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Archive for the ‘Artists and Shops’ Category

An Explanation

Posted in Artists and Shops, Auntie B's Wax, tagged , , , , on March 15, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Yesterday’s Wordless Wednesday might have seemed like a piece of weirdness.  Some shop front?  What is this place?  Why does Auntie B include this image with her ever-famous photos of glory on her blog?

I know, you have questions galore, but I only have one answer for you, one that comes in story form.

A couple of years ago I was approached by a very skilled artisan asking if I’d like to show my candles at the artZ Gallery in Amery, Wisconsin.  I thought she was joking.  Me?  My candles in a fine arts gallery?  I thought I’d lose my breath for laughing so hard, but then I realized she was serious.

I’ve participated in many craft/art shows in the Wisconsin county of Polk over several years and have come to know a lot of the local artists and crafters in that area.    The artZ Gallery is “a group of 17 regional artists working together to make (the gallery) a place to take pride in and professionally share our talents. The gallery is a gathering place for viewing quality artwork of members and over 40 guest artists, with meaningful communication, the meeting of artists, sharing ideas, and participating in classes.”

Once I got my head around the fact that I was recognizable in the area because of participating in several local festivals and fairs I felt honored to have my candles shown and sold among the fine pieces of art displayed at the gallery.

This week Husby and I took a road trip to Amery to refresh and revive the Auntie B’s Wax inventory at the artZ Gallery.  We brought in lunch and enjoyed it with our friend Loretta, the artist working at the gallery that day.  Spending time in the gallery, talking with Loretta who I’ve known for at least a decade through shows and festivals, and seeing the great works of art on display just made me feel all warm inside.  “I’m a part of this,” I said to myself.  That thought makes me smile.  Always.

Loretta’s yarn. “She spins, weaves, felts, knits and crochets natural fibers to create functional and beautiful pieces to use and enjoy.” I’ve commissioned Loretta to make things for me and let me tell you, they’re glorious! Photo credit: Randy Lee for artZ Gallery

 

That’s why I posted that particular Wordless Wednesday this week.

artZ Gallery in Amery, Wisconsin. Such a cool place!

 

artZ Gallery  is the only place in Amery, Wisconsin where Auntie B’s Wax products are displayed and sold.  If you’re in the mood for some spectacular fine art or fabulous scented candles, visit the artZ gallery!

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Wordless Wednesday

Posted in Artists and Shops, Auntie B's Wax, Wordless Wednesday, tagged , , , , on March 14, 2018| Leave a Comment »

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Judged By The Company I Keep (Hopefully!)

Posted in Artists and Shops, tagged , , , , on April 14, 2017| 6 Comments »

You might know by now that Auntie B’s Wax products can be found in a shop or two around town.  It’s so cool to be included in shops that contain the works of some of the best artisans around.

This month the White Bear Lake Magazine did an article featuring The Farmer’s Daughter.  This shop is the best, the owners are geniuses at how to run a business and treat their artisans and patrons with love and respect.  I’m proud to be a part of this great shop in White Bear Lake.

Carrie and Lynn, owners of The Farmer’s Daughter in White Bear Lake, MN. Photo credit: Tate Carlson

Auntie B’s Wax has a bunch of stuff for sale in this shop, and even more thrilling terrifying is that Carrie and Lynn asked me to be one of the artisans interviewed for the magazine article.  The interviewer was great, the fact-checker was kind of scary (did I really say those things?!) and the final printing made me look kind of, well, artistic.  I’m sheepish and humble about the whole thing, but deep, deep inside I’m pretty proud.

If you’re ever in White Bear Lake, check out The Farmer’s Daughter.  They have a shop full of really fun gifts, and even more importantly things you’ll need in your own life.  The shop itself is welcoming, the owners and staff are friendly and helpful, and the items for sale, well, they’re just wonderful…if I may say so myself.

See the article here.

 

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Silent Night

Posted in Artists and Shops, Holidays, Nostalgia, tagged , on December 21, 2013| 5 Comments »

It is a silent night for me tonight. The day was spent by attending my great Aunt Margie’s funeral. She was buried on the same date as her brother, my grandpa, who died a few years ago. Seems people in that family like to spend Christmas together. According to someone in the family Aunt Margie said she was ready to go onto the next realm. I hope she’s happy, dancing with her husband and spending the season with the many members of her family who entered that realm before her.

A Distant Memory by The Crooked Camera

When I returned home from the funeral I spend a half hour gathering my thoughts and went on to make preparations for the annual Christmas Cheer party I have for my family. I did some cooking and baking and preparation for the most festive entertainment event I have every year. I’m preparing new recipes and also some tried and true ones, the libations are stocked, and the old victrola is ready to play some of the old 78s that were listened to by generations before me. Christmas is a time of nostalgia, a time to remember Christmases past and to romanticize Christmases before our time.

The house still smells of the buns I baked this evening and I wish they were the buns my grandma used to make. Mine were made from store-bought frozen dough, thawed and baked. Delicious, but not the same as those made from scratch by Grandma Mabel. Some day I’ll make them as well as she did; I have the old recipe complete with instructions out of her head rather than precise measurements and sure-fire techniques. Oh, to have the time to perfect her wonderful buns.

I find myself remembering Christmases of my past on this silent night. Christmas Eve on Jackson Street with the great aunts and uncles on my dad’s side. Christmas mornings at Tug Lake with a roaring fire and presents galore. Grandpa Mike looking out his picture window, telling his grandchildren Santa’s sleigh had been sighted by the weather men at the local TV news station. Grandma Harriet with her glorious Christmas Day meal. Yes, Christmas is all about nostalgia for me. And every year I build upon the nostalgia of future years.

Via Google Images

Great Aunt Margie had a lot of Christmases under her belt. Ninety-five of them. Sharp as a tack until the day she died I wonder what she would think about at Christmas time. Did she reminisce about Christmases she spent as a child on her parents’ farm? Did she miss the years gone by, or did she embrace the holidays as they came?

On this silent night I think about the generations past and the generations to come. I also think about right now. That in a few hours my family will gather at my house for food, drink, and merriment. As we celebrate the season and ourselves we’ll also be creating memories. These are the memories I want when I’m ninety-six years old like my Great Aunt Margie.

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A Snowy Springtime Day

Posted in Artists and Shops, tagged , , on May 3, 2013| 7 Comments »

The plan was to continue the Dive Night post to Part 2 today, but that will have to wait until next week.  (Sorry Charlotte.)  Today I have to tell you about my excursion.

It’s cold outside.  Like, winter cold.  We have temperatures in the low 30s and rain/snow/ice pellets flying around everywhere.  That didn’t stop me and my mom.  We got a taste of spring at the Chickadee Boutique where the wood stove was toasting up the stone cottage that houses the boutique.

The place was packed to the rafters, as usual, with handmade items from local artisans.  Mom and I found a few things we wanted to make our own, or to give as gifts to others.

After our adventure at the Chickadee we went across town to The Farmer’s Daughter.  I consign my products at this shop, so while I was doing my business my Mom wandered about the shop to see what they had to offer.  Lots of stuff, of course!

It felt like warm springtime in these shops, and it was a plus that we didn’t come home empty-handed.  Even if we did it would have been a good day because even a false sense of spring is better than nothing.  Plus it’s a good thing to hang out with Mom once in a while.

Have a wonderful weekend!

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