Bodega view:
Almost full moon over St. Teresa's Church
January blues group display
Artists of the Month:
Linda Cannefax, weaver
Annie Murphy Springer, new watercolors on YUPO.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
October Oranges
October arrives bringing us the Fall spectrum of colors. Orange is most prominent with pumpkins gracing front yards and store displays. However, Mother Nature doesn't work with just one color. The vineyards turn color, purple-brown to red ,orange to yellow, and soft beige depending on the variety of grape, and our landscape becomes a beautiful patchwork quilt of color.
The co-op is echoing those colors in its display. come by and see how well we've done.
The co-op is echoing those colors in its display. come by and see how well we've done.
Our Artists of the Month are echoing theses colors, too.
Angel Fiorito-Leddy has displayed sandals and slippers in purples,blues, buff and brown as well as a leather vest made cozy with the fur inside.
Angel Fiorito-Leddy has displayed sandals and slippers in purples,blues, buff and brown as well as a leather vest made cozy with the fur inside.
Libby Kirk, one of our newest members,
and serving pieces done in glass. They sparkle
nicely in the sunlight streaming through
our window.
Come visit us and start shopping for the upcoming Holidays.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
September 2011
September marks the change of seasons
and a change in the quality of light.
It is time to leave the clear primary colors of summer
and explore the more muted palette of secondary and tertiary hues.
Check out the display by the Artists of the Month
Carol Sklar and Judy Fisher.
Judy's handwoven coat
is in the soft colors of coral, green, and beige.
Carol's necklace and earrings echo those colors.
Other items in the display play off those colors, too,
and act as grace notes for the whole.
Friday, August 12, 2011
August
August display features
new yarn arrival.Great colors, fibers, and textures for fall.
We have yarn in the new Pantone colors:
"Bamboo, Emberglow,
Honeysuckle, Phlox,
Cedar, Deep Teal,
Coffee Liqueur, Nougat,
Orchid Hush, & Quarry"
Sunday, July 3, 2011
July at the Co-op
The Co-op has accentuated the colors of July -- Red, White and Blue with a sprinkling of Stars!
Come a check out the summer wares and sparkling additions we now have in stock. Light weight silk scarves and cozy shawls for the evening, Embellished denim jackets for the cooler days and Windwalker sandals for the beach excursions in your future.
As always , we are to go to place for gifts and one of a kind objets d'art.
Come a check out the summer wares and sparkling additions we now have in stock. Light weight silk scarves and cozy shawls for the evening, Embellished denim jackets for the cooler days and Windwalker sandals for the beach excursions in your future.
As always , we are to go to place for gifts and one of a kind objets d'art.
Carol Covey is one of our honored Artists this Month. She creates beautiful watercolors and her favorite subjects are flowers. She also produces two lines of cards. One line features her watercolor originals and the other line is a selection of collage creations.
Randy Snyder , one of our potters, is our other
Artist of the Month. Our customers and visitors are amazed by the beautiful and colorful finishes Randy produces in his line of Raku pots and wall plaques. Come see for yourself and select one for yourself or a friend. His work will compliment almost any decor.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
June
Bright colors in the Co-op displays welcome the arrival of warm and sunny June. Splashes of bright pinks, corals, and turquoise--with a slight leavening of yellow--grace the display tables.
The Artists of the Month are Darlene Barr. whose picture quilts raise quilting to a fine art form.
Quilted Images by Darlene Barr
She is joined on the podium by Annie Murphy Springer
whose watercolors of scenes around Sonoma always enchant as Annie sees the world through a palette emphasizing all shades of her favorite color--purple.
Come by to see Annie's newestpaintings and Darlene's exquisit quilted hangings.
Watercolors and cards by Annie Murphy Springer
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
May at the Co-op
Our May displays highlighted BLUE. The thought was to emphasize the color of the Pacific Ocean when it is, in fact, peaceful and to reflect the beautiful clear blue skies overhead.
May, the month, is usually glorious. Instead, May proved to be contrary this year and gave us cold and rainy weather reminiscent of Winter. This, in turn, made the artists staffing the Gallery blue. Blue with the cold weather and blue because of the lack of many customers.
Our Artists of the Month were Ina Stess who has just introduced her line of embellished jeans jackets in childrens' sizes and Vera Van Schaick, one of our most illustrious potters, who featured her Fish Dishes, which were also blue, and other serving pieces inscribed with a fish--or two.
