Rowena Art

14th Anniversary for Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery

  Gloom and doom appear to dominate the media today.  It’s time for a success story.  Fourteen years ago, 20 talented local artists decided to put their talents together to start a cooperative gallery in downtown Prescott.  Their story is not unique; entrepreneurs dream of being in charge of their own destiny.  But, statistically, their successes are unique.  Most small businesses fail in a short time.  Businesses with 20 partners are not common.  All decisions have to be voted on; nothing happens quickly.  But, here we are, 14 years later with six of it’s founding members still a part of this vibrant business.

Arts Prescott Gallery opened its doors on May 23, 1994 with 20 members. Eight months after opening, our present location at 134 S. Montezuma opened up and those original gallant members decided that for the gallery to be truly successful, they had to move; everyone agrees that they never would have survived in their original location, just one block off the Square.  Making the change was tough though; the rent was greater and the space was larger … and renovations that had just been completed had to be undertaken again on a much larger scale.  More artists had to be recruited (we now have 22 members) and lots of labor-hours had to be logged to transform the space from an office to the home-town gallery they all envisioned.

Our presence on ‘Whiskey Row’ is worth all our work and perseverance.  Fortunately, Francis Field, the owner of the building, was also an artist herself and believed that Prescott needed to have a gallery for local artists on Whiskey Row.  After the move, the Gallery’s sales instantly doubled from the first location!

A bit of trivia for Prescott historians:  Arts Prescott Gallery resides in what was once known as the Green Frog Bar & Restaurant; for nostalgia purposes, our original logo incorporated that little frog.  We still have frogs for sale; they’re painted these days.

Bead Expo in Phoenix in May 2008

The Bead Expo -- Phoenix -- May 2 - 4, 2008 -- Phoenix Convention Center

The Convention Center is right in the middle of downtown Phoenix and the parking is great. (100 North 3rd Street)

http://www.beadexpo.com/beadexpo/phoenix.cfm

While you are in town don't forget to visit The Bead Museum in Glendale.

The Bead Museum Bead Shop supports the Bead Museum. http://www.beadmuseumaz.org/

  While visiting Phoenix you can make a day of it and visit both the bead expo and The Bead Museum.

Metallized Beads from The Mykonos - Now at The Bead Museum Bead Shop

The Bead Museum Bead Shop, in Glendale-Arizona, has a new shipment of Mykonos Metallized Beads.

These Metallized Ceramic Beads come in many shapes and sizes and they are dipped in copper, fired and then finished with 24K gold or fine silver. They are also available in antique silver and green patina.

   

The sizes range from 15-25mm for the focal beads and 12-16mm for spacer beads.

The beads come with several sizes of holes to meet your needs. Design with leather, silk cording or use these wonderful beads in your wire work jewelry. 

The various shapes and sizes are perfect for the bead designer.

                                                                        

These Mykonos Beads come from the island of Mykonos, a Greek island and one of the top international tourist destinations.

Designing with these small representations of Greece will take your jewelry design to another level. Finding new and different beads brings the artist to another place in time.

Incorporating the Mykonos Beads into your Off Loom Bead Weaving enables you to use your seed beads to draw around the ceramic designs.http://www.beadmuseumaz.org/

The Bead Museum--5754 W. Glenn Dr., Glendale, Arizona --623-930-7395

 

Rowena's Copper Wire Work Bead - The Copper Brooch

Rowena's Copper, Beads and Buttons Brooch begins with a Copper Wirework Bead taught during a class by Linda Lane from Yuma, Arizona.

The Copper Wire Work Bead is done by rolling a square sheet of copper beginning from one of the square edge and rolling the sheet of copper into a tight roll. The edges which show through out the bead creates an extra adornment. You can roll this copper around a 16 g. Sterling Silver Wire or use a colorful wire for this piece.

The size 16 g. silver wire is the center of the newly rolled Copper bead and one edge creates the round hanger, or jumpring for bead. A round nose plier is used for this process.

