Julie Calhoun-Roepnack's Pet Pottery Kicks Off the ASPCA 100K Challenge

Roepnack mug

Trivet

Local artist Julie Calhoun-Roepnack carves into the surface of her pottery to create three colorful dimensional results.  Her cats and dogs seem to jump off the pieces and into your life.

Her mugs, trivets and plates add a dash of fun - adopt one of these real live beauties from Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and add a dash fun and love to your life!

Snowball is almost two and a pretty little pure white kitty. She's a little shy but will follow you around begging for her head to be scratched. Email cats@bwar.org if you'd like to meet her.

Sebastian  was a homeless boy who ended up at Asheville Humane Society with a terrible skin condition that was due to flea allergies. He hase a sensitive disposition because of his light hair and eyes and he is doing much better since being on Comfortis for flea prevention and eating dog food for sensitive pooches. Sebastian is approximately 1 year and 4 months old and just over 70 pounds. He has plenty of energy for exercise and play and he LOVEs water!!! He is very good with other dogs and loves people too! Please call his foster mom at 828.778.3011 or email her at beagleblvd@att.net for more information.

Platter

Colony Collapse Disorder in Bees

Jonathon's spoons honey stick

Bees are dying off in record numbers since the last decade.  Bees are responsible for pollinating our plants - no bees, no food. To help with this dire situation the Gallery is donating a percentage of our income on Jonathan's Spoons  hand made honey sticks towards research on Colony Collapse Disorder in bees.

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term colony collapse disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North America in late 2006. Colony collapse is significant because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees.

European beekeepers observed similar phenomena in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, and initial reports have also come in from Switzerland and Germany, albeit to a lesser degree while the Northern Ireland Assembly received reports of a decline greater than 50%. Possible cases of CCD have also been reported in Taiwan since April 2007.

The cause or causes of the syndrome are not yet fully understood. In 2007, some authorities attributed the problem to biotic factors such as insect diseases.  Other proposed causes include environmental change-related stresses, malnutrition, pesticides and migratory beekeeping. More speculative possibilities have included both cell phone radiation  and genetically modified (GM) crops with pest control characteristics,

though no evidence exists for either assertion. (Info from Wikipedia)

If you would like to find out more or learn what you can do to help save the bees, please visit the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.

Lisa Conard honey pot


Camera Critters

More Whimsical Works from Simone Wilson

Holiday ornament

Simone Wilson is known for her work in mixed media - wood, found items, metals.  The Gallery has added new items to her collection.  Her metal ornaments are colorful and whimsical.  From the snowman to snow flakes, they capture the winter season perfectly.

Snow flake

Marionettes flower girl, butterfly girl and chef 

Her large marionettes are perfect to decorate a child's room.  The flower girl with her basket of posies, the butterfly girl sporting a set of huge wings and the chef with cooking utensils for hands are unique and entertaining.  For a smaller piece, her fun vivid birds can either hang from the ceiling or sit on a shelf.

Jester

Simone's wood heart makes a great gift for an anniversary, wedding or to say "I love you" to that special person.  Any of her works add just that special touch of whimsy to your home!

Wood heart

Birds

Snowman ornament

Christmas tree

Gem Mining and Minnehan's Cuff Links

Onyx, mother of pearl, tiger's eye, malachite, unikite, lapis cuff links

Cecilia Tappan Minnehan uses a variety of gemstones in her silver cuff links - onyx, mother of pearl, tiger eye, malachite, unikite..to name a few.  Did you know that the mountains of North Carolina boast many gem mines?

If you are a rock hound, a trip to the Gem Capital of Franklin, NC is a must. Gem mining is found a many locations across the mountains but Franklin is known as Ruby City!  There are many gem mines located in the Cowee Valley north and west of Franklin. 

Commercial mining in this area began in the 1800's when local people began finding red stones in their mining efforts. These were rubies which prompted a representative of Tiffany's of New York to come visit and report on the value of the rubies found here.  A geological survey in the early 1900's discovered the area was rich in corundum - the mineral that makes up sapphires and rubies.  It was almost as hard as diamonds and was used as an abrasive and bearings in many industries.  Unfortunately the amount was too small to justify continued mining of the area.  The mines then turned to tourism and mining for fun and profit.

Most of the mines have powered water sluice where you may sift through the dirt and rock called fluming that you obtain while prospecting in these gem mines. These mines contain rubies, gold, amethyst, aquamarine, sapphires, garnets and many other types of stones. The world's largest blue star sapphires were found in one of the mines in the Cowee Valley. This entire area is a gem hunters heaven.

Onyx, tiger's eye, green jasper cuff links

Malachite cuff links

Azurite, and malachite cuff links

Ivan Ivanoff's Old World Style Leather Handbags

Shoulder bag by Ivan 

New leather artist Ivan Ivanoff was born into an old world leather craftsman family in Bulgaria. He is the third generation to work with leather - his grandfather was a saddle maker, his father designed ladies handbags and his mother made handbags at home.

After Ivan escaped from Communist Bulgaria at the age of 26, he lived and worked in Italy and Germany before coming to the United States.   He met his wife in Manhattan and worked for many leading handbag companies int his country over the years.  The last one he was with was Dooney & Burke.  After some travel in Europe, the family settled in South Carolina where he again took up his leather work.  Ivan creates his own designs using the old world carftsmandship his grandfather and father taught him.

