Gallery Open Saturday, December 15!

Due to the forecast for Sunday, the Silkworm Gallery will be open instead on Saturday, December 15, from 12 noon to 5 for your shopping pleasure. Stop by, enjoy the warm fire, refreshments, and good cheer while you shop for last minute gifts. Good selections of jewelry, pottery, photography, and knit wear from your Silkworm artists remain, as well as the soft and lovely leather bags and journals, fused glass items and decorative gourds from our guest artists. See you there!

Holiday Sale in Full Swing!

Our first weekend sale was lots of fun. So many of you came in to visit and it was great to see you. Our little shop looks so inviting and we have some wonderful creations. We'll be open again this weekend, and don't forget to stop in tonight (Friday, November 30) from 5 to 7 for a little refreshment. We'll also be open Saturday from 10 to 5 and Sunday from noon to 5PM. On Sunday we'll again enjoy a couple of hours of piano music by Lynn's nephew Charles. And, of course, the cider will be simmering on the stove. For any late onset panic, we'll also open our doors one last time this year on Sunday afternoon, December 16, 2007.

What You'll Find from Amazon Creek Studio

The needles have been busy in Eugene, Oregon, and at the Silkworm Gallery, you'll find scarves and shawls to meet all your needs, whether for a snowy day or an evening out! Above, on the right, is an angora scarf that will give you or someone else both softness and warmth. On the left, is a detail of a shawl that incorporates one of the loveliest alpaca yarns that I've ever found. You'll find more shawls this year, including those that work as either a shawl or a scarf.

Holiday Weekends at the Silkworm Gallery!

Here's a copy of our Flyer for this Fall. Click on the thumbnail for a full size copy to read or print. Then..... come visit us when we're open!
Scroll down below for information on artists and works available this season.

Lake Parlin Artists-Handmade Journals and Stringing Them Along Bookmarks

These are the handmade journals from Lake Parlin Artistsans who are two sisters from Jackman, Maine. Lynn discovered them while she was at a craft fair in Greenville, Maine. Their leather goods are all handmade, and dyed by them. Their designs are original and quite unique. They have journals, pocket books, and many other wonderful items of all different sizes. We were amazed by how incredibly affordable they are. Again, another unique Christmas gift. We are so pleased to have them as new guest artists for our Holiday Sales.

Notice the handstitching that was done on the binding. It shows you the attention to detail.

The bookmarks are made by Karen and Lynn, and you can see how they paid attention to detail, by matching them up with this journal.

My cards with decorative papers.

Here are some examples of cards that I make with decorative papers. I make cards in different sizes from a 4 x 6 photo down to a mini photo that is a 2 x 3 image. These make lovely Christmas gifts with or without decorative papers.

Both of these shots were taken in Nortwest Gardens in Eugene, Oregon, I was truly lost in flow when I was shooting. The garden was at its early summer peak.

The top photo card is, believe it or not, a Clematis. It is a sweet little bud. The Cone Flower is called Fiesta. It does look quite festive.

An old slide becomes quite a photo.

I found a box of slides a few months ago and lo and behold within lay this slide. It was a photo I took on a summer morning when the light was at its perfection. I have named this photo "We Don't Shine Alone~Clematis and its Supporting Stars". The clematis jumps out at us, but look at all the surrounding buds, and a budding Astilbe. From beneath it is surrounded by Lady's Mantle. Isn't that what our lives are like? When we move forward we have people and/or things that supports us. They surround us and shelter us.

This photo is a custom giclee print. The print size is an 18 x 30 photo, drymounted, double matter and framed to 24 x 36. All materials are archival.

DON'T FORGET TO DOUBLE-CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO SEE MORE DETAIL.

Keep checking back, because I will be posting images all week.

The Glass I

One of our new guests this season is Ellen Marshall who brings beautiful fused glass serving pieces.Come see what surprises unfold when she unpacks her boxes at the gallery.

Back by popular demand! Good Gourds.

We love having Chris Gooding and her fantastic gourds join us and we know you do too.

Paints, yarns, foils, and feathers, seeds, shells, beads, and leather: You name it, Chris weaves wonderful things together to make her enchanting creations.

Theses bird gourds are favorites.

And Chris always has some all new creations to share.

News from Feats of Clay

My mantra in pottery and gardening, which I think I lost for a bit there: "Above all else, have fun!!"
And I have been. I've been playing with textures and glazes on little plate and dipping bowl sets like these:


This got me in the sushi mood, so I began trying my hand at a few soy pots. Talk about fun! I've got a million ideas in my head for these.





I've also been making some
funky canisters.


As requested, I've been playing around with the "fish plate". I've made four. Each is quite different from the other, and 3 are not yet out of the fire so I can't make any promises.
But, don't worry. It hasn't been all experimental. I will have a collection of new porcelain mugs, along with a stack-o-bowls.


See you in a couple of weeks! Lisa

This is a photo of Eileen at Newberry Crater in Oregon this past June. I was "encouraged" to go camping with our illustrious hand knitter Mary Alice. I am not a camper, but I have to tell you that it was a spectacular spot and the beauty of everything around our camp site was worth the hard ground sleeping accommodations.

More photos to come.

