Fern House Studio

Beads, Baubles & Fleece Downeast

2011-09-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Beads, Baubles & Fleece Downeast:Fall Bead, Jewelry & Fiber show
3rd Annual Show. Newly Expanded!
Friday October 14, noon-7pm
Saturday October 15, 9am-4pm
Ramada Inn (Tennis Court area)
215 High Street, Ellsworth, Maine

Doorprize of over $150 of beads and goodies.
$2 Admission Adults, children 12 and under free. Admission will be donated to The Ginger Manna Scholarship Fund, in loving memory of the show's co-founder, Ginger Manna, who passed away on June 21, 2011.

45+ Vendors will be participating at the show, including Bead Shops, area jewelers and fiber artists.
Something for everyone:
Featuring both supplies and finished work.
BEADS: Czech glass, gemstones, vintage, porcelain, crystal, pearls, lampwork, findings, and more.
JEWELRY: Handcrafted by talented artisans.
NEW! FIBER SUPPLIES: Handspun and hand dyed Yarn, Roving, Buttons and more.
NEW! FINISHED FIBER ART: Knit, woven and felted clothing, accessories and more.

Snacks + light meals available at the show from Cleonice Bistro.
FMI: www.giftedhandshow.com/events.htm or call Christina at 664-2404

Bring your ticket from the Beads, Baubles & Fleece Show to The Grand Box office on October 14th or 15th, and receive $2 off admission to see the movie Handmade Nation, playing at The Grand Theatre in Ellsworth Fri. Oct. 14 at 7:30pm and Sat. Oct. 15 at 7:00pm

July Gifted Hand Shop is Opening For Biz

2011-06-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

I will be opening a Gifted Hand Pop-Up Shop for the month of July in downtown Ellsworth. This fabulous shop will feature work by 20 Maine artisans. We'll have something for everyone, and it's a great shopping destination for your summer guests. We'll also feature a bead shop downstairs. The shop is located at Gallery Grand, 169 Main Street, downtown Ellsworth (between the Sugar 'n Spice Bake Shop and The Grand Theater). We are open six days a week: Monday - Thursday 10am - 5pm, Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday by appointment. Shop phone number is: 460-1243. (the earrings above are by Emily Delfin.)

You can find work by the following talented artisans at the shop:

Barbara Fleming (Silverdust) • Beaded Jewelry
Jodi Clayton (One Lupine Fiber Arts) • Felted Accessories and Clothing
Jim Crampton (JHC Wood & Glass) • Woodwork
Emily Delfin (Reflections Jewelry) • Jewelry
Kendra Haskell (Whimsy) • Adult & Children's Clothing
Christina Heiniger (Fern House Studio) • Fine Art, Puppets and Cards
Sihaya Hopkins (Blossom Studio) • Lampwork Glass Jewelry
Leslie Jones (Tangled Web Designs) • Beaded Jewelry
Jenny King • Jewelry and Beads
Christine Leith (Eggemoggin Textile Studio) • Handwovens and Shibori Dyed Scarves
Kaitlyn Metcalf (Moss Keep Studio) • Acrylic Paintings on Maps
Jennifer Miller (Undercover Concepts) • Quilts, Doll Clothes and Other Sewn Goods
Linden O'Ryan (Linden O'Ryan Studio) • Watercolors and Lampshades
Lindsay Pinchbeck (Pinch Me Cards) • Handmade Cards & Upcycled Kids T-shirts
Rebekah Raye • Fine Art Cards and Prints
Jane Story (Good Impressions Pottery) • Pottery
Betsy Thompson (Betsy Thompson Studio) • Fine Art: Mixed Media Collage
Anna Woolf (Wild Card Pottery) • Pottery
Kirsten Hardy (Anabelfuzz) • Children's clothing and other sewn goods
Ken Carpenter (Maine Hooked Rugs) • Hand-hooked Rugs, Housewares & Furnishings

New Logo for The Fall Bead, Jewelry & Fiber Show

2011-04-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

I'm choosing a logo for our exciting expanded Bead, Jewelry & Fiber show in Ellsworth on October 14 and 15. Help me choose by leaving a comment about which logo you prefer, and you may win a 4pack of Fern House Studio cards. One person who posts their opinion will be randomly chosen as the winner, so please leave your feedback. We'll call the first one the ball of yarn and beads and we'll call the second one the rectangular logo. Thanks for your help.

Spring Bead and Jewelry Show

2011-03-24T17:08:00.000-07:00

There’s no two ways about it: beads are hot! Beading and jewelry making have exploded in recent years as both a hobby and vocation. Keeping on trend, Ellsworth has it’s own Spring bead & jewelry event. The Third Annual Beads & Baubles Downeast Bead & Jewelry Show is taking place at The Ramada Inn on April 8 + 9 this year. The show will feature about 25 vendors showing and selling beads, gems, buttons & beading supplies as well as lovely finished jewelry by local artisans. The most popular types of beads will be well represented: Czech glass, freshwater pearls, Swarovski Crystal, lampwork glass, and gemstone beads.

There will be a large selection of locally created lampwork glass by Sihaya Hopkins of Brooklin, Ray Cooper of Blue Hill, Beverly Lamoureux of Franklin, Kathleen Henderson of Penobscot, and Debrae Bishop of Sargentville. Lampwork glass is a traditional form of glasswork with roots in Murano, Italy. Beads are formed from colorful glass rods that are melted over the open flame of a torch into beads and buttons with sparkling color and texture. Lampwork beads can also be formed into shapes such as animals, and there will be many fine examples of lampwork glass beads in all shapes and colors at the show.

The Bead Show will also feature artisan created polymer clay beads and buttons, created using a millefiori caning technique. The variously colored polymer clay is mixed to create various patterns and sliced to show the cross section of the design. Both Priscilla Wentworth of Searsport and Suzanne Anderson of Yikes! Studio in Lucerne will offer their polymer clay beads, buttons, and jewelry at the show.

Several bead shops will be on hand to offer advice as well as offer a large selection of new and vintage beads and buttons. Bennett’s Gems of Belfast will display an impressive selection of gems and gemstone beads. The Beaded Moose of Bangor, which specializes in Czech glass, will bring a selection of beads for sale. Downeast Sticks 'n Stones of Brewer and Butterfly Beads of Old Town will also be on hand with a large selection of beads from their shops.

For those who prefer to purchase finished jewelry, several local artisans will be on hand with their beaded bracelets, necklaces, earrings and stash beads. Emily Delfin of Holden specializes in pieces created with Swarovski Crystal and gemstone, while Lisa Salsbury of Ellsworth works in precious metal clay (PMC) and a variety of beading techniques. Janelle Delicata of Prospect works in PMC as well. Diane Allen of Blue Hill has won National awards for her intricately beaded pearl and crystal jewelry. Leslie Jones of Tangled Web Designs in Southwest Harbor will display her beaded jewelry featuring cabochons.

This year folks attending the show can also purchase snacks and light meals right at the show. Sassafrass Catering of Bar Harbor will be onsite selling sandwiches, baked goods, coffee, and more to fortify shoppers.

Also at the show: artisan created dichroic glass by Nancy Tang of Glass Orchids, porcelain beads, felt beads, focal beads and pendants and findings. This will be the largest selection of beads and buttons available in the area until the Fall Bead Show returns in October. This will be a fun event and I hope you all can join us.

March News

2011-02-28T16:29:00.000-08:00

Great News! The Gifted Hand Artisan Shop will be open for an extended run through March. I originally popped up the shop just for February, but I had an opportunity to continue on in the space for another month, so...The shop will be open until March 30th. Our fabulous downstairs BEAD SHOP will be open through March as well. All this located at Gallery Grand, 169 Main Street, Downtown Ellsworth.

I'm currently also making preparations for our 3rd Annual SPRING BEAD & JEWELRY SHOW, which will take place on April 8 & 9 @ the Ellsworth Ramada . I've ordered new beads for this event, and I'm putting them out at the downstairs BEAD SHOP at Gallery Grand as they arrive, so stop in for a "first look and grab." Arriving March 1st -3rd: real freshwater pearls in lots of shapes and colors (and my usual excellent prices!), unique freshwater cluster pearl beads (very limited supply!), gorgeous vintage-style Czech glass buttons, delicate silver plate filagree beads and so much more.

If you visit the Spring Bead & Jewelry Show on April 8 & 9, you'll find lots of Maine artisan created beads in lampworked glass, polymer clay and and dichronic glass, as well as a large selection of Czech glass, gemstones, porcelain beads, seed beads, and the most beautiful array of artisan created beaded jewelry in the area. It's truly a treat to visit this fun event. This year the Spring Show will be happening at the Ramada Inn (in the Schoodic Room - off the lobby) 215 High St., Ellsworth. There will be about 25 vendors - a real "kid in a candy store" selection. We have some new vendors this year. I hope you can join us. If not, stop by the BEAD SHOP for a small taste of what you'll see at the show, and upstairs at The Gifted Hand Shop we have incredible jewelry by Maine artisans.

I'll also be offering my Art + Craft Marketing Basics Class thru Ellsworth Adult Education. The class will meet on Wednesday 6-8pm for 4 weeks, starting March 9th (ending March 30th). This is a really useful series of presentations and discussions to help artisans, artists and craftspeople in marketing their work. Topics include: working with digital images, photographing your work, writing press releases, direct mail campaigns (postcards, mailing lists and graphic design options) and working with The Press. To sign up for this class contact RSU#24 (Ellsworth) Adult Ed at 422.4794. The class costs $45 for all 4 weeks and will meet at Ellsworth High School.

Studio Clean-out Sale Coming Up!

2011-01-30T08:20:00.000-08:00

Join us for our 4th Annual studio clean-out sale of fine crafts by local artisans at deep discounts (up to 75% off).

We have an awesome NEW LOCATION: Gallery Grand, 169 Main Street, Downtown Ellsworth (between The Grand Theatre and Sugar & Spice Bakeshop).
Days and Times:
Friday February 4th, 3-8pm.
Saturday February 5th, 10am-4pm.
Featuring Work by Linden O'Ryan, Christina Heiniger, Heather Murray, Beverly Lamoureux, Jennifer Miller and Jodi Clayton.
Snowdate: Sunday February 6th, noon-5pm & Monday February 7th, 11am-5pm (same location). Please call Christina Heiniger at 664-2404 for more information.

My shadowboxes, like the one above, will be 50% off. Also great discounts on my cards, puppets and paintings.

Open House Events This Weekend

2010-12-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

Fern House Studio is involved in two open house events this weekend.

Jodi Clayton is having an open studio at One Lupine Fiber Studio at 170 Park Street in Bangor. The open studio will happen on December 3rd and 4th (Friday and Saturday). Visit her website to learn more about her shop and studio. She will be exhibiting and selling work by twelve artisans at this fun annual event.

I will be holding an Arts in the Afternoon Open House at my new Holiday Shop in Downtown Ellsworth. The Gifted Hand Holiday Artisan Shop is located at Gallery Grand on 169 Main Street in Ellsworth. Join us on Saturday December 4th from 1-4pm for the open house. Refreshments will be served and everyone who attends will receive a free pack of Holiday cards. The shop features work by 20 Maine artisans.

