Connect with Babes in the Woods artists past and present... we hope that you enjoy their vision and artwork as much as we do! (Artists are separated by their location across the state)
Anchorage Artists
Alaska Starfish Company ~ Marci L. Nelson
www.akstarfish.com
As a third generation Alaskan, Marci
has much to appreciate about her life. She has spent her thirty-five
years exploring Alaska by running and skiing on the trails of Kincaid
park, bush whacking through the brush and animal trails at Mount Susitna's
feet, flying to remote rivers and streams to fish for salmon with her
dad, trolling over the icy waves of Resurrection Bay in search of salmon,
glaciers, halibut, and beauty, kayaking and beach combing out of Homer,
Valdez, and Seward, and running across the 50km frozen dogsled trails
of the Little Su and the mountain pass Lost Lake trails. Her experiences
in nature are part of the inspiration for her art and her lifelong love
of Alaska.
After going out of state for college and
teaching English in China, Marci returned to begin twelve stimulating
years as an English teacher at Dimond High School. Her relationships
and experiences with students inform her awareness of human growth and
an individual's ability
and need to regenerate, like starfish do, to constantly "create
anew." This desire to learn and grow propels her art and
her life.
Alaska Laughter & Alaska Love ~ Marne Lastufka www.alaskalaughter.com
The
name of the company comes from distinctive laugh of owner Marne
Lastufka. Over the years, she has been told innumerable times that
her laugh brightens people's days and in return makes them smile. Our
goal with "laughter" is to continue to pass on good feelings.
We
offer comfortable clothing that is made in the United States, by
American Apparel, a company which uses a vertically integrated business
model which minimizes the use of sub-contractors and offshore labor.
Knitting, dyeing, sewing, photography, marketing distribution and
design all happen in Los Angles facilities.
In
addition to using "locally" made clothing items, we go the extra mile
to have our goods printed locally, here in Anchorage, Alaska. We think
that working with other small businesses contributes to the betterment
of our community.
We
use organic, sustainable cotton when available, so you can feel good
about what you are wearing, look good in it, and spread a great message!
Originally from Western NY state, Annie came to Alaska in August of 2004,
bringing with her an intense background in metal work and fine arts.
Her love of all things crafty expanded once again during her first long
Alaskan winter where she taught herself to knit. Annie's work can be
found in established shops as well as online at www.anniepants.etsy.com
Annie is co-owner of Bella Boutique in Anchorage. The
doors to Bella Boutique opened in early 2007 and their distinct mix of
jewelry and style has been flowing out ever since. From handbags to
jewelry, and hats to lip balm, the Bella Girlz carry handcrafted goods from a
variety of local and national artists. Their goal is to bring you the
highest quality accessories that will accent your personal style.
scissorkick! ~ Taylor Medley www.scissorkick.biz
Scissorkick! launched its first tee shirt design in
2008. The company was started by Alaskan born, Taylor Medley, who designs and
screen-prints each shirt herself. Originally from Soldotna, Taylor now bases
scissorkick! out of her home in Anchorage.The company is best known for its Alaska Hand Map shirts,
featuring different Alaskan characters showing where they're from with the hand
map, commonly used by Alaskans for many years. Our gang sign, if you will.
Catherine Warden ~ 'The Dragonfly Lady"
sedirect@yahoo.com
I have the good fortune to have been raised by studio
artists and musicians, specifically my mother and grandmother. Much of
my training has come from watching them train other artists. My passion for
dragonflies is much more recent. I started sketching and painting ACEO cards in
2006 at the Saturday Market and introduced my work at a friend's booth in the
State Fair. Dragonflies represent dreams and illusions which fit perfectly with
the whimsical, colorful nature of my heart. My interest in dragonflies has
revealed that they are territorial and even bite!
You could say that Jordan Pagels makes a life of 'dreaming in
grandeur'. Pagels' work as a contemporary designer has found his
signature scroll work and languid curves in the realms of costume,
scenic and lighting design, as well as photography and architectural
rendering. Pagels is originally from Boulder Colorado and attended
Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle Washington.
Karen Daniels Johnsonwas
born in New Orleans on January 26, 1968. She began art lessons while in
grade school and continued to study and create art throughout her life,
culminating at the University of Alaska in Anchorage. After 16 years in
Alaska, she is still in awe of its majestic mountains and glorious
vistas. Through her work, Karen hopes to share that sense of amazement
with you.
Kitty Kincaid (KAT's) Scarves
http://www.silks.tv
K.A.T.'s Silk was founded in Anchorage, Alaska in
1993. K.A.T.'s is an acronym for Kincaid's Art Tech. Kitty Kincaid,
an emerging silk artist sells her art pieces through the Internet, retail
stores and galleries. All scarves are washable with regular
clothing. Throw the scarf in the washer / dryer / and steam iron the
back. Enjoy the scarf and your memory of Alaska with its wildlife or
floral beauty.
Kristy Hall ~ Alaska Gadgetry
www.alaskagadgetry.etsy.com
Kristy is the creator behind these funky resin-based pieces of art. Functional
forms of relevant gadgetry and images, her work is a perfect combination of
skill and fashion. Hip jewelry, belt buckles and money clips... her work will
be sure to captivate the comedian in you.
Lee Post ~ Your Square Life
www.yoursquarelife.blogspot.com
Lee Post, world-renowned cartoonist (well at least known in
his cul-de-sac) brings his slightly weird, sarcastic wit to print in this
compilation of cartoons compiled from his wildly popular comic strip, Your
Square Life, that ran for too many years to count. Sympathize with his odd
assortment of robots, clueless losers, bored office workers, and other
characters as they muddle through life in these cynical, sometimes too realistic,
always hilarious cartoons. He elevates the un-cool parts of us to the status of
comic strip superstars, celebrating the underdogs and those uncomfortable
moments we all would like to pretend never happened.
