Ina Stess has been immersed in fiber arts since she learned to sew at a very young age. She has a long history of trying out and then mastering needlepoint, knittting, quilting, bargello, crewel and macrame and then teaching these techniques to others.
A few decades ago, Ina received a loom as a birthday present and, although her other textile skills are still practiced, weaving became a major focus. She now creates a line of woven purses, ruanas and scarves as well as knitted baby hats.
Ina's use of color is what sets her work apart from others. She likes and uses bright primary colors and lots of black. Her work definitely stands out and makes one smile!
Friday, October 9, 2009
October Artist of the Month
Edie Nelson learned to knit at her mother's knee and has taken the basic stitches to new heights. She is always knitting. She designs her own stitch combinations and drafts her own patterns and produces sweaters for men and women and also hats, gloves and scarves. Baby sweaters hats and booties as well as gloves and mittens are also part of her output.
Edie is also very interested in passing knitting skills on to others and to that end, offers a knitting clinic monthly at the co-op. She will help, advise and encourage novice knitters as well as those who are stumped by directions in a knitting pattern. She will even give a knitting lesson to those who have never knitted.
Edie is also very interested in passing knitting skills on to others and to that end, offers a knitting clinic monthly at the co-op. She will help, advise and encourage novice knitters as well as those who are stumped by directions in a knitting pattern. She will even give a knitting lesson to those who have never knitted.
september artist of the Month
Darlene Barr quilts, but her quilting transcends the ubiquitous bed cover. Darlene used to paint with watercolors, but then quilting caught her eye and her imagination. Fabric can be pulled, distorted, layered and it is movable.
Darlene confesses that she doesn't follow directions well and, because of that, approached quilting as an extension of painting rather than sewing. She likes
the texture and the ease of moving components in a quilt design. She has an affinity for graphic art and enjoys playing with shapes and negative spaces.
She taught herself what she needed to know about quilting and the results are stunning.Along with her art pieces, she also produces table runners and pillows. Come by the Artisans' Co-op and see what she has to offer.
Darlene confesses that she doesn't follow directions well and, because of that, approached quilting as an extension of painting rather than sewing. She likes
the texture and the ease of moving components in a quilt design. She has an affinity for graphic art and enjoys playing with shapes and negative spaces.
She taught herself what she needed to know about quilting and the results are stunning.Along with her art pieces, she also produces table runners and pillows. Come by the Artisans' Co-op and see what she has to offer.
September Artist of the Month
Adriane Hatkoff has spent her adult life as a professional artist. First as a children's book illustrator, then as a textile designer and now, following her deepest passion, painting with water colors that celebrate the Northern California landscapes and seascapes.
She is a prolific painter and her palette is vibrant with luminous colors. Her art cards and giclee prints of her pieces are available in the Artisans' co-op.
Adriane also teaches watercolor painting through the Santa Rosa Junior College and most recently is teaching a class at the Russian River Senior Center in Guernville.
She is a prolific painter and her palette is vibrant with luminous colors. Her art cards and giclee prints of her pieces are available in the Artisans' co-op.
Adriane also teaches watercolor painting through the Santa Rosa Junior College and most recently is teaching a class at the Russian River Senior Center in Guernville.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Randy Snyder, has recently joined the Artisans' Co-op as a potter specializing in RAKU. Raku translates to mean enjoyment, contentment, pleasure and happiness according to Randy and that is what you will feel when you first view his elegant vases and containers with their sophisticated shapes and their matte to metallic finishes.
Randy got hooked on throwing pots while in high school and kept throwing them through his college years and part-time while trying various career avenues. He finally decided that the thing he loved to do was pottery and has been a full time artist for the last 15 years.
He also teaches at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and in Rohnert Park.
Randy got hooked on throwing pots while in high school and kept throwing them through his college years and part-time while trying various career avenues. He finally decided that the thing he loved to do was pottery and has been a full time artist for the last 15 years.
He also teaches at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and in Rohnert Park.
Christine Schreier is also a new member of the Artisans' Co-op and our only doll maker. She was born and raised in Germany and was engaged in "handwork" from an early age, however the genesis of her doll making started in 1976 when she created one for her child for Christmas. Her style and technique improved and soon she started selling in Zurich. The family moved to California and then to Florida and Tennessee and back to California with other adventures in between. During this time, Christine continued to perfect her art and sell it.