2010 Gifted Hand Show this weekend

2010-11-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

Please join us for the 2010 Gifted Hand Show this weekend, Nov. 12 & 13. Friday Show hours are 11am -7pm and Saturday hours are 9am-4pm. The Show is held at the Ramada Inn on 215 High Street in Ellsworth. The Show features 60 artisans and Cleonice Bistro will offer light meals for sale. More info at the Show website: www.giftedhandshow.com

Beads and Baubles Downeast Fall Bead and Jewelry Show.

2010-10-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

The Fall Bead & Jewelry Show is coming up in two weeks. It will be held on October 22 and 23 in Ellsworth (Maine) at the Ramada Inn on High Street. You can enter at the lobby entrance and the Bead Show will be in the Schoodic Room to your right. Hope you can all make it.

Picnic Arts and Music Festival

2010-08-25T10:05:00.001-07:00

The Picnic Arts and Music Festival will be happening this weekend in Portland. I'm showing and selling my work there.

The 3rd Annual Picnic Music+Arts Festival will take place on
Saturday, August 28, 2010! This juried indie craft fair will be held outdoors
at Lincoln Park on Congress Street and Franklin Arterial, in Portland ME.
The festival will run from 11am to 6pm, rain or shine.

The Picnic Music+Arts Festival will feature over 100 vendors selling clothing,
jewelry, prints, accessories, bags, plush, stationery, photography, housewares,
fine art, vintage goods, and more. The Picnic Booth will be handing out goody
bags to the first 25 shoppers. This year we’re thrilled to host a book signing by
Kari Chapin, author of The Handmade Marketplace. There will be live music
all day and tasty food by Verbena Cafe and Skinny Cart BBQ. Hope to see
you there!

New Paintings at Upcoming Audubon Show

2010-08-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'll be exhibiting at the Audubon Show at Gilsland Farm this coming Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22. Among the work I'll be showing are several new pieces featuring foxes. I hope you can stop by my booth under one of the big tents on the grounds.

Gifted Hand Show Postcard

2010-07-15T09:04:00.000-07:00

Just ordered 7,000 postcards for The Gifted Hand Show! The most ever. Participating artisans will be getting their postcards in early August. Here is what our lovely 2010 card looks like.

Gifted Hand Announces Media Sponsors

2010-07-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

As many of you know I organize a Fine Art and Craft Show in Ellsworth called The Gifted Hand. This year's show will be November 12 and 13 at The Ramada Inn in Ellsworth. I'm pleased to announce that Maine Magazine and Maine Home + Design are media sponsors for this year's show. They will be running some lovely ads for the show in their beautiful magazines. They will also be sending a photographer to the show to take pictures and feature the show in a later issue. They'll be having a media booth at the show, so you can meet the folks from the magazines and also purchase subscriptions. I'm looking forward to having them involved with the show.

Thanks Maine Magazine! Thanks Maine Home + Design!

Open Studio this Weekend

2010-06-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Linden O'Ryan, Jackie Haines and myself are hosting an Open Studio with artist demos this Friday and Saturday. I hope you can stop by! The image above is one of my new pieces. I'll have some of this work at the Open Studio.

What: Open Studio: Art + Craft Sale and Artist Demos. Refreshments Served.

When: Friday June 25th, 12 noon to 7pm and Saturday June 26th, 10am to 3pm.

Where: Linden O'Ryan Gallery, 92 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor, Maine. (Directions at the end of this post).

Info: For more info call 244.6463 or visit the Fern House Studio Website

Jackie Haines • Beaded Jewelry
Christina Heiniger • Puppets, Art + Cards
Linden O'Ryan • Watercolors + Lampshades

Demos: Beading techniques, puppet making, felting and watercolors.

Directions: At the top of Mount Desert Island follow the signs for Southwest Harbor (approximately 11 miles) through Town Hill and Somesville. As you come down the hill into Southwest Harbor and after the shell gas station, look for the D.O.T sign for Linden O'Ryan Gallery. Take a left onto Herrick Road and go 4/10ths of a mile to 92 Herrick road on your right. The gallery is a natural shingled house with light blue trim.

Help me chose my next card design

2010-06-08T11:25:00.001-07:00

It is time to print up a new Fern House Studio Card. I have it narrowed down to two designs featuring owls, since I'm almost sold out on two of my old owl designs. I hope folks can take a look at these two images and tell me which you would like better as my next card design. The first design is called Slow Lane and the second design is called Chatting.

Open Studio with Linden O'Ryan

2010-06-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

Area artisans Linden O’Ryan, Jackie Haines, and Christina Heiniger will be hosting an Open Studio and Art Sale at Linden O’Ryan Gallery in Southwest Harbor. The event will feature beading, puppet making and felting demos throughout both days on a rolling basis. Visitors to this working studio will also be able to view a large selection of watercolor paintings by Linden O’Ryan and Christina Heiniger, as well as intricately beaded jewelry by Jackie Haines of Blue Leaf Designs in Lamoine. Christina Heiniger will also display and sell her well known hand-sculpted hand and finger puppets and Linden O’Ryan will feature her handmade paper lampshades and lamps. The public is warmly invited and refreshments will be offered. The event takes place on Friday June 25th, noon-7pm and Saturday June 26th, 10am-3pm at Linden O’Ryan Gallery, 92 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor. For more information please call Linden O’Ryan at 244.0463 or visit fernhousestudio.com .

Directions: On the top of the island follow the signs for Southwest Harbor through Town Hill and Somesville. As you come down the hill into Southwest Harbor after the shell gas station look for the D.O.T sign for Linden O'Ryan gallery, or the Wendell Gilley Museum. Take a left on to Herrick road and go 4/10ths of a mile to 92 Herrick road with an oval sign on the right. It is a natural shingled house with light blue trim.

Etsy Shoppe

2010-06-01T10:57:00.000-07:00

My Etsy Shoppe updates are admittedly spotty, so I wanted to let you all know The Fern House Studio etsy shoppe has some new items for sale. I've recently listed my new sticker sets, some of my latest artwork and some new card mixes (like my Owl Mix Card set, which is popular at shows).

Creature Feature Art Sale This Friday, May 21st

2010-05-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

For the third year several Nationally and Locally recognized artisans will join together for a special art exhibit and sale to benefit The Grand Theatre in Ellsworth. Creature Feature III is a show and sale of small artworks produced especially for this event by artists Rebekah Raye, Laura Balombini, Heidi Daub, Suzan Scribner-Reed and Christina Heiniger. Each artist has created 6 pieces of artwork featuring animals and other creatures that are priced between $100-$250. There is a special sale of the work on May 21st from 3-7pm. Partial proceeds from the art sale will be donated to The Grand Theatre. The sale will also feature cards, digital prints, books and other small items for purchase. I've printed up some really cool stickers from my Creature Feature paintings which I will also bring to the sale. In addition, each artist has created a larger piece which will also be offered for sale.

This year’s Creature Feature roster is stellar. Artist Rebekah Raye of Blue Hill is the author and illustrator of several children’s books published by Tilbury House. Her work is shown in many galleries throughout Maine including The Courthouse Gallery in Ellsworth. She will be bringing her books, including her newest, Bear-ly There to sign at the Creature Feature sale event. Laura Balombini, also from the Blue Hill area, travels around the country participating in prestigious National shows including Paradise City in Northampton, MA and at The Fuller Craft Museum. Her polymer clay sculptures have won national awards. She exhibits at Red Dot Gallery in Deer Isle, of which she is a founding member. At Creature Feature she’ll be exhibiting her new acrylic paintings. Heidi Daub has shown her work at Shaw Jewelry in Northeast Harbor and the Firehouse Gallery in Damariscotta, among many others. Her acrylic works are known for their lyrical beauty. She is also a writer of poetry and in 2008 published a compilation of 29 original paintings and poems. She resides in Blue Hill as well. Suzan Scriber-Reed of Winterport is known by many for her line of recycled paper and silver jewelry shown at galleries and fine craft shows throughout Maine and the Northeast. However, her bird collages (which she will exhibit in Creature Feature III) are stunning in their artistry and attention to detail. Through her business, Wild Ivy Designs, she exhibits at Paradise City Art Festivals, Directions Fine Craft Show on MDI and at many other venues. Lastly, artist Christina Heiniger(that's me) of Fern House Studio in Lamoine is the originator and organizer of Creature Feature. A former K-5 art teacher in the Ellsworth schools, Christina now travels the Northeast exhibiting her watercolor paintings and puppets. She recently exhibited in The Center for Maine Contemporary Art’s Work of The Hand Show and in the Maine Crafts Association’s juried Biennial, The Inspired Hand IV. She routinely organizes arts events in the Ellsworth area through her local creative economy initiative “Arts Across Ellsworth.”

This is a very special and unique opportunity to purchase small paintings by these 5 artists at affordable prices. Work can be previewed at The Grand lobby May 1st-21st, with the sale May 21st, 3-7pm. The reception and sale will feature refreshments, book signings by Rebekah Raye and other special surprises. Those wishing to pre-purchase work and pick it up at the sale may do so by contacting the individual artist(s).

Heidi Daub at Creature Feature III

2010-05-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

Blue Hill Artist Heidi Daub is showing her lovely work at the Creature Feature III show at The Grand Theatre, downtown Ellsworth, Maine. Heidi has shown in many prominent Maine Galleries such as the Firehouse Gallery in Damariscotta and Shaw Jewelry in Northeast Harbor. Her acrylic works are known for their lyrical beauty. She is also a writer of poetry and in 2008 published a compilation of 29 original paintings and poems. Heidi has created six beautiful small paintings for this show which are priced at a very affordable $150. It's a unique opportunity to purchase an original Heidi Daub painting even if you're on a small budget. The piece above is sold, but there are five other great little paintings still available by Heidi. You can see the show during regular lobby hours at The Grand (Monday through Thursday 10am-4pm) or during events. Our Creature Feature Sale will be on Friday, May 21st from 3 to 7pm. You can purchase work during the sale or contact Heidi to prepurchase work prior to the sale.

Rebekah Raye at Creature Feature III

2010-05-04T09:26:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited about this year's artists participating in The Creature Feature III Show at The Grand in Ellsworth. I'll post a word about each of them over the next 2-3 weeks on this blog so you can get to know them.

Blue Hill Artist and Illustrator Rebekah Raye is not only a talented artist, but a fun and kind person! Many people know her for her 3 children's books, The Very Best Bed, Thanks to the Animals, and her latest, Bear-ly There. Rebekah has created seven new pieces of fabulous artwork for the Creature Feature III Show, which she's selling at special prices (affordable). However, she's also bringing her notecards and her books to the Artist's Reception and Sale on May 21st (3-7pm). She'll be signing her books and I'm sure entertaining us all with her sense of humor and lovely Southern accent.

Don't miss Rebekah and the 4 other Creature Feature III artists on May 21st, 3-7pm in The Grand Theatre Lobby, Downtown Ellsworth (Maine).

Post Bead Show

2010-04-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Many Thanks to all who attended and those who sold and showed their work and wares at the 2nd Annual Beads + Baubles Downeast Spring Bead Show in Ellsworth this weekend. It was so much fun and a well-attended event. A Fall Bead Show is planned for October. More info TBA at this blog.

The next event I organize will be The Creature Feature III Show, a benefit for The Grand Theatre of Ellsworth. The show will be up for viewing in The Grand Lobby May 1st through May 21st. An Artists' Reception and Sale will be held May 21st 3-7pm.

