Helena Spring Craft Show

On Saturday I traveled two hours to Helena to try and give my Blue Zen skincare line some exposure. It was a long day.

Note the crazy eyes...

 

First off, set up started at 6:30 am. I was debating going up the night before and "motelling" it so I wouldn't have to leave at 4:30 in the morning. I decided I was tough and wouldn't spend the money. Coffee is my friend. I showered at night, set my alarm for 4am, and tried to get some sleep. Mia, my daughter, was coming with me.

At 5:24 Saturday morning, I was awakened by a puppy who needed to be let out to potty. I whipped upright and yelled, "SHIT!!" Apparently, my super modern, easy to set alarm clock didn't get set to go off on Saturday and Sunday, just the weekdays. Stupid easy-set alarm clock!

Anyway, I ran into Mia's room screaming something about being late. She was right up and dressed in 10 minutes. I was racing around the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen getting my ducks in a row to leave. By 5:59, we were out the door. We stopped for snacks and away we went.

I can't say I drove extra fast, but it only took me 1 hour 45 minutes to get to the Civic Center.

trying to look calm and cool

After a whirlwind set up I finally sat and relaxed. It ended up being a long day of hardly any traffic. But, I did make friends with some of the other vendors. We all agreed that this was not the best day ever for sales. Except for the guy with the amazing yard-art sculptures! Holy moly they were just practically walking out the door on their own. I would have bought one if I could.

I did, however, learn exactly how I want to set up my booth next time. I also learned what people like and what they don't like of mine. Good feedback. I made some friends and had a ball.

"Your lotion feels WONDERFUL!" *blush*

Mia was a big help. No whining, always smiling. She is becoming such a little lady, I have no idea where the time has gone. She was recruited to watch a booth while the owner took a break a couple times. She did a good job of being the smiling face and even made a transaction or two. 

The fair ended at 4 pm and by then I was exhausted and ready to go home. 

My confidence has been boosted and I can't wait for the next fair. I will be sure to double check my alarm. :-)

Here We Are Again

I have been avoiding this. Writing in my blog. It has been hard to dismantle something I wasn't ready to let go of and I didn't know what to say about it.

This morning I watched a building burn to the ground. It stood across the highway from our house. It was an old saloon style building that I loved looking at. This morning I woke to sirens and smoke. The smoke is still rising from the ground. The building is completely gone. I am reminded that everything is temporary. And it could be worse.

So... I focus on the future.

I have set up my studio again here in my house. I have started working a bit. I'm still not sure what to focus on, but getting my feet wet, testing the waters, looking for inspiration.

For a couple days my studio was floor to ceiling boxes and chaos from bringing all my "junk" back from the gallery. Now it is more organized (though bursting at the seams!) than it has ever been.

I think it's good to bring my work home now. I'm comfortable here. It doesn't feel like work, creating feels like play when I do it at home. Ok... The Artsiehorse Studio isn't closed, just relocated.

The End of the Beginning of Something New

There's been some strange whisperings here and there about the gallery. Something about a hairdresser... maybe an architect...

Anyway, the story is, the Artsiehorse Studio and Gallery is closing April 9th. I won't go into the gory details, but the short version is: I don't want to!!! But I'm very casually and calmly being forced to. Eventually.... So, I'm taking initiative and doing it sooner rather than later.

I know that's really vague, but this isn't the place for dragging people under the bus. I just don't do that here. But, if you call me, maybe.

So, I'll be packing up my studio (sigh...) and bringing it home again. Somehow in the short amount of time I've been in Artsiehorse, I've accumulated MUCH more STUFF. I'm not sure how I'll fit it all back into my shoebox studio at home again, but I'll try.

There will be one more First Friday opening that promises to be a winner. April 1st, Beth Martin, mixed media on velum paintings. So awesome! Come say hello.

There may be a big sale on everything come the last week. I'll let you know. I'd rather get these starving artists some money rather than just give them back their art. Artists really appreciate being appreciated monetarily. Complements are nice too. Just sayin'.

