Tuesday, September 27, 2011

80th Annual Plaza Art Fair

Fall is a wonderful time of year in Kansas City to enjoy fairs and festivals.  After the sweltering heat we had this summer, I'm happy to get outside and appreciate the fall weather.  Saturday I attended the Plaza Art Fair with my father, mother and brother.  We had such a beautiful day and really enjoyed the weather, people watching and ambiance of the country club plaza as well as the vast array of art on display at this event. 


This was the 80th annual Plaza Art Fair.  The Art Fair was started during the Depression as a way to attract new customers to the Plaza and to lift people's spirits.  Back in 1932 you could buy a painting for a price of $1 to $10!  The first Art Fair was so successful that it has been continued as a yearly event to this day.  Now the fair attracts a crowd of over 250,000, and it is known as a top ranked national art event with 240 artists from all across the US.  Needless to say, it is a real honour to be chosen as one of the artists to display and sell your artwork at this event. 

A view of the Plaza Art Fair, Sept 24, 2011
There was some very impressive art on display including painting, ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, photography, glass, metalwork, photography, printmaking and of course, jewelry.  One of my personal favorites included a printmaking booth by Marina Terauds of North Branch, MI.  Marina Terauds utilizes the printmaking techniques of etching, mezzotint, aquatint and drypoint to create intricate and beautiful works.  I loved the way she uses chine colle to make her work shine and the details in some of the nature inspired pieces.  She has a wonderful style of mixing fantasy with nature to create scenes that could have come straight from a dream world.  If you'd like to see what I mean, check out her websites,  www.marinaterauds.com and www.studioterauds.com
I also really enjoyed the linocuts and woodcuts of artist Kreg Yingst.  His music inspired creations included great artists from the blues, jazz and rock and roll legends.  He also displayed a whole series of prints based on songs and song lyrics.  My favorite piece was a portrait of John Lennon with a peace sign superimposed and the word "imagine" spelled out in scrabble tiles on the frame.  You can check out his online galleries here,  www.kregyingst.com.
I think one of the more unusual and creative booths had to be David Burton's booth.  He combines toys we all can remember from childhood to create intricate and whimsical pieces of mixed media art.  I recognized many Star Wars action figures I had as a child as well as popular figures such as Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.  He paints the whole scene black to bind the figures and background together and tell a whole new story with them.

Fairgoers enjoying the detailed work of David Burton
You really could get lost in his work for quite some time as you remember the different characters and think about them combined in this slightly twisted way!  Here is David Burton's online gallery,  www.davidburtonartwork.com.

I enjoy all the art at the Art Fair but what really inspires me most is seeing the work of all the different jewelry designers on display.  I loved Kristin and Eric Wornson's beautiful little pendants that contained real pressed flowers, www.skippinglilies.com.  I also liked the jewelry of Jaana Mattson.  She uses soldered glass tiles to showcase natural and vintage materials.  She had a series that encases bird feathers in glass, many of which I recognized from my own birds.  You can check out her Applied Arts Studio here, www.AppliedArtsStudio.com.  My favorite find of the day was from Mary DeMarco, La Contessa.  Her nature inspired work is fun and whimsical, with a bit of glamour and glitz thrown in.  I just couldn't resist this beautiful sea creature bracelet!  My dad surprised me with it as a gift- thank you Dad!

My new sea creatures bracelet by Mary DeMarco, La Contessa
She had another series of designs featuring squirrels and acorns...too adorable!  Check out Mary's work online here, www.lacontessa.com.

I hope you enjoyed my overview of the Plaza Art Fair.  If you are ever in Kansas City in September you really should come check out the fair.  The Plaza is a great place to visit even without the fair but this event really makes it worth a trip! 

One of the Plaza's resident statues, with a view of the fair behind it.

Monday, September 19, 2011

A Treasure Trove of Treasuries

Hello!  I would like to share with you a few of the wonderful treasuries my jewelry has been featured in on Etsy.  I really appreciate these Etsians for putting my work in their collections... please enjoy and if there is something you would like to view in one of these you can click on it and it will take you directly to that item on Etsy.


'In Our Hands' by aimeere


Fabric brooch - Ame...

$15.00
Dried orange slices...

$33.00
Tatting jewelry tat...

$18.00
Classic Distressed ...

$45.00
Ceramic Ring Bowl R...

$8.00
Spring-Original pai...

$450.00
Mini quilted buntin...

$30.00
Fabric Flower Brooc...

$11.90
Modern Reclaimed Up...

$219.00
Gabrielle Three-in-...

$164.00
the thread set out ...

$85.00
Ceramic Cat Sculptu...

$115.00
Diaper bag MIMOSA G...

$79.81
Hand Stamped peace ...

$4.00
Reflection sepia to...

$10.00
Buttons metal cast...

$4.00

'Harvest Picks' by WeeBindery


Zombie Art Doll, Be...

$32.00
Green Shell and Bra...

$10.00
Greeting Card, Spir...

$6.00
Honey Yellow Cup Co...

$17.50
Ring. Blooming Gree...