Making jewelry a full time endeavor has been a wild ride for designer
Lena Kilic. From a small booth at the weekend market One World Designs
has evolved into a wholesale and retail line around the US. Inspired by
fresh and simple styles, Lena's goal is to make pieces that will be in
your collection for years to come. You can visit her work online at www.oneworlddesigns.us
Lena is a co-owner of Bella Boutique in Anchorage. The
doors to Bella Boutique opened in early 2007 and their distinct mix of
jewelry and style has been flowing out ever since. From handbags to
jewelry, and hats to lip balm, the Bella Girlz carry handcrafted goods from a
variety of local and national artists. Their goal is to bring you the
highest quality accessories that will accent your personal style.
Samantha Geuss ~ Alder Patch Art
Naturally Inspired Creations
www.alderpatchart.com
Samantha has grown up enjoying the unique freedom and wildness of Alaska, and
our state continues to inspire her art-making and lifestyle. She works
primarily in the mediums of photography, graphic design, and apparel
design. Her work is inspired by the particular joie de vivre of
capturing beauty in unexpected places, and by the simultaneous exploration of oneself and the outside world. The themes of her artwork resonate with others who are compelled to explore the world 'out there', and to follow their wanderlust into the woods or across time zones. She is the co-founder of Babes in the Woods!
Sandy Kleven ~ Heartworks
www.heartworksak.net
Sandy's visual work is a collection
of mixed-media images evoking multiple and changing possibilities. Kleven
is better known as a poet and writer. When words fail her, she tears up paper
to create collages, many suggestive of landscapes and the natural world.
She sometimes fills them with words. In May, 2009, Kleven
read poetry at the Spenard Jazz Festival, backed by a band. Kleven has
published poems and essays in several journals and is the author of two books, The
Right Touch and Holy Land. Work will appear this year, in Cirque
and Cold Flashes: Literary Snapshots of Alaska.
Whetstone Gallery ~ Ed Hutchinson & Jan Knutsen
www.whetstonegallery.com
I make art to express
a world proffered
through my mind's eye rather than the way my camera sees it. I have been
encouraged to do this from a very young age. For example, when I was three
years old, my mother (a painter and sculptor) admitted me to her Christmas
card preparation table.Each
year she did a linoleum block line print and had her children paint in colors
on the prints.I was to put red
on the brick chimney; I put a red streak across a card, and mom said, "here
comes an abstract artist."Her
encouragement then and through my youth caused me to love painting outside
the lines, and this has continued over subsequent years. I paint to
please myself with
the integrity of my work, to smell the linseed in the oil paints, to
feel interaction
of brush and palette knife with canvas, and to be a provocateur for those who look at my
paintings - causing them to have their own unique experience in response to
what they see.
Stephanie Timmerman ~ Free Spirit Creations
smtimmerman@excite.comorhttp://evenkeel.etsy.com
Born and raised in Alaska, I grew up in rural Dillingham
without reliable television service, so I had ample time to channel my
creativity into making things. As the daughter of a commercial fisherman, I
find great inspiration in the water and things in it. You'll see lots of blues,
silver, browns, greens, and golds in my work with a little sunset red.
I am fortunate to be the product of an artistic clan. My
family includes painters, potters, carvers, and a whole bunch of good cooks! My
niche in all this is jewelry-making. I've been at it for fifteen years and have
more fun with it each time I pick up my pliers! What I love about designing
jewelry is the chance to make something meaningful out of simple items: wire,
rock, crystal, and glass. These items are elemental and basic but become
something to grace a life when combined with patience, joy, and an eye toward
sparkle.It's my hope that my jewelry is worn to happy occasions since laughter
is really what makes things beautiful.
Stephen Nigl ~ Adrift Photography
www.adriftphotography.com
Picture this: A group of gathered friends or
family. Imagine them wherever you like: at home, a coffee shop, out
hiking - whatever. Do you have the image? See the guy in the group with
the camera? That's me! I've been a photographer for over 15 years.
Hobbies have come and gone; but my photography has always survived
life's changes! The camera is my tool, my diary, and my compass.
In
today's world, it seems that everything has been said and done. There
is always someone out there who has done it 'better' than you. But
photography turns this idea upside-down. It's a record of how you see
your world. Of who you are. Life has taught me that there will always
be somebody who finds your unique world-view interesting.
My course through life has been largely
determined by circumstance. Adrift, I'm searching for meaning through
the lens of a camera, and I'm taking you with me! Thank you so much for
taking an interest in my work.
Each
one of Tassita's Alaskan zipper pulls are truly one-of-a-kind. She
specializes in creating zipper pulls for each unique person and
intended function. These little pieces of functional art just make life
better.
Whaley Schmoyer ~ WHL DESIGNS llc
ART FOR THE INSPIRED
www.whldesigns.com
Whaley
was born and raised in Alaska, to her, one of the most beautiful and unaffected
places in the world. She has been drawing since she was very little and only
started to paint a few years ago, using mostly oils in the beginning then
slowly expanding into acrylics and papers creating multimedia works. In art,
above all else she is mesmerized, enamored even, by texture. Whaley hopes you
see this and find what you are looking for in her art.Please visit her website to find
further inspiration: www.whldesigns.com.
Marlee Mitchell
www.marleemitchell.com
Marlee Mitchell was born in Boston and grew up in
California. She attended the California College of Arts and Crafts (now
California College of the Arts) and specialized in drawing. After a
diagnosis of metastatic Breast cancer in 2003, she explored painting
and found that the intensity of color promoted a passion within, so
rarely felt by those going through cancer. It helped her to step out of
the grayness of treatment and aided in her healing and helped her to
cope with her illness. As for color, the brighter the better, and thus
started her journey into painting large florals. She paints mostly
botanicals and is currently venturing into food and restaurant
subjects.
Marlee now resides in Alaska
with her husband Mark, 2 children, dog and cat. She is an artist with
The Upstairs Studio in downtown Anchorage with nine fellow artists. She
has paintings in The Katie Sevigny Studio, has an upcoming show in May
at Virtu, and has her paintings in the common gallery space at The
Upstairs Studio.
In addition to being a
busy mom, she is following her dream of becoming a successful artist.
She sells Silpada jewelry to support her art habit!