May, the month, is usually glorious. Instead, May proved to be contrary this year and gave us cold and rainy weather reminiscent of Winter. This, in turn, made the artists staffing the Gallery blue. Blue with the cold weather and blue because of the lack of many customers.
Our Artists of the Month were Ina Stess who has just introduced her line of embellished jeans jackets in childrens' sizes and Vera Van Schaick, one of our most illustrious potters, who featured her Fish Dishes, which were also blue, and other serving pieces inscribed with a fish--or two.
Now that the weather has turned truly spectacular, you have no excuse to not come by and see what s new at the Co-op.
Monday, April 11, 2011
April at the Co-Op
Spring has arrived! The Co-op is celebrating -not only Spring, but their 15th year of being a brick and mortar business. To honor the occasion, The Co-op had a 15% off sale on most of the items in the store during the 15th, 16th, and 17th of this month. It's hard to know if being in conjunction with tax day hurt or helped our sales, but it seemed very successful for those who purchased during that time.Since April is the month of Easter this year, the colors highlighted in our displays this month are those of spring and rebirth: clear yellows, pinks and greens with touches of heavenly blue.
Our Artists of the Month are Libby Kirk and Linda Cannefax.
Libby displayed many of her pieces-all with the same lovely green hue. Linda used the space to showcase her hand dyed and handwoven articles highlighting many of the other spring colors.
The Grand Finale for April will be the Members Potluck Celebration on the 30th. Wish you could all join us.
Friday, April 1, 2011
March in the Co-op-The Colors of Spring
If you visited the Artisans' Co-op during our rainy , cold and blustery March, you know that inside the cozy premises was the promise that spring would really come to Bodega.
Artists of the Month Judy Fisher and Carol Covey displayed woven pieces and watercolor paintings that picked up the colors of spring- the blues, lavenders and greens of new growth with punches of of rust and purple as accents. The every changing artists' tableau that is prominently displayed at the front of the store was arranged in shades of green with accents of salmon and rust. Throughout the shop, pieces in these colors were brought to the front of displays, giving a look of unity to the space.
Our display space is revised monthly. come see how artists work with color.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Wonders of Watercolors
Co-op member Annie Murphy Springer made headlines in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat recently.
Columnist Chris Smith wrote that "Retired chief Springer sets canvas afire,"referring to Annie's previous position as Bodega Fire Chief and segueing to her most recent project, WOW.
WOW, an acronym for the Wonders of Watercolor, features Annie as an instructor in the techniques of watercolor on PBS. Currently, two minute snippets are being shown on KRCB and other PBS stations while fund raising goes on for the money and sponsorship necessary to produce half-hour instructional programs.
Annie's current mantra: "I aspire to inspire before I expire!"
photo by Les Kammens, 2010
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
A New Look for February
Ah February! The shortest month of the year has more than its share of special days to celebrate. Valentine's Day comes first with it theme of love and its accent on the color red. This is followed soon after by Presidents' Day which adds the patriotic colors of white and blue to the predominant red. Our shop comes alive with its new color scheme!
On entering, you will see a display featuring several of our artists' work celebrating the color red. Then, look to your left and you will see the Artists of the Month, Randy Snyder and Martha Cant, have arranged a counterpoint to all that red with a display featuring blues and gold and underlined by black.
Then explore the rest of a tiny jewel box of a store. The celebratory colors of red, white and blue will catch your eye throughout.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Changing Space
The 500 square feet that make up the interior of the Artisans' Co-op gets rearranged on a monthly basis. The holiday colors that predominated through the month of December, segued into more muted and tertiary colors in January.
January's artists of the month , Edie Nelson and Angel Fiorito-Leddy, set the tone with a display featuring muted purple and green footwear by Angel and sweaters in calming blue/green tones by Edie. The colors were picked up by displays throughout the shop. First seen upon entering is a display in the neutral colors of beige, brown and mushroom with accents of soft greens and blues. The windows have glass work in blues, greens and an occasional purple which play well with the color theme.
The artists who design the shop change on a monthly basis, depending on their availability, and the color palate changes at the whim of the designers.
Re-evaluating the displays on a monthly schedule allows all the pieces in the shop to take center stage at some time during the year.