$12.00
Baby Girl Blanket i...

$29.00
Handmade sterling s...

$32.00
Bridesmaid thank yo...

$10.00
Fine Art Print, Pho...

$100.00
Scarflette Organic ...

$24.00
Button Necklace in ...

$24.00
Porcelain Rabbit Fa...

$12.00
2T to 4T Toddler Vi...

$31.00
Day 2 - Paris Mont...

$11.00
Grey Pearl earrings...

$25.00
Summer Bouquet - Or...

$20.00

'Choco Nuts' by galafilc

Enjoy & have a great day!

Divine Gold Tassel ...

$79.00
Chocolate Luv Panca...

$8.75
Vintage Pecan Hand ...

$28.00
felted fingerless g...

$26.00
Copper Collection E...

$15.00
Skies Above necklac...

$83.00
The Ponderosa Cowbo...

$20.00
Your choice of anim...

$30.00
Borsellino RoccoccÃ...

$8.00
Vintage 70s Indian ...

$230.99
Bear Hug - Vintage ...

$86.00
Secret Circle ring ...

$39.00
Cream Mad Hatter Ri...

$36.00
Vintage Industrial ...

$20.00
Pair of Fabulous At...

$155.00
Guinness Beer Box ...

$3.50

'Pastel beauty' by UnaPhoto


Blush Mineral Makeu...

$14.00
Ruffle Dress Flappe...

$53.00
Airplane Photo - 8x...

$65.00
Dragonfly glasses s...

$25.99
ORIGINAL Abstract A...

$80.00
Light Pink boots, g...

$55.00
Pink and Gray Skinn...

$18.95
Jumbo Bubble Chande...

$3000.00
Pink Vase Gift Two ...

$22.00
Midsummer Night'...

$115.00
Trees, Trees, Trees...

$125.00
Heaven's Tears ...

$28.00
Buttons, glass, not...

$1.95

'Autumn Falling leaves ...' by piscesandfishes


Audry -------- Hand...

$78.00
Silver decorated St...

$32.00
Pears Reproduction ...

$20.00
Custom Couple Poste...

$30.00
Adjustable Button R...

$21.00
Crossing Paths Quil...

$195.00
Custom Initial Char...

$29.00
Cream And Nude Colo...

$36.00
THE DOOR TO...fine ...

$15.00
Jewelry Paper- Orig...

$10.00
Autumn - art print ...

$29.00
Vintage Tea cups a...

$12.00
Modern Love Affair ...

$28.00
Zara - Limited Edit...

$23.00
Sunglasses Sleeve

$10.00
Antiqued Copper Flo...

$3.00

'Pink to make the boys wink!' by gingerteaphotography

sometimes we all feel a little bit girly!

Oprah crystal hoop ...

$52.00
Rose - Pink Flower ...

$3.00
Felted handbag flow...

$69.00
Into the Bloom - Si...

$40.00
Personalised Hangin...

$5.50
Your Royal Highness...

$183.00
Champagne & Roses n...

$108.00
Pink and Champagne ...

$950.00
Pink Daisy Painting...

$89.00
Christmas Stocking ...

$48.00
Paris Photography -...

$45.00
Hot Pink Peony in t...

$15.00
Swalcliffe Marie An...

$40.00
Hot pink Zebra Phot...

$25.00
Marie Antoinette Bo...

$24.95
Dont worry be Hippy...

$34.99

'He who wishes to secure the good of others, Has already secured his own' by GlassKissinCreations

Confucius said it perfectly. Madcap Charity has generous members that want to help others, With all these wonderful items, from charitable people, you can do just that. Give something good to others while giving something good to yourself!

Donation to Madcap ...

$29.84
Oprah crystal hoop ...

$52.00
Peace Be With You n...

$78.00
Hand printed table ...

$41.00
Beach Photography o...

$10.00
friendship bracelet...

$6.50
Bath Salts with REA...

$10.99
Anck Su Namun Egypt...

$47.00
silk flower brooch,...

$6.00
Ethnic angel Sachie...

$15.00
Half stack apron, 2...

$20.00
Gold Filled Bar Nec...

$32.00

'Layers of Serenity' by ME2Designs

These featured items [all from Team Madcap members] are in shades of neutral in white and gray/grey, but explore the amazing shapes and layers and depth contained in these treasures! Enjoy!

Hand knit Ribbed Sc...

$35.00
Cameo on Gray Toppe...

$20.00
Knitted Cowl or Nec...

$35.00
Photograph, Saguaro...

$27.00
Under the Sea White...

$55.00
Large Vintage Kodak...

$68.00
White apple blossom...

$35.00
Ruffed Linen Scarf-...

$65.00
Sea Treasure neckla...

$76.00
Here Comes the Brid...

$24.00
Black Pepper Soap

$5.00
Vintage Industrial ...

$75.00
Vintage Bridal Veil...

$29.99
Vintage Metal File ...

$115.00
Porcelain Doll Part...

$9.00

Aren't they pretty?  I am very happy to be featured- thank you to each seller for including me with all these lovely finds!  Until next time...