We want to make sure you can find us!

We're at 341 Hanks Hill Road
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.

We're looking forward to seeing you there!

More Images From Red Oak Studio

Here are some more images from my trip to the southwest.  They are available in matted pieces of different sizes and also available in handmade cards.

This is a sculpture located in Taos, New Mexico.  The sculpture is done by R.C. Gorman a famous sculptor and painter from Taos.  The title of this piece is Winona and I believe it is a piece that personifies the southwest.  For me, when I look at the piece I see peace and nobility.

The Silkworm Gallery Interior

Here is a look at our gallery on the inside.   But don't wait too long to actually come inside and see the wonderful products that we and our guest artists have waiting for you.  We have a wonderful range of prices to help you with your holiday shopping.

Four of the five owners of Silkworm Gallery

Unfortunately the fifth one is in Eugene, Oregon and we hope she will send us a photo of herself.

From left to right:

Karen Beattie   - Stringing Them Along

Lisa Krall              Feats of Clay

Eileen Griffin      Red Oak Studio

Lynn Haney         Stringing Them Along

Gig Neubeck        Amazon Creek Studio, Eugene, Oregon

Say hi to us when you come in.  We are all here to be your personal shoppers and offer ideas of great handcrafted gifts.  

Platter from Feats of Clay

Here is one of Lisa's new pieces.  As you can see her work is organic and romantic at the same time.

Good Gourds from Chris Gooding

Chris has been with us as a guest artist for the past few years.  We keep having her back because she has developed a following at our gallery.  Here is one of her lamps.  Her muse for this piece is Robert Rivera a famous gourd artist from Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Her products are in demand so don't wait too long.  

Antique African Beaded Bracelets From Stringing Them Along

Here are some images of very unique beaded bracelets.  They will be available this weekend.  Come in and see the beauty of these items.  Please remember to double click on images to see a larger image of the items and the explanation of the origin of the beads.

Anticipation!

It's Monday, and we are gearing up for the first weekend of our sale coming up in a few days. We expect everyone is watching their pennies these days; our hearts are still pounding after receiving that first oil bill of the season! We want to welcome you to come by and visit whether or not you plan to spend, spend, and spend! We love to catch up and get your feedback on our latest work. So stop in and stay a while in our cosy little shop, have a spot of tea or coffee, and enjoy the wood fire.

We have lots to offer budget minded shoppers as well.

Karen and Lynn have put together a new collection of one of a kind beaded items for this winter's show. The "Winter 2008" Collection includes lots of new and interesting bracelets featuring newer African beads, vintage beads, fantastic light weight silver coated acrylic beads (light as a feather and they polish beautifully) as well as interesting beads found on their treasure hunts in NYC and the Brimfield Flea Market. These hunts have uncovered a host of fabulous beads at great prices, and they are passing on these values! As well as their bracelets, always a big favorite, they'll have one of a kind book marks as well, featured here with one of Lake Parlin's beautiful book covers.

Eileen will have a nice selection of cards, as well as smaller prints and magnets. The leather works by Lake Parlin Artisans will include small purses, checkbook covers and the like. As always, Chris Goodings gourds will make you smile, and come in a wide range of sizes and prices.

I've been working on some new pottery items as well, including handle-less cups, business card holders, and little hanging clay pockets for whatever you can dream up (a single bud, stamps, a sink-side place to stash your rings).

So we really hope to see you all during our two and a half weekends! Take a break from the craziness and stop in!

Lisa

Ode to a Connecticut Zinnia

When I returned from the southwest I was treated to a section of my garden that had some zinnias still blooming.  I love to use my macro lens to get in as close as I can.  With the use of a tripod it is exciting  to see the image come forth in the digital darkroom.

Hope you will come to the gallery to get a real life look at my photos and enjoy all the other creations from my artists friends.  Shop locally for the holidays, and we will have many affordable and unique handcrafted items.

I just received a shipment from Gig today and her creations of children's hats and yarn ties are different from most of what you find at a big box store.  You've got to see them to believe them.

Taos, New Mexico

Here is another image from the "Land of Enchantment.  I love the scrollwork painting,  and that beautiful blue color on the window is ever present in New Mexico.   The color matches the adobe so beautifully.  This will be available in cards, but please remember that most of my images can be enlarged up to 24 x 36.  

Remember that if you want to get a closer look at images from any of the artists to double lick on the image.

New Mexico & New Knits

At the Holiday Sale, you'll find new knits.  I have been working on hats for children and wrist warmers for adults in addition to scarves and shawls.  Also coming back are a variety of yarn ties to select from.  These are skinny ties made out of a variety of yarns and ribbons and decorated with beads.  One great stop on the New Mexico trip was the Taos Wool and Sheep Show.  You can look forward next year to seeing some great finds worked into knitted items for you.  And, here is Eileen at work snapping some wonderful shots for her cards and prints that you'll find when you visit the gallery.

New Mexico

Gig and I spent some time in New Mexico this fall and the photograph you are looking at is from Aubiquiu.  This is the area where Georgia Okeefe lived and painted.   This photo is from Ghost Ranch where she first lived when she moved to this land of magic and beauty.  Everywhere you look in Abiquiu is as if you are in the middle of her paintings.

Keep checking back as I send more images your way. 

Fall Sale Updates

Ok, So you noticed the stores are having sales now on Christmassy fabric and other holiday craft items? Don't Panic! You'll be able to shop this fall for one of a kind hand made gift items at our Silkworm Gallery.