Michelle Pearson www.michellesadventures.com
When I saw lampworked glass beads for the first time I was fascinated.
I wanted one right away, but it was so expensive! It was about $100 for
the Michelle Waldren iris bead I fell in love with or $150 for an intro
class with the artist. I chose the class thinking it was the most
economical. Thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours later, I have a
glass & jewelry studio full of equipment, beads, and jewelry
components! My fascination with hand made glass beads continues. I
usually stick to traditional bead shapes in earthy colors, but am
currently experimenting with creating murini cane to incorporate in my
designs.
I also dabble in many other areas of glass art and jewelry making and
haven't decided exactly where my artistic future leads. For now, I'll
continue learning new techniques and mastering my favorites. Hopefully
you'll see some recycled glass up here in the near future!
I hope you'll take as much pleasure as I have in the pieces I've created!
Tammy Judd www.tammyjudd.com
Alaska clay artist Tammy Judd was born in Oregon. She moved to Alaska
in 1959, at age 2. In 1975, she graduated from West Anchorage High
School. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University
of Alaska Anchorage in 2001. That year, she exhibited her solo thesis
show of sculptural ceramics at UAA's Kimura Gallery.
Tammy has displayed work in numerous group shows. The Anchorage Museum
of History and Art selected her work for its 2002 "All Alaska Juried
Art Exhibition" and the 2003 "Earth, Fire and Fibre."
In 2003, Tammy participated in a group to complete a fish for the first "Wild Salmon on Parade" show. During 2004, her work was seen at Studio
68 and at the Whale's Tail in the Hotel Captain Cook. Most years, a
participating artist in the Anchorage Clay Arts Guild fall sale.
Jennifer Aist www.wildernessforkids.com
Jennifer Aist came to Alaska in 1993 for the adventure and stayed
for the experience. Whether with her husband or her friends, Jennifer
loves to travel and play in the Alaska backcountry along with her four
children. She has logged hundred of miles with her babies in her
belly, on her back and on her heels.
Jennifer has been a Lactation Consultant and parent educator for the
past fifteen years. She is passionate about babies, little kids and
the big backyard!
Garden Snaps www.gardensnapsmap.com
In 2008 two avid master gardeners from
Anchorage started Garden Snaps LLC. Every year for the past 25+
summers we would set out to find new sources of plants and gardening
supplies. As soon as spring was upon us we would go (what we call)
"greenhousing" - making a day out of visiting greenhouses, filling our
car up with plants, having lunch and just enjoying the fact that winter
was over and we could dig in the dirt again. To keep track of the
various retailers we started noting our favorite locations on a map.
As we were doing this we kept saying that we should publish the map,
thinking that if we saw a need for a gardening reference map, then
others might too. In the summer of 2008 we decided to take the
plunge and formed Garden Snaps LLC. Our first publication, the 2009
Garden Snaps Map, was printed in April of 2009. It showed the location
of greenhouses, nurseries, garden centers, farmers markets, public
gardens, and resources in Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. We have
received tremendous support from the gardening community to develop and
distribute the map. Also in 2009, we developed a website to provide
reference information for the gardening community and support the
Garden Snaps Map.
The 2010 Edition of the Map has expanded
to include the Kenai Peninsula and all communities on the road system
up to Fairbanks. The website continues to develop and now includes
interactive maps mirroring the hard copy map and includes links to
other gardening related websites. We are excited about offering web
based tools for businesses to get the word out about what they have to
offer.
Our goal is to promote the many wonderful, locally
owned garden retailers and Alaska Grown products, as well as to provide
the gardening community with information about gardening events, local
sources for healthy produce and educational and social resources. We
wholeheartedly support all aspects of the gardening community in
Alaska - gardeners are just the nicest people!
Kimberly Nielsen, Ceramic Artist Rabbit Creek Studio
Kimberly Nielsen is a ceramic artist who has lived in Girdwood and Anchorage, Alaska for the past 17 years and has been making ceramics for over 12 years. She has learned the craft primarily from other local ceramic artists, classes at the University of Alaska, and by a whole lot of experimentation. In addition, she has completed various short courses and workshops by renowned artists in locations throughout the U.S. and Europe. More examples of her work can be viewed on the web at www.rabbitcreekstudio.com .
The
world has provided us with plants to nourish and heal our bodies. We are rediscovering
our roots as people of the earth and re-learning to safely use the
materials at hand in a responsible way. Alaskan
Earth Mama's hope to help you and your family enjoy and receive the
benefits of these plants with their wonderful body care products for
Mama and child.
Brianna is a Fairbanks-based artist, specializing in mixed media fine art. Her creations stretch and inspire the imagination, they are simultaneously lovely and haunting. You have to see them for yourself to really understand.
Heather Krawiec ~ Mountain Heather
www.mountainheather.com
Fairbanks based artist, Heather Krawiec of Mountain Heather
Creations, offers individually
designed hats,
each unique, with fabric and color combinations reflecting Alaska's
natural landscapes. Inspired by views of the Alaska Range from
Fairbanks, Mountain Heather's trademark mountainscape band wraps each
style of hat. Best known for the
Original line of
Mountain Heather fleece hats, her styles now include fleece baseball
caps,
vent hats, headbands, painters caps, and cotton skull caps.
Kathy Turco ~ Spirit of the Arctic
www.spiritofthearctic.com
Denali, the largest mountain in North America, first captured my
heart in the fall of 1981 when I made a solo trip into Denali National
Park as a 20-year-old college student fascinated by arctic ecology. The
place had an unexplainable grip on me so I moved to Alaska and I found
myself drawn to be there as a lone visitor every season. In 1990 I saw
a stunning aerial photograph of "Denali" in early spring, taken by
Michio Hoshino. It had only then been 5 years since I discovered a
passion to record natural sounds, but it ignited my imagination to
someday produce an audio-visual DVD about the wildlife and eco-regions
of Alaska starting in Denali-Interior. It would be another 5 years
before I would meet the internationally-renowned and legendary
photographer in person. The meeting with Hoshino, together with my
exposure to many great Native Alaskans and scientists devoted to the
study of nature in the north, inspired me to continue collecting
recordings of natural sounds for an envisioned program called SPIRIT OF
THE ARCTIC.