Another hanger or jump ring is formed the same way on the other end of the bead. This end has an extra 6 inches to wind around the copper bead at the end and then wound around the bead to the first end of the copper bead. Use your round nose plier to create the wire adornment on the silver wire by creating a 1/2 turn on both sides of the adornment.

Linda Lane uses these beads for Key Chains. I do Peyote stitch on the brooch and add vintage buttons and beads.

Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery Celebrates 14 Year Anniversary

Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery located on Historical Whiskey Row, here in Prescott, celebrated 14 years in business last night.

Here is Don Rantz with the Anniversary Cake. Why is Don holding the cake up at the beginning of the party? Well, Don made the cake!

Don isn't only a celebrated award winning pastel artist and gallery member, he also is one of the best cooks and bakers I know. Don and his wife Beth are both versed in the art of wearing the chief's hat.

Last night the gallery celebrated the opening of one of our most fun guest artist shows, and at the same time we celebrated our Anniversary of 14 years. This was all during the 4th Friday Prescott Art Walk.

The gallery wants to thank the community of Prescott for supporting us for 14 years. Some of the original members were on hand last night to help celebrate the evening and all of the members feel the excitement of what 14 years means for a cooperative gallery.

Be sure and drop by the gallery to see:

Wearable Art by Four Local Artists

Patricia Blevins, Sherri Curtis, Michelle Johnson,

Mary Kaye O’Neill

Open throught May 14, 2008

Prescott Art Walk - Paul Krause Boots

Tonight is the 4th Friday Art Walk. Drop by Arts Prescott on Whiskey Row for an Art Walk Guild.

Here are a pair of Paul Krause's made to order Red Boots which are pictured on the 4th Friday Art Walk Web Site.

I know Paul and his work and it is a must to go by the Fire House Shopping Mall off Whiskey Row to visit Paul and say hello. Check out his leather work and enjoy the art walk. http://www.artthe4th.com/

Also, don't forget that we have the Artist Reception and Spring Anniversary Party at the Gallery tonight. Call 928-776-7717 for more information.

Off Loom Bead Weaving and Recycled Lampwork Beads

         Off Loom Bead Weaving…wow…where can I start and where can I stop.  Off Loom Bead Weaving is a century old art.  You can visit museums across the world and find every art of bead weaving.  I fell in love with off loom bead weaving because the projects are unending.  

                     When we speak about bead weaving we think of the loom.  The American Indians have ornate bead looms, which are hand made and beautifully decorated.  Loom bead weaving makes for a firmer piece, which you use for a belt or such objects.  Off Loom Bead weaving on the other hand is softer, more delicate can form on an object or hand with delight.  With off loom bead weaving you can create jewelry, handbags, bowls, and baskets, three dimensional figures and you can cover just about anything that will stand still long enough to be beaded.

Beads are mentioned and used so much in history.  In Shakespeare’s Richard II as quote that I love is:  "I’ll give my jewels for a set of beads” and believe me I have and probably will in the future too.  Earlier in America the American Indian’s traded turquoise for glass beads that looked like turquoise.  The saw the magic in these small pieces of art.  Rich colors make the glass beads unique.  Off loom bead weaving offers the glass bead a venue to present their magic, their sparkle, shine and create a warm feeling in the room.

            Pictured is a Chardonnay Recycled Wine Bottle Lampwork Pendant and a Vintage Glass European Button clustered with Off Loom Bead Weaving. You will find this piece under Rowena's Jewelry at: www.rowenaart.net/store

       Also, don't forget the 4th Friday Arts Walk here in Prescott this week. Drop by Arts Prescott, 134 S. Montezuma St. - Heart of Whiskey Row to pick up your Art Walk Guild or go to: http://www.artthe4th.com/ and print out your guild.

Cotton Spinning Class by Joan Ruane at Kathy Kelly's House

Here we are, Carma Koester, Kathy Kelly and I spinning cotton during the Joan Ruane Cotton spinning class.