Entangled: An Installation

I can't wait for this up coming First Friday showing. The artist this month is Katie Ludwick, aka, Lady Pajama. I think she's awesome! She is one of my favorite local Missoula artists. Here is a sample of her work and what she has to say about it.

In this fresh and insightful installation ladypajama weaves together collage and drawing. Caught in a web of string and lace the viewer will certainly be intrigued by these fragments of ladypajama's mind -- each piece is a window into the artists inner blundering.

What is entangled here? Memories, pieces of the past, hopes for the future, evidence of life -- lived and loved.

Showing March 2nd - 30th. Opening Reception: 5:00-9:00 Friday, March 4th.

Sale This Week!

This week only in the Gallery:

10% off all Original Wall Art!

That's anything hanging on the wall. Maybe you didn't get what you wanted for Valentine's Day... Maybe you have had your eye on a particular piece of art... Maybe you just feel like treating yourself to some scrumptuous eye candy...

Wednesday February 16 through Saturday February 19

Prints by Elizabeth Claire Rose

I have a love affair with Etsy. I am always looking for new things to make me "ooooh" and "awwww" and Etsy is a great place for finding that.

So, one day while browsing Missoula artists I found Elizabeth Claire Rose. I was so impressed by her prints and photos that I asked her if she would like to bring a few by for the gallery. She said she would (yay!). Just yesterday brought me a huge assortment of prints: photographic, block, and intaglio. She has some greeting cards and magnets made of her work as well.

I would have asked her to write a bio like some of the other artists here in the shop, but she's on her way to Eastern Europe tomorrow and just a little busy getting ready. Maybe later.

Till then, you MUST come see her work in person.

Call to Artists!!

Ok. It's time to get this new year rolling along.

I'm looking to fill spots in the gallery for the First Friday art walk from February till June of this year. If you or anyone you know has an itch to get their art out into the world, please email me with three or four .jpeg images of the art that you would like to display to artsiehorse@gmail.com under the header: First Friday!

Any medium will be considered, though I have a special affinity for mixed media and fiber art...

The display area is 15' along one wall and 12' along another. The face of the wall is brick and mortar. If the work is 3 dimensional we have ways to accommodate a limited number of pieces.

My Entries for Living Arts Montana

A couple of months ago, friend of mine talked me into doing a donation piece for the Living Arts of Montana's 6th annual Light Show. She is a volunteer for the group and was recruiting artists. I had heard about this show from other artist friends of mine who had participated in past years. All had nothing but good things to say about the experience. Though, I really had no idea what Living Arts did or what the donation would go to, refusing a chance to include a piece of my work seemed insane! The Light Show is to be held on May 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula.

So I had to get to know a bit about the organization to really know what this was all about about. I mean, I can't enter a piece into an auction that benefits something horrific. (Not that I thought it was...)

According to Living Art of Montana's website:
Living Art presents at local, national and international workshops and conferences and teaches classes for professional care-givers and at the University of Montana Social Work Department.
and:
Living Art works with other health care providers and organizations who share a common vision of creating holistic and integrative options for wellness.

(Living Art of Missoula's Website)

This year's Light Show theme is "An Evening in Red". I hadn't had much time to think about what I was going to submit what with the opening of the gallery and so many stinking holidays and events happening in the last bunch of weeks. So, now that things are more settled I thought hard about what that would mean to me, how I would capture it, what media I would use, how big it should be, etc. I've finally got a solid idea started.

Sneak peek at the sketch...

Yes, it is intentionally obscured. I'll post more progress pictures as time goes on. Now that the holidays are over, I'll have more time to devote to the studio (yaay!) and less pressure to create for fairs and for gifts.

The nice folks at Living Arts also invited all the artists signed up for the Light Show to exhibit in February one different piece of work in a group show. I think I'll include this one:

If you want to see it in person, it's in the gallery. Come on by!

Kelly Smith, a.k.a, Stella Latwinski

Just last May, Kelly finished graduation at the University of Montana, Missoula with a master's degree in Economics. She quickly found a job at an environmental consulting firm and her career was on its way. But, just months after her graduation, Kelly let go of her new career and chose to be a full time freelance artist and illustrator. She hasn't looked back since.