Girdwood Artists
Shelbi Lynne Laughlin ~ Pullin' Dandelions
www.pullindandelions.com
Born and raised in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Shelbi
Lynne grew up with a fervor for the outdoors and backwoodsian Alaskan
adventure. These things, along with an irrational fear of cats, makes being a
full-time artist her only real option. Her current artistic workings include
mixed media paintings, a smattering of lampworking, and other inspiring randoms
as they come to life. She hopes that you are pleased with her visions of art
and that her work inspires you to look at the world with a profound sense of
awkwardness and general elation towards pirates!
Growing
up in Palmer, AK instilled an appreciation and love for nature in Heidi. Her creations are brought to you on the wings of ebbing and
flowing light amidst the mountains of Girdwood, AK where she currently
resides. Her natural surroundings, love of changing weather and
freedom of the winged creatures provide inspiration and insight into
the wearable moments that she creates. When not drawing, knitting, or
making earrings for flygirl designs heidi can be found on her skis,
bike, skateboard or feet enjoying the bounty that her amazing home has
to offer.
Ashley Hovis
www.ashleyhovis.etsy.com ashleythovis@gmail.com Ashley lives in a community
nestled in a forested valley of the Chugach Mountains, otherwise known as
Girdwood, so that she may embrace the inspiration and freedom that the
mountains, streams, and woods provide. Whether she is playing with beads and
wire, hammering metal, or brushing color onto a canvas, art is Ashley's means
of producing fruits from the thought seeds of her imagination. The opportunity
to bring happiness to people who enjoy her art is what motivates her to share
her artistic expressions at Babes in the Woods Art Gallery.
Lara Applebaum Photography
www.laraapplebaum.com
My mother's artistic insight and botanical
interest, as well as the work of painter Georgia O'Keeffe, have
influenced the photographs that I take today. Based in Alaska, my environmental surroundings have proven to be a continuous source of inspiration. Utilizing color, texture, and composition, my goal is to magnify
detail, regardless of subject matter, thus offering a somewhat
different perspective of an otherwise common visual.
I began my adventure in jewelry design in 1991 while
pregnant with my first child, Max.I really needed a creative outlet so my mother-in-law, Hannah Goldrich,
began teaching me how to make earrings. My ideas come from many places.I love to use unusual combinations of
color, shapes and textures in my work.Color, which has such a strong influence on mind, body and soul, has
always been important to me.I
find inspiration comes in many ways.Something as simple as a leaf on a tree, a gorgeous piece of fabric, or
my friend Terri, coming over with a new blouse or skirt needing a great piece
of jewelry to pull her outfit together. I get it from my kids and the great ideas they have, ideas with no boundaries and uninhibited by age.Inspiration also comes from the
incredible wild landscape of Alaska.From my home in the flats of downtown Juneau I am surrounded by
towering mountains and the sea.The seasons provide an ever changing landscape of color and light and
are a never ending source of awe and inspiration.
Kathleen M. Benner ~ Mossy Hill Studio
Mossy Hill Studio was established in 2006 by artist Kathleen M. Benner, but her interest in clay began 11 years before. In 1998, she and her husband moved to Juneau when her husband was transferred with IBM. One of the first things she did was purchase a kiln and a pottery wheel and have them barged up from Seattle. At the time, she was homeschooling her four children and art was an integral part of the curriculum. She soon began teaching other home-schoolers beginning pottery and a small business took off.
After all of her children graduated, she decided to focus on making porcelain beads and pendants and so Mossy Hill Studio was born. The name comes from the acre on which her studio sits, which is a mossy moraine left over from the retreating Mendenhall Glacier.
Kathleen spends half of her time being creative. The other half is spent volunteering with the Juneau Raptor Center, of which she is currently vice-president. For the past 10 years, she has dedicated countless hours to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing hundreds of wild birds in SE Alaska. At any given time, she has several bald eagles that reside in a flight enclosure at her home, exercising and building strength before they are released back into the wild. She also has a gyrfalcon named "Phil" who is non-releasable due to a feather condition. Phil makes visits to local schools and businesses. educating the public about raptors and the importance of conservation.
Kathleen says " to me, art and nature go hand in hand. I am inspired by the beauty that surrounds me here in Alaska and my jewelry has a rustic, earthy quality that reflects that."
Kathleen also paints using pastels and watercolor, sculpts raptors and other animals from earthenware clay, and makes porcelain buttons that she sells in Juneau.
Jody Schmitz ~ NorthStar
Cottage
northstarcottage@yahoo.com
Jody
grew up in Juneau, AK, married her high school sweetie, raised 2 awesome
daughters, and is now enjoying the blessings of being a grandparent.
Playing
SCRABBLE is one of her favorite pastimes - so it was an easy transition to
combine creativity and scrabble together into a very enjoyable hobby.Jody creates pendants out of recycled
scrabble tiles, using an environmentally friendly non-toxic acrylic finish... all
topped off with a sterling silver bail.They are water resistant, but not waterproof- so no swimming or
showering with them on!The
pendants can easily slide on to a chain to wear as a necklace, or attached to a
key ring, or even better yet - slide on to a zipper pull. Designs
are of an endless variety - Alaskan, floral, vintage, quotes, animals, famous
artwork, funky and sassy, and the list goes on & on.
Tasha Walen & Lincoln Farabee ~ Basement Studios
www.basementstudiosalaska.com
Basement Studios is a collaboration between glass artists,
Tasha Walen & Lincoln Farabee. Their glass studio in located on Douglas
Island, which is just a stones throw away from downtown Juneau, Alaska. The
studio seems to have two seasons: "chaos" (May through December) and
"winter" (January - April). During the chaos seasons, Tasha &
Lincoln find themselves working with glass everyday, going downtown to check in
at the Juneau Artist co-op gallery they belong to, and, of course, walking the
dogs on the beach. During the "winter" season, they watch the
snowfall, make more glass beads, shovel the snow, and still manage wet, cold
dog walks. The artists enjoy traveling all over to spend time with amazing
glass teachers. Previous teachers include, Larry Brickman, Kimberly Jo Affleck,
Sabina Boehn,& Davide Penso (Murano, Italy).