Christine has has several styles of dolls on display and ready for new homes at the Co-op. The dolls include gnomes, finger puppets, forest folk and the sweetest cuddly dolls you will ever see.
Christine has has several styles of dolls on display and ready for new homes at the Co-op. The dolls include gnomes, finger puppets, forest folk and the sweetest cuddly dolls you will ever see.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
July Artist of the Month
Judy Fisher is a weaver who usually deals with yarns and looms and fabrics. However, when the lavender is in bloom, you will find Judy harvesting it and transforming it into lavender wands, lavender sachets and lavender bouquets which she brings to the co-op to sell.
Lavender wands are made by taking a fresh bunch of lavender and tying it tightly right below the flower heads. Then the bouquet is turned upside down and the stems around the flower heads are carefully bent over the flowers and ribbon is woven through the stems to form a tight basket. This allows the lovely aroma of lavender permeate the area, but keeps the flowers contained.
She has found out that these have been woven since at least the Middle Ages. They were used to tuck in between stored linens to keep the bugs away. Judy puts lavender among her weaving yarns for the same purpose, to keep the bugs away.
Judy will be demonstrating lavender wand construction at the co-op on July 23 ( it is a Thursday) and you are invited to join her and make your own. Bring about 2 yards of your favorite ribbon and join the fun.
Judy Fisher is a weaver who usually deals with yarns and looms and fabrics. However, when the lavender is in bloom, you will find Judy harvesting it and transforming it into lavender wands, lavender sachets and lavender bouquets which she brings to the co-op to sell.
Lavender wands are made by taking a fresh bunch of lavender and tying it tightly right below the flower heads. Then the bouquet is turned upside down and the stems around the flower heads are carefully bent over the flowers and ribbon is woven through the stems to form a tight basket. This allows the lovely aroma of lavender permeate the area, but keeps the flowers contained.
She has found out that these have been woven since at least the Middle Ages. They were used to tuck in between stored linens to keep the bugs away. Judy puts lavender among her weaving yarns for the same purpose, to keep the bugs away.
Judy will be demonstrating lavender wand construction at the co-op on July 23 ( it is a Thursday) and you are invited to join her and make your own. Bring about 2 yards of your favorite ribbon and join the fun.
July Artist of the Month
Carol Covey is one of our newest artists and we are very impressed with her watercolor and pen paintings and note cards. Carol tells us that her daughters got her interested in painting when they asked her to join them in art classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. She found her passion and has been enjoying painting for friends and family, for charity events and for sale for the last fifteen years.
Carol's palette is inspired by the colors, hues and textures found in nature's garden, which is very appropriate when you see that most of her paintings are of flowers and foliage.
Another thing of note, all of her cards are hand painted originals and could be easily framed.
Carol Covey is one of our newest artists and we are very impressed with her watercolor and pen paintings and note cards. Carol tells us that her daughters got her interested in painting when they asked her to join them in art classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. She found her passion and has been enjoying painting for friends and family, for charity events and for sale for the last fifteen years.
Carol's palette is inspired by the colors, hues and textures found in nature's garden, which is very appropriate when you see that most of her paintings are of flowers and foliage.
Another thing of note, all of her cards are hand painted originals and could be easily framed.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Judy Lange is the other Artist that we are honoring this June. Judy is one of the original founders of Artisans' Co-op and has been a valued member who is always available for input, brainstorming and the hard physical labor that is sometimes involved. Judy has been educated in science as well as the arts. They way she tells it is that she earned a degree in chemistry as a young woman and, when she was ready to return to the workforce several years later, she looked into getting a teaching certificate at San Jose State. She got sidetracked and a few years later left SJSU with a BFA and an MFA.
Judy focused on pottery first. Then came the sheep. What started out as lawn mowers and lamb chops segued into breeding sheep and goats for their spinnable fleece. Along with the fleece came exploring the art and science of dyeing with both vegetable and chemical dyes, spinning and needle felting. Judy has and will teach all of these things. She sells her wool and mohair fleece and needle felting kits and supplies at the Co-op. If you are lucky enough to visit while she is staffing the shop, you will find her knowledgable about almost all craft techniques .
Judy focused on pottery first. Then came the sheep. What started out as lawn mowers and lamb chops segued into breeding sheep and goats for their spinnable fleece. Along with the fleece came exploring the art and science of dyeing with both vegetable and chemical dyes, spinning and needle felting. Judy has and will teach all of these things. She sells her wool and mohair fleece and needle felting kits and supplies at the Co-op. If you are lucky enough to visit while she is staffing the shop, you will find her knowledgable about almost all craft techniques .