This annual sale and show features work by 5 nationally known local artists: Rebekah Raye of Blue Hill, Suzan Scribner-Reed of Winterport, Laura Balombini of Blue Hill, Heidi Daub of Blue Hill and yours truly, Christina Heiniger of Lamoine.This is an exceptional opportunity to purchase work by accomplished professional artists at very reasonable prices. 10% of sales will be donated to The Grand Theatre of Ellsworth. Artists will also bring smaller items like digital prints, cards and other items to sell at the sale. Please join us. Work pictured above by Heidi Daub.

Beads, beads, beads, beads...

2010-04-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

Next weekend I hope I'll see you at:
Beads + Baubles Downeast, 2nd Annual Spring Bead + Jewelry Show. Friday April 16, noon-6pm + Saturday April 17, 10am-4pm in The Maine Grind Building (upstairs), 192 Main St., Downtown Ellsworth. Admission of $1.00 (children 12 + under free) enters you into the doorprize of over $150 worth of beads! Admission is good for both days, too (what a deal!)

With over 20 fabulous vendors including 5 bead stores, 6 lampwork glass artisans + several talented jewelers working in the beading medium; this show is undoubtedly THE BEST place to stock up on beads for your projects and stash or to purchase unique and beautiful jewelry; all while shopping local.

Among the many beads featured there will be excellent selections of Czech glass beads, Artisan handmade lampwork glass beads, gemstones, pearls, buttons, vintage beads, polymer clay beads, PMC beads, felt beads, and and porcelain beads. You'll also find beading supplies, necklace cords, ear wires, toggles and clasps, and other items for your beading projects.

Here is the full roster of bead stores and artisans that will be selling beads and jewelry at the show:

Christina Heiniger of Fern House Studio (I'll be selling my stash beads and vintage buttons),
Sihaya Hopkins of Blossom Studio in Brooklin (her lampwork glass beads are pictured in this post),
Jackie Haines of Blue Leaf Designs,
Sticks 'n Stones Bead Shop of Brewer,
Butterfly Beads (bead shop) of Alton,
Ginny and John Hackney, Lampworkers of Orono,
Diane Allen of Pearl La La Jewelry of Blue Hill,
Ginger Manna of Bella Colore Bead Shop,
The Beaded Moose Bead Shop of Bangor,
Jennifer Miller and Jean Goodwin of Flying Mountain Artisans in Southwest Harbor,
Jenny King (former owner of The Bar Harbor Bead Shop),
Carrie Callahan, jeweler, of Machias,
Emily Delfin of Reflections Jewelry in Holden,
Kathleen Henderson (lampworker) of 109th Bead in Penobscot,
Penny Gentle Art Glass of Camden and Sally Bowen of New Moon Collections (lampworker) of Brooklin,
Lisa Salsbury of Willow and Me Jewelry in Ellsworth,
Ray Cooper of Cooper Designs (lampwork glass and PMC) of Blue Hill,
And Suzanne Anderson of YIKES! Studio in Dedham, polymer clay beads and jewelry.

Bead Show and a New Picture

2010-04-06T12:42:00.001-07:00

Just a quick reminder to visit the wonderful bead show next weekend at The Maine Grind in Ellsworth, Maine.

April 16th + 17th, 2010: Beads + Baubles Downeast, 2nd Annual Spring Bead + Jewelry Show.
The focus is on beads and lovely beaded jewelry at this spring bead show. Featuring over 20 vendors including bead stores, lampwork glass artisans, jewelers working in the beading medium and individuals selling beads and buttons. Among the beads available for purchase will be vintage beads, artisan beads, Czech glass, Swarvoski crystal, pearls, felt beads, porcelain beads, gemstones, seed beads, findings and much much more. I will be on hand selling beads from my stash as well as buttons and findings. At the Maine Grind building, upstairs (second floor) 192 Main Street, Downtown Ellsworth, Maine. Friday April 16th noon-6pm and Saturday April 17th 10am-4pm.

I also finished another piece for the Creature Feature III show in Ellsworth at The Grand Theatre. The show will go up May 1st and we're having a special sale May 21st, 3-7pm. More info to come at this blog or visit the Gifted Hand Site. The piece above is called City Bird and is inspired by graphics from the '60's and '70's.

Tangle With a Turkey and Other Adventures on a Maine Day Trip

2010-03-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning I headed out for the two and a half hour drive to Lewiston. My only goal was to pick up the puppets I had in The Maine Craft Association's Biennial Show. Little did I know the adventures and misadventures that would fill my day.

Despite the driving rain and high winds, I made it to Lewiston without any trouble. Turning into the road that leads to USM, I noticed rte. 9 went to Lisbon and Topsham. So after picking up my puppets, I headed down rte. 9 on a whim, figuring I'd stop at Target in Topsham and get some shopping done. (Target, why do I love thee so? Let me count the reasons. 1. Your Iams dog treats are way cheaper than Hannaford's. 2. You aren't quite as evil as Wal-Mart. 3. I can find Stylin' clothes on your sale racks...)

The drive through Lisbon (the birthplace of Moxie Soda--it's a Maine thing!) was quite lovely and truly a Maine experience: everything from green parks to old empty mills to trailers to gentrified ranch homes; antique dealers next to self storage units. Lisbon has a kind of retro feel. Main Street looks like it hasn't changed much since 1965. It's REAL and not all spiffed up and fancy. I liked it! Enroute I decided I might as well go to Freeport and stop at arguably the best bead store in Maine, The Beadin' Path. So after a quick spin through Target, I hopped back onto 295 and was soon picking out lovely beads at The Beadin' Path to resell at The April Bead Show I organize in Ellsworth (the lucite beech leaf beads above are going to offered for sale at the Ellsworth Show). Beadin' Path has a great selection of vintage and contemporary lucite beads and also beautiful Czech glass beads. Also stopped in at the hip Horny Toad outlet on Bow Street.

For the long trip home I decided to take 95 to Augusta, then rte. 3 to Belfast. Just outside of Belfast, while listening carefully to a story about the new iPad on NPR, I suddenly noticed a HUGE wild turkey out of the corner of my eye. It was fluttering rapidly towards me, perhaps flustered by the heavy wind and rain. In a flash it smashed its 50 to 60 pound body into my driver's side, sheering my rearview mirror right off. With my rearview now hanging by two skinny electrical cords and a pounding heart I drove into Belfast. Amazingly, the rearview was the only thing damaged. I survived the incident shaken, but unscathed. The turkey, I fear, wasn't in very good shape. Having stopped in Belfast, I figured I might as well stop into the retro-chic store Yo Mama's Home, where I hopefully didn't bore the salesperson too badly with my woeful turkey tale. Feeling grateful to be alive and unhurt, I pulled my smashed rearview into my car and headed out, through the ongoing wind and rain for HOME, always the best place ever after adventures big and small.

Creature Feature Preview

2010-03-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

I organize a show every year called Creature Feature in Ellsworth at The Grand Theatre. This year is the third annual show, so it's called Creature Feature III. I'm excited to be working with four other talented artists on the show this year: Rebekah Raye of Blue Hill, Suzan Scribner-Reed of Winterport, Heidi Daub of Blue Hill, and Laura Balombini also of Blue Hill.

This year my work is looking a little different. I wanted to create pieces for the show that were inspired and based upon vintage graphics from the '60's and '70's. I have an inexplicable love for German memory games from that era and I based my Creature Feature images this year on graphics used in those. I will be previewing work by myself and the other artists here from time to time in the lead up to the show. The actual pieces will be hanging in the Grand Theatre lobby May 1-21, with a special sale of the work May 21st, 3-7pm. If you'd like to pre-purchase work I will have the pieces up on my website and you can purchase them there before the sale.

The piece above, Sleeping Fox, was based on a fox from a 1966-68 memory game. It was adapted from an image with a sitting fox. This piece has the vintage appeal of the original graphic but has my own composition and design. The media is Derwent Aquarelle Watercolor pencils on watercolor paper, which is a new medium for me.

I hope you will check back from time to time to get a glimpse of what will be in the Creature Feature III Show. By the way, 10% of the sales from the show will be donated to The Grand Theatre.

Upcoming Bead Show in Ellsworth

2010-03-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone to a bead store and enjoyed perusing the sparkly gems and glass beads? If so, you may be pleased to hear that Beads and Baubles Downeast Spring Bead and Jewelry Show will be returning to downtown Ellsworth on April 16th and 17th. This show and sale features everything a beader could desire...all manner of beads such as Czech glass, crystal, gemstone, vintage beads, spacers, seed beads, focal beads, pearls, felt beads, porcelain beads as well as handmade lampwork glass beads produced by local artisans. Findings such as clasps, toggles, earwires and the like will also be available for purchase. Folks who like to sew may be intrigued by the vintage and unusual contemporary buttons that will be for sale as well.

Over 20 vendors will be selling their beading related wares at this 2nd annual event. Lampwork artisans Sihaya Hopkins, Penny Gentle, Kathleen Henderson, Sally Bowen, Ginny and John Hackney, and Ray Cooper will offer handmade artisan glass beads, buttons, marbles and jewelry. Several bead stores, including Sticks ‘n Stones of Brewer and The Beaded Moose of Bangor, will be on hand with a large inventory of all types of beads. New this year several artisans will be selling their beautiful handcrafted beaded jewelry. Jackie Haines of Blue Leaf Beadwork will be showing and selling her intricate seedbead earrings, necklaces and bracelets, and Lisa Salsbury will bring her Swarovski Crystal and vintage bead jewelry. The show will take place at The Maine Grind (upstairs, 2nd floor) 192 Main Street, Downtown Ellsworth on Friday April 16th, noon-6pm and Saturday April 17th, 10-4pm. For more information visit The Gifted Hand Show Website.

4th Annual Gifted Hand Show This Weekend

2009-11-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

Please Join Us for the Fabulous Event :

The Gifted Hand: Fine Art, Craft and Gift Show (4th Annual Show). Friday November 13, 10am-5pm & Saturday November 14, 9am-4pm. Holiday Inn (Tennis Court Area) 215 High Street, Ellsworth. • Featuring over 55 locally and nationally recognized Maine artisans • Birdsacre Benefit • Music by Hawk Henries • Café Area by Cleonice & Table Bistros • $2 admission, children 12 and under free • www.GiftedHandShow.com or call 664-2404 for information

More info. below in the full press release...

Press Release: Gifted Hand Art + Craft Show to benefit Birdsacre

Birdsacre Wildlife Sanctuary and The Gifted Hand: Fine Art, Craft and Gift Show are teaming up to celebrate Birdsacre’s 50th anniversary. Each year The Gifted Hand Show partners with a local nonprofit, which receives a large portion of the show admission. This year, Birdsacre will benefit by receiving up to 50% of the show admission, as well as any additional donations given at the door.

