A Master of the Tree

One of my former colleagues of the Artists' Undertaking Gallery, Patrick O'Brien, recently moved his woodturning studio into the new Lorton Workhouse Arts Center. I managed to check out the new arts center on its opening day and stopped by to see Patrick at work. Patrick is a master at seeing the future beauty of each piece of wood he turns and he allows details in the natural appearance of the tree to shine through. He will be having an open house along with a few other artists in three of the buildings of the former prison on Saturday evening, Dec. 13th, from 7-9 pm or you can stop in the arts center during open hours. Check out Patrick's turned wood mastery on his website.

Summer Art Market

Fellow Artists' Undertaking Gallery member, Alice Webb and I are scheduled to participate in the Ballston Art Market this summer. It is held every second Saturday of the month starting in May. Our first market will be in June. At the market, Alice will be showing her whimsical handcrafted fiber sculptures and I will have my handbags and wearables made from recycled vintage clothing and textiles on display.

1st Weekly "Friday Fiber Find"

I've decided to share my favorite Etsy fiber find of the day every Friday. Every other Friday, I staff the gallery at Artists' Undertaking Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia and we recently got wireless internet in the town. So while I'm gallery sitting, I plan to do some Etsy-surfing. Here's what I found today: Peaks and Valleys Art Basket by johnsbasketcase. I just love the way this basket looks like it created its own personality. Check back next week for my next "FFF" and happy Etsy-surfing this weekend !

The Goddess Series

I just finished three pieces for my "Goddess Series" part of the featured artist show entitled "Myth and Magic" at the Artists' Undertaking Gallery in Occoquan, VA. The other featured artist is printmaker, Patricia Smith.

The first image is of a necklace I named "Aphrodite" depicting a female figure rising from the sea. She is done in herringbone stitch with surface embellishment of beads for the seaweed and hair.

The second is a necklace "Athena" and depicts lightning and rain. This necklace is done in ladder stitch and peyote.

The third necklace is "Persephone" for the goddess of springtime and is done in herringbone stitch.