Tzadi Turrou Tiles for Arts and Crafts Month

Nothing says Arts & Crafts more than Tzadi Turrou ceramic tiles.  Her tiles depict the subdued colors, simple lines and nature oriented themes of this era.  From landscapes, to owls, from flowers to dragonflies - each tile would make a perfect addition to any home.  Some are framed and others have a small indentation on the back to hang.  Come by to see the wonderful selection at the Gallery!

Gordie Galloway Handbags for Arts and Crafts Month

The 25th Annual Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn has begun!  From Feb. 17 - 19 the hotel is the "be all end all" of Arts & Crafts with vendors and speakers from all over the country.  Just for the occasion we have a great selection of Gordie Galloway Roycroft handcrafted leather bags.

The bags are in black or brown leather and come in two sizes.  We even have new designs this year - the peacock, ginkgo, pine cones, and sea horse along with the poppies, lilies and dragonflies from years past.  They are going fast so call in your order and stop by!

Ginkgo Leaves for Arts and Crafts Month

Photo of ginkgo leaves in autumn fro Wikipedia

The ginkgo tree is a familiar Arts & Crafts symbol, found on everything from carpets to jewelry.  It is a unique species of tree with no close living relatives.  In fact because it is the only extant species within its scientific classification, it is considered a living fossil.

Another unique feature of the ginkgo is that it is long lived.  Some trees in the world today are 2500 years old.  They are also extremely hardy.  As the story goes, six trees were within 1-2 kilometers of the atomic blast in Japan in 1945.  While all other vegetation perished, the gingko trees were charred but alive.  They still thrive now, all these years later.

It is no wonder that their unique fan shaped leaves are portrayed in all art media representing longevity, hope, resilience and peace.

Ceramic leaf ornaments by Maggie Black.

The Gallery offers many forms of the lovely ginkgo leaf from Maggie Black's ceramic ornaments to the sterling silver and gold filled leaves embellishing Rachel Wilder's jewelry.

Rachel Wilder's sterling silver earrings.

Both Robbie Diffey and Rebecca Hook create beautiful ginkgo bracelets and necklaces in copper and gold vermeil respectiveley.

Gold vermiel bracelet by Rebecca Hook.

Copper pendant by Robbie Diffey.

Leather artist Lyn Lyndall paints the ginkgo leaf form on her handbags, purses and business card holders. Max Howard's large copper ginkgo tree fills the wall in our Gallery and would be a stunning addition to your home.

Lyn Lyndall's Celtic handbag.

Copper ginkgo tree wall hanging  by Max Howard.

If you need something to fit a smaller space, perhaps Simone Wilson's metal ginkgo leaves can fit the bill.  Group them on a wall or place them on side tables here and there.  In any form, the ginkgo leaf makes a fine gift.

Metal leaf by Simone Wilson.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Handmade felted hat by Janice Keeler

 Valentine's Day is the perfect day to wear red but don't save this color for one day out of the year.  Red is a power color giving others the perception of  you as the leader and in charge.  Wearing red also gives the wearer a sense of confidence.  If you don't want to wear too much red, then just add a scarf, pin or small purse to your outfit.  Be bold and take charge  - wear red.

Chenille jacket by Peter Lanphear, ribbon scarf by Karen Atwood and purse by Kathleen Lewis

 As Bill Blass once said "When in doubt wear red."  Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at the Gallery!

Fabric flower pin by Kathleen Lewis.

New Roepnack Pottery for Arts & Crafts Month

Local potter Julie Calhoun Roepnack created a new line of ceramics for Arts & Crafts month at the Gallery.  Her nature inspired mugs, trays, and vases boast of the clean lines,muted colors and  simple designs of this era in pottery.  Fans will love that Julie has incorporated her trademark bears and dogs into the landscapes of her new ceramics. Do stop by or call for more information.  We know this lovely new line will sell out quickly come February 17th and the Arts & Crafts Conference!

 

Handmade Valentine's Day Hearts

Handmade fabric hearts by Celia Barbieri

We all know that giving our heart to someone in love means to hand over one's existence to another but how did the symbol of a heart become connected with love?

During the 12th century people did not know that the heart actually circulated blood inside the human body.  In those days when a person's heart beat fast if they were excited or upset, they believed that the heart was speaking to them - in other words that it was the seat of emotions and feelings.  Poets romanticized this idea of the heart being the source of one's emotions and over time the heart and love became intertwined in people's minds.

Stained glass hearts by Stacey Betts.

You can carry on this tradition of giving your heart or a symbol of it with a variety of different handmade hearts from our Gallery.  Glass hearts, fabric hearts or even large wooden hearts make the perfect gift for your Valentine.  Fabric artist Leslie Bowman offers several colors in her lovely quilted heart purses.

Leslie Bowman's quilted purse withe hearts.

 

Wood heart by Simone Wilson.

 Oscar Wilde said it best "Keep love in your heart.  A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead."

Heart fabric coin purse by Jude Stuecker

Ceramic Sgraffito Cats by Cynthia link

Sgraffito cat by Cynthia Link

In honor of Arts & Crafts month at the Gallery Cynthia Link dropped off her sgraffito cats, one of ferns and the other ginkgo.  Sgraffito is the technique of incising down into the clay body below, carving a line or area from the surface.  The tern is from Latin meaning to scratch.  This technique has been used in many cultures across the world to decorate pottery.

Sgraffito cat with ferns

Ravens for Arts & Crafts Month

Three Raven leather handbag with turquoise by Lyn Lyndall

 
It is February already!  This month is noted for the holidays of Groundhog Day and Valentine's Day but it is also time for the 25th National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn.  If you are not familiar with this yearly event, it is a 3-day educational conference offering  seminars, discussions and vendors from the Arts & Crafts Movement. It takes place from Feb. 17-19.The New York Times calls this event "the most important weekend of the year for Arts & Crafts collectors."


The Arts & Crafts was an international design movement that flourished between 1860 and 1910, continuing its influence until the 1930s.  It was led by artist and writer William Morris (1834-1896) and the architect Charles Voysey (1857-1941) during the 1860s and was inspired by the writings of John Ruskin (1819-1900) and Augustus Pugin (1812-1852).  It first developed in the British Isles but then spread to Europe and North America.  The movement stood for traditional craftsmanship using simple forms and often applied medieval, romantic or folk styles of decoration.  Along with simple lines, Arts & Crafts is largely nature oriented, using birds, flowers, landscapes and plants as the focus of design.

Fleece raven puppet

The Gallery will be featuring Arts & Crafts for the month of February beginning with some raven themed crafts. Ravens are one of the birds you see often in Arts & Crafts designs. Its stark color and simple silhouette works well with Arts & Crafts.  Ravens have long been affiliated with magic and mysticism.

Raven business card case by Lyn Lyndall

Check in often this month as we feature new artists and lots of Arts & Crafts designs by all of our artists.