This is the 4th year that The Gifted Hand Show is taking place in Ellsworth. Last year the show was recommended as one of the top ten winter craft shows to see in New England by The Boston Globe’s Travel Blog and featured in Bangor Metro Magazine and on Maine Public Radio. The Show provides a fun fall outing, featuring live music, delicious food, and exceptional art and crafts created by artisans from all over Maine. Featuring over 55 locally and nationally recognized artisans, this juried show has fine art in acrylic, pastel, collage and watercolor and work by eleven jewelers in gold, silver, lampwork glass, dicrohic glass, beachstones, precious gems and intricate beadwork. Visitors to the show will also find stained glass, leather, children’s goods, woodwork, digital prints, pottery, handwovens, women’s clothing, quilts, handknits, holiday cards and ornaments, blown glass, stone, housewares, handcrafted soaps and lotions and more. Of special note is Blue Hill artist and illustrator Rebekah Raye – she will be signing and selling her brand new book, Bear-ly There, a tale of how to deal with visiting bears. Several vendors sell Maine made edibles like gourmet chocolates, blueberry products and jams and jellies. There are many goods available in the $10 - $50 range to meet the needs of Holiday shoppers. All artisans involved are carefully selected for the quality and professionalism of their work and goods. Snacks and light meals are available for purchase from Cleonice Bistro of Ellsworth and Table Bistro of Blue Hill and café seating is available. Sullivan musician Hawk Henries will provide Native American flute music for the enjoyment of all attending…a fitting match for Birdsacre.

Imagine a place where you can hike on peaceful walking trails within minutes of High Street’s busy traffic, where injured birds can be brought for rehabilitation, and severely injured birds are sheltered permanently and cared for by diligent volunteers. Now open your eyes and see this place: Birdsacre, right in Ellsworth. Birdsacre/Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary is a 200 acre wildlife sanctuary with a bird care facility and shelter for non-releasable injured birds. Many of us who grew up in the area remember school visits and field trips to Birdsacre to see their educational programs. Founded in 1959, Birdsacre currently focuses on maintaining the home and woodlands of Naturalist Cordelia J. Stanwood for the enjoyment of this and future generations. Birdsacre’s facility in Ellsworth also includes three major walking trails and their Richmond Nature Center and Gift Shop. Trails and grounds are available for public use throughout the year. The Richmond Nature Center is open May through October and tours of Cordelia Stanwood’s homestead are available June-September. Birdsacre has been chosen as the 2009 partnering nonprofit for The Gifted Hand Show because of the Wildlife Sanctuary’s ongoing enrichment of life for residents of and visitors to Ellsworth. Over the past 3 years The Gifted Hand Show has raised $5,000 for local nonprofits, including The Grand Theatre in 2008, Ellsworth Arts in 2007 and DTA Center for Learning and Growing in 2006.

The 4th Annual Gifted Hand Show will take place on Friday November 13th, 10am-5pm and Saturday November 14th, 9am-4pm at The Holiday Inn (in the tennis court facility) on 215 High Street, Ellsworth. Admission, a portion of which benefits Birdsacre, is $2.00 with children 12 and under admitted free. The Gifted Hand is part of The Arts Across Ellsworth initiative to support local Maine artisans and make their work available to the public. With many of the artisans involved coming from the MDI, Blue Hill, Ellsworth and Bangor areas, the show provides an easy opportunity to shop local with professional Maine artisans and Maine businesses. In addition artisans from all over Maine are participating, creating a beautiful and diverse pool of offerings. For a full roster of participating artists and craftspeople, detailed directions to the show and more information, visit www.GiftedHandShow.com or call Christina Heiniger at 664.2404. Volunteers are always needed to help on show days. Please call Christina if you would like to donate your time to help make the 2009 show a big success for Birdsacre and the participating artisans.

Upcoming Fall Events

2009-09-21T10:06:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to let you know that I'll be at...

• The Common Ground Fair this weekend in the Maine Marketplace East Area (don't look for me in the crafts area, you won't find me there...I'll be in the Maine Marketplace East tent which is near the Pine Gate and across from the South Orchard and Gardens).
Common Ground Fair will be happening this coming weekend Friday, Saturday, Sunday September 25th, 26th, 27th in Unity Maine. For info go to www.mofga.org The gates open at 9am all days and vendors usually close at 6pm.

• I'm also pleased to announce that my puppets will be exhibited and sold at The Work of The Hand Show at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art. I will be exhibiting my newest and fanciest hand puppets. There is a collectors preview evening on Friday October 9th from 5pm-8pm with an admission of $15. Then the show runs every day October 10 through 18 (Monday through Sunday) 10am-5pm with an admission of $5.00. For more information go to www.cmcanow.org .

I'm also going to be selling my stash beads and stickers and other little things at a Fall bead show I'm organizing with Ginger Manna of Bella Colore. Here is the information:

• Beads and Baubles Downeast Fall Bead Show, Friday October 2, noon-6pm & Saturday October 3, 9am-4pm. At the Holiday Inn, Ellsworth ME
Door prize of over $100 worth of beads. $1 admission, children 12 and under free. For more info call Ginger Manna at 207.469.2860

Other Upcoming Shows:
Mark your calendar now for The Gifted Hand: Fine Art, Craft and Gift Show (4th Annual Show). Friday November 13, 10am-5pm & Saturday November 14, 9am-4pm. Holiday Inn (Tennis Court Area) 215 High Street, Ellsworth. • Birdsacre Benefit • Music by Hawk Henries • Café Area •
$2 admission, children 12 and under free.

Arts Across Ellsworth July

2009-07-02T09:33:00.000-07:00

My next upcoming show will be the Arts Across Ellsworth Arts Festival upstairs at the Maine Grind building in Downtown Ellsworth. There will be 17 Artists and Craftspeople at the show. They'll be all kinds of neat things there like handbags, aprons, totes, wooden cutting boards, lamps and lampshades, jewelry, watercolors, accessories, children's goods, art dolls, lampwork glass, beads and more.

Please join us for this fabulous show! Details are below.

July 24 + 25
Arts Across Ellsworth Arts Festival
Arts + Crafts Show + Sale
Fri. 10am – 6pm; Sat. 10am – 4pm
Maine Grind Building (upstairs)
192 Main Street
Downtown Ellsworth

Creature Feature II: The Sequel

2009-05-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

As I write this, it's a glorious Spring day. Yay! Go Spring!

As you may know, I am always looking for ways as an artist to contribute to my Community through the Arts. My latest project is a fun art show called Creature Feature II. Artists Sarah Brandon, Linden O'Ryan and myself are currently showing 10-12 animal paintings each in The Grand Theatre Lobby in Downtown Ellsworth. At the end of the month, we'll be selling these Awesome paintings for a very affordable $75-$50 each in a special sale. We'll be donating 10% of our art sale proceeds to The Grand Theatre. Here are the details — please join us and support The GRAND...
Creature Feature II
Special Art Show + Sale
Friday May 29th, 4pm-7pm +
Saturday May 30th, 10am-4pm
Grand Theatre Lobby
Downtown Ellsworth, Maine

Show currently on view during Grand lobby hours, 10am-4pm M-F + 1 hour before the events.

I'm debuting a few really cool new Fern House Studio items during the sale:
- New Fern House Studio STICKERS! Yes! STICKERS!
- 2 New Fern House Studio card designs: "Munch! (rabbit)" and "Flower Garden." You can also get these here on my website Fern House Studio Website
- NEW PUPPET SHADOWBOXES. The Peacock Shadowbox is pictured above. These are ultra fun wall pieces featuring my finger puppets. Currently on view in The GRAND Theatre ticket kiosk. Check them out!

If you can't make the Creature Feature Sale, or want to reserve your favorite piece before the sale, you can see and purchase Creature Feature paintings at my website www.fernhousestudio.com

Websites + Contact Information of Participating Artists:
Sarah Brandon - www.sarahbrandonart.com - 546.2998
Christina Heiniger - www.fernhousestudio.com - 664.2404
Linden O’Ryan - www.lindenoryan.com - 244.0463

Hope to see you there!

Give Away & More

2008-11-26T10:32:00.000-08:00

• First of all, thanks so much for all of you who turned out for The Gifted Hand Show that I organize. It was a great success! Over 1000 people attended the show, and we raised about $2,000 for the Grand Theatre in Ellsworth. Rock On! Save the date for next year's Gifted Hand Show November 13 + 14, 2009 in Ellsworth.

• Love those Fern House Studio cards(like the one pictured above)? Well, you have a chance to get some FREE. Kristen Andresen, The Bangor Daily News' ShopGirl, is giving away a sample pack of Fern House Studio cards at her fun blog. You can enter to win here.

• I'll be the visiting artist for December at Seven Arts Gallery in Downtown Ellsworth (192 Main Street, in the Maine Grind Building). Featuring a special line of Fern House Studio limited edition fairy finger puppets incorporating fiber artist Julie Havener's hand dyed and handspun yarn for the hair, plus other Fern House Studio goodies... like cards, my felted ornaments and prints. SevenArts cordially invites you to their **Holiday Saturday on December 20th**, there will be an all day open house that day, 10:00am - 5:00pm
and I'll be there for the Visiting Artist's Reception 5 - 7:00pm

• You can sometimes find me at Ingrid's Holiday Market this time of year, Saturdays 9am-noon Buck Street, Downtown Bangor (Behind the Bangor Auditorium, across from Hollywood Slots). For information call Ingrid's German Market at 947.4234

• Looks like my last official show of the season will be December 13 Designing Women Show & Sale, Woodfords Church, Woodford Street, Portland, Maine, 9am - 4pm

Warm Wishes for the Holiday Season!

Success!

2008-11-16T15:59:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all who turned out for the Gifted Hand Show this past weekend. It went very well. The artisans involved were fabulous. The space was transformed from dowdy tennis court to gorgeous gallery in the space of a few hours. It was so great to see old friends both selling and buying work, and meet new ones. Over 1000 people attended! Suzanne Nance, the wonderful host of Maine Public Broadcasting's classical music in the morning stepped up and helped so much by doing an interview with me about the show that aired as a Cultural Conversation on Thursday morning during her show. You can listen to it on the archives of MPBN's website. (I hope I don't sound too dorky-- I'm scared to listen to it.) Many thanks to EVERYONE who attended, either as a vendor or a customer. Sorry I have no pictures to post... You may not believe this, but I don't own a digital camera, and even forgot to bring my old "analog" camera.

Save the date for next year: The Gifted Hand, November 13 + 14, 2009!

My next show is already this coming weekend. I'll be at Designing Women Freeport, at The Merriconeag Waldorf School, 57 Desert Rd., Freeport. While in Freeport, I plan to check out The Beadin' Path, a fab bead store that I buy stuff from all the time online, but have never actually stopped into. Can't wait!

I wil leave you with this picture. One of my litle fairies that I make...She seemed to have just dyed her hair in that pot of dye she's stting on. (something I need to do myself!)

Craft Show Countdown

2008-11-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

The Gifted Hand Show, which has been my labor of love since February,
is on the homestretch. This weekend it all comes together for 2 days at
The Holiday Inn in Ellsworth. I'm excited and a bit nervous, hoping
everything will go as planned. But after this past week of historic triumphs in our country, I'm feeling very upbeat.

The show has been getting some great press lately. Kimberly Sherman, who writes for the Boston Globe.com's
travel blog, featured it as one of the top 10 craft shows to see in New
England this season. Thanks Kimberly!

Bangor Metro Magazine also pulled it out as a special feature in their November calendar section. I love Bangor Metro magazine-- it's got great arts articles, a
guest photographer each month and other cool stuff. They had
a great article on artist Robert Indiana, of LOVE stamp fame
this month. He lives on an island in Maine. Who knew?! He also did that
cool HOPE graphic for the Obama campaign.

