The New & Improved ARTISTREE GALLERY....

What a delightful day I had on Wednesday, taking my mother to visit the new digs of The ARTISTREE GALLERY in Land O' Lakes. I can't tell you how surprised I was to walk in the door...speaking of which, in my amazement, I forgot to take a picture of this beautiful arched entry, with an artfully carved wooden door. The hard work of the 20 some artists who make up this group has certainly paid off. Their new home  invites you in to languish in all of it's spaciousness, while you take in all the quality artwork at your leisure. You can even sit a spell and peruse various Art books. The large front windows provide an abundance of natural light, enhancing my stain glass windows, much to my delight. It inspires me to race back to my studio and let those creative juices flow. There is a variety of work being offered here which ranges from Watercolors, Jewelry, Ceramics, Baskets, Quilting, Painting,Weaving, Photography, Hooked Designs and Stained Glass with many variations of all of the above. And no doubt some others I have forgotten. This particular day, weaver and spinner Mary Jackl was working, and you can see her spinning at the bottom of the page. If you get the chance, take a drive to Land O'Lakes and take in this wonderful new space, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Remember to click on any of the photos to enlarge.

Some Heart Shaped Earrings just for Gail...

These photos aren't the greatest, but at least you can get an idea of how they look. The irridescent shard is sometimes difficult to photograph and hard to nail the exact color.

CREATIVE ARTS WALK

 The Creative Arts Walk is coming to Rhinelander on Thursday of this week from 5-8 pm. It's an event sponsored by the DownTown Rhinelander Group to further the Arts. They have some ambitious goals but need your support to make them happen. This years event has some added features beside the regular fanfare of Artists. Local restaurants will be offering tastings of their favorite dishes and there'll be some fun things for kids as well. For more info check the their FaceBook page  Downtown Rhinelander, Inc     I have a few new pendants that will be available for the Arts Walk . Pictured here is one with a Fine Silver tiwisted wire bail and Cobalt Lampwork Glass bead with Glass shards and Murrini.

This pendant is suspended on a long rubber cord with a wire work stirrup to hold the Lampwork Glass bead. This bead also has Murrini and Fine Silver mesh and is paired with Freshwater Pearls Sterling beads and Dutch Dogans.And last is a Fine Silver creation with multiple textures and spheres dropped from a Rubber cord. Maybe tomorrow I might have some Earring photos. Check back and see!

A Day at the Northwoods Art Tour...

Here's Gallery owner Rodd Umlauf smiling next to his infamous YEP (meaning Yep we're Open) Sign.One of Amy Higgason's bowls for which I made a Salad Set in the same glass colors as her glazes.Amy and her guest artist Kaitlyn Koester, also a potter, pose in front of the murals that visitors helped to create.

And a special visitor to the Umlauf Studio...beautiful Bella! I hope you come back and see us again Bella.

And oh yes, here's me pointing out the pink Holly hocks that got rave reviews from customers.

NORTHWOODS ART TOUR

I have been very busy this week getting ready for the upcoming Northwoods Art Tour and just wanted to show you a couple more things that will be available at Umlauf Art Studio. The first is a Fine Silver pendant with a pink Tourmaline and Aqua Aura and a pair of  Fine Silver earrings lightly oxidized. I'll be bringing my torch for some demos on Saturday so you can see just how those glass beads are really made. Luckily we have a fine location right in downtown Lake Tomahawk, and there are some excellent stops nearby like Pigeon Road Pottery. I'll have some utensils there to match some of Amy's beautiful pottery. Things like a cheese knife, canape set and a Salad Set. I'll have to get some better photos tomorrow, so you can see how they look together. Ok back to work ....hope to see some of your faces. 

Upcoming Events

Yes this week will be a very busy week , as was last week, and probably the week after that. Why? well this weekend is the start of the Northwoods Art Tour on July 23 -25   Friday -Sunday. Many local Artists will team up with other artists and open their studio doors for visitors. There should be many demonstrations, opportunities to learn, and the chance to talk with artists themselves. I'll be at The Rodd Umlauf Gallery and will bring my portable torch for some demos on lamp work glass beadmaking. For more info on the Tour just click on the link on the right and you'll find all the information you need to navigate the Northwoods and visit as many places as you like. In the meantime enjoy this piece with it's twisted Sterling wire bail with flamed ends, and Lampwork bead with Fine Silver mesh and Murrini.

Some Recently Sold Items....

Two strands of warm olive green freshwater Pearls with a Lampwork glass bead hollow made with fine silver mesh and metallic glass shards, and a Fine Silver leaf charm.

A Salad Serving set with beaded handles that match the colors of the glazes on the bowl at the bottom, by local  potter and friend Amy Higgason. Hmmm......I already have a bowl, I probably should have a set too!

The SHOP HOP Event....

If you're in Minocqua on Thursday night, the 17th of June be sure to stop by Bassett Jewelers for the After Hours Island SHOP HOP Event by participating stores. You can see these 2 pieces there along with myself and the other local artists who have their work for sale there. You can get more info if you click on Bassett Jewelers on the right of this entry. There are 4 other establishments taking part as well.

The pendant is an oxidized Fine Silver piece on a rubber cord. The earrings are gold hoops, with a pewter colored disk bead and oxidized Fine Silver disks.

In Memoriam.....

Briary Nan Furda, fondly known as "The Nannercakes" left us on Thursday June 3, 2010 just before her 15th birthday. She will be greatly missed by  all her loved ones and her best buddy Mick.  We'll be thinking of you often.

So What's New This Season..........

Well, I do live in Wisconsin and what do you think we eat a lot of here? Yes it's cheese! We have access to some of the best cheeses around. If you haven't tried some award winning Artisanal Cheeses from places like Carr Valley, Sartori and many of the smaller cheese makers in our state, you really need to. One of my favorites is from the Uplands Region in Southwest ,WI called Pleasant Ridge Reserve from the  Uplands Cheese CO.   http://www.uplandscheese.com/   It has a wonderful creamy taste and it's made from the milk of their own cows who have grazed only grass. So production only takes place when there's grass to be eaten, obviously. Hook's Paradise Blue Cheese is another favorite and is located in the Mineral Point area. Salads have never tasted so good! So I think...... special cheeses need special knives. Both of these have one of my Lampworked Glass beads on the end, one is done in a Silver glass, the other with lots of Silver Leaf, Fine Silver mesh and colorful Murrini. You can find one at Chocolates & More in Mincoqua, The Rodd Umlauf Gallery in Lake Tomahawk, and Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI.