey occur?

A burl (American English) or bur or burr (British English) is a tree growth in which the grain has grown in a deformed manner. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a  tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds.

A burl results from a tree undergoing some form of stress. It may be caused by an injury, virus or fungus. Most burls grow beneath the ground, attached to the roots as a type of malignancy that is generally not discovered until the tree dies or falls over. Almost all burl wood is covered by bark, even if it is underground. Insect infestation and certain types of mold infestation are the most common causes of this condition.

Cherry bowl with turquoise

J. Crowe elm bowl with turquoise

Burls yield a very peculiar and highly figured wood, prized for its beauty by many; its rarity also adds to its expense. It is sought after by furniture makers, artists, and wood sculptors. There are a number of well-known types of burls (each from a particular species); these are highly valued and sliced into veneers for furniture, inlay in doors, picture frames, household objects, automobile interior paneling and trim, and woodturning. The famous birdseye maple of the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) superficially resembles the wood of a burl but is something else entirely. Burl wood is very hard to work with hand tools or on a lathe because its grain is twisted and interlocked, causing it to chip and chatter unpredictably. This "wild grain" makes burl wood extremely dense and resistant to splitting, which made it valued for bowls, mallets, mauls and "beetles" or "beadles" for hammering chisels and driving wooden pegs.

Oak bowl by Jerry Crow

Oak bowl by J Crowe 

Some burls are more highly prized than others.  Some resemble an explosion in which the grain grows erratically, and it is these burls that the artist prizes over all other types. These spectacular patterns enhance the beauty of wood sculptures, furniture, and other artistic productions. Burls are harvested with saws or axes for smaller specimens and timber felling chainsaws and tractors for massive ones. (Info from Wikipedia)

Wildlife in North Carolina with Lyn Lyndall

Great horned owl business card case

The Great horned owl is one of the most common and widespread owls. It is not usual to see them at night swooping in front of your Car's headlights going after prey.  Even though the female Great horned owl is larger than her mate, the male has a deeper voice. Pairs often call together, with audible differences in pitch.

Western North Carolina is blessed with a biodiversity of wildlife with plenty of habitat to sustain them due to the many state and national parks.  Changing elevations provide a variety of habitats, each with its own specialized community of animals.  What better way to honor our wildlife than with a hand painted business card case by leather artist Lyn Lyndall?  She creates each one entirely by hand herself from the leather work to the painting.

Bear business card case

Black bears inhabit all of the mountains of  North Carolina and often wander into the neighborhoods and downtown areas.  Did you know black bears have have color vision and a keen sense of smell?  They also are very good tree climbers and can run up to 35 miles per hour.

Bald eagle case

Bald eagles can be seen along many of the lakes in the mountains including Lake James and Lake Lure. Both mature male and female eagles have the white head and will pair up for life, staying together until one dies. They can live up to 30 years old and can fly to an altitude of 10,000 feet. During level flight, they can achieve speeds of about 30 to 35 mph.

Lyndall's mallard duck business card case

Mallard ducks are found in fresh, salt or brackish water.  You can find them on any lake or pond int he mountains. Male mallards sport the lovely green head while females are colored and overall brown. Did you know mallards are thought to be the most abundant ducks on earth?

We joined Camera Critters today so please visit the other animal posts.

Hand Made Cuff Links for Dad

Piano key cuff links

These handmade sterling silver cuff links by jeweler Cecilia Tappan Minnehan make great gifts for the men in your family.  Cuff links are making a big come-back in fashion these days. Ever wonder what the history is behind these accessories?

Before shirts had buttons, they were held together with string or ribbon. Even after the shirt fronts became adorned with buttons, the sleeves were often held closed at the wrist with small knots or chains attached to buttons. These chain and button contraptions slowly gained in popularity to bring about the birth of the modern cuff link.

While some records exist that show something similar to a cuff link in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, the first written record appeared in 1788. They grew in popularity in the 1840s after the Industrial Revolution brought about a steam-powered machine that could mass produce cuff links.

Cuff links work by passing through the openings in "French cuff" shirts at the wrist. There are several types, but all fasten the shirt sleeves in place of standard buttons.  (Info from Ehow)

Mother of pearl and jet cuff links

Abalone and mother of pearl cuff links

US flag cuff links

Pre-Summer Party

 

Every year the staff, past and present ,of the Gallery gets together for a pre-summer potluck part at someones house.  It is a great way to visit before the hectic season begins and the food is always delicious!  Even the pups joined in this year!

 

Applique Quilting with Leslie Bowman

Quilted applique purses

Fabric artist Leslie Bowman shipped a wonderful selection of her quilted applique purses to the Gallery recently.  She is a self taught quilt maker whose contemporary wall hangings have won numerous awards. These purses are great for carrying your IPad or Kindle!

If you are not familiar with this form of fabric work here is a brief description of applique quilting.
Applique quilting is a technique which involves in sewing smaller pieces of fabric on to a larger background, in another words, layering one fabric above another. The term applique derives from a French word appliquer, which means to put on Even though the term originated from France, this quilting technique has been used for many centuries in many cultures. Learning the use and basics of applique will expand the possibilities of quilting enormously for you. Applique is a very versatile technique which is useful for a wide variety of design options. (Info from Quilting How To)

Leslie Bowman purses

Leaf applique purse

Mermaid and coffee purses

Butterfly purse

Dog and cat purse

We are joining Ruby Tuesday and Rednesday so do visit them.

