Happy Halloween!

Amber and Debra in costume last year!

Ravens and crows are very much a part of the Halloween scene and for good reason. 

Dana Smith pillow

Black, to Native Americans, is a color of magical power, and only to be feared if misused.  Raven symbolizes the void - the mystery of that which is not yet formed.  Ravens are symbolic of the Black Hole in Space, which draws in all energy toward itself and releases it in new forms.  The iridescent blue and green that can be seen in the glossy black feathers of the raven represents the constant change of forms and shapes that emerge from the vast blackness of the void.  In Native American tradition, Raven is the guardian of both ceremonial magic and healing circles.  She is also the patron of smoke signals.  (Info from Susa Morgan Black)

Fleece puppet by Lucy Boyd

Al Ramirez giclee print

Wood raven  by Jay and Stephanie Jones

Leslie Bowman purse

With the raven in mind, enjoy this night of mysteries, voids between worlds and all things magical!  Happy Halloween from all of us at the Gallery!

Camera Critters

Spiders, Webs and Bats for Halloween

Mike Cowan spider

Nothing is creepier than spiders and bats and the Gallery has a great assortment of both!  Mike Cowan's metal spider fits right on top of your Jack-o-lantern to achieve a spooky effect.

Julia Mann spiderweb candle

Julia Mann created a special Halloween line of spiderweb plates, bowls and candles - perfect for handing out candy to those Trick or Treaters or having a costume party at your house.

Mann spiderweb bowl

Got a festive occasion to go to this time of year?  Add a little color to your outfit with an orange bow tie with lots of Halloween images.

Beau Ties of VT Halloween tie

Mann plate

Bats were once considered the souls of sleeping individuals because bats were seen at night and not during the day.  Also because some species of bats live in caves, they were also thought to be connected with the Underworld and its mythologies about death.

Go batty with a grouping of our Simone Wilson bats made of metal and wood.  Great to hang over your front entrance or inside from a ceiling light.  Call or email us for more info or to order.

Simone Wilson bat

Black Cats, Cauldrons and Witches

The Witch and her Flying Monkey!

The staff at the Gallery has been having fun dressing up for Halloween.  Here is Sallie and Cheryl ready to celebrate as characters from the Wizard of Oz!

Julia Mann cauldron

What witch would be caught without her cauldron?  Julia Mann has created lovely ceramic cauldrons of several sizes - great to use as candy bowls for the spooky holiday.

Linda Banner ornament

Every witch has her familiar, a black cat, with her at all times.  Linda Banner and Julie Calhoun Roepnack both have made wonderful black cat ornaments - not just for Halloween but for your holiday tree as well.  Come on in or call the shop to get great Halloween decor - everything from bats to spiders and much more.  Check out the posts coming up for more ideas!

Roepnack cat ornament

American Craft Week - Lyn Lyndall

Horse in black and white

Leather artist Lyn Lyndall has surpassed herself with her newest creations for the Gallery.  Using her labor intensive methods, the fringe is all cut by hand and the beadwork and lacing is done by hand as well..  The bronze beads are from her great great grandmother's collection.  The paintings are done with acrylic leather paint and include horses, owls, eagles and Celtic designs.  Her Chincoteague pony hand bag will be a sure hit with the horse lovers.  Each bag is lined with a beautiful fabric and  has a pocket for your cellphone or keys.  These bags are one of a kind and signed by Lyn.

Chincoteague pony hand bag

Stitching detail.

Eagle hand bag

Peridot beads on  the Celtic bag.

Celtic hand bag

Great Horned Owl

Just in time for holiday shopping, Lynn created these wonderful horse ornaments - great for the tree or to use everyday for the horse enthusiast.

Hand made horse ornaments

Horse ornament

American Craft Week - Mindy McCormick

Medium bowl

New artist to the Gallery, Mindy McCormick began working in clay because of her love of mosaic.  Working with glass and found objects grew into an interest in tile and this in turn took her to ceramics and learning to use the potter's wheel.  Her first functional pottery teacher was a raku artist and Mindy fell in love with this type of firing.  Her art moves her through the year working on different things as each season comes and goes.
 