Ivanoff's handbag 

Purple shoulder handbag

Accented with rattlesnake skin

Lovely butter color handbag

Briefcase style bag

Wearing Rubies with Kathy Van Kleeck

Ruby necklace on silk cord

Kathy Van Kleeck has graced us with more of her unique Precious Metal Clay (PMC) jewelry..  PMC consists of fine silver powder in a clay-like base.  Each metal clay component is formed by hand and is unique. Her fingerprints are visible in each piece, quite literally, the hand of the maker.  After forming, the metal clay elements are fired in a kiln; the clay burns out leaving the now-fused pure silver.   We are showcasing Kathy's ruby line here.

Ruby drop necklace

For thousands of years, the ruby has been considered one of the most valuable gemstones on Earth. It has everything a precious stone should have: magnificent colour, excellent hardness and outstanding brilliance. In addition to that, it is an extremely rare gemstone, especially in its finer qualities.

For a long time India was regarded as the ruby's classical country of origin. In the major works of Indian literature, a rich store of knowledge about gemstones has been handed down over a period of more than two thousand years. The term 'corundum', which we use today, is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kuruvinda'. The Sanskrit word for ruby is 'ratnaraj', which means something like 'king of the gemstones'. And it was a royal welcome indeed which used to be prepared for it. Whenever a particularly beautiful ruby crystal was found, the ruler sent high dignitaries out to meet the precious gemstone and welcome it in appropriate style. Today, rubies still decorate the insignia of many royal households.  (Info from gemstone.org.)

Ruby earrings

Ruby pendant on chain

Ruby square earrings

Ruby Tuesday

Rednesday

Heaven on Earth with Robbie Diffey

Hope ornament

Jeweler Robbie Diffey has created these lovely Christmas ornaments in copper with dogs, cats, horses and holiday phrases embossed on them.  A great gift idea or to adorn your holiday packages.  It is never too early to start your holiday shopping.

Horse ornament

Be merry cat ornament

She has also added some new jewelry to her collection at the Gallery.  Using the gemstone turquoise which shows up well against the copper, Robbie has created a unique line of linked necklaces, earrings and bracelets.

Turquoise link necklace

According to the International Gemstone Association "The color of the turquoise makes us feel happy and cheerful, for in it the light blue of the sky and the stimulating green of the sea are combined. Indeed it is such an inimitable color that we have coined a term specifically for it in our languages: turquoise. Anyone choosing a turquoise is sure to enjoy a piece of Heaven ... on Earth."

Matching earrings

Link bracelet 

Paper Hats for Summer Fun!

Painted hat

Attending a summer party?  Be the hit  f the get together with one of  Jennie Hart Robinson's paper hats decorated with silk flowers,  feathers, sparky twigs, small birds, and paper leis.  No two are alike. Chose the one that fits your personality and wear it proudly!

Brim hat

Wedding hat

Tulle painted hat

Feather painted hat

Birthday on Board!

Our youngest staff member turned 20 this week and we had a little celebration in her honor!

Goat Milk Soap for People and Pets

All natural goat milk soap 

All natural goat milk soap straight from the goat farm is an award winning blend of goat milk, oils, shea butter and fragrance.  Along with ginger lime and ocean rain fragrances we carry their Healthy Heels and Dog Shampoo.

Healthy heels goat milk soap is loaded with moisturizing oils  and sanitized beach sand   Simply scrub your heels with soap while int he shower, then apply lotion after drying your feet.  Soon you will notice a wonderful smooth difference. No more pumice or harsh metal files!  it's like a walk on the beach.

Their Dog Shampoo with Neel oil acts as a natural anti-parasitic while helping to  soothe and heal irritated skin.

Temoku Pottery by Will and Trish Byers

Sugar bowl and  creamer

Will and Trish Byers live just outside of Asheville and work out of their home studio creating beautiful simple pottery.  Inspired by the natural beauty around them, they state that their philosophy is to create 'simply beautiful, useful pots.' This phrase captures the essence of their art.

Byer salt and pepper set

The Gallery carries their Sedona Glaze - a Temoku (deep glossy brown) interior with unique jade/turquiose exterior.  According to Wikipedia, Temoku is (also spelled "temmoku" and "temoku") a dark glaze with a surface that resembles oilspotting.

It is made of feldspar, limestone, and iron oxide. The more quickly a piece is cooled, the blacker the glaze will be. Tenmoku takes its name from the Heaven's Eye mountain temple in China where iron-glazed bowls were used for tea.

Vase

Tenmoku's are known for their variability. During their heating and cooling, several factors influence the formation of iron crystals within the glaze. A long firing process and a claybody which is also heavily colored with iron increase the opportunity for iron from the clay to be drawn into the glaze. While the glaze is molten, iron can migrate within the glaze to form surface crystals, as in the "oil spot" glaze, or remain in solution deeper within the glaze for a rich glossy color.

Condiment dish

A longer cooling time allows for maximum surface crystals. Potters can "fire down" a kiln to help achieve this effect. During a normal firing, the kiln is slowly brought to a maximum temperature by adding fuel, then fueling is stopped and the kiln is allowed to cool slowly by losing heat to the air around it. To fire down a kiln, the potter continues to add a limited amount of fuel after the maximum temperature is reached to slow the cooling process and keep the glazes molten for as long as possible.  Tenmoku glazes can range in color from dark plum (persimmon), to yellow, to brown, to black.

Soap dish

Dip and platter set

Spoon rest