Holiday Boutique at the Village Artists Gallery and Studio

Dear Family and Friends,
I hope You can come to an art show and holiday boutique where I will be displaying my work.  I will have jewelry, pottery, watercolor paintings and vintage boxes just in time for your holiday gift shopping!

Hope to see you there!

Collaboration

I have been making pottery for over a year and I've started dabbling in jewelry.  What I like to make besides bowls are leaves out of clay.  I have had a few of my designs on Etsy featured in the RetroBabs Vintage shop.

I made this maple leaf necklace for the fall.  It happened to catch the eye of a wonderful artist, Barb Herb-Bonk.
She makes beaded jewelry and asked me to collaborate with her.  Barb created these designs using my pottery leaf and medallions.

I think they look fantastic and she really enhanced my work!   I am thrilled.

Making jewelry is another outlet for my pottery.
Here are the designs I came up with for the Village Artists show.  The show will be a Holiday Boutique on Dec 2-3rd in Homewood, IL.   They are located on Ridge Road and the gallery will features many artists from the group.

You can see I took a different route, than did Barb, but I tend to like simple jewelry.   I fashion these leaves and medallions out of clay slabs, hand sculpt them and then they are glazed at a high temperature in the kiln to give them that patina. 

I hope you can come to the show and celebrate the holidays with me!
A heartfelt thanks to Barb for a wonderful collaboration and using my pottery in her jewelry.
Blessings
Babs

Girlfriends in Homewood

I wanted to introduce you to a new friend-
Helen Fortino from GIRLFRIENDS in Homewood, IL.  She is the
proprietor /manager.  It is part upscale - resale and thrift store and part charitable animal awareness.  She donates part of her proceeds to NAWS -National Animal Welfare Society.
GIRLFRIENDS is located at 18046 Martin Ave. in Homewood, IL

She has agreed to show my wares as handmade pet dishes.  You can see a few of them here on this bureau.  Her customers are very receptive to this idea.  My bowls are bottom heavy and large, we think they will not move around or tip when the animal eats.  I am keeping my fingers crossed!

Her shop is filled to the brim with wonderful items, from clothing and  housewares to animal products.  I know I will enjoy collaborating with Helen.

I have been making some new designs with vintage silver plate spoons.  Helen asked if I would make a pet grave marker.  Here is what I came up with for her.
( Rest in Peace Felix) This was for her beloved pet.

Buying the silver plate spoons, hammering them flat, and stamping them is a lot of work.  I'm usually in a flop sweat by the end of the process!
I have made garden markers for herbs and  left a set with her.   I will custom stamp the names of the HERBS that the customers request.
You can see more spoon art at RetroBabs Vintage on Etsy.

I look forward to adding new art work and thinking of new uses for the silver  spoons.  Made this coat rack for a family member, personalized hooks.

You may reach Helen at the shop 708-206-2080. 

WWW.NAWSUS.org for the organization.
Blessings, Babs.