Pie plate by McCormick

Her pottery is functional first and foremost.  Mindy uses white clay which she feels shows off color with a vibrant drama.  She works in her home studio creating pots in small batches.Rather than try to make batches similar, Mindy focuses on  making the pieces that relate to each other in form and design. Each piece is unique with its texture, color and elegant design.

Pour bowl

Small plate

Mindy believes that creating objects is a spiritual experience.  Working with clay reminds her of her connection to the earth.  "It is my hope to make companions for the cook as well as beautiful objects that have a ceremonial quality for the home.  The simple act of using a handmade coffee cup adds a richer dimesnion to my experience of morning, while dining with hand crafted pottery turns an ordinary meal into an event."

Mini vase

American Craft Week - Dabney Sue Peterson

Double white keishi pearls by Dabney Sue

Local jeweler Dabney Sue Peterson has a great passion for pearls and you will notice right off when you first  meet her.  She adorns herself with multiple strands of various sizes, earrings and often multiple bracelets too.  As she says "Wear. love and enjoy the pearls you own.  Life is too short not to wear great pearls!"

Dabney Sue travels the world to find the very best pearls.  Her selected pearls have a deep lustrous quality and she specializes in some of the most unusual sizes, shapes and colors that you will ever see in this country.

Each strand has carefully matched pearls, is hand strung on silk in the old world way and is hand knotted.  Her sparkling closures are very unique and add additional glamour to her necklaces and bracelets. 

Gold keishi pearls

Peterson's 14mm peacock pearls

To celebrate American Craft Week, Dabney Sue will be on hand this coming weekend at the Gallery for a Pearl Extravaganza Trunk Show! She will be in the store Saturday October 15 from 11-3 and Sunday October 16 from 10-1.

This is a  rare opportunity to meet the artist and  talk with her about her pearls. If you have dreamed of a custom designed piece from her, this is your chance!

Pearls are a timeless classic fashion accessory - great gifts for first confirmation, bride, new mother, graduation - any milestone event in a woman's life.  Dabney Sue believes pearls should be worn for any and every occasion, from your wedding day to the neighborhood BBQ with jeans and a T!

Don't miss this unique event to meet Dabney Sue this weekend!

Beautiful closure in silver or gold.

Brown 8mm pearls by Dabney Sue

Cream coin pearls by Dabney Sue

American Craft Week - Joe Bruneau

Small melon basket by Bruneau

Regional mixed media artist, Joe Bruneau first started making baskets after taking an Appalachian Craft Workshop hosted by Warren Wilson College in 1983. As student in the art program here, he had the opportunity to study other types of basketry before discovering his two favorite - the melon and the potato basket.

For over 25 years, Bruneau has enjoyed playing with color, texture and shape in weaving his baskets.  He typically uses grapevine, honeysuckle and wild rose as well as hand dyed rattan.

In 2006 one of Joe's baskets was featured in the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway.

Pom pom potato basket

Small Bruneau melon basket

Purple potato basket with glass beads

Honeysuckle potato harvest basket

American Craft Week - Stacey Betts

Betts stained glass mirror

Stacey Betts joined the Gallery recently as a new artist.  She creates small purse size mirrors using one a kind art glass from the finest glass makers.  Stacey's mirrors are simple, and elegant in their design.  She blends the traditional craft of stained glass making with her experienced eye for color and form obtained from a lifetime of art and design.

Blue and green glass mirror

Betts shades of green mirror

Ruby red glass mirror

Please do visit other great red posts at Ruby Tuesday.

American Craft Week - Chris Kamm

Wood paper weights by Kamm

Always a favorite with customers, local artist Chris Kamm creates lovely wood boxes with quotes and verses inscribed on the exterior.  They make great gifts for the graduate, student and for the men in the family.  This year Chris has added two new lines to his successful wood creations - paper weights and cutting boards.

Chris Kamm paper weight

Each paper weight has two verses, one on each side with a play on words or a complimentary verse.  The inscribed cutting boards add a little fun to an everyday chore.  In this modern age, the warmth of polished wood offers relief from the digital, the virtual and the fleeting.  With minimal care, his wood boxes, paper weights and boards will last a lifetime!

Kamm cutting boards

Cutting board by Chris Kamm

Inscribed box by Kamm

Chris Kamm maple box