I digress, back to the Gifted Hand Show, I was on WNSX and WERU
this week talking about the show, and The Bar Harbor Times (Bless you
Nan Lincoln!) did a great article on it this week. I hope you'll all
turn out for the show and make my vision & dream a successful
reality for all the vendors and for The Grand Theatre, which benefits
from admission and the silent auction.

Here's the when & where:
Friday November 14th Noon- 6pm
& Saturday November 15th 10am-4pm
The Gifted Hand: Fine Art Craft & Gift Show (3rd annual)
Holiday Inn, 215 High Street, ELLSWORTH

Arts Across Ellsworth

2008-11-05T17:42:00.000-08:00

As if I didn't have enough to do, I'm organizing a new arts intiative in Ellsworth Called "Arts Across Ellsworth". We kick off the weekend of November 14 + 15 with lots of fun events to celebrate the arts! Here's the scoop... Join us!

•The Gifted Hand: Fine Art, Craft & Gift Show, Fri. November 14 noon-6pm + Sat. November 15 10am-4pm. 215 High Street, Holiday Inn.

•Comedian Steve Caouette at The Grand, Sat. Nov. 15, 7 pm and 9 pm. Tickets $10. 667.9500
•Terra Cotta 193 Main St.: 20% off on regularly priced merchandise storewide.
•Atlantic Art Glass, 25 Pine St., Ellsworth: Glassblowing Demonstrations, Open Studio + refreshments, Saturday November 15, 10am to 2pm.
•ShoeGazer 2 State St.: 15% off boots Nov. 14 & 15.
•Seaglass Infusion, 56 Franklin St., Open House + 15% off all seaglass jewelry.

In The Maine Grind Building 192 Main St.:
•Nov. 15 Customer Appreciation Day at The Maine Grind, Complimentary Treats + Gift Certificate Drawing.
•Grand Opening Splash at the Harlow Gallery…on Maine & Robin Farrin Photography.
•SevenArts Gallery, "Responses to Maine" Beth Lambert / Landscape Paintings
& Jan Whalen / Handknits Open House, Nov. 14, 5 - 7pm Win a $50 gift certificate, drawing Sat. 5pm

Upcoming Events

2008-10-02T12:52:00.000-07:00

Here's some recent things I'm up to... come visit me!

•October 2008 Puppet Making Class, Ellsworth Adult Education. I'll be teaching a 3 week class Tuesdays beginning October 14th. For more information or to sign up contact Ellsworth Adult Ed. at 207.667.6499 or www.ellsworthadulted.org.

•October 25th & 26th 2008 Homecoming Craft Fair & Maine Marketplace, University of Maine Field House, Orono, Maine.
10am-5pm Saturday, 10am- 4pm Sunday.

•November 1 Designing Women Show & Sale, Husson College, Bangor, Maine. 9am – 4pm. www.designingwomen.org

•November 14 & 15 The Gifted Hand: Fine Art, Craft & Gift Show, Ellsworth's premier winter craft show. Over 50 juried artisans and a cafe area. Also features a HUGE silent auction as a benefit for the Grand Theatre. Holiday Inn, 215 High Street, Ellsworth, Maine. Friday noon-6pm and
Saturday 10am – 4pm. www.giftedhandshow.com

More to come or visit the galleries and shows page of my website

New Cards & More Show Info.

2008-09-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a really busy fall so far. I not only survived the Common Ground Fair (my first as a vendor), but I did very well. I'd like to thank everyone who stopped by my booth in the Maine Marketplace East. It was fun meeting new faces and seeing old friends. Please look out for me there again next year.

My *NEW* card designs for winter sold really well there. If you missed the card debut at Common Ground, you can get them at my website fernhousestudio.com. The Peaceable Kingdom Dove design (above) and the Green Solstice Trees were particularly big sellers.

I'm hard at work on the Gifted Hand Show, which I organize and which happens in November (the 14th & 15th). I'm so impressed by the artist line-up! Some of my favorite Maine artisans like Stephanie Sersich of Topsham (internationally known maker of lampwork beads and knotted jewlery), Mia Kanazawa of Harborside (she makes the coolest felt puppets) and artist & illustrator Rebekah Raye of Blue Hill will be there. To see the whole list of over 50 exhibitors vist GiftedHandShow.com. One of Stephanie's amazing necklaces is pictured below. She also has a neat blog called Hearts & Bones full of cool collaborative creations.

The Gifted Hand...

2008-09-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

Hi All... One of the hats I wear is the show organizer for a great November art & craft show here in the Ellsworth area called The Gifted Hand. This year the show is expanding-- two days, over 50 artist and a new location. Also...we have a website www.GiftedhandShow.com. I'm so excited! My fab web designer Ruth of Studio 3K9 just finished it. It's got all the basic info, and I will be posting now and again at this blog about all the cool things that will happen at the show. Part of what I'm trying to do with this show is support and promote the creative economy in my community. To that end, every year an arts-related non-profit is picked to benefit from a portion of the admission proceeds and from a silent auction at the show. This year's nonprofit is The Grand Theatre of Ellsworth, a wonderful art deco era theatre and arts center for the region. More info to come, and do check out The Gifted Hand Site!

...in an etsy treasury

2008-08-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hey! Jennifer Judd-McGee featured my finger puppets in an etsy treasury. This helps me have better feelings towards etsy, which I adore, but get **etsy frustration** with because I cannot get people to find my store. Hopefully this will help. Thanks Jen!

Other warm etsy feelings: thanks to the kind etsy folks who replied to a forum thread I posted there, I have found something very covetted (by me anyway) I've been looking for forever on ebay... all will be told if I win the auction.

Another Fairy Picture and Upcoming Show

2008-08-18T09:48:00.001-07:00

This little lady has already been sold. Everyone at Directions Fine Craft Show seemed to go right to her and pick her up. Her hair is handdyed yarn from String Theory Yarn in Blue Hill, Maine and the bead she's holding is from my friend Ginger Manna's art, craft & bead store , Bella Colore, Water Street in Blue Hill. Ginger's store is awesome, stop by if you are local!

My next gig: Saturday, August 23 Designing Women Show & Sale
Atlantic Oakes Conference Center, Bar Harbor, Maine. 9am – 4pm.

These are the wonderful artists that will be showing there:
Suzanne Anderson
Jo Diggs
Lisa Eaton
Patricia Eastman
Sister Bette Edl
Kendra Haskell
Susan Hellier
Mary Ann Ingalls
Annette Kearney
Jen Kovach
Bev Lamoureux
Woodhouse/Katy Lane
Pam LeBlanc
Ginger Manna
Dinae Manzi
Wendilee Heath O'Brien
Linda Perrin
Sandy Spiller
Judy Tripp
Sue Watson
Lynn Winters
Stephanie Crossman
Karen Turdo
Melissa Mattes
Linden O'Ryan
Christina Heiniger
Martha Whitener

New Look

2008-08-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

I finally updated to the new way to edit on Blogger, using layout instead of the template. I'm not sure it's an improvement, and I did lose a lot of links and buttons that I'm having trouble recreating. But the upside is I could mess with the colors and add a picture by my title. Hopefully it will work out for a better blog. Happy blogging everyone... I'll keep working on this ditty to get it looking the best it can.

Technorati profile

2008-08-17T10:20:00.000-07:00

I'm claiming my blog on technorati, which should help more people find me. You can see my technorati profile here: Technorati Profile

New pix

2008-08-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

I just got back a bunch of delightful pictures from my photographer of my fairy & gnome finger puppets that I set up with some props I brought from around my house. These are eventually going to be a line of postcards for sale. I'll post afew of these cool pix now and again in the next few weeks ( so check back). Here are couple to start off...

This sweet fairy hanging out on my grandma's pincushion is holding a tiny Russian doll. Her hair is done up Princess Leia style, in two coiled buns on either side of her head. I used String Theory's handdyed yarn for her hair. Everything about her is SPUNKY.

These little guys hiding in my marker container are actually gnome finger puppets, not my studio assistants, as my boyfriend tries to insinuate. Whenever I ask them to help out in the studio, they stare at me in stoney silence. I think they're more interested in playing. Dressed in a real acorn caps and orange-ish colored shirts.

If you've fallen in love with either of these, they can be found at my etsy shop.

If you're in my area, please come visit with me at the Open Studio my boyfriend Phil Frey & I are having at his Studio in Sullivan, Maine-- Saturday August 16th, 11am-3pm.

Yipee & Yikes

2008-08-06T15:05:00.001-07:00

The Directions Show was fun, well-attended and a great show for me. My boyfriend and I managed to get me set up just before a heavy downpour on Friday. The show was busy right away at 5pm on Friday, and then steady sales thoughout. I was pleased to sell a variety of things... my fairies, cards and felt wallets were particular hits. The little fish wallets like the one at left are now all gone. At one point I heard someone in my booth saying, "This is a busy little booth!" to their friends.

A few quirks of the weekend: the show was held at MDI High School, my alma mater (is that two t's or one?). So I was singing "Memories, light the corners of my mind..." during set-up. Same gym I graduated in was where I spent the weekend talking to customers and seeing familair and new faces. Martha Stewart, who has a summer home nearby, attended the show. Of course I missed seeing her walk past, as I was busy checking people out, and had to be told about it by the vendors around me later. Sunday there was very dramatic weather: heavy downpours and thunder showers in the afternoon which caused lights to flicker and brownout at one point, but fortunately no electricity loss. However, by the time 5pm breakdown rolled around, the sun was shining and I was relieved to be breathing "non-gym" air.

All-in-all a very successful and enjoyable weekend.

Next up: August 16th, Open Studio with Philip Frey (my sweetheart),Cedar Lane, Sullivan, Maine. 11am - 3pm. Info 422.2008 Featuring acclaimed Maine landscapes in acrylic by Philip Frey and new works on paper by yours truly Christina Heiniger.

Yet Another Show

2008-07-29T18:56:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year where I do a show almost every weekend. This one coming up is a very special one: The Maine Crafts Guild Directions Craft Show at the Mount Desert Island High School this coming weekend August 1, 2 & 3 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday)

I'm so pleased to be involved in the Directions Show. I've been going to the show as a customer since I was in High School (I was a craft geek at that age-- always a trendsetter). I always considered Directions the Gold Standard of Craft Shows around here, and never would have dreamed as a High School kid that I would some day be selling my work there. So I'm very honored to be there for the second year.

This is the official info:
33rd Annual Directions Fine Crafts Show, Mount Desert Island High School, Route 233 (Eagle Lake Road), 5 miles from Bar Harbor. Friday Evening Aug. 1st 5-9pm, Saturday & Sunday Aug. 2 & 3 10am - 5pm. Meet Maine's finest professional craft designers and artists in this show featuring over 70 artisans and everything from gold jewelry to felted slippers.

Neat Art & Craft Event this Weekend

2008-07-23T05:10:00.000-07:00

On July 26th and 27th, I'll be at a neat event with two artist friends. Linden O’Ryan will feature her watercolor paintings and cards, collages and handmade lampshades. & Heather Murray of Bar Harbor will feature her handcrafted contemporary jewelry designs in silver and gold. I'll be there with a huge selection of all my things. The event will be both outdoors under a tent and indoors in The Linden O'Ryan Studio. Visitors will get a peek at a working artist’s studio, refreshments and a chance to speak with and purchase work directly from the artists themselves.