This photo was taken by Joan and it looks like we had a lot of fun and we sure did.

Carma is spinning on her Ashford Joy, Kathy has her Lendrum and I love the convenience of the Suzi Pro. I can position the Suzi Pro's angle of spinning. 

Thank you Mountain Spinners and Weavers fro bring Joan to Prescott to teach this class.

http://www.cottonspinning.com/schedule.htm

Black Diamond Handspun- A Carbon Fiber sometimes called Black Gold

I spun up some Black Diamond Roving from Louet, before the Fibers Through Time show in Tucson. I wanted everyone to see this wonderful yarn. I plan on spinning more in the next week to use for Kathy Kelly's Lace knitting class later on this month.

This skein is great and I will use it for my creative knitting project. The skein for the lace class will be spun with more twist.

Check out this fiber if you haven't already.

http://www.rowenaart.net/store/products.php?catid=4&category=Fiber%20and%20Batts

Bead Created With Seed Beads by Stella Broughton

If you think making beads from Lampworking Glass or Polymer Clay is fun, look at this bead. A Seed Bead Project created by Stella Broughton  is created with a body of seed beads. Stella is one of many great bead artists living here in Prescott.

This bead is done using peyote stitch. Stella is known for her free form flat peyote cuffs. It is always amazing to see what beaders do with these tiny glass beads.

Joan Ruane - Spinning With Cotton

Joan Ruane is a guest of the Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild today and tomorrow. Joan makes her home in Bisbee, Arizona and she is active in the Fiber Art World of spinning and weaving.

Today, Joan taught a great class on Spinning with Cotton for a group of Guild members. The class was a great success and we would recommend Joan to teach at your guild when you feel like learning everything there is to know about Spinning With Cotton.

If you aren't in a guild and you still want to learn to spin cotton, Joan has a video and a DVD with her Spinning With Cotton class.

Joan began with carding cotton and preparing it to be spun. The information taken from this spinning with cotton class is priceless.

If you were not able to attend the class today you can come and enjoy a lecture "Cotton Yarn Structure" -- understanding the fiber and how yarn is spun to improve your woven and knitted pieces.

Subject: Guest Lecture - Mountain Spinners and Weavers Guild - Joan Ruane from Bisbee, Arizona

Saturday, April 19, 2008  -- American Lutheran Church9:00AM - Business meeting

10:30AM –

Joan Ruane, Program or check out Joan's web site: www.cottonspinning.com

1085 Scott Dr., Prescott --

The Bead Museum Bead Shop - Glendale, Arizona

The Bead Museum in Glendale has a great Bead Shop which supports the Museum.

The Bead Store has a huge area of African Beads and Seed Bead Work done by the Zulu Tribe.

Check with the Museum Store at 623-930-7395 if you are interested in taking classes on beading or just learning about Bead History.

The excellent teachers present you with fun classes. You can learn the basics or choose an intricate project. Whether you are a beginning or advanced beader, the Museum Bead Store has a class for you.

Museum and Store Hours: Monday -- Saturday 10am to 5pm

Thursdays 10am to 8pm

Sundays 11am to 4pm and the Museum and Store will be closed on holidays.

While walking through Old Town in Glendale, have a great lunch and then check out beads from around the world. Learn a bit of bead history and enjoy the walk through time with beads.

When you visit Glendale, Arizona check by 5754 W. Glenn Drive or go to www.beadmuseumaz.org

The Woven Fiber Amulet Bag Kit - Great for Lap Loom or Tubular Weave

This is the Woven Fiber Amulet Bag Kit which you can fine on my web store along with the knitted version of this bag.

I have had great success with the Adorned Fiber Amulet bag and many of you have seen them at Arts Prescott and other galleries around Arizona.

www.rowenaart.net/store

Twig Beads for Embellishing Your Baskets by Editor of Basket Makers Susi Nuss

This morning I found this web site and I felt like I need to share it with you. These are beads made from wood species like holly, forsythia, Willow, apple, sassafras and maple.

