Thirty Rugs from Fourteen Women

 I have been getting wonderful feedback from people viewing the Wild & Wooly rug exhibit. The Mile High Rughooking Guild is presenting the works, but we are so grateful to have women outside of our guild who have contributed rugs to be enjoyed.

This exhibit showcases the diverse nature of rughooking. The variety of colors, patterns and hooking styles guarantees there is something for everyone to love.

The show goes on through March 30th at Koelbel Public Library in Centennial, CO. It is free during library hours.


Top photo: Spring Rabbit, designer unknown
Bottom photo: l to r, Cinched at the Waist by D. Gordon, Buffalo by T. Hansen, 1875 Ship at Sea by S. Kallin

Wild & Wooly

Wild & Wooly

An Exhibit of Hand-hooked Rugs

  

 Koelbel Public Library

5955 S Holly St

Centennial, CO

(south suburban Denver)

March 2-30
Open daily & free to the public.

Looks like it has been awhile since I have had anything blog-worthy. This exhibit is definitely something to write about. I am so proud of the dozen plus women who contributed their rugs to be displayed at the Koelbel Public Library. The photos are just a sampling of the 30 rugs displayed in two galleries of the library. Getting the word out about traditional rug hooking as a fiber art can be difficult. I hope this brings a new awareness to the public about this fabulous art.

Top photo: Flow I detail by S Oppegard.
Bottom photo: Sample of rugs exhibited.

A Paris Street Market

 Tomorrow, July 6th, we go to Paris!  A Paris Street Market is probably the biggest outdoor market in the Denver metro area. Aspen Grove Shopping Center on Santa Fe, north of C-470. It starts at 8:00 a.m., but I've heard people come an hour early to shop for vintage, antique and handcrafted items. I don't think I have ever left there empty-handed. The goal is to sell enough garden art to break even with whatever I purchase from the other vendors.

This will be our last market to vend at for the summer.

Horseshoe Market Tomorrow

Horseshoe Market, "Home of the Lucky Finds"

Here's hoping for lots of good luck at the Horseshoe Market tomorrow. Carolyn and I will have over 40 unique pieces of garden art to sell. We are counting on those Mother's Day gift procrastinators. I know I fall in that category fairly often . . .

"Party!"

This "Party" garden tower is definitely the most colorful, contemporary one I've ever made.

I was fortunate to find a hand-painted miniature pitcher to put inside another vase for the tower below.

Getting Ready for Lucky Finds!

Spring has been SOOOOO slow in coming to the Rockies this year. It is May and finally I am seeing some tiny flowers and leaves on the trees. Had to take these photos near the only truly green thing in my yard . . . an evergreen bush.

The Horseshoe Market is a sure sign that spring is really here. We love this market because everyone vending must have either vintage or handmade items in their booth. We'll have our glass garden art ready for shoppers looking for a last minute Mother's Day gift. We could all use some color in the garden now!

HORSESHOE MARKET

Home of the Lucky Finds

46th & Tennyson Sts

Denver, Colorado

Saturday, May 11

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

http://www.horsehoemarket.com

Spring Bazaar Tomorrow!

So, officially, Spring has Sprung. But, this is the Rocky Mountain region. So the forecast for the Highlands Ranch Spring Bazaar is 2-4 inches of snow in the metro area. Keeping fingers crossed that a couple measly inches of the white stuff will not deter those seeking great finds at this sale! Eastridge Recreation Center, 9658 S University Blvd. 9-5

Spring Bazaar!

The 2013 Craft/Artisan Market/Bazaar season starts next Saturday! Over 100 vendors will be at this show.

Spring Bazaar
Highlands Ranch Recreation Center at Eastridge
Saturday, March 23, 9-5
FREE ADMISSION
9568 S University Blvd. 
Highlands Ranch, CO

We've been making new garden art from vintage glass again for upcoming shows. My personal garden art collection has stood the test of weather through snow, freeze and thaw. So great to have some color outdoors during the winter.

Friends Craft Fair in Littleton

The Friends Craft Fair is celebrating 41 years of success.
Saturday, Oct. 6, 9-4 at Ketring Park in Littleton, CO.
6000 S Gallup St.

