Manchester Arts Festival - #2

Today I continue my walk through the Manchester Arts Festival with Eugene Quinn. 

http://www.eugenejquinn.com/

As paddle surfing has grown in popularity here in the North Shore, when I saw this painting of a surfer on the beach it really caught my eye. Eugene's use of color is magnificent, and sets the mood for all of his oil paintings. You must make his studio in Rockport, MA one of your stops, I promise that you won't be disappointed.  

http://www.etsy.com/people/OrabelleBaby

These colorful little ladies created by artist and mom Shayne Ostrowski caught my eye as I walked the festival. Shayne started Orabelle Baby after having her first child. Frustrated at not being able to find clothes she liked she decided to create her own line. If you are looking for modern clothing for your little lovely Orabelle Baby has colorful dresses, skirts, shirts, and much more. 

www.artfeltcreations.com

A I continued my walk I stopped to watch artist Susan Kenna in the ancient art of needle-felting. Each bead that she creates is individually designed and made of 100% wool. The process is really fun to watch, and the end product is really beautiful to wear. 

patrickehorgan@yahoo.com

Artist Patrick Horgan uses the ancient art of Gyotaku to create his art. Gyotaku is a Japanese word that literally means “hand-rubbed fish impression” and involves brushing a thin coating of ink on the surface of a fish, and making an impression of the inked fish on a thin sheet of paper. Who would have known that fish are not only delicious on the grill but also look amazing on rice paper?!

Have a great weekend. I'm off to Maine next week so stay tuned for fun stops to share when I return.

Manchester Arts Festival - #1

I love being around creative people. As a creative person myself, it helps me look at things differently and inspires me to be artistic in everything that I do; whether it’s re-purposing a chair, making a special card for a friend, wrapping a gift, or simply getting dressed in the morning.  

A couple of  weeks ago I stopped by the Manchester Arts Festival which took place in Manchester-by-the-Sea. This year’s festival featured  fine art, sculpture, textiles, pottery, jewelry, apparel & accessories, garden ornaments, photography, paintings, and more!

These photos should give you a glimpse of the day, and hopefully these artists will inspire you to create.

Here are some that caught my eye during my stop.

Kreative by km KreativebyKM@gmail.com

Just like Kristen, her creations are colorful, sweet, and adorable. At the festival Kristen displayed many key fobs, handbags, camera straps, baby one-seez, and small clutches. 
  

Agnesmagnolia.etsy.com

I'm a sucker for nautical, screen printed items, and little pooches so when I ran into Agnes Magnolia I had to stop. Three friends / artists form Agnes Magnolia. They handcraft and hand screen print their items using organic materials when they can. For their story about how they got their name, and their pooch mascot, visit their Etsy shop.

Snowbound Pottery www.snowboundpottery.com

Potter Anna Kasabian creates these little lovelies by hand, in her hands, not on a wheel. They are so delicate and beautifully glazed; a must have in any room of a home.

JennSherrDesigns.com

Back in the early 90's I remember making decoupage purse and jewelry with my friends Tracey and Cathy so when I saw Jenn Sherr's booth I had to stop. Her decoupage bracelets and handbags have been featured in many newspapers and magazines, and have made their way into the "clutches" of celebrities. 

That's it for today, I'm going to shuffle through my pictures and show you some you more tomorrow. Need a gift? Support and artist!

Summer Craft & Reading

Two of my favorite things to collect when I walk the beach are sea glass and driftwood. Since it was raining, again, I took out my sea glass collection and thought I'd make an easy summer craft  that is fun for adults and children alike, a sea glass charm. 

3 steps and you're done:

1. Find a piece of sea glass

2. Cut a piece of wire ( I used approximately 10" of 26 gauge)

3. Wrap the wire around the glass, be sure to make a little loop at the top so that you can put it on a chain or rope

4. Place your sea glass charm on a chain, rope, or leather cord, and you have a piece of jewelry for any summer outfit.

To continue this sea glass theme I thought I'd share a book that I enjoyed reading a few years ago. Anita Shreve's  "Sea Glass". 

Publisher Comments:

It is a house on the beach. Honora doesn't mind renting — despite its age and all its flaws, the old house is the perfect place for a new marriage. She and Sexton throw themselves into fixing it up, just as they throw themselves into their new life together. Each morning, Honora collects sea glass washed up on the shore, each piece carrying a different story in its muted hues.

Sexton finds a way to buy the house, but his timing is perfectly wrong. The economy takes a sickening crash, and as financial pressures mount, Honora begins to see how little she knows this man she has married — and to realize just how threatening the world outside her front door can be.

Like those translucent shards that Honora finds on the beach, Sea Glass is layered with the textures, colors, and voices of another time. There is Vivian, an irreverent Boston socialite who becomes Honora's closest friend even as she rejects every form of convention. McDermott, a man who works in a nearby mill, presses Honora's deepest notions of trust — even as he embroils her in a dangerous dispute. And there's Francis, a boy whose openness becomes the bond that holds these people together as their world is flying apart.

Sea Glass is an unforgettable story of trust and betrayal, marriage and attraction, from one of the most persuasive, farseeing, and deeply engaging writers of our time.

I'm So Lucky - It Wasn't A Weed Wacker

As Mother's Day draws near, my heart is filled with memories of when my little lovely joined our family. As I write this post I keep  typing, deleting, and then typing and deleting again. It's not easy to share what being a mom is like, in fact I'm not even sure that I want to use this platform to do so. We've all seen it written in cards, in books, on advertisements, but to really capture one's feelings, now that's another story. It's personal.  For me being a mom is the greatest gift. Period!


I'm not one to ask for Mother's Day gifts, because as I said before being a mom is the best gift, but when I saw this necklace I really wanted one. A few years ago my sister in law introduced me to Heart On Wrist . They create personalized jewelry that celebrates the special someone in your life. I immediately fell in love with the simplicity of their designs. I figured since  I was going to receive a gift I should drop some hints of what I really wanted before I ended up with a weed wacker. 


I'm so lucky!, it wasn't a weed wacker. My necklace has three charms on it. One with my lovely's name, one with my wedding date, and one that inspires me to "sonhar"- dream. I wear it almost daily, it looks great with any outfit, and reminds me of my two biggest treasures.


If you're looking for a little something for mother's day, or looking for that certain something to give a mom, you might want to visit Hearty On Wrist. I'm sure you'll find a little something that you deserve.

x-o-x-o-x-o-x-o

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, not pity, it dates all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path."- Agatha Chrisitie, "The Last Seance"

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