She has changed her working name to Stella Latwinski -in honor of her grandmother- in order to separate her artistic side from her Kelly-ness.

One of her characters, Unconventional Ida, has had a loyal following and has inspired an entire world of unconventionality.

Kelly's, er... Stella's, usual artistic M.O. is Sakura Pigma Micron pens and Prismacolor colored pencil on recycled wood block or board that she gets as leftovers from her father-in-law's cabinet shop. She has recently been expanding her canvas to include jewelry and Moleskine Journals.

Artsiehorse Studio & Gallery is ecstatic to be able to carry some of her wood mounted prints, Journals, and Greeting Cards!

Visit her at her website:
stellalatwinski.com

Spotlight on Pam Cozby

These beautiful fabric bowl sculptures are the work of Pam Cozby, another member of the TARTS fiber artist group out of Hamilton, Montana. Her work is entirely her own. With the help of a computer, Pam creates the patterns on the bowls from photos. Then she prints them onto plain white fabric to create one of a kind designs and finishes off with intricate stitching.
The result is absolutely stunning!

Every piece is a unique creation. There are boxes and vases, bowls and platter shaped designs. Some are fuzzy, and some are sleek. They all beg to be held.

Stop by and see what she has done lately...

Anita Mistry–Itsamistry Design Studio

Anita Mistry is a friend, as she would say, from the other side of the pond. Anita harks from Ashton-Under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, England and has graciously sent some of her divine handmade jewelry for sale here in the States.

Itsamistry Design Studio specializes in hand crafted jewelry, made mainly from sterling silver, combined with semi precious stones, artisan or glass beads, Swarovski or Czech crystals. Anita designs and custom makes a unique range of her own designs, where no two pieces of jewelry are the same or designs pieces incorporating client’s ideas and themes. The product range includes necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets and hairpieces and is now being diversified into cake jewelry.

Anita was also invited to submit a craft jewelry project recently for a National Craft Magazine about the Ananta Bead Necklaces (which are stocked in the Gallery!) and was subsequently asked to run a workshop in the USA and is further developing a series of workshops at her studio for adults and children from age 8 upwards.

See more of Anita’s jewelry, paintings, greeting cards and other artsy creations on her website. http://www.itsamistrydesignstudio.com/

On a Frosty Saturday Afternoon...

T'was a dark, cold, wintery, blustery, frozen solid Montana afternoon...

My fingers needed warming. The wool was calling me.
So I gathered roving and needles, scissors and foam mat.

And created some friends who wouldn't melt away any time soon.

Snowman Ornaments. Fun!

Naked Va Vang! Jewelry

Terra Hanks is a wild child who designs wild awesome jewelry! This is what she has to say about her art and herself:

"My Biz:
Naked Va Vang...Naked & Golden ( in Vietnamese)

"Terra Marcella Hoon Hanks is my name and I am the big (and only) boss/worker of the aforementioned business. I am eclectic and erratic but always emphatic. I have forever loved to make things with my own two hands...

"One of the first projects I remember doing is sewing Christmas presents-underwear topped off with a Santa stencil (for the males) and lavender drawer sachets( for the ladies). I think I was 8. I too, think it was for the entire extended family. I am not sure who's idea it was-whether my mom was embarking on cheap child labor or just trying to impregnate me with creativity-either way i started using the hands to do creative things and it just kept going.
"My inspirations used to live in about a two mile radius. I grew up with a twin sister. We were home-schooled on a farm-with horses+-in Iowa, so we would venture out collecting wonders of nature, daydreaming, spying on ghosts, horseback riding, pretending, and living freeeeeeeeeee. My collecting has definitely not stopped. I have piles of rocks and seeds and pods and leaves and bones and teeth and fur and feathers and even beautiful garbage. I love to make things with other found things. Always have. However, now that we have the world wide web and i have some years of travel under my belt, i have found global inspirations in the following in no apparent order....