January's artists of the month , Edie Nelson and Angel Fiorito-Leddy, set the tone with a display featuring muted purple and green footwear by Angel and sweaters in calming blue/green tones by Edie. The colors were picked up by displays throughout the shop. First seen upon entering is a display in the neutral colors of beige, brown and mushroom with accents of soft greens and blues. The windows have glass work in blues, greens and an occasional purple which play well with the color theme.
The artists who design the shop change on a monthly basis, depending on their availability, and the color palate changes at the whim of the designers.
Re-evaluating the displays on a monthly schedule allows all the pieces in the shop to take center stage at some time during the year.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Several of the Artists involved with the Artisans' Co-op are preparing for a group show at the Gualala Art Center. The following article will fill you in....
“Many Hands- Many Arts” is the title of the group exhibit coming to GAC on December third. It features 14 of the artists who make up part of the membership of the ARTISANS’ CO-OP in Bodega. On checking out the artist list for the show, you will find four weavers, three artists whose work is two dimensional, two potters, two jewelry makers, one knitter, one bootmaker and one gourd artist.
The gourd artist, Kelly Horan, grows the gourds, dries and prepares them for painting and other embellishment, then finishes with wall hangings that are clever, unique and easily find honored places in the homes of people that purchase them.
Bootmaker Angel Fiorito-Leddy has been shaping boots, shoes and slippers from sheepskin and exotic leathers for 30+ years. She also does custom designs in consultation with the purchaser for which she makes molds of your feet, insuring a perfect fit.I’m sure that she will have some of her custom pieces on display.
The knitter in the group, Edie Nelson, has rarely been seen without her knitting needles in motion. All of her creations, from newborn layettes to sweaters for adult men and women, are her own design. I think Edie is a yarn junkie. Many times I’ve seen her stitching away with yarn that has just come into the shop. She’ll tell any who ask that she is knitting samples for the shop so other knitters can see how the new fiber works up. I think that she really needs a new fiber fix---can’t live without it.
Comparing and contrasting artists who work in the same medium can be interesting and instructive. Consider clay. It is a plastic medium to be sure. Carolyn Horan uses clay for sculptures and pit fired vessels. Vera Van Shaick, who claims she’s been playing in the mud since 1976, produces mostly table ware and serving pieces on a wheel and her embellishments, painting, slips and glazes are beautifully done.
The jewelry makers are definitely a study in contrasts. Carol Sklar creates necklaces and earrings using a knotting technique which is really micro macrame. Her work is accented with semi-precious stones. She does have several styles that she uses as a basic pattern for her pieces but, in truth, none are exactly the same. Deborah Jacobson designs and creates jewelry with a wide range of materials: fossils, pearls, seeds,art glass, wood, shells, semi-precious stones and even Mah Jong tiles. Deborah creates pieces of striking originality, allowing the the materials to dictate the design.
The two dimensional artists all produce art that hangs on the wall. However, each works in a different medium. Blanca Harnwell is a photographer who has spent much of her free time catching interesting scenes of Sonoma County with her camera. Diane Price amuses us with her witty and extraordinary pen and ink drawings. Annie Murphy Springer, one of the Grand Dames of Sonoma County artists, is well known for her pleine aire watercolors of western Sonoma County. Watch for her soon on your local PBS station as she teaches “The Wonders of Watercolor”, a new art series she is creating.
One would think that four weavers would be too many for even a group show but, even though each of the women work on looms, they all have different foci which differentiates their work. Martha Cant focuses on the yarn. She is a superb spinner and has her own flock to supply her with wool. Her weavings highlight the beauty of the fiber she is working with. Ina Stess has a wonderful sense of the dramatic and so do her creations. She tends to use bold colors and chunky yarns, occasionally embellishing with Asian nomadic jewelry. Linda Cannefax is very interested in surface design and embellishment and, to that end, she paints her warps before weaving and screen prints designs and/or adds beading after creating a garment from her material. Judy Fisher enjoys weaving complex patterns in her yardage and then constructing clothing and accessories using her handwoven material combined with commercial fabrics.
As a community of artists, these artists not only produce their own work but give verbal and visual stimuli to each other. Come see the show and see which pieces stimulate you. You will experience many pleasant surprises and you can acquire wonderful, unique one-of-a-kind pieces.
The show opens with a reception at the Gualala Art Center on Saturday evening, December 4th and continues through January 2, 2011.