The type of glasswork Tasha & Lincoln do is called
"lampworking" or "torchwork". They start by placing a glass
rod in the flame of my oxygen/propane torch. They work with many different
types of glass (effetre/vertofond, borosilicate, Bullseye, many different types
of 96 coes) The glass is heated into a molten ball and applied to a stainless
steel mandrel rod used to form the center, or hole of the bead. From this
point, different colors, shapes, and textures are added. Both artists
experiment with silver foils, metal rods, enamels, etching and glass first to
create chemical reactions. Exploring and pushing the boundaries of what the
glass can do is endless.
Hope Artists
Glacier Dyeworks ~ Dave & Lana Scanlan
www.glacierdyeworks.com
Glacier Dyeworks is located in the heart of glacier country in
Hope, Alaska. We, Dave and Lana Scanlan, are textile artists who take
pride in our work. Collectively, we have over 20 years experience
producing fabulous tie dye! In fact, many people discover different
images that appear in our detailed crinkle work.
Using traditional techniques, we hand tie and dye each garment individually so no two are exactly alike.
Matanuska-Susitna Valley Artists
Gladheart Acres
More Information Coming Soon!
Please visit their products online at www.gladheartacres.com
Laura Pinnick ~ Krafts with Kare www.alaskakraftswithkare.com Krafts
With Kare is a home based business in Wasilla, Alaska, dedicated to
making products that mothers, fathers, babies and grandparents love!
Operation began in 1993, when Laura Pinnick, a stay-at-home mom,
realized the need for high quality and affordable baby items and gifts.
These items and gifts are special in that each and every item is made
with a special touch ~ Love, softness, and comfort for that certain
special bundle of love
(whether it is a girl, boy, or even twins)!
Salty Starfish ~ Maria Richard www.saltystarfish.com
I was born and raised in Alaska. My family and I live in Wasilla. I
have 4 awesome kids 1, 4, 8, and 10 years old. They are a blast! One day I hope to be able to use my creativity to make a living. I have
been working in IT for the past 8 years. I love crafting! I love to sew childrens clothing, stuffed animals, handbags and any
other ideas that pop into my head at the time. I also like to paint but
haven't had time in quite a while with all of my other little projects
going on.
Brandy Lee Mallick
Born and raised in Alaska, art has been a major outlet throughout most
of my life. Inspired mostly by the natural beauty in things we see
every day. I spend the majority of my time with my two children, Ava
and Melissa, growing and learning with them every day. Each new day is
an adventure, and each new day holds an incite to the mystery of life.
My only hope is to bring light and joy to another through my art.
Judy Vars
www.cabinfeveralaska.com
I have been an artist my whole life,
because art to me is like playing and I love to play. Art, like
playing, is taking risks, letting my imagination run free, getting
outside my comfort zone, learning new things and having fun. My
artistic creations come from my need to explore my dreams and
experiment with new imagery. Sometimes, when I can get out of my own
way, some very surprising things happen. Some of my best ideas come
from discarded objects. I think how would these things fit together
with other things to make my collage/assemblage art.
Years
ago I saw the Ramses exhibit. Seeing the ancient artists and the
objects they created impressed upon me the human races' need to express
ourselves and let others glimpse our souls through art. We can look at
what has survived and glimpse into an ancient time and connect with
people who lived 3000 years ago.
I
was introduced to encaustic wax several years ago. Beeswax is heated
and pigment added to create multidimensional works of art. Part of what
I find intriguing about encaustic wax is how they used it in ancient
times. The war ships in ancient Greece were sealed with beeswax and
then painted with encaustic wax (the blood red markings must have had
an awe-inspiring effect on the people of Troy). The Fayum mummy
portraits have survived since 200 B.C. the colors and details remain
extraordinary.
I
love encaustic wax for reasons not entirely definable. To me the medium
is mysterious. Layers can be built upon layers and the transparency of
some pigments let us look through to what lies partially hidden
beneath. It can be molded, carved, heated, pushed, scraped, layered,
and collaged into. I manipulate the wax and colors with specific
results in mind, but ultimately the encaustic takes its own course and
the results are always surprising.
Encaustic
is ancient yet modern. What I desire is not unlike what others have
desired through the ages. I want to create something that will
withstand the eons of time and create art that will tell my story and
connect with others when I am dust. My art is my joy, my pain, my point
of view. It is pieces of my dreams, my life and I love to share it. I
hope it gives pleasure.
Eagle River/ Chugiak Area Artists
Orion Designs ~ Vicki Potter www.vickiorion.etsy.com
I love the beauty and sparkle of gemstones and the luster of freshwater
pearls. I create the beautiful jewelry you see here, in my home
studio, which is nestled in the woods.
Julie Clem ~ Alaska Leash Company
More Information Coming Soon!
Visit Julie & Alaska Leash Company online at:
www.alaskaleash.com
Susan grew up in Florida, and attended the Savannah College of Art
and Design, in Savannah, Georgia, where she majored in Graphic Design
and Illustration. Several elective classes in jewelry arts, soon fueled
a passion that would guide her down an unforeseen career path. After
graduation, she braved the advertising world and taught elementary art
for several years. Always creating art. After the arrival of her two
children, she began creating jewelry professionally.
All of Susan's work is handmade and totally created from start to
finish by the artist herself, using the lost wax process and
fabrication. In her Alaska studio, she works primarily in silver and
embellishes her work with semi-precious stones. She is inspired by the
natural world around her and her jewelry has an organic feel to it. She
also enjoys displaying uplifting, iconography on her pieces. Something
everyone can relate to.
