Halloween & Vine Virtual Tour

It was early Saturday on the morning of September 29, 2012. There was a bit of autumn in the misty air and gray sky over Petaluma, CA.  Dedicated show goers, patrons, collectors and Halloween enthusiasts lined up to burst into the doors of Hermann Sons Hall at 9 a.m., although it was barely 6:45 when I arrived on the scene. Wrapped in blankets with big smiles, these folks waited joyfully and patiently for some Halloween magic that only happens once a year in the form of Halloween & Vine.

This folk art show has been going on for many years now, transforming itself each year into a heightened level of craft by its many talented artists from all over the U.S.A. and Canada. I am proud to been among the chosen ones to participate and experience this event in all of its glory.

I attempted to capture the energy and beauty of this folk art show for those of you who live too far to attend, could not make it to the show this year, or have never heard about it. The photos I am sharing with you are just a fraction of what was really on display and only some of the artists. I was not able to capture quite everyone's display, but I did my best. It is an appetizer to Halloween goodness  that will leave you wanting more.  To learn more about the artists and the show, please vist the Halloween & Vine website. Enjoy the tour!

Hermann Sons Hall

Patient attendees.

Anticipation!

A good witch.

Fans!




 

The crowd gathers.



Lighting from the ceiling of the hall.

Stephanie Sherratt



Christy Silacci

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Michelle Legler

Len Bentham

Jorge de Rojas

Dennis Haynes

Vergie Lightfoot

 

Sharon Bloom

 

Jenny Hernandez and daughter

Gabrielle Acevedo

Nancy Aldabe

Amelia Schaefer

Kimberly Edgar

Tina Haller

Gothic Rose Antiques

Iva Wilcox

Christina Orr

Kerry Howard Schmidt

David H. Everett

Susie Scott

Sue Smith

Will Bezek

Charles Batte

Maria Grimes

Etsy!

I am listing some new Halloween pieces in my Etsy shop tonight. There will be more as the days pass, so keep checking in!
 
Also, I have a lot of pictures from Halloween & Vine that I will post very soon.

Waiting To Meet You!

Halloween and Vine is just around the corner. Saturday is the BIG day! Here are a few of my newest pieces that are waiting to meet you at the show. I hope to see you there and have a hauntingly good time!!

Tinsel Sneak Peek.........

Here are a few of my latest works available tomorrow at Tinsel & Treasures!!

Tinsel & Treasures This Saturday!!

I have been really busy getting ready for Tinsel & Treasures folk art show this Saturday, 9/15 in Danville, CA. I hope some of you can make it to the show. I have a lot of new work and am excited to share it with you! (click on the link above for pertinent info and directions).

Coming Attractions!

New Halloween pieces for the upcoming shows! This is just a sneak peak...

The Road To A Friend's House Is Never Long.

Christine's Street in CT.

The summer is flying by and I have been happily wallowing in my art and creating new work for the upcoming fall show season.

Last week, I left the county line and travelled to the opposite side of the country to see two of my very dear friends, Christine Phelps and Anna Sprague. It was a trip planned and discussed for some months, coordinated with each pal so I could visit both of them like stepping stones, one after the other. The trip went without a hitch.

My first visit with Christine (whom I had never met in 3-D) was an intense and joyful time of creating lots of mixed media art, including spun cotton ornaments, paintings on wood blocks, and another painting inspired from one of my ceramic plates.  We both worked feverishly in Christine’s basement studio in Connecticut. The temperature was cool down there and we were often visited by Christine’s family members, including feline friends. Her studio was crammed full of treasures galore, which Christine generously offered me a free-for-all!  I learned many new techniques from the master herself, Christine, which lives up to her mantra “Art Makes Life Magic.”

Christine working on a painting.

Christine in Northampton on an outing.

Sharon's painting.

Spun Cotton Kitty ornament (with help from Christine:)

Kite Bird painting by Sharon.

It was bittersweet to leave Connecticut, but I carried all of the moments we shared together and sent a box homeward of all of the wonderful art we shared together. I boarded the plane and began to feel the excitement rise in me as I headed toward Rochester to see Anna.

I have not seen Anna in about a decade. We met at a workshop in Oregon some years ago. We became instant friends and laughed our time away. I feel so fortunate to have Anna as a friend. She is wise and a very gifted metalsmith and jeweler. As I stood outside of the airport, I saw her smiling face as she drove up to the curb. It was like no time had lapsed and we chatted and laughed as before.

Anna cutting copper discs for enameling.

Disc cutting tools.

Anna also has a basement studio. It was very organized and that made it so easy to work with metals and enamels. We cut out copper and did some etching as well as enameling on copper.

Anna is a great and patient teacher. I was kind of rusty with the techniques not

practiced for many a year. In the end I was elated at what we had made. Anna’s enamels were stunning and multi-layered with colors. Mine were more graphic and bold.

Sharon's enamel pieces in progress.

Completed painted and enameled pieces.

Anna took me around the Rochester area, a close proximity from her home. I saw mansions and a lot of bricks. We even went to a crazy craft store!

Dan's Crafts & Things, NY

Home now, I continue to savor the memories of the recent days and feel so fortunate to have these women in my life. Thank you Anna and Christine for a wonderful experience and sharing your artistry and most of all your friendship across the miles.