STARS Art Gallery Gala and Silent Auction

There's an amazing school here in Moore County that's fondly referred to as "STARS". STARS is the Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School.

Please see the photo below that provides the details about their First Annual Art Gallery Gala. (Click on the photo for a better view.) Attend if you're able, and donate if you can! It's a great way to immerse yourself in The Arts while supporting the youngest artists in The Sandhills of North Carolina.

Announcing The Southern Pines Banner Contest

Pea Island Art Gallery in The Outer Banks

Have you ever stepped into a gallery and felt welcome from the word, "Hello"? You know the feeling. You walk in...you're greeted immediately...you're left alone (but not too alone) to enjoy the artful creations...you spend as much time as you like without pressure. Then, when you finally decide to leave, it's with hesitation and the knowledge that you'll definitely return again and again.

That's the feeling that I have each time I enter The Pea Island Gallery. It's an absolute treasure in the heart of The Outer Banks, and no trip to the area would be complete without a visit.

I'm just preparing to ship a box of my latest creations to this gallery, and I'm so excited that my work will be shown in a place that I hold so dear in my heart. To view some of these latest creations, please visit the Pea Island Portfolio on my website.

And if you're planning a trip to The Outer Banks this summer, please be sure to visit in person too. I promise that you'll be glad that you did!

Bee Gentle

I've decided to be gentle with myself today. A million things to do are running through my head, and I don't seem to be able to catch up with most of them. So....I've decided to be gentle with myself.

Just for tonight, instead of focusing on all that still remains to be finished, I'll focus instead on all that I've managed to accomplish.

Tomorrow will be a new day.

This little fellow has been buzzing around my front window for the past two days. I tried to lift him back into the great outdoors repeatedly; but he'd have none of it. As I was closing today, I noticed him there...completely exhausted and panting. He finally allowed me to carry him to the comfort of a welcoming pansy just outside the door. He seems to be at peace now.

Why do we resist assistance when we need it the most?

We'll be be hosting an opening for Moore County Artist, Angela Cummings-Thompson on First Friday, March 7th from 5:00 - 9:00. Angela is an amazing artist with great vision. Her work has been collected nationally, and she's also won numerous awards.

Angela was born and raised on a farm outside of Vass, North Carolina. She graduated from Meredith College with a degree in art and a concentration in sculpture. She also completed graduate studies in sculpture at Purdue University. Her early experiences on the farm play a huge part in her life, and they're evident in her artwork today.

Sculpture is only one of Angela's passions. She and her niece, Alex LaRose, are developing a book of photographs and essays that will feature farms and farm equipment in and around Moore County. They see beauty where others fail to look, and they're hoping to preserve the beauty of the Small Southern Farm before it’s too late.

Angela now lives in Vass with her husband Kenny, a former Professional Bull Rider from Oklahoma. “These days, my life is full of family, pottery, welding, sculpture, photography, and book writing,” she says, “but by far, my greatest masterpiece is our one-year-old-daughter Cecelia.”

Please join us for Angela's opening where we'll be debuting the early photos from her book, new metal creations, and the official unveiling of our new "Metal Room". We'll also have the usual lineup of fabulous food and drink, sparkling conversation, and a whole lot more.

Hope to see you there!

Kathleen Miller on Love Birds

I'm so pleased to tell you that, Kathleen Miller, a decorative painter from Pinehurst, North Carolina will be making a personal appearance at Artist Alley on Monday, February 11th from 12:00 – 2:00. In preparation for this event, she visited with me, and she's really excited about unveiling her latest creations.

If your True Love loves Folk Art or collects heart shaped boxes, this is an event that you won’t want to miss! Kathleen has over 28 years of painting experience, and one of her ornaments was even featured on The White House Christmas Tree.

When I asked her about the inspiration for her latest creations, she replied with a laugh, “Love Birds can be country crows! When painting this series, I was inspired by the romance of Valentine’s Day, primitive styles, and the charm of country living.”

Kathleen displays her work at Artist Alley in Southern Pines. She’s a member of the Moore County Arts Council, the National Society of Decorative Painters, and the City of Oaks Decorative Artists. She also teaches weekly classes at her home studio in Pinehurst.

If you're in the area, please stop and visit with us! Kathleen's passion for her painting and the history of the craft is infectious, and I know that you'll enjoy meeting her.

First Friday Photos

This month has been filled with a variety of exciting changes here at Artist Alley. We've added new artists, and the artists who you've come to know and love have been creating like crazy since the chaos of the holidays. We've also installed a new lighting system, and our artwork looks amazing as a result. I'll provide you with more specifics and lots of photos sometime soon.

Last night was our First Friday Opening. In honor of Valentine's Day, we celebrated the Art of Jewelry, and a good time was had by all. I always mean to take lots of photos during these events. I plan for it; I bring my camera; And I place the camera on the counter so that I won't forget my mission. At 5:00 I give myself a pep-talk to remind myself that I'll be taking lots of photos. Then, I blink, and it's 9:30. Ahhh... my intentions are always good!

This month was no exception for me. Fortunately, however, thanks to the kindness of Al and Annette Daniels, I do have one lovely photo to share with you from last night's event. Hopefully you'll be able to join the fun in person next month when we'll be kicking-off "March Metal Madness" with an opening featuring Angela Cummings Thompson.

Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words; but being here in person is priceless!

The Anniversary Bar by Penny Arrowood

"What's The Anniversary Bar?", you ask.

No, it's not the hottest new club in town, and it's not a new chocolate concoction. What it IS is a fabulous limited edition soap created by our own Penny Arrowood to honor the First Anniversary of Artist Alley.

Penny surprised yesterday with this delightful creation, and I was tickled pink...and blue...and yellow! She didn't even know about my love for polka-dots when she designed it.

I'll let the soap and her touching explanation speak for themselves in the photos that follow...

Finally!! First Friday Photos...

Our First Friday celebrations at Artist Alley are so much fun. I always mean to take tons of photos, and inevitably I remember at about the time I'm locking the door. Last night was different, and I thought that I'd share a few of my favorites with you here.

I hope that you'll be able to join us for a First Friday Opening sometime soon. And if you do, please remind me to take your picture!

Baby it's cold outside...

Yes, that's right, it finally feels like winter in Southern Pines! You wouldn't know it to look at it, because it's sunny and beautiful from the inside looking out.

Everything is warm and bright here at Artist Alley too thanks to the shining new additions in our front window and on the lawn. Angela Cummings Thompson and Ed Duke each have a few new metal creations outside, and Amy Keith just made a delivery of her original stained glass artwork too. You'll find shining stars in all the colors of the rainbow, dragonflies blowing in the breeze, and some multi-colored rectangles and squares that make me think of Frank Lloyd

Wright. (Amy didn't site him as her inspiration. It's just where my Falling-Water-Loving-Mind goes when I look at them!)

These pieces are bright...they're funky...and they're guaranteed to lift your spirits too. Please visit soon to enjoy them, and all of our other North Carolina Made Art and Fine Crafts, in person during our Anniversary Month here on New Hampshire Avenue.