Monthly Archives: November 2021

Join me for Artists Sunday on Nov 28.

Artist Sunday, It’s like Black Friday or Small Business Saturday but for art.

I’ve joined artists, creators and makers across the country for Artists Sunday. It’s earth’s largest art event, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 28th, encouraging consumers to shop with artists. Think of it like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday but for shopping for art!

ARTISTS SUNDAY is one week from today!

I’m thrilled to be participating in Artists Sunday this year. Here’s what to expect this holiday season! Artist, galleries and arts organizations everywhere will be ready to share their work with you for your holiday shopping.

NEW WORK

To prepare for the day, I’ve already added new work at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts for you to browse and purchase. Plan a special Artist Sunday trip to HGA. Additionally, I took my Etsy shop off of the “vacation mode” I placed it on for my Featured Artist show last month. So friends, family, and followers who are not in the Hillsborough area can also check out and purchase my work on Etsy.

Don’t miss out this holiday season

  • Follow me on Social Media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
  • Subscribe to my blog on this page, and you will not miss updates updates about my work. I try to share each new sculpture as it emerges from my studio. I’ll will also alert you about special shows and events like Artist Sunday!
  • Make a holiday wish-list so your loved ones can gift you items from local artists and crafters like me. Create a shareable wishlist using one of these tools. Then send your list to your friends and family. Be sure to include your favorite pieces from my collection!
  • Check back hhere for a link to the HGA online holiday shop when it goes live on Black Friday, November 26th.

Holiday 2021

Holiday 2021 Show Is Up

Monday morning the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts was buzzing with activity. The artist/owners were busy installing the holiday 2021 version of the Art of Giving show. We completely reinstall the gallery for the holidays. Twinkling lights on white branches appear in our front window with a wide variety of ornaments. Blown glass orbs, ceramic bells, and hand painted miniature paintings are a few examples you will encounter.

I’ve already shared a couple of my new holiday themed pieces. They, along with others are now available in the gallery.

Emperor Cocoa

Emperor Cocoa is my newest original sculpture for our holiday 2021 Art of Giving show. This anthropomorphic penguin is holding a mug of steaming hot chocolate. He stands about twelve inches tall. Constructed of needle felted wool roving over a wire and quilt batting frame. The art doll figure stands on his own with help from his tail for balance. He is intended for the holidays, but he can bring cheer all year long.

Emperor Cocoa anthropomorphic penguin art doll sculpture. Needle felted wool over wire and quilt batting frame w/glass bead eyes. 12" tall. Holiday show original
Emperor Cocoa

Other Holiday Offerings

Along with the original art doll sculptures, I also produced some holiday exclusive items. This year I’ve again made Lantern Houses. I created them last year in response to the Hillsborough Solstice Lantern Festival. Each year Hillsborough has a Lantern Walk along the Eno River. Last year’s was altered due to the pandemic. Instead businesses and downtown residences displayed lanterns. I created these little needle felted structures to house an LED light. At night the light shows through the windows and doors, and makes the translucent walls glow. Additionally, I created miniature Christmas trees on natural wood bases this year. These stand between 8 and 12 inches tall. They are accented with hand sewn glass and crystal beads.

needle felted Lantern houses and Christmas trees
Lantern Houses with LED lights

I do still have my original design puffin and polar bear ornaments available as well. Stop in at HGA to check them out, and do a little holiday shopping.

puffin and bear ornaments holiday
Puffin and Bear ornaments

Caroling Mice Take Two

Pair of carol singing mice in victorian costume.
Caroling Mice 2021

A pair of Caroling Mice for the holiday season are the latest creation from my studio bench. As you’d expect they will be coming in to the gallery for the holiday show which installs on November 15th.

Last year I created a trio of mice in mittens and knit caps. This year’s pair is dressed in their victorian finest. They are needle felted wool over a wire and quilt batting frame. They feature iridescent black glass bead eyes, and a paper crafted miniature music sheet of Deck the Halls. I’ve decided to make one set of mice per year, so this one-of-a-kind pair are it for 2021.

You can check them out at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts along with all the other holiday offerings in a couple of weeks.

Holiday Show Crunch

Now that my featured artist show has come down, it is time to turn attention to my holiday show inventory. Beyond more “gift-able” items like my original design needle felted ornaments, I also enjoy creating a few one-of-a-kind seasonally themed sculptures. The first for this year is Powder Bear.

Powder Bear anthropomorphic art doll polar bear ski sculpture
Powder Bear

Powder Bear is a ski themed anthropomorphic polar bear figure with a vintage look. This art doll sculpture stands 12 inches tall. He is needle felted wool over a wire and quilt batting form. I crafted his ski boots and goggles from recycled leather from an old used journal book. His ski’s are glue laminated card stock and patterned paper, and his ski poles are repurposed chopsticks, faux-leather, and metal gear embellishments.

Powder Bear anthropomorphic art doll polar bear ski sculpture.
Powder Bear side view

Powder Bear will be soon be available at the Hillsborough Gallery of Arts. The holiday show installs on November 15th when the OCAG studio tour preview ends. For now, it is time to get back in the studio and finish up Powder Bear’s holiday friends.