Sitka Artists
deZeus deZigns ~ Holley Dennison
www.dezeusdezigns.etsy.com
I was grown in Sitka, Alaska... a small, rainy, beautiful city on an
island. I started making jewelry a couple years ago and just love it. I
enjoy getting lost in the colors, shapes, and movement of beads and
wire. You really need to have a hobby during the dark winters here!
The name "deZeus" comes from, yes, my dog. I know, I know, no one
thinks your dog is a wonderful as you do, but still, I thought it was a
fun name. Zeus is a spunky JackRat Terrier and loads of fun. He is my
loyal companion as I sit for hours on end at my beading table.
My jewelry also sells at a great local art gallery called Fairweather
Prints and at a unique shop Babes in the Woods, in Girdwood AK.
Keith Greba
www.keithgreba.com
Keith came to Alaska in the early 70's through a tour of
duty with the U.S. Coast Guard as a shipboard navigator and traveled
extensively throughout the state. Since completing his tour of duty in 1977, he
attended the University of Alaska and studied art and worked summers as a
commercial fisherman. Throughout the years he has worked with a variety of art
forms including decoy carving, ivory scrimshaw, pen and ink drawings, and
painting in several mediums. He remembers winning his first art show in the
third grade and his work has been accepted and placed in numerous art shows
around Alaska. He now resides in Sitka, painting in the winters from the
inspiration and ideas he gets as a captain of his own charter boat which he
operates in the summers.
Rebecca Poulson ~ The Outer Coast
www.theoutercoast.com
Rebecca grew up in Sitka, Alaska, a town of about 8000
people on the outer coast of the southeastern Alaskan archipelago. For about
ten years she worked as a shipwright repairing wooden fishing boats, went to
boat building school in England for a year, and cofounded the Sitka Shipwrights
Cooperative. She also worked occasionally as a deckhand on trollers and
longliners. Rebecca learned wood engraving around 1992 from Dale DeArmond, who
had just moved back to Sitka. In 1996 she started doing art and her calendar,
the Outer Coast calendar of art and poetry. In 2000 Rebecca received an MFA in
printmaking at Tyler School of Art, in Philadelphia. She is now working on new
art, and putting in a lot of time with the Sitka Maritime Heritage Society to
restore a WWII marine ways as a maritime museum and WWII interpretive center.
That website is www.sitkamaritime.org. Rebecca has a husband, Eric Dow, a
little girl, Cora Grace Dow, and a son: Asa James Dow.
Kenai Peninsula Area Artists
Hey Wire Jewelry ~ Diane Somers
www.heywirejewelry.com
I live in Kenai, Alaska and enjoy making my own version of
jewelry. I learned the technique about 4 years ago and couldn't stop using the
hobby to entertain myself. I continue to try to modify the technique, coming up
with new ideas to go along with it. I can't seem to turn my back on the fun of
it all. Colors, combinations and what my brain decides to concern itself with
that day - keeps me out of "trouble!"
Each piece has its own name (another attempt, just for the fun of
it) and no two are exactly alike. My fine arts degree (metal work) from
Washington State University, is finally coming alive or I am just courageous
enough to call myself an "artist" now!
After the first year of making it, I started to try (or trial) my
own small business with it. Now, it continues that way... with the love of creating,
trying to sell it is the hard part of the process of dealing with my bead
addiction.
Thank you for visiting Babes in the Woods in Girdwood and seeing
my work in real life. I love living in my small town of Alaska, and now, being
considered a babe, while sharing the gallery with other great artists, even I
am amazed!
Willow Artists
Marika Carey
Somewhere in the midst of deciding what I wanted to be when
I grew up, I had kids.Loving to
be outside, even in negative 20, I now needed to make clothes to keep my babies
warm while I skied.One garment
led to another as one year led to the next.Pretty soon specific requests were being made for dresses
(in the heart of winter), pockets that look like horses, and fairies on their
fleece hats.In clothing my
children and myself, I've grown to love my sewing machine and think of it as my
most prized possession.Now I've
decided to put my creations out there and see if other families can enjoy them as
we have.
Ember Haynes ~ Silverbear Sundries www.silverbearsundries.com
More Information Coming Soon!
Talkeetna Artists
Captured Contrast ~ Dora Miller www.capturedcontrast.com
Originally
from Brazil, Dora moved to Alaska in 2001, bringing with her an
incredible passion for colors, different mediums and contrasts to
express art. This
vibrant and colorful artist started photographing the local beauty,
integrating her education and past experience into her work, obtaining
magnificent images of Alaska. Along with her love for photography comes
her passion for jewelry making. Dora collects stones while hiking
around the state, she then tumbles and drills them to create unique
pieces of jewelry, a true Piece of Alaska.
Big Lake Artists
Nancy Nolfi ~ Pizzazz Fiber Arts
www.pizzazzfiberart.com
Nancy Nolfi's unique "Pizzazz" fiber arts are created in her Big Lake studio
surrounded by her family's 160 acre homestead of pristine Alaska
wilderness. Nancy has been immersed in the beauty of Alaska all her
life - a privilege she never takes for granted. It is this natural
beauty, serenity and harmony that inspire the pieces she designs.
For
over 20 years Nancy has been creating interesting, beautiful fiber
art. Her most recent passion is needle-felting and surface design.
Before working with fiber, Nancy expressed her creativity for 17 years
designing and creating stained glass art for both commercial and
residential installations.
Nancy's
commitment to art leads her to her studio every day where inspiration
takes over and she combines a wealth of interesting materials,
needle-felts and crochets with Italian novelty fibers, recycles
fabrics, incorporates jewelry pieces and chooses from thousands of
unique buttons to make useful, beautiful, fun, wearable art.
Babes From Beyond
Jen Otey ~ MOONbow ARTworks
www.moonbowartworks.com
Jen Otey is a Mother, Artist, and Architect living in and
inspired by the birch trees of Fairbanks, Alaska. She moved to Alaska in the
Summer of 2000 from the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, following the
receipt of her degree in Architecture from Virginia Tech. Growing up in what is
considered the Bible belt of the United States lent to her great love of
Nature, God/Goddess, the Holy Spirit, and Christ. Jen has also lived in many
other wonderful places that have offered her teachings and teachers of
Shamanism, Buddhism, Magic, and a love and reverence for Mother Nature. Over
the years she has developed her intuition as a tool for creating works of art
that speak to people on a spiritual and intuitive level, honoring the sacred
feminine in us all.