Come see us from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, July 26th and from noon to 4pm on Sunday, July 27th at The Linden O’Ryan Gallery 92 Herrick Road in Southwest Harbor. Turn at the Wendell Gilley Museum and continue for 4/10 of a mile and look for the oval sign. Please call 244-0463 for more information. To preview each artist’s work, visit their websites at: lindenoryan.com, fernhousestudio.com, heathermurray-jeweler.com

It's A Maine Thing

2008-07-20T18:12:00.001-07:00

My friend and fellow dreamer-up-of-ideas Leslie Harlowe just emailed me about her blog It's A Maine Thing-- Hezzy's Blog. It's a neat blog about Maine and Maine facts, adventures, cultural events and the like. Leslie also co-owns and operates a really cool place called The Maine Grind, a coffee bar in this rockin' (renovated) old Masonic Hall. We have these things called "Odd Fellows Halls" and "Masonic Halls" in Maine and they are the greatest old buildings. Almost always very big, and built at a time when people were not concerned about high energy prices. They always have lots of charm! I think that a photographer could have a wonderful time going around photographing these old buildings. There's a neat one in Sullivan, Maine, right near my boyfriend's place that's now a gallery/antiques place caled Art & Old Things.

But I digress, do check out Leslie's blog if you're a lover of Maine, arts & culture or sailing. Sure to please.

Another local blog I came upon today is Ken and Linda Perrin's new blog about their Ellsworth business called Atlantic Art Glass. They do fabulous blown glass and their new blog has lots of impressive and fancy content. Very intriguing and fun writing on there, too... go click that link right now and check it out.

Both these blog's are linked to in my sidebar under artsy, craftsy and fun links, so you can always get there from here.

Next Gig

2008-07-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

My next upcoming event is my mom's church's fair, The Downeast Fair, celebrating it's 50th year this year! Amazing! I remember going to it as a kid and getting the lemon with a candy stick in it. Just the thought of sucking lemon juice thru a candy straw now makes me shudder! But anyway, I'll be there, with a limited selection of my things--mostly cards, prints and puppets. It's the 50th Annual Downeast Fair at Church of Our Father, Hulls Cove, Maine. Saturday July 19th. Starts at 9am and gets over around 2pm or 3pm.

I've got several new print designs and hopefully I'll have them from my framer in time to sell there. The Owl Acrobatics above is one of them.

New Cards

2008-07-10T18:52:00.001-07:00

I have two new card designs for sale. They'll be up on my website very soon, and are already listed on my etsy shoppe.

The Owl and the Pussycat is a fold over card that comes with envelopes. It's been a popular image as a print, so I decided to offer it as a card. Inspired, of course, by the children's story.
The fairy postcard is a standard sized postcard featuring a photo of one of my fairy finger puppets atop a felted mushroom.

You can also purchase these cards very soon at String Theory Yarn in Blue Hill, Maine and The Blossom Studio in Brooklin, Maine.
Hope you like them.

Cool Show Stuff

2008-07-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

I'm sick of carrying around my bank-freebie vinyl moneybag at shows. I decided to get myself a cool apron for shows so I can stash my cash in there in style. So off I went to etsy and found this cool little owl number from Boojiboo's etsy shop (Shown on the bottom). Only mine is brown owl fabric not blue, but as it's sold it's no longer there, hence I show you the blue one.

There were lots of cool aprons to choose from, but this one won out because of it's many pockets made especially for craft shows.

But a few other nifty ones were the pink one with the cool flowers (posted in the middle here) and pockets from xoelle's shop and this cool tulle apron with a retro deer (at the top of this post) from flappergirl's shop.

So many aprons, so little disposable income!

String Theory

2008-07-03T07:31:00.000-07:00

There's this great yarn shop in Blue Hill Nearby to me called String Theory.
Here's an example of some of their lovely yarn:

Their online store is neat, too. I used some of their hand dyed yarn for hair for my new fairy finger puppets, and they put them in their online gallery of stuff made with their hand dyed yarn. So take a peek... it's got all kinds of neat stuff and there's even a slide show of stuff people have made.

All the Upcoming Gigs

2008-07-02T12:17:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to present my Summer & Fall schedule (thus far) of very high quality, juried venues. It's been a lot of work putting this schedule together. Here it is...

Fern House Studio 2008 Shows
Art, Cards + Puppets by Christina Heiniger
__________________________________
July 26 & 27 Open Studio with Linden O'Ryan
& Heather Murray at Linden O'Ryan Gallery, 92 Herrick Road,
Southwest Harbor, Maine. 10am-4pm Saturday & noon-4pm Sunday.

August 1, 2 & 3 Directions Fine Craft Show (33rd Annual)
Mt. Desert Island High School, Eagle Lake Road, Mt. Desert
Friday 8/1 5 - 9pm, Saturday & Sunday 8/2 & 3 10am - 5pm

August 16 Open Studio with Philip Frey at Philip Frey Studio,
Cedar Lane, Sullivan, Maine. 11am - 3pm Info: 422.2008

August 23 Designing Women Show & Sale, Atlantic Oakes
Conference Center, Bar Harbor, Maine. 9am - 4pm

September 19, 20 & 21 Common Ground Country Fair
(Maine Marketplace Area), Unity, Maine. Gates open at 9am.

October 25 & 26 2008 Homecoming Craft Fair,
University of Maine Field House, Orono, Maine.
Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm.

November 1 Designing Women Show & Sale,
Husson College, Bangor, Maine. 9am - 4pm

November 14 & 15 The Gifted Hand: Fine Art, Craft
& Gift Show, Holiday Inn, 215 High Street, Ellsworth,
Maine. Friday noon - 6pm and Saturday 10am - 4pm.

November 22 The School Around Us Craft Faire,
Kennebunk High School, Kennebunk, Maine.
Saturday, 9am - 4pm.

More to come...

I'm Back

2008-07-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a really long time since I updated my blog, but I'm happy to report I'm back at it! So much has happened. Too much to begin to say, so I'll just let you all know about upcoming shows for now...

I've been collaborating on selling things a lot with artist Linden O'Ryan. We'll be doing an open studio together on July 26 & 27, 2008. The Open Studio with Linden O'Ryan & Heather Murray will take place at Linden O'Ryan Gallery, 92 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor, Maine. 10am - 4pm Saturday & noon - 4pm Sunday. Info: 244.0463 or www.LindenOryan.com. Featuring paintings, puppets and cards by myself, paintings and lampshades by Linden O'Ryan and jewelry by Heather Murray.

There's some lovely examples of Heather's Jewelry at the top of this post. Hope you can make it!

harmonious fall flowers

2007-03-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

harmonious fall flowers
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

Soon to be added to my website and etsy shoppe. Happy Shopping.

Just in Time for Valentine's Day

2007-01-16T15:40:00.000-08:00

kiss from above
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

This new card is arriving at my website just in time for Valentine's Day! It was the winner, quite some time ago I admit, of the "choose the next Fern House Studio Card" contest on this very blog. Stop by and check it out...sure to make your sweetie smile!

Crowns for The Sampler

2006-10-18T14:43:00.000-07:00

Crowns
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

Marie at The Sampler was kind enough to feature part of my October contribution--these crowns, on her homepage. Go Marie, Go Sampler!

I've made a HUGE 200+ item contribution for November. Still looking out for my October Sampler to arrive-- should happen anytime now.

Coming to a gallery near you: verdant green flowers

2006-10-09T13:49:00.000-07:00

verdant green flowers
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

Just finished this piece for the Small Works Show at the Courthouse Gallery in Ellsworth-- coming up soon. All my Holiday show info is below--more info to come on the shows page of my website. Check back...

Fern House Studio Holiday Shows

•Small Works Show, Oct. 26th-Dec.1st 2006,
The Courthouse Gallery, Ellsworth, Me. info: 667.6611

•The Gifted Hand: Fine Art, Craft & Gift Show
(to benefit DTA Center for Learning & Growing)
Saturday Nov. 18th 10am-5pm, Maine Grind Coffee Bar,
Main Street Downtown Ellsworth, Me. info: 667.6783

•The Bayschool Winter Faire, Saturday Dec. 2nd
9am-5pm at the Bay School, Blue Hill, Me. info: 374.2187

Shop online: www.FernHouseStudio.com
• Cards or Puppets at • ShoeGazer (Ellsworth) •
• Island Artisans (Bar Harbor) • Bella Colore (Blue Hill) •
• The Blossom Studio (Brooklin) •

New Card: Peaceful Crane

2006-10-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

cranecard
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

This card is the newest to the Fern House Studio card line. Get it on the card page. The cool blues have a nice, wintry feel. Makes a lovely holiday card int he winter season...Christmas, Solstice or New Year.

Calendar Girl

2006-09-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

appleinbowl
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

Great news! My artwork (Apple in a Bowl) is featured in the 2007 Women Artists Datebook published by Syracuse Cultural Workers. It's a real honor to be among the handful of artists (32) choosen for this calendar.

This wonderful appointment book/ calendar has all these features: Full color/glossy art pages • poetry pages • Quotations by women • Flat opening, spiral-bound • Beautiful smudge-free stock for notations • Lunar cycles, 13 native moons • Convenient, portable 5x7 size • Year-at-a-glance section • Holidays for many faiths • Printed in the USA on stock containing 20-100% postconsumer recycled paper

I find mine very useful to carry in my handbag because of the portable size. It's truly a lovely calendar!
I have a limited amount of copies for sale at my website. You can find them, here

• I'm also carrying new postcards from Syracuse Cultural Workers at my website. So far I have a fun new Dancing Frogs postcard for sale, and more new postcards coming soon, including some new Holiday designs. I'm planning to add a couple of new cards of my own design for the Holiday season as well... keep checking back

New at my Etsy shoppe

2006-06-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

stawberry wallet
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

This strawberry wallet made of 100% wool felt and lovely vintage strawberry cards from a 70's Swiss memory game is for sale at my etsy shoppe.

Cool Easter News

2006-04-02T08:45:00.000-07:00

Have you seen the Bunny-a-long Blog? It's got all kinds of funny bunny pics on it. Makes a nice pre-Easter web surf.

Speaking of pre-Easter-- you can find these nifty fingerpuppets at my site. Fun for the Easter basket!

Thuya Doors

2006-04-02T08:24:00.000-07:00

thuya doors 2
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

These carved wooden doors are up in the spring, summer & fall at Thuya Gardens in Northeast Harbor, Maine. I think they are beautiful and took photos to inspire future paintings. This owl will definately inspire a painting!

Update -- new stuff at my site

2006-03-25T13:25:00.000-08:00

runninggirlwallet1
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

This lovely running girl wallet is for sale at my site. Memory card is vintage--from a 70's german/swiss memory game. Oops...sewed the card on a bit crooked (only my second attempt at machine sewing anything). I thought the flower button worked well. 100% wool felt.

