Friday, June 22, 2012

WoodArt Summer 2012

So I am a day or two late with the onset of summer, but only with this writing. The garden has been planted such as it is and the grass is getting mowed. Sybbe, our cat is moving much slower in the heat and the chips are still flying all over the place in the studio. Steve's studio will never make the front page of "Home and Garden" magazine or any other magazine where they show a place that you could eat off of the floor. Ours is a working studio and there is dust and chips all over even though there is a dust collector installed. And yes he does turn it on.

So welcome summertime in Virginia. As always there is much planned and I thought I might just give you the quick list (which I do have the prerogative to change) of where you might find us at any given time.

June 23… Highland County Old Time Fiddlers Convention. I know it is over but I wanted you to update you and let you all know that we had a fabulous time on the other side of the mountain. Sold WoodArt pieces, fiddles and listened to some fine mountain music.

June 23, 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25, September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29… Harrisonburg Farmers Market. Every Saturday from 7am - 1pm. Our vendor spot will vary amongst the other 50 plus vendors so you might have to look a bit for us, but you know that it is worth the look see. We always try to bring at least one new piece each time we are at the market.

June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7, 14, 21 28, September4, 11, 18, 25… Harrisonburg Farmers Market. Every Tuesday from 7am - 1pm. Our vendor spot will vary amongst the other 40 vendors so you might have to look a bit for us, but you know that it is worth the look see. We always try to bring at least one new piece each time we are at the market. Yes same as Saturdays but less vendors. Great time to shop and chat a bit longer.

June 24… We will be representing OASIS Fine Art & Craft at Bloomfest 2012 to be held at the Turner Pavilion in downtown Harrisonburg. Spend your afternoon (2 - 4pm) shopping amongst the various vendors.

If you can't make it down to the valley you can also find us at the following venues which are pretty much open daily with several of our finer pieces.

OASIS Fine Art & Craft / 103 S. Main St., Harrisonburg, VA
Warehouse Art Gallery / 15 Campbell St., Luray, VA
C'Ville Arts / 118 E. Main St., Charlottesville, VA

We are on Etsy.com but extremely limited and for how long, we don't know but that could be a whole other blog.

There are numerous pictures in the Studio Gallery coming and going so stop by there often. It is like a brick and mortar store… the shelves are never empty. We ship throughout the United States and information is under  shipping information.

Are you looking to have a private WoodArt Studio party in your own home or backyard? Lets chat about that as now is a perfect time with such wonderful weather.

Remember that we love to meet you in any or all of these places. We thank you for supporting us in our venture as it touches our heart when we see a piece traveling with you to your destination. Wedding gifts, personal gifts, Moms, Dads, Kids, Anniversary and a little piece of hand created Virginia is what you will find at The WoodArt Studio.

Until next we meet… choose the right branch.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Fiddles, Violins and Wood

Yes all three do have a common grain running through them this post and yes it does have something to do with Steve. As some of you  may know all ready Steve in our pre Virginia life had a career as a musical instrument technician. In simple terms he repaired all types of band and orchestra instruments. He did this for some 30 plus years. That it is huge sum of violins, string basses, clarinets and flutes to just name a few. Working with string instruments, whether you call it a violin or a fiddle really doesn’t matter because in the end it is all beautiful wood.

With this technical background it was a beautifully designed transition from musical instrument wood to WoodArt. So on the day that Lisa of the Highland County Old Time Fiddlers Convention stopped by our booth at the Farmers Market and admired our pieces she immediately invited us to come and vend at the festival. After chatting a bit and she discovered Steve’s background with the instruments and  she became even more enthusiastic. She even said bring some fiddles along to sell if you like.

And so Saturday, June 16th you will find us not at the market but at the Fiddle Convention with not only our WoodArt pieces, and yes there are several new pieces that have been introduced, but also as many violins (various sizes, all used) that we can squeeze into the jeep. So if you have been searching for a violin, fiddle or some uniquely crafted wood pieces find us in Monterey, VA.

We will be back to our regular market schedule on Tuesday.

Until next time… fiddle away

Friday, June 8, 2012

Simplistic Jewelry


Tree of Life
Designs by Melanie
It’s the onset of that season when we don't have to wear layers upon layers of clothes. I for one know especially that when we work the market in the dead of winter we are always in at least 3 to 4 layers of shirts, sweaters, long johns, gloves, hand and toe warmers, woolen hats and coats. So who wants to put on one more piece even if it is only a necklace or a set of earrings. (Yes Debbie blogging here today). I certainly don't want to even if it is the beautiful Tree of Life necklace that Steve gave me from Designs by Melanie. After all no one would see it under all those layers.

But now that the weather is turning that corner, I can dig out all of my prettier clothes and adorn them with some simple necklaces and earrings, maybe even a ring or two. Yes Steve has created some special simple pieces for both me and you. So if you are like me and looking to play dress up a bit with some simple wooden jewelry you can find it here at The WoodArt Studio. If you want the whole tree then please see my friend Melanie (also at the market). Our pieces are sold via our site or you can come and try on some pieces at the Harrisonburg Farmers Market every Tues. and Sat. morning.
#589 Argentine Osage Necklace
SOLD


Until next we meet…wear the right branch      

Friday, June 1, 2012

Court and Market Days

#562 Box Elder Bowl SOLD
Back in the day, somewhere around 1862, here in America we were in the midst of a Civil War. Still everyday tasks needed to be done. Farming, tinkering and tailoring quite often from sun up to sundown every day, except for Sunday as a rule. A wife needed a new spoon so her husband went and fashioned her one. She needed a bigger bowl for mixing. So he took the time and carved her out one. A battle was being fought and a southern general, Stonewall Jackson, was heading into battle.

Hence he stopped along his way, with the company of his men and prayed under a huge oak tree in the Grottos area of Virginia, or so the story goes. Who could imagine that some 300 years, plus or minus, branches of that tree would be carved and turned into pieces for you to purchase here today at our very own Harrisonburg Farmers Market.

#604 SJPT Collectable Spoon
SOLD
So stop what you are doing today and step back into a different kind of market where dancers, musicians, artisans and maybe even a solider or two might be walking the dusty field. After that then head down the embankment to the current Harrisonburg Farmers Market where you will find us vending along with 40 plus other Saturday marketers. Commemorate your special time there with a handcrafted piece made by artisan Steve. We have bowls, spoons, bud vases and even some finger tops for the children. If you are looking for a piece designed and created from the Stonewall Jackson Prayer Tree we will also have some of those pieces there also.
Until next we meet…take the right branch