Leah Sturgis
www.leahsturgis.com
Inspiration for Chicago born artist Leah Sturgis comes from
the place where landscape and architecture intersect. Her unique, handmade
jewelry captures the mystery of wild elements ~ caribou antler, porcupine
quill, wood, fresh water pearl ~ in structured, clean designs, creating pieces
that are both elegant and organic. Many of Leah's materials come from Alaska,
where she lived for 12 years before moving East. Born and raised in Chicago,
Ill, Leah developed a strong artistic sense and began creative exploration at
an early age. Her parents said that, "If you give Leah enough paper and
tape she will build a house."Leah's studio is located in Alexandria,
Virginia, where she lives with herhusband, musician Frank Solivan. Her work can be found in galleries
across the country, from the tiny outpost of Chicken, Alaska to New York City.
Melanie Darling ~ Sister Hipster
www.sisterhipster.com
Sister Hipster was started by two hip sisters: Melanie
Darling and Brandi Sessions. They were looking for fun and funky baby clothes
and gear. In the absence of affordable cool, the sisters decided to take
matters into their own hands. One sister knew all about sewing and the other
sister started asking her for handmade items. An idea was born. Since both
sisters were new mommies they began creating practical, cool items they could
use themselves.People started
noticing, and so, the sisters started selling! And now the adorable style being
rocked by our two cute tots is available to babies, toddlers and even moms
themselves.
Karen Peterson
www.karenpetersonart.com
More Information Coming Soon!
Sara McCormick~ Infinite Creature Designs www.infinitecreature.net
I was born in Houston, TX. I grew up in Oregon after moving here at the
age of 5. While attending the Natural Resource Sciences and Technology
Magnet High School in Beaverton, I developed a fascination with the
natural world, and scientific exploration, as well as honing my
technological skills. Afterward, I surprised all my friends by deciding
to go to art school! I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts from the
Maryland Institute College of Art, in Baltimore in 2005. I now live in
Portland, where I make a meager living selling my art at the Portland
Saturday Market and on-line, as well as part-time contracting in web
design and consulting.
Mathematics is an exact science - a systematic, emotionally void
analytical tool. But people often forget that what science is analyzing
is LIFE! Life, in its infinite complexity can, at times, be summed up
by just a few simple rules. And those rules can reappear in so many
places that you never would have expected. They link our world together
in a fascinating, intricate network of living, breathing patterns.
I experiment with these rules like a child learning a new
instrument. I would like to think that I'm not just creating art, but
life! The name "Infinite Creature" seeks to convey the idea that we are
all fractal beings and infinity is in our blood.
Hudson Valley Seed Library
www.seedlibrary.org
The Hudson Valley Seed Library strives to do two things:
to
create an accessible and affordable source of regionally-adapted seeds
that is maintained by a community of caring gardeners; and,
to
create gift-quality seed packs featuring works designed by New York
artists in order to celebrate the beauty of heirloom gardening.
In
2010, we will be offering over twenty-five varieties of locally grown
seed. Most of our varieties are rooted in the history and soils of New
York or are chosen because they do well here. Every year we plan on
growing additional varieties on the Seed Library farm and contracting
with organic and certified naturally grown farmers in the Hudson Valley
and upstate New York to grow even more varieties. Our membership
program provides a way for backyard gardeners to make a vital
contribution to this effort. By 2014, we aim to be 100% New York grown.
Kate Grenier Designs
www.kategrenier.com
from an early age in columbia falls, montana, when something was wanted, kate
grenier learned to build it. kate worked on projects with her father in the wood shop, bringing
her artistic sensibilities and beloved found objects to these early projects. this empowering spark
influenced her studies in art UCLA, where she completed her degree in 2004.
grenier's collections coalesce, creating functional art for home decor.
Innovative solutions and refined lines, juxtaposed with folk-traditions, distinguish this young
artist's work. completely modern and unfettered in her approach, grenier blends literary
quotes and roadside finds to establish a distinctive, memorable and highly accessible style. elements
like milagros or quilting patterns in hammered-aluminum detailing, recur and combine in pleasantly
startling designs.
recycling and reusing are an integral part of kate's process, a primary
approach to building playful furniture and decor, like hammered aluminum and copper clocks,
mirrors, tables and jewelry boxes. grenier reinterprets form and function, with works ranging from
found bottle caps, transformed into magnets, to elegant accent tables, bounded by the poetry of
pablo neruda. kate especially enjoys personalizing a piece for a specific home, gift or persona - a
refreshing rarity in functional artistry.
lessons at the workbench, international travels, and the so - cal feel of los angeles
are integrated in grenier's work. disarmingly charming, eclectic and sophisticated: her black wooden jewelry boxes
take a predictable structure and adorn this rigid form with fluid poetry.
drawing from the experience of a moment, filtered through readings, emotions and
travels, grenier's disparate elements find expression in whimsical clocks and bottle cap
magnets - each cap containing a replica snippet of news. Each inventive piece serves a purpose
in home, studio or office.
Supermaggie www.supermaggie.com
More Information Coming Soon!
Tremundo ~ Traci Nelson www.tremundo.com
Tremundo
is a collective world of the creative mind.
As I grow and continually learn about life, I've found that surrounding
myself with creative outlets, positive people and exploring the
world to be very rewarding. I've also found that simplicity is one
of the greatest rewards amongst a complex world.
I see so many people taking a chance in pursuing their dreams, doing
what they love and they are some of the most positive and happiest
people I know in this busy world. So no matter what goals you might
have, give thanks for the opportunity and make each one a very rewarding
experience.
Celebrate
life and explore the creative side, we all have talents within us.