In the meantime,as you cruise through Bodega, stop at the Gallery and see the marvelous selection of art and craft created by over 40 local artists. We are open every day from 11AM to 5PM and, on the first Saturday of each month, free hands-on demonstrations are presented. A free knitting clinic happens on the “teenth” Friday of each month, too. Call for more info- 707-976-9830.
“Many Hands- Many Arts” is the title of the group exhibit coming to GAC on December third. It features 14 of the artists who make up part of the membership of the ARTISANS’ CO-OP in Bodega. On checking out the artist list for the show, you will find four weavers, three artists whose work is two dimensional, two potters, two jewelry makers, one knitter, one bootmaker and one gourd artist.
The gourd artist, Kelly Horan, grows the gourds, dries and prepares them for painting and other embellishment, then finishes with wall hangings that are clever, unique and easily find honored places in the homes of people that purchase them.
Bootmaker Angel Fiorito-Leddy has been shaping boots, shoes and slippers from sheepskin and exotic leathers for 30+ years. She also does custom designs in consultation with the purchaser for which she makes molds of your feet, insuring a perfect fit.I’m sure that she will have some of her custom pieces on display.
The knitter in the group, Edie Nelson, has rarely been seen without her knitting needles in motion. All of her creations, from newborn layettes to sweaters for adult men and women, are her own design. I think Edie is a yarn junkie. Many times I’ve seen her stitching away with yarn that has just come into the shop. She’ll tell any who ask that she is knitting samples for the shop so other knitters can see how the new fiber works up. I think that she really needs a new fiber fix---can’t live without it.
Comparing and contrasting artists who work in the same medium can be interesting and instructive. Consider clay. It is a plastic medium to be sure. Carolyn Horan uses clay for sculptures and pit fired vessels. Vera Van Shaick, who claims she’s been playing in the mud since 1976, produces mostly table ware and serving pieces on a wheel and her embellishments, painting, slips and glazes are beautifully done.
The jewelry makers are definitely a study in contrasts. Carol Sklar creates necklaces and earrings using a knotting technique which is really micro macrame. Her work is accented with semi-precious stones. She does have several styles that she uses as a basic pattern for her pieces but, in truth, none are exactly the same. Deborah Jacobson designs and creates jewelry with a wide range of materials: fossils, pearls, seeds,art glass, wood, shells, semi-precious stones and even Mah Jong tiles. Deborah creates pieces of striking originality, allowing the the materials to dictate the design.
The two dimensional artists all produce art that hangs on the wall. However, each works in a different medium. Blanca Harnwell is a photographer who has spent much of her free time catching interesting scenes of Sonoma County with her camera. Diane Price amuses us with her witty and extraordinary pen and ink drawings. Annie Murphy Springer, one of the Grand Dames of Sonoma County artists, is well known for her pleine aire watercolors of western Sonoma County. Watch for her soon on your local PBS station as she teaches “The Wonders of Watercolor”, a new art series she is creating.
One would think that four weavers would be too many for even a group show but, even though each of the women work on looms, they all have different foci which differentiates their work. Martha Cant focuses on the yarn. She is a superb spinner and has her own flock to supply her with wool. Her weavings highlight the beauty of the fiber she is working with. Ina Stess has a wonderful sense of the dramatic and so do her creations. She tends to use bold colors and chunky yarns, occasionally embellishing with Asian nomadic jewelry. Linda Cannefax is very interested in surface design and embellishment and, to that end, she paints her warps before weaving and screen prints designs and/or adds beading after creating a garment from her material. Judy Fisher enjoys weaving complex patterns in her yardage and then constructing clothing and accessories using her handwoven material combined with commercial fabrics.
As a community of artists, these artists not only produce their own work but give verbal and visual stimuli to each other. Come see the show and see which pieces stimulate you. You will experience many pleasant surprises and you can acquire wonderful, unique one-of-a-kind pieces.
The show opens with a reception at the Gualala Art Center on Saturday evening, December 4th and continues through January 2, 2011.
In the meantime,as you cruise through Bodega, stop at the Gallery and see the marvelous selection of art and craft created by over 40 local artists. We are open every day from 11AM to 5PM and, on the first Saturday of each month, free hands-on demonstrations are presented. A free knitting clinic happens on the “teenth” Friday of each month, too. Call for more info- 707-976-9830.