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Annie Murphy Springer, one of the artists we are featuring in June, has been using watercolors to capture the scenic beauty of Bodega and environs for many years. A prolific artist, she has exhibited in many area shows and is active in the area art community as a teacher and promoter.
On June 6 and 7, Annie hosted a free, hands-on demonstration at the Artisans' Co-op that encouraged everyone to try their hand at various watercolor techniques and discover their "inner artist."
Annie loves teaching and is always exploring ways to engage different segments of the population in the making of art. Her most recent class was named "Watercolor for Guys." I am the wrong gender for that class, but I understand that the guys loved it and it was so successful that she will be offering it again soon. I also heard that the men got to paint with hammers and screwdrivers!
Annie's art is on display and available for purchase at the Artisans' Co-op.
On June 6 and 7, Annie hosted a free, hands-on demonstration at the Artisans' Co-op that encouraged everyone to try their hand at various watercolor techniques and discover their "inner artist."
Annie loves teaching and is always exploring ways to engage different segments of the population in the making of art. Her most recent class was named "Watercolor for Guys." I am the wrong gender for that class, but I understand that the guys loved it and it was so successful that she will be offering it again soon. I also heard that the men got to paint with hammers and screwdrivers!
Annie's art is on display and available for purchase at the Artisans' Co-op.
Friday, May 8, 2009
May Artists of the Month
EDITH B. NELSON award winning knitter
Edie remembers learning to knit when she was three years old. Her mother was knitting scarves and bandages for soldiers in WWII and Edie was fascinated by her mother's work. She soon was knitting on her own projects and her interest has never diminished. She went on to socks and sweaters and to developing her own designs.
All Edie's pices are originals and the fiber usually inspires the piece. He sweaters are widely sought after and, with proper care, will become treasured family heirlooms.
Edie remembers learning to knit when she was three years old. Her mother was knitting scarves and bandages for soldiers in WWII and Edie was fascinated by her mother's work. She soon was knitting on her own projects and her interest has never diminished. She went on to socks and sweaters and to developing her own designs.
All Edie's pices are originals and the fiber usually inspires the piece. He sweaters are widely sought after and, with proper care, will become treasured family heirlooms.
May Artists of the Month
Martha McMurray Cant- Shepard, Spinner and Weaver
Martha moved to acreage in Sonoma County in the 1970's and soon found a need for "living lawn mowers" to keep vegetation in check. These mowers--sheep to city folk---needed to be shorn yearly and one thing led to another. She soon was developing a breeding program and STARBUCK STATION WOOLS was born to produce superior fleeces for hand spinners
Martha's sheep wear coats most of the year to protect the wool from dirt and vegetable matter. She sells well skirted whole and half fleeces "in the grease" from the ranch in Freestone and processed wool roving by weight at the Artisans' co-op.
Martha is also a fiber artist of note. Displayed this month are skeins of handspun yarn, knitted and woven accessories and a hand spun, hand dyed, hand woven rug with a turkish knot pile which took Best of Show a few years ago at the Sonoma County Fair
Martha moved to acreage in Sonoma County in the 1970's and soon found a need for "living lawn mowers" to keep vegetation in check. These mowers--sheep to city folk---needed to be shorn yearly and one thing led to another. She soon was developing a breeding program and STARBUCK STATION WOOLS was born to produce superior fleeces for hand spinners
Martha's sheep wear coats most of the year to protect the wool from dirt and vegetable matter. She sells well skirted whole and half fleeces "in the grease" from the ranch in Freestone and processed wool roving by weight at the Artisans' co-op.
Martha is also a fiber artist of note. Displayed this month are skeins of handspun yarn, knitted and woven accessories and a hand spun, hand dyed, hand woven rug with a turkish knot pile which took Best of Show a few years ago at the Sonoma County Fair
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Welcome to BY HAND, the blog of the Artisans' Co-op located in Bodega California.
We will be spotlighting our artists and their works,upcoming events and demonstrations, and the unique pieces that are available in our gallery.
We will go behind the scene and find out how art is crafted.
We will explore what is involved with being an artist
We hope to publish essays by our artists
and
We will post lots of pictures
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