There were lots of choices in food, great household
decorating from wall art to items to snazzy up the garden. It was easy enough
to find a wish list big enough to empty one’s bank account! For those of you
who have followed my blog, you know jewelry and stones have a very special
place in my heart.
There were probably 20 or more jewelry artists on hand
myself not being one of them. The jewelry ranged from crafty kitsch to
commercial in efforts, but as always there were a few I found that had something
in their design or artistic endeavors different worth mentioning.
I found a very earthy and fun artist in Zena McCoy who runs
Semilla designs, she crafts jewelry from various unique seeds. While looking
great is one thing, but how about light weight? Yes I hardly noticed what I
tried on, this is definitely jewelry that will not weigh you down.
I also found a sweetheart of an artist in Mandy Allen who
runs Allen metal arts out of Protland, Or. She
had clean contemporary work with lots of color and urban style. She was open to
explaining her processes and was really someone who cares about their work.
The display ran by Dale and Karen Snyder was a fun three dimensional
treat. They used weaved, knotted, and twisted metal wire. Around glass, stone,
and even covered the ground from precision to freeform work. As a couple they
were funny, engaging and warm, that lent a lot to how their display felt and definitely
made you want to stay! They will be happy to see you at Ential River Glass & Jewelry
Alice Macdonald runs Chrysalis and has a real eye and execution
to let you into a world of fantasy. Her jewelry has a bit of free form to it,
but it is really one of the few artistic designs that I felt merited a real
shot in the arm. Her designs are like stepping into another time and place, one
where you do not have to be yourself. Her art is as special as the best
costumes are, in the way they can take you away to somewhere else. Her vision
is hers and anyone of us would be lucky to own one of her matched sets!
There were a few artists like Beate Degen, her work was
great and earthy, but I really felt you all need to catch her work while you
can! Her work is so underpriced it is a steal for all of us! Catch her work at
shows and earthworthjewels.com.
I must say Vincent LaRochelle was like a throwback to a time
of innocence. His work reminded me of when artists had the ability to be openly
free, more than our daily routines in the modern era can provide. The one thing I feel most people will not see
in his work is the quality and uniqueness of the stones he cuts. Hands down he
had the best colors and vision in his cuts and choices. Go see his work at
Designslarochelle.com.
Terrance Deemer and his partner Michele Black had very
modern visions and organic styling. The magnetic clasps they had designed were
so simple and solid and that set them apart from anything else at the show that
was even in a similar vein. Catch their work at upcoming shows and at
esoterica-id.com.
Outside of jewelry I have to mention Pamela Milewski of
Merry Canyon Studio. Her wood work was clean and precise but had such a great
feel it even made my artist husband stop and really look. From furniture to
decorating her work is at home and is a joy to look at. Yes you can have
functional cabinets and small trunks, dark woods and light woods, all of which
is very, very special. See her work at merrycanyonstudio.com.
