folk art | Celebrate365

Red, white and blue … it’s not just for July 4th!

I’m in Atlanta attending the July market for wholesalers. I’m gathering info & photos for the Halloween and Christmas issues. But, I sent the SUMMER issue off to the printer before leaving home. I should receive the pre-press version tomorrow evening for approval. If all goes well, the issue should go to press on Tuesday.

While we patiently wait for the real thing, here’s a preview of Bev Verbeke’s awesome covers. Did you know that patriotic ornaments were originally used just at Christmas? You’ll see some examples in the issue. The feature interview is with Ohio feather tree maker, Dennis Bauer. Bauer’s work has appeared in Martha Stewart Living magazine three different times! And, you’ll read about the history of this original artificial Christmas tree.

Which artists and designers do you recognize on the covers? Leave us a comment!

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It’s Time for a Mad Tea Party!

We all love prizes! Here’s a wonderful opportunity to explore and meet some of today’s innovative folk artists. As you explore and visit the wealth of blog sites, you’ll have the opportunity to enter your name into drawings for prizes. Sounds like a win-win opportunity, doesn’t it?

I plan to enter. How about you? Have fun at the party!

Click the image to begin your exploration.

Enter to Win! Johanna Parker’s “Lucky Lumina”

Oh, I was soooo tempted to keep this a big secret. I want to win this wonderful little guy.

He is a one-of-a-kind creation from Johanna Parker and you can read all about him on her blog. Johanna is giving away this loveble little guy and you can enter! Sigh … I guess I can’t keep a secret!

Johanna has licenced a collection of designs to Bethany Lowe this year and they are fabulous!

If “Lumina” isn’t Lucky for you, you can still own some of Johanna’s reproductions. Take a look at one of our Celebrate365 long-time advertisers, Traditions in California. They’ll be more than happy to help you make your selection and ship it to your door!

It’s Official! She Designs Like A Star.


Sue Myal and Sue Sprunk, owners of Artistry of Poland have selected a winner in the Design Like a Star contest. David Blair, a retailer who won the first competition, assisted in the judging.

Susan Vanderhoek, a folk artist from Salem, Oregon, submitted three different designs. The judges selected her Victorian Santa entry as this year’s winning design.
	According to Vanderhoek, Victorian Santa Claus is 4.5 inches. His red hood sports festive holly leaves in hunter green. The ornament will be painted in a gloss for shine and lightly sprinkled with German glass glitter. It’s almost unimaginable to find an ornament line without a Santa Claus, but this will be the first for Artistry of Poland! “Susan’s design has inspired us and we hope to add additional Santas to the Artistry of Poland line,” said Sue Myal.
Artistry of Poland will work closely with Susan through every step of the ornament creation process. She will receive 10 ornaments and her design will become part of the Artistry of Poland collection in 2010. Susan is a member of American Holiday Artists. You can view her work at seasonalwhimsies.blogspot.com.

More from Atlanta … Debbee Thibault American Collectibles

While many of us are in the midst of Arctic-like temperatures, it’s kind of nice to think about spring.

Debbee Thibault’s American Collection of folk art debuted 15 new paper mache sculptures last week in Atlanta.

The Nest will hold Egghead, available in pink, green, lavender and yellow.

The Nest will create a wonderful spring table-top display for jelly beans, Debbee’s new Egg Head pieces or those glittering glass eggs in your ornament collection.

Debbee also previewed a new collection of prototype jewelry in her own signature style. “I’m just testing the market with these,” Thibault explained. “These pieces might not be made. It all depends upon how well retailers like them and order them for their stores.”

Personally, I love the idea of “wearable” art!

Paper mache jewelry collection from Debbee Thibault

The jewelry collection includes three bracelets and two necklaces. The large “Story Telling Bracelet” is a wide bangle decorated with angels to guide us through the New Year.

If you like this new concept become a part of the Debbee Thibault collection, contact your favorite retailer and tell them!

Debbee Thibault Easter Chick ornament, made in Germany

Debbee also displayed a collection of 8 new glass ornaments. All were prototypes and none bore official names nor prices. These were so new that they had just arrived from Germany. Again, Debbee is uncertain if these designs will become part of the 2009 collection. Contact your retailer if you’d like to place an order.

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Spotted Rabbit and Springtime Fairy Ornament

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