These other nifty things are new, too:

Open winged owl finger puppet-- a new design (see post below).
Chick finger puppet-- a new character perfect for spring.
Bunny Finger puppets are back in stock...for your favorite person's Easter or May Day basket.
100% Wool felt Vintage Card Foxy Wallet (pictured in a post below)
And kits to sew your own cool vintage memory card wallets:
100% Wool Felt Vintage Sparrow Card Wallet Kit
100% Wool Felt Vintage Lemon Card Wallet Kit
100% Wool Felt Vintage Butterfly Card Wallet Kit

Happy shopping! I hope your enjoy browsing my site. Let me know what you think.

Interviewed on Crafty Synergy

2006-03-18T04:09:00.000-08:00

Fern House Studio was interviewed for Crafty Synergy. You can read the whole interviewhere

Here's an excerpt:
"My name came from an episode of Ira Glass' fabulous show "This American Life" on National Public radio. He was doing an interview with a sociologist who studied where children went during the day when they were alone back in the 1970's. That was back in the days when kids hung out alone and didn't have a million activities booked for them all the time (my childhood!). Anyway, what he discovered was that children all had secret places... kind of clubhouses, but they didn't have to be houses. They were places kids could go and be alone or with a group of friends and get away from the pressures of everyday life, be imaginative and creative and just play. One group of children had a special place in the woods they called "The Fern House". He described it as very beautiful... just sort of an outline of twigs and branches that created the agreed upon walls and windows, and then these beds of ferns that the children would create fresh every day with new ferns. So this idea intrigued me very much. I want my studio to always be a place where I can go, create, escape the pressures of everyday life and be inventive and play, so I adopted the name Fern House for my studio..."

new puppets coming

2006-02-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

openwingedowl
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

This openwinged owl is a new fingerpuppet design, among many, coming soon to my website or one of the galleries carrying my work.

Look what I made!

2006-02-14T13:17:00.000-08:00

Foxywallet1
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

Look! One of my first sewing projects--a nifty changepurse/pouch. I even lined it with creme colored duponi silk. A memory game card adorns the front (a card from a memory game I used to play as a kid.) Vintage button. 100% wool felt.

I'm quite proud, though the sewing isn't perfect, it's a fun start. Think I should sell these on my website? I could also sell kits to make them--let me know what you think.

Illustration Friday: Chair

2006-02-03T13:09:00.000-08:00

These are pics of a rocking chair I painted a couple of years ago for The Maine Discovery Museum in an auction/ benefit they were doing. It has a happy home now. Features all kinds of my animals and goes from water to land to sky.

Sew & Sew

2006-02-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

I got a new sewing machine! I'm so excited! I'm just learning how to machine sew and got this basic $149 machine from Pfaff, which looks great for beginners. And I get 5 hours of free classes and lots of other perks from the (locally owned) store where I bought it.

So maybe you won't hear from me for awhile, as I'll be busy playing with my new machine. Then suddenly one day, all kinds of posts of wonderful sewn things will appear here. I have lots of cool ideas in mind.

Speaking of sewing, here's a new puppet body--this one's gonna be a crocodile:

The pattern of the fabric reminds me of this:, which is a piece from an old memory game from the 70's that my sister and I used to play with my grandma. I'm going to be using some of these memory pieces ( I hope) in some very cool sewn pouches/ change purses that I have planned. One of the sewing machine projects. I'll post them when I have some done. There are all kinds of retro designs on those memory pieces that I love; including a very neat fox, and a couple of inspiring owl designs. They have a very European design style-- this game came from Switzerland and was made by Ravensburger, who is still in the game/hobby business in Europe. As far as I can tell, though, this memory game is out of print.

lastly, I got the nifty chicken measuring tape at the fabric store. Pull on the egg and the tape measure comes out.

Featured Again!

2006-02-02T12:46:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Hip Picks.com for featuring my prints. Just a reminder, my print sale is going on until Feb. 28th, supplies are dwindling, so visit soon.

Hatching a Plan...

2006-01-28T10:32:00.000-08:00

Oh...I'd love to get my website featured in Daily Candy. Do you have a secret side that likes scheming and plotting? Well, maybe you'd enjoy helping me.

First of all, Daily Candy is a daily email that is sent to probably tens of thousand of people, maybe more--by request only (it's NOT spam). They feature a different website every day that might have things, services etc. of interest to people. Ok this is a bad description, so if anyone can do better, do so by adding a clarifying comment below.

Anyway, apparently Daily Candy is awesome press for small businesses. And they actually feature you free, which is becoming more and more unusual in our world of advertising and product placement. It's just really tough to "get in".

So here's where my plan comes in. I want to be featured on Daily Candy. If you really like my work and my website, you can help by going here:
Daily Candy's submission page and choosing story ideas & tips from the popdown menu. Then suggest my website, www.fernhousestudio.com (not this blog, of course). Then post a comment here letting me know you did just that.

I'll be overjoyed! Then, if this works, and enough people suggest me, perhaps they will feature me. If they feature me, I'll send someone who posted here as suggesting me a free sample pack of Fern House Studio cards. The winner will be picked at random. It is just a small thank you for taking the time to bother to mention my website. I really, truly appreciate any and everybody's efforts! And I always appreciate everyone's kind comments and encouragement of my work. That's really the point, putting my work out there to make people smile and enjoy.

Coming soon

2006-01-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

Polar Bear Puppet
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

This polar bear puppet will be appearing on the handmade page of my site next week. A chilly sweetie that will warm your heart. The body sports a light blue square/dot pattern that is reminiscent of ice cubes, with light blue velvet trim and a light blue velvet blanket stitched bear tail in back. He's still in season, though we've had a warm winter here by Maine Standards.

He's up! You can find him here.

I'm working on many new hand and finger puppets for spring. I'l be updating my website frequently during late March thru June, so check in often. There will be lot sof sneak peeks here as my creations are completed.

25 handpuppets are in the works, including two new owls, several new kitty designs, and an alligator with a super cool body.

I'm very excited about the new work, despite that fact that today I am sleepy and not very motivated. My birthday is Monday, and maybe I'm not so thrilled about turning a year older. On the other hand, I should be happy to be alive! Enough of this rambling, off to important business: I'm going to take a nap.

Endangered Kitty Puppet...HELP!

2006-01-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

Asian Print Kitty
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

Oh my gosh! Uplifting Arts has used one of my kitty puppets to make a handbag. Save the Kitty Puppets, Eat Tofu...Peace,love... and puppets!

Seriously, speaking of Uplifting Arts, look at these cool buttons there! I love these and am tempted to get some to embellish my puppets with. The turtles are very cool, and there are some cool owl ones, too. The koi are my favorites, but are sold out.

Illustration Friday: Cats

2006-01-20T15:18:00.000-08:00

This catty post is a detail from a larger painting of mine called Twilight Time. Do you think the cat knows the bird is there?

One of the Wild Women

2006-01-16T07:14:00.000-08:00

lady3
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

As per popular request, here's a closer look at one of the colored pencil drawings above the window of my studio. You can see a few more at my Flickr page. Unfortunately, they are a bit too big for my scanner, and I don't have a digital camera (can you believe it!?-- also no cell phone--I'm crazy enough without that crap). Anyway, here's a taste and I'll try to get my hands on my boyfriend's digital camera to get some more shots in the future.

I've been saving these Ladies...I've got quite a few of them. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them-- probably I'll end up incorporating them into some other creative project, though they are quite lovely on their own. Another thought I had was to dry mount them on foamcore and frame them somehow. They have sort of a paper doll feel. Any more ideas?

studio friday: i spy...

2006-01-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

studio 2
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

i spy a UFO out the window (OK, its really the relfection of the lamp, but humor me!)

Illustration Friday: E is for Elemental

2006-01-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

atomic circles 1
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

This little Space Age Painting in gouache, colored pencil and mixed media is elemental in so many ways--it works with the elements of design (shape, color, line), and there's something very elemental about getting out your art supplies and going for it to create something full of life and energy.

Atomic Circles by Christina Heiniger
[warning, blatant self-promotion] E is also for Etsy, these are fer sale at my etsy shop.

...And The Winner Is...

2006-01-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

The winner of the card drawing from all of you wonderful people who posted your favorite for my next card design is...

Dawn Anderson of Lark Studio.

Congratulations, Dawn!

And thanks, everyone, for your help.

And the card design with the most votes was Kiss from Above. So that will be the next Fern House Studio card. Look out for it.

I'll be posting more giveways at random, so check back in at my blog now & then.

Help me chose my next card design

2006-01-02T12:51:00.000-08:00

You can WIN a free pack of Fern House Studio cards by helping me choose my next new card design for spring. Just post a comment below as to which design you think I should use for my next card. On January 9th I'll choose a winner at random from all those who posted.

Kiss from Above

or

Golden Kiss

I've already got one new card for Valentine's Day up at my website. So if you're looking for that special card for your sweetie, check it out.

I'm looking forward to getting your feedback, and good luck in the drawing.

Illustration Friday: Flavor

2005-12-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

cantaloupe 1
Originally uploaded by Fern House Studio.

Gosh, it was hard to choose for this one-- I've done so many works with that lurking somewhere in the subtext. For one thing, I often chose colors to go together by how they taste (not literally, but visually, I experience colors are having a visual taste)...weird, huh? But I opted for this set of three that have a very obvious relationship to the topic of flavor.

SALE at my Etsy Shop

2005-12-28T12:50:00.000-08:00

To encourage folks to shop at my Etsy shop, I'm having a sale on all prints and small works there.
Among the gems you'll find there...
Small Works on Paper like this painting called "Yellow Circles". It's beautifully matted and shrinkwrapped--ready to pop into a frame.

& Prints, like this lovely print, "3 in a Tree". Only limited quantities of the prints are available for sale, so be quick!

...and a very cool vintage Rooster wall hanging.

NEW at my Etsy Shop

2005-12-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

Looking to do some after-Holidays blues-busting retail therapy? Well, these are sure to cheer you up. These cards are NEW at my Etsy Shop.

These gorgeous limited edition handpainted postcards are made on heavy paper. Painted in gouache and acylic with colored pencil details added--lovely contrast of textures. This edition has a gold background with warm and cool color sets in a circle motif.

These can be sent as a postcard, framed as a painting, or sent as a gift in the white envelope that comes with it.
Only 25 of these cards have been created. Each is unique.

Size: approx. 4 1/4" x 6"
Price: $5.50 each or set of 3 for $14.00 each comes with a white envelope.

I'll hope you'll take a few mometns to visit my Etsy shop (hopefully during your long vacation).

Happy Holidays Everyone

2005-12-24T08:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks everyone, for stopping by my blog this year and especially this Holiday season. This has been my first Christmas season with a website and blog, and it's been so wonderful getting support form people all over the world for my artwork and creative pursuits. Thanks so much!

For a fun holiday song, click here.

PS Thanks to ThriftGoddess for mentioning my panda puppet in her Holiday Bliss Guide 2005.

Illustration Friday: Holiday Zeke

2005-12-23T08:24:00.000-08:00

Every year I used to do a Holiday card of my dog , Zeke. As he passed away this year, I think it's a fitting memorial to include one of them as this Illustration Friday post. Happy Holidays everyone...I know Zeke is still delivering gifts up in doggie heaven-- it's not a sad thing.

Ornament Thursday #9: Creative Trees

2005-12-21T14:28:00.000-08:00

Even though it comes from the Martha Stewart Empire, which I never thought I'd like anything from, I'm smitten with this quarterly magazine called Kids fun stuff to do together. It's for parents and kids and it's so neat, I think I'm going to get a subscription to it and give a subscription to my sister and niece. It's the art teacher in me.