Eileen

Another guest artist

With us this weekend will be Michele Fredricks of "Keep it Contained". She makes lovely container plants. These are all the rage right now because I think people are hoping the deer will stay away from their decks and entrances. If you have not finished decorating your "outdoor rooms" come along and see what's available.

Eileen

Lynn and Karen's Jewelry- Aren't They Fabulous

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These are a few pieces. For some reason I can't get all of them into this Post. Will try with a New Post to display some others.

Lynn and Karen are the beaders from Stringing Them Along. Don't delay ~ Their pieces go fast!

REMEMBER TO CLICK ON THE IMAGES IN ORDER TO GET THE FULL EFFECT!

Spring Show, 2007!

View our Flyer (click on image)

We'll be hosting our 2007 spring show at the gallery on June 1, 2, & 3.

** Friday, June 1 from 5 to 8 PM, opening reception and sale.
** Saturday June 2 and Sunday June 3 from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Directions to the gallery: Travel south on rt. 195 about 1 mile past the UCONN campus to East Road (across from the Mansfield fire station). Turn left on East Rd and go about 3/4 mile. The gallery is the little red barn where East Road makes a sharp left and becomes Hanks Hill Road. You can reach us at 860 402-8827.

Spring in Oregon!

The lovely thing about living in the Pacific Northwest is that spring begins in February with the hellebores and daphne, continues through March and April with the native camas and toad lilies, along with the cherry and plum blossoms, and those give way to the rhodies that are now blooming. This is a native iris that I planted last year. I have also been busy working on items for the June Silkworm Gallery show. Take a look.


Spring is also the time of birth. The photo of the doe shows her about twenty feet from the house, sitting on the garden path, enjoying the sun and breeze (and glancing about to see what she's going to nibble). She might be pregnant. Soon we'll know. The does like to bring their fawns to our house and in the summer, we'll find them cooling off under the house and have to be careful not to spook them.


Gig aka Mary Alice

I am still learning

Okay, here is the problem. The photos don't match the text. Back to the drawing board. I will figure it out.

In the meantime, the photos from top to bottom are

1. Pasque Flower

2. Lunch view

3 Our guide

4. Bear's Breeches - does any one know where this name comes from. I know bears don't wear breeches, and I am having trouble seeing this lovely flower as a pair of breeches.

5. My favorite shot, that will be enlarged for the show.

Eileen

It Worked!!

I always feel so triumphant when I can get my computer to do what I want it to do. If you want to look at the photo in a larger context click on the image.

A plea to the readers of this blog. All of my photos that appear on this blog are copyrighted. They are not to be copied under any circumstances. The photos that you view here are all raw filesfrom my digital camera, and have not yet been finessed through Adobe. I do all my composing through the camera lens, and the only work done through Adobe is to correct some lighting issues, or to crop a photo to make it into a panoramic shot. I appreciate you respecting my copyrighted work.

Here are some of my other photos that will be appearing at our show. Some of them will be made into only cards, others will be cards and matted prints, and finally some of them will be enlarged and matted and framed. If you see a card and I don't have an enlarged piece then ask me and I will take an order.

This is one of my favorites that I just took at The Cloisters during my most recent trip to NYC. If you are unaware of The Cloisters their web site is cloisters@metmuseum.org. It is an amazingly spiritual place to visit.

Here are some additional photos from The Cloisters. This was our guide. She was well into her 80s and her passion for The Cloisters was infectious. Just delightful.

Luncheon view

Garden views


Keep checking back. I will have some photos of the beaders and their studio. Mary Alice will be sending photos of her knitted goods.

This is a test to see if I can transfer my photos to the blog. This is a shot I took in NYC. I call it "Sensible Shoes meets High Fashion". I am making this shot into cards and what fun you could have with your friends who are fashionistas or those who are not. Here goes. I hope it works. If not I will call for HELP!

Eileen

March in New England

It is that time of year that we in New England also call mud month. Right now we have about 6 inches of snow on the ground, but two days ago I was walking around New York City without a jacket. It was definitely mud back here in Connecticut, but the warmth was great in both places. March can go from 70 one day; down to freezing and a nor' easter the next.

We are all working away on our individual crafts and looking forward to our upcoming show, which will be June 1, 2 and 3. For the first time we will be open on a Friday evening from 5 - 8. We will have two invited artists joining us. One is Chris Gooding from Good Gourds. For those of you who were at our fall shows you know how beautiful her gourds are. For those of you who weren't you are in for a treat. We have invited her back because her work is definitely a fine art treatment of gourds, and they were a very popular item. In addition to her beautiful hand painted gourds for home and garden decor she will displaying lovely bird houses to entice our fine feathered friends into our yards.

A new invited guest artist is John Hayes, who upon retiring decided to take up wood carving. He has the most beautiful carved gnome and troll houses , along with other items that will make wonderful additions to your home and garden decor. Although he has been carving for only a short time his craft is definitely moving into a master carver category.

Finallly, Jean Bell, from the Garden's at Bassetts Bridge will have her plants on display and for sale.

We hope we have peaked your interest, and keep checking back for bios on our artists and some photos.

The snow will melt, the daffodils will bloom, and the mud will disappear.

Eileen