Susi Nuss uses these hand crafted beads on baskets for hanging as adornment or to incorporated them into the baskets.

http://basketmakers.com/topics/tutorials/fprojtwigbeads.htm

Imagine looking for interesting twigs on your hikes and creating twig beads in your mind. Nature brings us some wonderful surprises and I am happy to share this project with you which I found this morning.

Susi Nuss gives you step by step instructions on how to makes these twig beads. Enjoy this site this morning! I know I did. 

MRS MARTIN'S GUILT SHOP - Australia

My Blog helps me not only travel to see fiber and beads, but the Quilts I have come across are breath taking.

Here is MRS MARTIN'S GUILT SHOP located in Australia. I found this blog when TypePad featured updated blogs of the day. Since then I go back and check what they are doing in the Guilt Shop.

Here is Lynette Anderson from Lynette Anderson Designs at the MRS. MARTINS QUILT SHOP with Karen Martin. If you are in Austria and wish to do some quilting drop by the shop or just go to her blog and see what the quilters are doing.

Mrs Martin's Quilt Shop
www.mrsmartinsquiltshop.typepad.com
154 Main St, Monbulk, 3793
Ph: +61 3 9756 6055
Fax: +61 3 9756 6045

The block of the month caught my eye because it is Spring.

Leanne's House from Leanne Beasley it all about Spring.

Here in Prescott the leaves are out and everything is beginning to bloom. Spring is my favorite season and this tells the story.

Sharing information brings appreciation of the creative ideas on the other side of the world. 

Isn't TypePad great for traveling around the world while drinking your morning coffee.

Wendy Blair's Opal Necklace - Arizona Bead Artist

Christa is wearing a Wendy Blair Original Creation during her trip to the United States this year. Along with Wendy's Opal Bead Necklace Christa also enjoys her pearl necklace.

Prescott enjoys many bead artists and Wendy Blair is one of them. Wendy shows her work right down the side walk at Van Gogh's Ear on Whiskey Row.

Enjoy all of Prescott's great Bead and Fiber Artists during the 4th Friday Art Walk - Pick up your Art Walk Guild at Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery, 134 S. Montezuma Street or go to http://www.artthe4th.com/ and print out your own art walk guide.

Enjoy Prescott!

A Beaded Brooch with Spring Colors - Wear the Brooch as a Pendant

"Arizona Sun", a brooch which is created around one of my lampwork Italian Glass Drops. The Wine Drops and the Italian Glass Drops both are created with flat backs. These flat backs are great on any surface. This is perfect for the beginning of a brooch.

In this coral to yellow and brown brooch you will find glass Vintage Beads and round glass Vintage Buttons surrounded with beads of Semi-Precious Stones.

It's Spring and time to wear the bright colors of spring.

My brooches are created with the pin backs running vertical. This way you are able to slide a chain through the pin back and wear it as a pendant. A silk cord works well using cap ends and a clasp or just tie the silk in a bow depending on how long you want you necklace pendant.

"Pink Ladies" has a focal Vintage Glass Button. The clay bead under the button was created by a Sedona Clay Bead Artist and it is done with a salt technique.

The Italian Glass Drop is clustered with Fresh Water Pearls, Semi-Precious Beads and some unique glass beads. Again the pin back runs vertical to enable it to be worn as a pendant.

Both of these brooches are at Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery,

134 S. Montezuma St., Heart of Whiskey Row, Prescott.

Call 928-899-3574 for more information

www.rowenaart.net

[email protected]

Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery Invites You to an Anniversary Party

April 25, 2008

Arts Prescott will be celebrating a 14th Anniversary with a party and a Fashion Show.

Be sure to visit Prescott and the Gallery at 134 South Montezuma Street from 6pm to 8pm.

Call ahead for more information:

928-776-7717 or www.artsprescott.com

The Arts Prescott Gallery drawing was done by Bret Blevins.