November Artist of the Month
Carol Sklar has been making tiny half hitch knots for a long time. What sets Carol apart is that she uses slender nylon cord and forms intricate designs with that cord. Her finished products are high end necklaces and earrings with semi-precious stones embedded in the design.
The Co-op always has a selection of her pieces for sale and, many times, you might find Carol minding the store as she ties her tiny knots.
Come by and check it out.
The Co-op always has a selection of her pieces for sale and, many times, you might find Carol minding the store as she ties her tiny knots.
Come by and check it out.
November Artist of the Month
Ina Stess has a long history in fiber arts. At the present time she is mostly known for her weaving and for her knitted "cupcake" baby hats. As this month's artist, she is showcasing her embellishing skills. Ina does a line of jackets where she starts with the iconic jeans jacket. she then dives into her fabric stash and finds wonderful fabrics, usually unusual prints, to applique to the jacket's surfaces.
Ina has an excellent eye for style and balance. What was once a lowly work jacket becomes an item of art clothing that can go to chichi places with aplomb. Come by the co-op to check out her work as well as that of around forty other Sonoma County artists.
Ina has an excellent eye for style and balance. What was once a lowly work jacket becomes an item of art clothing that can go to chichi places with aplomb. Come by the co-op to check out her work as well as that of around forty other Sonoma County artists.
Monday, October 11, 2010
News from the Co-op
Fourteen of the artists associated with the Artisans' Co-op have taken on the challenged of mounting a group exhibit at the Gualala Art Center which will open on Dec 4, 2010 and be there for the entire month.
Participants are: Kelly Horan-gourd artist, Bootmaker Angel Fiorito-Leddy, Edie Nelson -knitter, Carolyn Horan and Vera Van Schaick -potters, Carol Sklar and Deborah Jacobson Jewelry makers, photographer Blanca Harnell, watercolorist Annie Murphy Springer, Diane Price who specializes in pen and ink drawings, and four weavers-Martha Cant, Ina Stess, Linda Cannefax and Judy Fisher.
As members of a community of artists, these artists not only produce their own work but give verbal and visual stimuli to each other. Come see the show and see which pieces stimulate you. You will experience many pleasant surprises and can acquire wonderful, unique one-of-a-kind pieces.
Participants are: Kelly Horan-gourd artist, Bootmaker Angel Fiorito-Leddy, Edie Nelson -knitter, Carolyn Horan and Vera Van Schaick -potters, Carol Sklar and Deborah Jacobson Jewelry makers, photographer Blanca Harnell, watercolorist Annie Murphy Springer, Diane Price who specializes in pen and ink drawings, and four weavers-Martha Cant, Ina Stess, Linda Cannefax and Judy Fisher.
As members of a community of artists, these artists not only produce their own work but give verbal and visual stimuli to each other. Come see the show and see which pieces stimulate you. You will experience many pleasant surprises and can acquire wonderful, unique one-of-a-kind pieces.
October Artist of the Month
Vera Van Schaick claims that she "has been playing in the mud" since 1976. Apparently her affinity for mud has been very educational, for from this basic ingredient Vera creates works that are beautiful and quite functional.
Her place settings are beautiful and calming and her serving pieces manage to be both practical and witty. Come by to see what charms you about her work
Her place settings are beautiful and calming and her serving pieces manage to be both practical and witty. Come by to see what charms you about her work
October Artist of the Month
Judy Fisher is a weaver who loves to cut up- her fabric, that is! She was an accomplished seamstress long before she learned to weave and has no fear about cutting into her yardage.
For years she has tailored and shaped her handwoven fabric, but lately she has acknowledged the strong affinity handwoven cloth has for traditional garments such as the cape, the ruana, the Japanese kimono and the nomadic chapan from the steppes of Asia. These garments and others like them require a minimum of cutting and rely on simple closures to keep them in place. So lately Judy has been playing with these shapes. Her goal is to combine the best attributes of these classic shapes and her finishing techniques to fashion classic and wearable styles.
For years she has tailored and shaped her handwoven fabric, but lately she has acknowledged the strong affinity handwoven cloth has for traditional garments such as the cape, the ruana, the Japanese kimono and the nomadic chapan from the steppes of Asia. These garments and others like them require a minimum of cutting and rely on simple closures to keep them in place. So lately Judy has been playing with these shapes. Her goal is to combine the best attributes of these classic shapes and her finishing techniques to fashion classic and wearable styles.
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