Where I’ve Been

 

Barbara's painting

just sold these

I have been slacking off from blogging for the past two months.  Too busy checking my Ebay sales and posting antiques there to update all my fans.  I am now running the antique and ebay part of The Butter Bean.  The little shop is covered in dust because it’s been sitting idle for awhile.  So I’ve been furiously scrubbing and sweeping and sorting all of Don Raborn’s treasures to prepare for the public.  It is getting there slowly.  July 11th is the next Art and Antique Market, called Second Saturdays.  So far I have lots of painters interested.  I will post a list of all the artists as soon as I have it.  Last Saturday I met a neat artist named Barbara who does painting and is now dabbling in jewelry design.  I want her to make me an OPEN sign for the antique shop.  Her blog  is www.secondsurf.blogspot .  It has neat little pictures of country life and shows which projects she’s working on.  Reminds me I need to update my own site one of these days!

 

Kicking off Summer Sales

I have a lot of shows coming up.  Recently I was in Slater, SC at the Strawberry Festival.  The main focus is on the beauty pageant but there were some of us crafters out there enjoying the day.  We got poured on early Saturday but it turned out to be a beautiful day.  Don’t forget to come out and see me and the other Trillium artists for First Saturdays in Travelers Rest, SC.  It’s on Center Street, beside the library and Sunrift Adventures.  We’ll be selling our art from 9am till 1pm.

antique button necklace

antique button necklace

 

Old House calls to Artist

While setting up my booth for the Azalea Festival on Saturday April 18th, I spotted the best old house.  It had everything going for it: massive size, rundown, and all indications that it was once a gorgeous site.  This house demanded my exploration.  Apparently, the town uses it for a haunted house around Halloween.  Faux cobwebs draped the porch ceiling.  Danger! Caution signs were posted.  I need to know the history here.  It’s in Pickens, SC, directly behind Main Street.

splendor

 

New Model Arrives in Charlotte

paper beads by beadforlife

This new mannequin arrived on my doorstep on Monday and I couldn’t wait to photograph some of my new necklaces on her.  I’m calling her Vivian and she’s very easy to get along with.  I will have her at shows this spring.

 

New Pieces with Pewter

Check out my latest creation.  It’s a kyanite and pewter collaboration available at select stores.  This is gorgeous with jeans.

simple and elegant

 

tinkering with new designs

I’ve been working on some new pieces.  The latest involves sewing tiny black seed beads and silver bugle beads onto pieces of leather.  As soon as I finish it, I’ll post pictures here.  Here are a few other new delights.  These will be up for sale at All About Me on Saturday.  Stop in and check out the transformation of this 150 year old house into Lisa’s shop.

with cut steel buttonsModern Taste

Upcountry Museum: Meet the Artists

The advertising for this event was minimal.  So minimal that no one knew the museum was having a Meet the Artists weekend.  Heather was there Saturday February 28th 2009 and entertained herself by meeting the other artists.  One amazing photographer, Anne Taylor, happened to stop in.  She had one of her latest photo tiles with her, shot at the Travelers Rest Feed and Seed.  Her work sells at the new cafe at Williams Hardware in TR.  Other artists were Katy Watts of Nyla Beans Jewelry, the Schmooney and his creator, photographer Blaine K. Owens. 

the Schmooney liveKaty Wattsantique buttons

Gearing up for this Weekend’s Show

Trillium

Here’s a shot of my booth at the new Trillium Arts Center.  The co-op and retail areas have been transformed into an incredible artistic showcase.  If you have not yet stopped by, you must check it out.

 

Show Schedule For 2009

Here is a list of craft shows I am doing this year.  I will add other ones as the dates are confirmed.

25th Annual Pickens Azalea Festival (website www.pickenschamber.org.AzaleaFest )

Sat April 18th 10am-9pm

Pickens SC 29671

2009 Strawberry Festival

May 16th 2009

10am- 4pm

Slater SC

 

 

October 10th 2009 Second Saturdays Art and Antique Market

The Butter Bean

12810 Old Statesville Rd

Huntersville NC 28078

 

 

November 2009

St. Stephen United Methodist Fall Festival

Charlotte NC

more to come

some of my work

 

At Home in the Mountains

lovely old barn

While driving along the winding mountain roads on Saturday, I saw this great old barn.  Normally I would have explored it but because it clearly belongs to the owners of a nearby house, I refrained from poking through the place.  A lot of my jewelry designs reflect my love for the past.  I am always sad to see abandoned houses torn down because I love the old places.  Who lived there? What did they do? I like to look for clues amidst what was left behind.