Alpaca Fiber - Hand Spun - Alpaca/Wool Novelty Yarn

    Prescott is rich with Alpaca Farms and spinning with the fiber creates rich and beautiful yarn. Visit one in your area and experience the magnificent animals yourself.

This Rowena Hand Spun is a novelty yarn created with one strand of clean uncombed alpaca fiber.   Then, plied the stand to a thin spun wool strand which is 20/2 in size.

While plying I held thrums of hand spun from my Scrap Caddy. These colorful pieces of wool were picked up randomly and what I ended up with is a alpaca/wool novelty yarn which I will use to knit a scarf for the fall show at Arts Prescott Cooperative Gallery - "Sisterhood of Spinning". 

Off Loom Bead Weaving Adorned with Lampwork Beads

"Arizona", is the name of this piece.

The V is created with Model Magic by Crayola. It is flat measuring approximately 1/4th inch. I covered it with size 11 seed beads using Peyote Stitch and then began my Off Loom Bead Weaving from the ends of the V.

The lampwork beads are created using Moretti Italian Glass and the beads inside the V, I call my Arizona Sun Drops. I added hollow beads to this piece to reduce the weight. One Furnace Drawn Glass Bead was added.

I make a handful of beads and then I create with them. Beads inspire!

Here I am in my studio. I use the old dentist case used for dental students for so many things.

Tools fit great in this case.

www.rowenaart.net/store

Fibers Through Time - Tucson AZ - Home From the Show

After a great show in Tucson, Fibers Through Time, hosted by the Arizona Federation of Weavers and Spinners I am still trying to organized my Bead and Fiber Studio.

As I wrote yesterday the board of the Federation and all of the volunteers did a fantastic job organizing and hosting this event. We met many new people and made new friends while showing our fiber and designs.

Solvang's Village Spinning & Weaving Shop was started in 1992 by John Novak and Marsha Mullaney-Novak. Here is John Novak holding some Chasing Rainbows Hand Dyed Yarn. Sovang Danish Village is a perfect name for a location to find spinning wheels and weaving supplies. (Solvang, California)

There were many tools for spinning and weaving at this show. Carolina Homespun had her treasure box of wooden tools and toys. This is once again one of my favorite wooden needles. I use these while weaving on my Triangle Loom. I also purchased a Will Taylor Cleaver Kate.

Keep track of what the Arizona Federation is doing and plan on attending the 2010 Fibers Through Time Show and Conference. www.azfed.org

Tucson Fiber Show - Fibers Through Time - Great Success - Photos and Information

The Arizona Federation of Weavers and Spinners can be proud of their Conference and Show 2008. The Show was such a success that I know that I will be there every year in the future. The conference went well and I only heard good things from everyone. The spirits were high throughout the Holiday Inn Hotel Palo Verde because all of the fiber classes and opportunities to be had.

Two happy new owners of the Roberta Electronic Spinner went home with Seasoned Spinners and they were all ready to create great and wonderful amounts of Hand Spun Yarn. Another Roberta will be delivered in Phoenix as soon as it arrives from Ertoel Wheels.

Mary Frances dropped by my booth to show me the Dicroic Off Loom Bead Woven Brooch she won during the evening auction. This is one of my Brooches and she wears it with Pride.

The Arizona Federation created an atmosphere of continuous fiber and bead excitement. We all enjoyed meeting new people and seeing unique fibers.

Cat Brysch Creations from Magdalena, New Mexico offered hand woven material by the foot or yard. Her Hand Wovens have pricing to match your pocket depending on the fiber and the weaving design.

Cat travels with her husband who enjoys his wood projects and offers everything a weaver or spinner would need.

Hokett Would Work - Magdalena, New Mexico is the name of his business.

The Vendors kept busy with visitors from the Tucson Area and several Prescott Spinners came to visit the show. 

  Jo Manginelli from Earth and Fiber Design - Prescott Arizona had her booth between Loom N Essence and my booth. We all three shared fiber and bead ideas throughout the show. Of course we also had some great dinners throughout Tucson each evening.