Father's Day Trivia and Gift Ideas

White oak inscribed box by Chris Kamm

With Father's Day coming up this Sunday June 19, this week's post will be dedicated to fathers and the history behind their special day, as well as some unique handmade gift ideas.  Did you know that.....

Lowell Mosley eagle head in bodock

• In most of the countries around the world, like USA, UK, India, Canada, China, France, Greece, Japan and even Hong Kong, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June.
• The person credited for inventing the concept of Father's Day is Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, an American whose father had raised his six children single-handedly.
• The first American president to support the concept of Father's day was President Calvin Coolidge, who did so in 1924.
• It was in the year 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation that resulted in the declaration of the third Sunday of June as Father's Day.
• The declaration of 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day was signed as a law, and made permanent, by President Richard Nixon, in the year 1972.
• Father's Day originated in America. The first Father's Day celebration (unofficial) was held in Spokane, Washington, on 19th June 1910. (Info from Festivals)

Phil Capper bar board   with  iron spreader by John Burtner

Steve Duncan's Highlander walking stick

Jerrry Crowe bowl of walnut burl and turquoise

Man's Best Friend

Julie Calhoun-Roepnack carved mug

Dogs are man's best friend...literally.  Men love dogs.  Dogs can join guys in all sorts of outdoor activities and be their best pal.  Even if your Dad doesn't have a dog right now, these cool hand made dog themed gift ideas will please any guy of any age for Father's Day.

If the father in your life doesn't have a dog, these wonderful pups from our local no-kill shelter Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, NC are ready and willing to join any home.  Please pass this post on to anyone looking to adopt a dog.  Unfortunately there are many more besides these two that need forever homes.

Lolita is an adorable 1 year old Pit mix. She recently had FHO (Femoral Head Ostectomy) surgery for an untreated injury she received when she was a puppy. She is recovering amazingly well, and runs around as if nothing has ever happened. We're so happy this sweet little gal will be able to live a happy, pain free life with the generosity of our wonderful supporters! If you're interested in making Lolita part of your family and giving her the forever home she deserves, call 505-3440 or email rnvet@aol.com for more information.

Blue dog mug

Fetch bow tie

This handsome boy is Bailey and he would like a forever home real soon. He is about 4 years old, loves riding in the car,  taking walks/hikes, and do well on a leash too  For  more info about Baily visit Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.

Quarter sawn white oak box by Chris Kamm

We are joining Camera Critters this week.

Christmas in June?

Michael Hatch glass ornaments

It is never too early to start your holiday shopping. Start now and you can relax and enjoy the festivities instead of rushing around trying to get it all done last minute.

Just in at the Gallery - lovely hand blown glass ornaments by glass artist Michael Hatch. You can use these lovely glass globes year round to decorate your windows - they shimmer and twirl, catching the light.

Gift Ideas for Dad

Bilbro mug

Only ten days until Father's Day....do you have your gift for dad yet?  The Gallery has lots of hand made and American made items that would be great for kids to give.  Patty Bilbro pottery mugs with a sweet boy or fun robot on them for starters.

Robot mug

Hand tooled leather bookmarks or key fobs by Arts and Crafts artist Gordie Galloway would make any father happy.

Galloway leather bookmark

Hand tooled leather key fob

Robbie Diffey creates copper bookmarks that feather rock star dad or super dad on them.

Diffey copper bookmarks

What is Shibori - Michael Smith Silks

Silk chiffon poncho

Shibori is the Japanese word for a variety of ways of embellishing textiles by shaping cloth and securing it before dyeing.The word comes from the verb root shiboru, "to wring, squeeze, press." Although shibori is used to designate a particular group of resist-dyed textiles, the verb root of the word emphasizes the action performed on cloth, the process of manipulating fabric. Rather than treating cloth as a two-dimensional surface, with shibori it is given a three-dimensional form by folding, crumpling, stitching, plaiting, or plucking and twisting. Cloth shaped by these methods is secured in a number of ways, such as binding and knotting. It is the pliancy of a textile and its potential for creating a multitude of shape-resisted designs that the Japanese concept of shibori recognizes and explores. The shibori family of techniques includes numerous resist processes practiced throughout the world.

We have so many different color combination in Michael Smith's silk chiffon ponchos hand dyed in the  Shibori technique.  The ponchos make a great summer cover up over any outfit -dress or casual!

Shibori ponchos

Introducing New Potter Terri Friday

Rectangular plate

We just recently added Terri Friday to our roster of local potters.  After getting into pottery at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, Terri moved to Albuquerque to work at a clay supply and pottery studio.  It was here that she began to carve the surface of her pots, using a procedure known as sgraffito, to create design and texture on the pot's surface.

Terri Friday mug

Pottery cup

As Terri explains, "The pottery I am currently making is a culmination of a number of creative outlets I used prior to becoming a potter.  They include ink drawings, painting, and printmaking, as well as cooking.   Some of the most intimate moments we spend with each other are done while sharing food and drink.  I strive to make beautiful pieces that I hope enrich the lives of the user and bring a bit of celebration to each occasion of their use."

Butterfly mug

Flowered mug

Small bud vase

Pottery basket with handle

Cup with dots

Soup mug

Square tray

Small casserole

Large bowl

Small bowl