300 vendors. All items must be handmade. We are looking forward to a beautiful fall day.

http://www.littletongov.org/museum/events/details.asp?ID=5

Boulder Farmers Market

Carolyn & I are venturing farther north to Boulder. The Boulder County Farmers Market features fine arts and crafts once a month. We'll be selling our glass garden art this Saturday, July 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. It's quite a trek to make from Parker and south Denver, but we think it will be worth it!

Here's a few of the latest creations.

Come see us on 13th St., between Arapahoe & Canyon Streets.

Tropical Wool

I finally finished this large rug for my craft/rughooking/sewing studio/guest room. Yes, I believe in multi-purposing! The design is from RaggTyme Studios, called Floral Garden, but I have re-named it Tropical Pink. Something about the design makes me think of the tropics. My first real attempt at dip-dyeing for the pink flowers. On to the next rug!

Community Garage Sale

Our neighborhood had its annual garage sale, so I figured I might as well set up shop with my glass art. No travel required and a husband to bring me hot coffee. Easy-peasy!

It was a lovely morning to sit and read the newspaper. Most of the customers were looking for garage sale items, as expected, but a half dozen glass sculptures went to new homes!

Hail storm? What hail storm?

People are always asking Carolyn & me if our garden art will hold up in when it hails. Well, we had the mother of all hail storms last night and are happy to report that not a single sculpture was chipped or broken . . and I have six of them in my garden!

We're geared up to vend this Saturday, June 9, in Parker, CO. It's Parker Days this weekend, so we hope to see lots of people come by the Parker Shoppes' (10685 S Parker Rd.) outdoor market of artisans. Here's a couple of our latest glass creations for the garden.

Hooking Up with Glass!

The Denver Hook-in was a fun day. The weather was rainy and we were indoors with little exposure to natural light, so displaying our glass was a bit of a challenge! But, we sold a little glass, a little wool and fortunately, we got to see lots of awesome rugs. Many people work hard to make the hook-in happen and I appreciate it.

It's back to making garden sculptures for the next outdoor market in Parker, CO on June 9th.

Denver Hook-In!

Carolyn & I had a fabulous day vending at the Horseshoe Market with our garden glass art. But this week, it's about more than glass. Our other passion is rug hooking! We are going to be vending garden glass, hand-dyed wool and other supplies at the annual Denver Hook-In.

The event is sponsored by the Colorado Rug & Fiber ATHA Guild. It is this Saturday, May 19, 9-4. There will be a rug show featuring beautiful works by rug hooking artists from the Rocky Mountain region. First Plymouth Congregational Church, SW corner of Colorado Blvd. & Hampden Ave.

Spring Horseshoe Market on Saturday

Carolyn & I have been going crazy making our glass garden sculptures for the Horseshoe Market in Denver this Sat., May 5th. This will be our first BIG outdoor market, so we haven't a clue what to expect, but it should be fun. Looking forward to seeing some of my book peeps from Arvada!

Spring Boutique

The Spring Boutique at Rock Canyon HS in Highlands Ranch is coming up this Saturday, April 28, 9-4.

My daughter, Jillian, will be my support girl on the vending floor, so I'm looking forward to MEGA sales!

Etsy!

I've posted items on Etsy for the first time. I'll need a lot of luck, as there is plenty of worthy competition.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NorahsGate?ref=seller_info

Inventory Growing!

Here's a few new additions to my inventory of garden art sculptures. I love each of them for different reasons. I'm looking forward to the outdoor markets and craft shows coming up, but also glad I have made the decision to purchase boxes to use for shipping. People have been interested in buying for gifts, but haven't been thrilled with the idea of finding a box to ship or gift wrap it in. Now I have that option available! 

Back to work on the glass garden sculptures. We'll be vending at the Rock Canyon HS in Highlands Ranch on April 28th and on May 5th we will be at the Horseshoe Market in NW Denver.

http://horseshoemarket.com/

1 Down, ? to Go!

Carolyn & I finished our first craft fair! Happy to report that we sold at least 25 of our glass garden sculptures. Whew! We have a few weeks to recover until the next one.