The 2008 fall schedule:

Sat- Nov. 22, 10am-5pm
Sun-Nov. 23, 12pm-4pm

Sat-Dec. 6, 10am-5pm
Sun-Dec.7, 12pm-4pm

Sun-Dec. 14, 12pm-4pm

Along with our beaded jewelry, pottery, photography, and knitting, we'll have gourds from Good Gourds and leather goods by Lake Parlin Artisans, both back again by popular demand. We are exploring some additional items we think you will like. More on that later!

In the mean time, we welcome your comments, etc. Send us an email too if you would like to be on our mailing or emailing list.

Hope you are enjoying the warmth and light of summer!

All the best from Lisa, Eileen, Lynn, Karen, and Gig

Lake Parlin, Maine Handcrafted Leather Bags

These are some delightful spring bags from our guest artists from Maine. These two women make very organic leather bags and they are delight to gaze upon and use. The colors are wonderful and we also have journals and other leather goods from them.

For hand crafted leather hand bags they are reasonable priced. You will be shocked when you see the prices.

For that teenager graduating from high school, your graduating college student or for Mother's Day these will make wonderful gifts.

Flirting Peacock

This peacock was strutting his "stuff" and kept coming toward my friend. He was enamored of her. He had struck out with one of his own. We were delighted to have time to photograph him. This was on a trip near Bend, Oregon.

This is a beautiful card and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I.

Don't forget to double click to get more of the detail.

Experiment in Stamping and Photos

How do you like this? The creative juices seem to be flowing which is always a good thing. This is a mini photo of my popular photo called dancing poppies. One day when I was organizing this past winter I found these wonderful botanical stamps that my daughter-in-law gave me. She probably thought I was never going to use them. Here it is.

Let me know how you like it.

Whimsical Images

These images are my new line of cards that I call, Whimsical Cards. The first image is from downtown Victoria, B.C. on Vancouver Island. I have called it, "Isn't it Loverly" because when I first saw her outside the garden store I immediately thought of Eliza Doolittle from My Fair Lady. I smile when I see her because I believe there is a lot of of mischief about her, in that proper English way.

The second image was taken outside the Royal Columbian British Museum in downtown Victoria, and it is a special place to explore the history of Vancouver Island, Vancouver and the Yukon territories. There were totem poles all over the place on the grounds of the museum and this one captivated me. This would make an unusual card for celebrating the birth of a child.

Let me know what you think.

Experiment in Black and White

This is a photo that I took at a wonderful rose garden in Eugene, Oregon last June when I was visiting Gig, the hand knitter for the gallery. I am experimenting in the digital darkroom to make some of my images black and white. Please let me know what you think. You can do that through the comment section on the blog. I will have an 8 x 11 matted and framed photo of this, plus a 5 x 7 matted piece so that you may purchase your own frame.

Floral Images from British Columbia

These floral images are from Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. My husband and I traveled their last fall and it is a wonderful place to take a vacation. This is an incredible spot and a macro photographers dream come true. I felt like a kid in a candy store. The first two images are Dahlias and the third one is a Hydrangea. I had planted a Dahlia just like the first one in my garden last year. In the fall it was dazzling. The second Dahlia captivated me by the wonderful coloring. It always amazes me what Mother Nature can do. It was difficult for me to pick out my favorites for our upcoming spring show. As you know most of my images will be in the form of cards, cards with decorative papers, and some enlargements that will be matted and framed, and others that will be matted.

Keep checking back this week because I will be posting until Friday, May 2nd. Within the next few months you will be able to check out my new web site. I will alert you all when it is ready.

Will look forward to seeing all of you this coming weekend.

Eileen

News from Amazon Creek Studio

Items for the spring sale this weekend have arrived from Eugene, Oregon, where spring has been very slow to appear. In fact, a week ago we had snow and hail! It reminds me of the springs back in Ct where we barely had a spring before jumping into summer. I have made several summer weight scarves and shawls (see above), and I have also put a number of winter items on sale. I have also begun work for next fall, which will include other hand knit items (hats and fingerless gloves) in addition to the scarves and shawls. Enjoy the sale!

Spring Show

View our spring show flier!

Click for bigger print :-).

Wake Up!

Hmmm, our first post since December. I have to admit, we are all pretty pooped by the end of our winter holiday shows. In addition to rest and attention to neglected duties, we are making new stuff and allowing new ideas for our work and gallery to break dormancy.

Now, it's spring! (sort of) The equinox was a strange day, I thought. Springy looking from the window, but cold and windy outside. Light very late with our new earlier time change. And that brilliant full moon! Nonetheless, green things are poking up and we are getting ready to roll.

Lynn and I celebrated last weekend by going to the Gem show in Hartford. This would be a tonic on any winter day. Look at the sparkle!

Lynn can't decide which to eat first.



Lynn is 1/2 of "Stringing Them Along", our extraordinary beaders. I use all sorts of beads to mix with my hand made clay ones for flower stakes, hooks, wind chimes, and necklaces. (more on these in a later post)

We spent several hours at the gem show and saw wondrous things, but the best were the African beads sold by J-IMPORTS of the Bronx. Owner Abubakar Npakary Juwara haggled with Lynn over some trade beads; pricey, but amazing things.



These are authentic antique trade beads. It was from the mid 1800s through the early 1900s that most of these beads were produced and traded in Africa.





Expect some museum quality bracelets and necklaces using these and other fine beads.





Of course, there were plenty of less pricey contemporary beads of clay, glass, and metal that we took full advantage of. You'll find them in wonderful bracelets for everyday wear, and our very popular kids' bracelets.

Our spring sale will be Friday, May 2 from 5 - 8 PM and Saturday, May 3 from 10 AM to 5 PM. Hope we see you there!

Later, Lisa