Zingo Tots ~ Jill Ward www.zingotots.blogspot.com
Zingo Tots was developed by Aaron & Jill. We are a couple of
crafty/artsy 30-somethings who have been married for over a decade.
Along with our little web baby, we have two amazing kids...one a
toddler, the other a tween!
All of our products are individually hand made. Because of this, each
item may vary slightly in pattern and cut. All of our items are
completely unique and crafted with the utmost care. We strive for great
quality. We would never sell something that we would not buy ourselves.
We know, firsthand, that parents have countless options when shopping
for kids and that is why we are very appreciative of your business. We
are committed to providing you with complete satisfaction and superb
customer service!
Seaside Soap & Candle Joyce & Laurel Hill www.seasidesoapandcandle@etsy.com
We are mother and daughter continuing on our journey together
creating handmade, beautiful, unique candles and homemade soaps.I have recently added candle art to our
list of handmade items. I paint with wax on wax to add dimension to the already
unique candle.
It
is our intention to use only the most pure and natural ingredients in our
products to enhance the lives and spirits of all who come in contact with our
creations. Our candles contain pure palm wax, cosmetic grade fragrance oils and
color and natural cotton wick.Our
soap is made with 100% pure olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, grapeseed oil and
sodium hydroxide.Some soaps may
contain all natural herbal color, cosmetic grade fragrance oils and apricot
kernel for exfoliation.
When I am not making soap and candles I enjoy knitting, photography and
watercolor. I grew up on a small island off the coast of Maine where I learned
to be independent, self-sufficient and where I was encouraged to explore and
develop my creativity. I am a graduate of the University of Maine. Registered
Nurse and BS in Mental Health.
Laurel is a graduate of the University of Maine with a BA in
Psychology.She works with people
that have developmental issues and she is a great source of love, laughter and
support to the people she works with. She does most of the tech support for our
business when she isn't working full time and making soap and candles.She keeps everyone updated with our
progress and new creations on facebook.
Rainbow Swirlz Mendy Stewart www.rainbowswirlz.com
More Information Coming Soon!
The Permanent Collection Sarah McCoy www.thepcpress.etsy.com
Sarah McCoy started a letterpress printing business in 2006 in Des Moines, Iowa. If you would like more information please contact me at:
thepermanentcollection@gmail.com
Sara Norwood www.saranorwood.co.uk
More Information Coming Soon!
Cyberoptix Tie Lab Bethany Shorb www.cyberoptix.com
Simply, we make "ties that don't suck." We've made hip guys, young and old, enjoy dressing up! We are a small boutique design house specializing in men's affordable-but-luxurious accessories, all created with a commitment to responsible design and manufacturing. We focus exclusively on hand-screenprinted silk and microfiber neckties.
The Cyberoptix TieLab was started in 2006 after noticing a void in creative yet sophisticated neckwear. The TieLab Studio is currently located on the second floor of an old furniture warehouse in downtown Detroit. We enjoy making a maligned accessory in a maligned city, quietly hoping to turn around the perception of both.
The Bird & Elephant Beth Hartman-Peters www.thebirdandelephant.etsy.com
I'm a mommy living in the middle of the woods with a few neighbors, dog, cat, rocker husband, and piles of old, discarded appliances buried beneath the leaves in my backyard. Raised in Virginia, I now live just outside Nashville, TN on land bordering expansive wildlife preservation. I have a bfa in photography from Watkins College of Art & Design in Nashville, TN; I've dappled in graphic design; and I almost walked away with a degree in social work. My jobs are as varied as my interests, and have ventured as far west as Alaska, to Kenai, where I worked at a cannery cleaning and grading fish. I come from a long line of quilters and seamstresses, painters and drawers, gardeners, woodworkers and bakers. My work in some form or fashion draws from all such things into a diverse, quirky little style all my own. As long as my hands and mind are moving, I'm quite content. After becoming a mom in 2008, I resigned from my job to become a stay-at-homer to nurture and raise my son. I abandoned the use of chemical processes and all other hazardous practices, and transformed a nook in my living room to accommodate softer art forms, like window "danglies" and eventually my sewing. I began altering Elijah's clothes, adding splashes of color here and there, and taught myself various embroidery techniques. Appliqué and embroidery became a new passion, and The Bird & Elephant was born. The Bird & Elephant developed in the Spring of 2009 as my brand of hand-stitched appliqués for infants and toddlers, and maybe a few other additions coming this Fall. Each appliqué is inspired by my surroundings and the things I love, from natural plant forms to retro electronics. All fabrics are 100% cotton, and whenever possible, I incorporate vintage fabrics and recycled clothing. All designs are pretty much adaptable to any size, even adult.
Kristi Baker kbaker@aol.com
More Info Coming Soon!
Frolicking Cat Handmade Creations
Jaime Lubben
I
have been a craftswoman for many years--recently I have become a
mother--so in this new adventure, I have little bits of time where I
can hone my creativity and work on projects that I get so excited to
make. It makes me so happy to know that the items I am making will
bring joy and fun to someone. I started making toys for my son--he
loves his sock monkey! So then I thought maybe other children (or
adults) might also enjoy my sock monkeys. The handbags I create from
sweaters came from the idea that I had a vintage sweater that I really
liked, but sadly, it no longer fit me... so I turned it into a handbag!
It is a wonderful concept because it is reusing and up-cycling--not
disposing of a piece of clothing that no longer works in its current
function. I am always on the lookout for new items that can be
up-cycled into a new life! You can find more of my work and other
items that I dabble in at frolickingcatcreates.etsy.com or contact me at frolickingcatcreates@gmail.com.
My
name is Holly Rudolph Bledsoe. I am a 24-year-old stay at home mama,
part-time librarian, part-time barista, back-up singer in an
alt-country band, and owner of Sunshine Independent, a crochet fashion
line available through Etsy.com and at various groovy shops all over
the country. I am also a wife, a poet, and a proud and well-fed vegan.
Physical address 109 & 111 Olympic Mountain Loop Girdwood, Alaska 99587 Mailing address P. O. Box 1376 Girdwood, Alaska 99587