*Cleopatra
*Sea Slugs
*Tribal Namibian Women
*Science
*Natural History
*Barbarella
*Mineral Oddities
*Old Black & Whites
*Jacques Cousteau
*Barnacles
*Make Believe
*Animal Patterns
*Fabric
*Geology
*Native Americans
*Yellowstone
*Carnivorous Plants
*Netflix
*Bikes
*Coral Reefs
*Clouds
*Recycling
*My Gran
*Crinoids
*A Certain Gypsum Shoe

"These various inspirations evolve and morph into others before my eyes. One leads to another to another to another....another....other...an....but chiefly, the ocean and geology send me crazy creative.

"I am fiercely independent, so I strive to bring individuality to my jewels & osmotically instill the same within its wearer. I am also a huge fan of reusing, recycling, reconstructing, revamping, redoing, resurrecting, resurging...re-ing pretty much anyway it can be done. I think we've got enough stuff on this planet to keep us all busy for awhile-so i do what i can to change old forgotten wonders into fresh hits. I hate using capitals when I type but I am fighting that hatred, because you see, I am also a fighter. And a lover. And a dreamer. Pretty much like everybody else. Ha! I have two jobs. I am a wild land firefighter for the big bucks and when I can't do fire I do jewels...I find the balance of femininity through my jewels. And at the end of a long summer in the woods with 20 dirty boys I need it! I am in love. I am fearless of everything except rejection. I long for the beach-always. I am a good friend. I look forward to meeting you-the reader and wearer of things created by my hands. I thank you.


"You can find me at:
nakedvavang.etsy.com
and naked va vang as my fan page on facebook
nakedvavang on twitter

*if you mention having read this i will hook you up with treats*"

Heidi Zielinski - Fiber Artist

One of the first artists to include their work in the gallery was Heidi Zielinski. She found me through the TARTS, a fiber art group based in Hamilton, MT when I put out a call to artists through them. Being a fiber artist myself, I wanted to be sure and include some of the fine work of other Montana fiber artists. Click to link to her website, or her blog here.

This is what she has to say about her art:

"I am a fiber artist using fabric, beads, and thread to create art quilts that reflect the beauty and joy of nature and life. I use color, line, and texture to make abstract images that invoke feelings and memories. I am inspired by color and pattern in fabric and sometimes by interesting beads or fibers to create art that is exciting and unique.


"Although my quilts reflect a variety of techniques and styles, my most frequent composition is a collage type background using machine piecing and machine applique. My work is made up of layers beginning with the fabric, enhanced by free motion quilting, and finished off with beading or other embellishment. I use each layer to create paths that help to move the viewer's eye around the piece to discover the details I have put there. I love to combine unusual colors and textures creating interest and sometimes an unexpected result. I am inspired to use stone, bone, horn, and glass beads of many styles, as well as the traditional seed beads and bugles. The beads are a wonderful compliment to the texture and pattern of the fabric and the threadwork.

"I create depth, texture, and movement on my work with intensive free motion quilting and by using cutouts, layering, dangling beads/fringe and fabric (often leaves), and whatever else works to bring the quilt out from the wall and grab your interest. My passion for my work can be seen in every piece I create and I still marvel at the beauty of it."

Re thinking Re organization

I'm redoing this space. Cleaning house, updating and freshening.

I'm hoping for this to be a new era in my life and as such, I'm refocusing. I will still have posts about my goat and my kids. I'll still talk about home renovations (which are going to slowly for my taste). But, my main focus is going to be my lovely shop and the artist who grace it.

Check back to find out more.

What a Grand Opening!

Last night was the grand opening of the Gallery! We had a fabulous turn out. Lots of friends and neighbors and lots of interested passersby came to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

I was interviewed a couple of days ago for an article in the Missoulian newspaper about the Missoula Storefront Art Project. There was also a big mention about the shop. I was thrilled the article made the front page! A lot of the visitors last night said they came because of the article. So neat.


Here's a picture of me before the chaos. I look so full of energy, don't I? I don't feel or look so enthusiastic today. I'm tired from worrying myself into a frazzle yesterday. I do believe I was going non-stop from 8am until 9pm yesterday. Then Michael and I were talked into going to celebrate afterward. This is not such an easy feat anymore. The constant go-till-you-drop... well I've officially dropped! But I'll be back up tomorrow, not to worry.