Jo offers unique clay "Show Offs" for your own Hand Woven Designs. Her Sheep and Buffalo Pins were the hit of the show.

  Loom N Essence offers Majacraft Spinning Wheels and Buffalo Fiber. Sharon Poplawski has some of the nicest hand dyed silk that I have seen. I stocked up on special knitting needles created for the tired hands and they are earth friendly. I will be blogging about these needles soon. I need to dig out my show information and notes.

Drop by my blog tomorrow for more Fibers Through Time Show information. Also, if you did a class at the conference send me a jpg to add to my blog information.                            

Off to the Fibers Through Time Show in Tucson

Hand Spun done on the Roberta Electronic Spinner. I will be demonstrating the Roberta in Tucson beginning this evening. The "Fibers Through Time" Show and Conference runs through Sunday Early Afternoon.

On the left of the photo -- Merino and Silk Hand Spun -- right Merino, both done in the art of Raggedy RO Technique.

Read more about "Fibers Through Time", a show and conference through the Arizona Federation at:

http://www.lasr.net/pages/city.php?Tucson&Arizona&&City_ID=AZ0411025&Event_ID=AZ0411025e081&VE=Y

Each day I will share my experiences and photos so drop by my blog or just jump in your car and drop by the show.

The Beaded Frame - Bead Your Own

A cluster of beads on a frame makes a great gift and a novelty to hang in your bead studio. My round clock is beaded just the same.

Patricia Brockert created a huge beaded frame some time ago, and since then I have made many a frame. Thanks to Patricia I have one more idea. Okay...if it doesn't move -- bead it.

This is a great way to use chipped beads or lampwork beads with one side which isn't exactly the way you wanted it to be. Make sure the chipped part of the bead is faced down or to one side where the glue will go. Be sure to use your glue carefully. You do not want to see the glue between the beads.

Begin to cluster your beads in all four corners allowing each bead to dry before you add more. Don't get impatient and add so many at one time. If you do this you do not get the design results you are trying to achieve. The art is in the way you cluster the beads.

I use E-6000 to glue each bead on the frame. Be sure and do this in a well ventilated room and enjoy the process.

The Chevron Bead - Old Chevrons - Art Seymor Chevron

The Chevron Bead is one my favorite of the African Trade Beads. Each bead carries its own story. You wear history when you were trade beads around your neck.

Wikipeid describes the Chevron Beads:

"Chevron beads are special glass beads, the first specimens of this type were created by glass bead makers in Venice and Murano, Italy, towards the end of the 14th century. They may also be referred to as Rosetta, or star beads.

"Venetian chevron beads are drawn beads, made from glass canes which are created in specifically constructed star moulds.  By the beginning of the 20th century, 4 and 6-layer chevron beads appear on various sample cards. According to records kept at the Societa Veneziana Conterie of Murano, they stopped making chevron canes during the 1950s. Chevron beads are still being made in Venice today, in very small quantities only.  Venetian chevron beads have been traded throughout the world, most heavily in West Africa, where they were first introduced by Dutch merchants in the late 15th century. Certain very small sized 7 layer Venetian chevron beads, also made during the late 1400s, are found exclusively in the Americas, mainly in Peru, and attributed to having been introduced by Christopher Columbus. Chevron beads are very popular collectors' items and they are still highly valued in present day West Africa, where they continue to be worn for prestige and ceremonial purposes, and occasionally buried with the dead." 

You can wear these old Chevron Beads on cords as a single bead and they still make a statement. Being that they are drawn beads they normally have a large enough whole that you can use all types of stinging material.

This Contemporary Chevron was made by the chevron pioneer, American Bead Maker Art Seymour. Wearing an Art Seymour Chevron also makes a statement. His beads are well known around the world in bead collector circles.

I have several Chevrons on my web store this month and this Art Seymour bead is one of them.

www.rowenaart.net/store