This latest issue had the coolest Christmas tree decorating ideas-- I mean really sweet and creative!

(Little known fact: my framer, Raymond Strout of Ahlblad's Frameshop in Bar Harbor, Maine, knows Martha Stewart and has even been over to her house in Northeast Harbor for Thanksgiving before. This is officially the only piece of celebrity gossip you will ever read on this blog!)

Ok...asides aside, look at these awesome tree decorating ideas from the Kids magazine:

This tree made from Tinker Toys (I always snicker when I say that ...tinker toys...heeheehee) is so colorful, and decorated with buttons. I love it!

Then there's this incredibly inventive & fun tree decorated solely with office supplies--if only I'd seen this years ago! Look, there are colored paperclip chains, keytage ornaments adorned with stickers, and a bubble wrap base. It's THE tree for us office supply store lovers.

I had so many suggestions for Ornament Thursday and I wish I could've mentioned them all. But I'll leave you with one of my favorites...these lovely and festive stained glass ornaments with Holiday words from Humble Beads. I truly adore these:

packages flying out!

2005-12-18T09:38:00.000-08:00

Lots of packages are flying out of Fern House Studio last minute! I'm posting this parrot for Meredith, as she asked about parrots-- yes I do have this one last parrot left at the moment...

Thanks Secret Santas

2005-12-17T14:04:00.000-08:00

A big thanks to Rose Flash of Ontario for being a very cool Switchboards Secret Santa. She sent me a lovely red/pink bracelet and matching earrings.

And thanks to Jen at Sic on Sin for sending these very cool magents to me as a thank you for the Secret Santa gift I sent her. How sweet! She has a very cool store-- check it out.

Ornament Thursday # 8: Puff Daddy and More

2005-12-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

How about some **handmade, puffy, stuffy, fabric ornaments**?

Here are some great ones...
a Brown Bird Ornament from circle circle dot dot:

Merry Magic Mushroom Ornaments from Keykalou's etsy shop...

Diamond Garden Patchwork Ornament by Counting Sheep Studio at Funky Utopia. I Couldn't get the picture to upload, so go see it :)

I've been seeing lots of cool **vintage ornaments** around here lately. These from Wisteria are reproductions, not true vintage, but cool nonetheless:

Lastly, this how-to from Craftgodesss shows how to make your own very cute beer coaster Christmas ornaments. I wish I could put the picture here, but I couldn't pull it off the page. They are so fun looking.

Happy Ornament Shopping & Making!

Ornament Thursday # 7--longer post coming soon!

2005-12-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

This week's Ornament Thursday post is a quick one, as my mom's in the hospital and I have a trunk show this weekend.

So here are just a few links to keep you going-- I'll try to get a longer post up on Sunday or Monday.
Frosted Miniature Fruit Set of 6 from European Trading Company .

Beaded ornaments from Beaded Things...

& Snowflake ornaments kit from Sparkle & Shine

A Crafty Christmas & then some

2005-12-05T14:03:00.000-08:00

Sales are humming along here at Fern House Studio. I suggest if you've got your eye on something, order soon, because I'm doing a big trunk show this weekend (Dec 10th) and may sell out on many things.

Just finished this dog puppet commission for a student of mine... her parents commissioned it for her as a Christmas gift (very thoughtful!):

I've gotten so many suggestions for Ornament Thursday, that here are a few early sneak peeks.

These star ornaments from Sprout Studio are lovely...But I love all her stuff!

And these puffy penguins from Bake Sale Designs are the sweetest!

The HUGE ornaments from Wisteria (below) are quite something!
Wisteria is one of those catalogs founded by rich people and for rich people and it cracks me up & intrigues me at the same time. Full of expensive, cool stuff that nobody really needs, but...

(For the record, I have nothing against rich people, actually I'd like to be one!)

The text in their catalog is quite creative, as well... get this: (from the site) "Three sizes of sparkly etched-glass ornaments in turquoise and silver for spectacular holiday arranging. Each has a satin ribbon for hanging. The largest seems almost as big as Susanna, and is very heavy. This is an ornament that could be seen from the street if you hang it artfully in a window. Passersby will gaze in awe, getting out of their cars to visit quietly with other families who have paused to view your ornament. Perhaps caroling will break out spontaneously. You might find yourselves on TV. It could happen. "

Ok... Whatever, but those ornaments are impressive, I admit!

Ornament Thursday #6: Christmas Trees

2005-12-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas tree....
I'm getting my tree this weekend, if the weather and boyfriend cooperate.

There are some really cute Christmas tree ornaments out there to hang on your...well...tree. By that I mean ornaments that look like trees.

How about this Bucktoothed tree ornament from Bridge Troll. net Wish I could've gotten the image posted, but it just didn't work (you'll have to visit her site to see it).

Or this tree ornament made from recycled computer circuit board from Acorn Studios Very clever (and earth-friendly)!

Now, for the Motherload of ornaments, especially glass blown ornaments, you have got to check out this site. It's THE BEST! It's hard to even pick which to mention, but I loved this fall leaf and this Christmas Tree They've got lots of great tree ornament to choose from, and I'll point you in some other directions on their site in future posts.

Have you put up your tree yet? It's always so exciting. I love decorating the tree, its like painting a canvas.

New Wonderful Felt Gallery

2005-11-29T14:12:00.000-08:00

On my way back from the dentist Monday, I stopped at this wonderful felt & fiber gallery, Spiralworks Fiber Studio & Gallery in Canaan, Maine. I was intrigued by a huge, amazing felted bird sitting over a colorful nest of felted balls in the window.

The artist behind all this is Heather Kerner, and her work is amazing... here are a few examples:

To add to my delight, she's going to carry my cards and perhaps some other work of mine in her wonderful space. I'm so excited. Here's her address if you are Mainer that ever goes to Sugarloaf and passes by there:
SpiralWorks
P.O. Box 35
284 Main Street (Rt. 2)
Canaan, ME 04924
207-474-6519

There will be a gallery opening Gala Event on Friday, December 9th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. there,so check it out if you are anywhere near there... really worth the while.

Oh...coming soon, I am cleaning out my CD collection and have lots of CD's I plan to give away on this blog. I'll begin posting them soon...more info to come...

Ornament Thursday #5: Holiday Delight

2005-11-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Seems fitting to have an edible-looking ornament to start out today's Ornament Thursday post, since we'll all probably be eating a lot today.

India Romeo has the Sweetest (pardon the pun) cupcake ornaments at her site. What better way to celebrate the season than buy handmade for the Holidays!

Several other handmade, albeit very different handmade, ornaments come form Inge-Glas. These are Authentic German Ornaments that make me very nostalgic for my Swiss roots. The Müller-Blech family, glassblowers since 1597, have preserved the tradition and craftsmanship of blowing glass and glass ornaments as we know today for over 400 years. I love and collect them (budget permitting).These are just a few of my favorties. The birds are cool because they clip onto the tree branch and sit on it.

As I write this post, it's starting to snow here in Maine-- the Holiday season has truly begun. I hope it's full of abundance, cheer and happiness for you all, and not too much mall frenzy!

That's how I feel, too...

2005-11-22T12:56:00.000-08:00

"Color possesses me. I don't have to pursue it. It will possess me always, I know it. That is the meaning of this happy hour: Color and I are one. I am a painter." -Swiss artist Paul Klee.

Park bei Lu, 1938, by Paul Klee

This little painting of my own was inspired by Paul Klee:

Ornament Thursday #4

2005-11-17T06:20:00.000-08:00

For some holiday sparkle, Crate & Barrel has a huge, lovely ornament selection. Here are just a couple of highlights: The Ball Ornament with Paper Dots and the Flocked Teardrop Ornaments.

Speaking of ornaments, I just completed lots of these ornament-inspired gift tags. Some of them are going to The Sampler, and perhaps others will be for sale up at my site. They're made from origami or embossed foil paper & felt collage with added stitching and a colorful string for attaching to packages.

...and if you're looking for some glitzy stuff to add to your Holiday crafts, this site is not to be missed!

New at my site

2005-11-14T16:23:00.000-08:00

This sweet Panda handpuppet is up at my site. The body is quite elegant, sewn from a satiny, lightweight brocade-like fabric with an Asian print.

Ornament Thursday

2005-11-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

This week's ornaments come from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's store.

I'm a sucker for these old fashioned Father Christmas ornaments-- The "Old World Charm" comes through in this version.

The unicorn in captivity ornament is based on a tapestry from the Museum's collection. I've always loved the image...I remember a friend had a poster of this in her room when we were in 6th or 7th grade and I was enchanted by it.

You can get a better look at or purchase these at the Museum's website...it's doing a good deed, too, as purchases support the Museum.

Up for trade (or sale)

2005-11-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

I made a little felt holder to go with two of my felted carrot pens. The holder is 100% wool felt, has 2 little carrots sewn on the front, with the greens embroidered on. And a vintage green button. Comes with the 2 felted carrot pens.
I'm a bit shy saying it, but this is up for trade (or sale)-post here-- or email christina at fernhousestudio.com **This trade has been taken...THANKS-- visit again to see what's up for trading.**

Ornament Thursday

2005-11-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Now that we've all survived Halloween I can make it official... from now until Christmas I'll have a special feature called:

ORNAMENT THURSDAY

That's right... scanning the internet, looking for the the thrill of glittery, and the agony of discrete. I'll be showcasing a different ornament or two here every Thursday. With links, to boot.

Garnet Hill kicked us off last week. Today we're off to
Smith & Hawken ...
Where you can find this squirrel ornament...or a whole set of forest friends. So cute, and sparkly, too.

It's fun to find ornaments that can appeal to my love of animals and my love of the sparkly at the same time.

Gorgeous photos

2005-10-31T16:24:00.000-08:00

I'm quite taken with this blog whcih I recently came upon. Wonderful crafty projects and she takes amazingly gorgeous photos! Lots of color, which I really love to see. Very well done, Tsaiware!

Sneak Peek # 3 Snow Lion

2005-10-31T10:56:00.000-08:00

Meet the Tibetan Snow Lion. This little guy will be up for sale on my site later this week.

What's a Snow Lion you ask? Well, he's a mythical creature from Tibetan Buddhist Folklore... a white lion with a green mane.

Here's a bit of right-on info about Snow Lions from Snow Lion Publication's website (Snow Lion Publications publishes Buddhist books, images and the like-- a great resource):

"The name "Snow Lion"originates from a mystical animal that has great significance in Tibetan culture as the national symbol of Tibet. Two lively snow lions appear on the Tibetan National Flag. They are fearless and valiant and indicate the complete victory over all obstacles. They represent the strong vitality of the Tibetan people who revere the Three Precious Gems- the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. Elsewhere the lions appear supporting the thrones of various deities and symbolize the strength and fearlessness of those who have perfect wisdom and compassion."

I hope my little creation can do justice to that.

More insanity

2005-10-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

If I was sane normal person I would wait until Halloween is over to post this. But I'm more like a Christmas-looney crazed misfit, so I have to point out these lovely ornaments from Garnet Hill

Speaking of Garnet Hill, I so want this shirt:

Ok, now that I've said it, I feel better.

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