Mia, a tried and true great girl and one-of-a-kind helper!
She even filed for me without being asked!

Jiah has a tremendous sense of pride in the shop. You'd think he owned the place.
Maybe someday...

I didn't get any shots of the store as it was full of life and festivities, I was too busy schmoozing. This one was taken as the last few people were walking out. That's Kim Shirley there with the luscious red hair. She was our featured artist last night for the First Friday Artwalk.

This was so much fun. I really have to thank my stars that I have such wonderful people in my life that contributed their energy to this. I know it wouldn't have been a success without them. My dearest Michael, Kathy Roth, Debby Florence, my children, and pretty much the entire city of Missoula. Thank you!

The Artsiehorse Studio & Gallery

We're open!

This has been quite the crazy ride.
Getting a small boutique gallery open for business is not a simple task. It involves begging and pleading with tired kids and husbands to help wrangle furniture, multiple submissions of DBA paperwork because I can't fill out forms correctly, tons of phone calls, emails, mailings, and lots of support from friends and neighbors. (thanks friends and neighbors!)

Well, we're here now, we're full of fun things, decorated, and the doors are open should anyone happen by.

This is the window display done by one of the local artists here in Missoula to help support the Missoula Storefront Art Project.


Some views of the beautiful work by me, a few local artists and a few great friends strewn across the globe.





We'll be joining the First Friday festivities every month. This first First Friday has been grabbed up by a great local watercolor artist, Kim Shirley. Kim's work usually focuses on western life, horses, cowboys, and old pickups and buildings. This time Kim gives us a more exotic flavor with images from her recent trip to Italy. Thanks Kim!

The Power of the Universe

Today I got the keys to my new downtown store... MY NEW DOWNTOWN STORE!!!
It's still empty as of today, but I have enough love to fill it up. And I hope to have enough art to fill it up soon too.

Story:
About 3 weeks ago I wrote here and on Facebook about my need to find my next "something".

Almost immediately a friend wrote me asking for help with a project run by the Missoula Cultural Council called the Missoula Storefront Art Project. It is intended to put life back into the windows of storefronts left empty by business that have gone under due to economic distress. This is to be done by having local artists install creative displays in shop fronts. This is intended to make the area look more upbeat and less deserted. More of a desirable place for new businesses to open. I was asked to organize the info from the artists with examples of what they planned to do. So far none of the buildings had art in the windows. I thought this was a wonderful thing to put my attention and focus on when I needed a good challenge.

That same week, maybe a day later, Michael, my husband was searching studio spaces downtown. No real reason, just for kicks. I have a small space for my quilting and art-making, he has the bedroom for his circuit bending and electronic music gear... he just thought it would be fun to have a place to go that wasn't "here" to be creative.

There were a few teeny tiny spaces available. Not much spectacular. But one really stood out. It was a huge basement studio with room for the both of us and attached storefront above. Both for rent. Both for not much more than the little studios he'd seen. Michael casually showed me the Craigslist ad. I don't think he was really serious, but for the price, the studio alone was worth looking into.

The first thing I thought was, rent the space for the studio below and just allow the shop space to be used for the Storefront Art Project. I didn't need it, but they did. It would be a good start to the program.

But it was nagging at me. The more I thought about it, the more I began to see the potential. What if I really could get into a new line of business? Could I be a successful art gallery owner? I ruminated over it for a couple of weeks before deciding that, yes, I would try this! The lease is only for 3 months because the last person defaulted. I could see what happens in 3 months and go from there.

I went and looked at the space last Thursday. It was in rough shape downstairs, but upstairs in the shop it was nice. Really all it needs is some paint and good light. I wanted it. BAD. I brought her a deposit the next day and today I get the keys. This is happening very fast.

Tomorrow I meet up with the first Storefront Art Project artist. I really can't believe this is happening. I must be out of my mind. I've already filed for my licensing and have started buying fixtures. THIS is what happens when you ask the universe for a challenge.

Pictures soon!