Elvis Sighting on East New Hampshire Avenue

No....not that Elvis...this one!

Imagine our surprise early on Saturday morning when Elvis made his appearance in our store window! First we saw a man in a Santa hat with a leash in his hand. Then, the next thing we knew, and we were expecting a dog, there was Elvis in all of his glory.

Alan and I couldn't get out the door fast enough to see if we had really seen what we thought we saw. By that time, Elvis was a few doors down; but his owner kindly turned around to say, "Hello". While he paused to do this, Elvis caught a glimpse of himself in the windows, and he thought that he'd made a friend. So, of course, he greeted him quite enthusiastically.

We caught up with Elvis again several hours later. He was in town for the Reindeer Run, and from what we hear he thoroughly enjoyed the festivities. Our visit with Elvis and his owner made our day, and we're still laughing about it.

By the way, he's been named Elvis because of his melodic singing voice. We couldn't help but notice a slight sway to his hips too. And, as he rode out of sight, we caught the scent of peanut butter and bananas, and we swore that we heard someone singing, "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me".

Oh how we love Southern Pines!

Imagine thousands of lights twinkling in a darkened room, festive carols wafting through the air, and the scent of an amazingly beautiful gingerbread village. Then there are the Christmas Trees, wreaths, swags, tablescapes; and of course...the children.

If this brief description whets your appetite for a festive holiday experience, and you plan to be in the area over the weekend, I would HIGHLY recommend a visit to The Festival of Trees at Pinehurst Resort. We had a wonderful time decorating a tree for this event, and many of our artists joined the fun by making a charitable donation of their work. All proceeds from this event benefit The Sandhills Children’s Center

The Sandhills Children's Center is a private, non-profit day school for young children ages birth through five who have mental retardation, sensory impairments, and other developmental disabilities. Many of these children are medically fragile and have severe and profound multiple handicaps.

The mission of Sandhills Children’s Center is to provide services of the highest quality for children with and without special developmental needs. Located in Southern Pines of Moore County, North Carolina, the Center offers comprehensive services, including daily transportation and speech, physical, and occupational therapy twelve months a year. The Center currently serves 110 children in the center-based program and 150 children in the home-based Outreach Program.

The Sandhills Children's Center is a wonderful organization, and they're most deserving of our support. Besides that, this event is a fabulous way to kick-off the holiday season. I promise that it will fill your heart with the true spirit of Christmas!

Fall Arrives at Artist Alley

As we've been preparing for Christmas during the past few weeks, I've been struck that fall has finally arrived here at Artist Alley. Almost overnight, our little tree out front went from rich summer green to glowing reds and oranges.

The weather here has been fall-like too. A blustery wind has been blowing, and no matter how hard I try, I can't keep up with the fallen leaves in our doorway.

On another note, a purple petunia is still blooming in all it's glory in front of the store. With December only five days away, this strikes me as odd. Purple petunias were among my Dad's favorite flowers. In fact, I planted them this year with him in mind.

Thanks, Dad.

Metal Art by Ed Duke

My friend, and fellow artist, Ed Duke creates one-of-a-kind metal sculpture from parts and pieces that many of us would consider to be junk. From railroad spikes to skillets, shovels to pipe wrenches, and all points in between; Ed finds inspiration and breathes new life into these cast-offs.

Ed suffered a creative block earlier this year. I'm thrilled to tell you that he's worked his way through it, and during the last month, he's been creating at breakneck speed. The photos with this entry show a few of his latest and greatest, and he's been adding to his collection here on almost a daily basis.

His loyal fans at Artist Alley are benefiting from his renewed creativity, and we're all thrilled for him!

Please enjoy the photos here or visit Artist Alley to view Ed's work in person. A selection of his creations are also available for purchase in our online store.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... (Admit it, you're singing the song; aren't you?)

Actually it really is starting to look like Christmas here at Artist Alley. As you can see by the photo, the journey to get to this point has been an exhausting one; but so far, we're all still smiling. This festive painting was created in watercolor by Pinehurst Artist, Fay Terry. It's being held by my work-worn son after a very long day of decorating and displaying new art.

It's my plan to get back on the blogging bandwagon this month, so please stay tuned for all of the further details about our holiday transformation.

Art that You Wear (And Eat!!)

At Artist Alley this Friday, November 2nd, from 5:00 - 9:00 we'll be celebrating the talented North Carolina artists who create jewelry, handbags, clothing, and accessories. It will be an evening of "Art that You Wear", and it promises to be an exciting one!

Artists will be present throughout the evening to mix, mingle, and discuss their work; and as always a variety of delectable refreshments will be served. In fact, we plan to debut a new line of edible art made my local cheesecake artist, Terry Duffell. Terry will be personally serving her velvety smooth cheesecake with a homemade buttery graham cracker crust and sweet sour cream topping. (Can you say, "Yummy"?!?!)

This event will provide you with an opportunity to meet many of our artists in person, while browsing an extensive variety of their seasonal work.

If you're in the area, I hope that you'll join us. If not, a selection of these artists' work will also be available in our online store.

'Tis the Season

"So much to do, so little time." seems to be a common theme for me this year. Last Saturday, I participated in The Holly Arts Festival in Pinehurst. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The weeks leading up to Holly Arts were filled with creative chaos as I worked to accumulate my inventory for the show. I was pleased with the results, and I learned a lot from the entire experience.

Now, I'm faced with preparations for next week's First Friday Event, next Saturday's opening for Thomas Butler, (A fabulous artist who I'll write about next week.), changing our displays here at Artist Alley, building inventory for my next show on November 9th and 10th, and so on...and so on...and so on!!!

I'm not complaining, just explaining. I love every minute of my crazy chaotic creative existence, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Now, if I could just find the time to blog!

It's a Blue Dog Day!

It's a Blue Dog Day! (I don't know why; but just reading that makes me hum a little song that the Brady Bunch used to sing. Do you remember it too?!?!)

Actually, it's a Blue Dog Day because I just received a new shipment from Rachelle Currie. Rachelle lives in the mountains of North Carolina, and she's become widely known for her series of "Blue Dog" prints. These pieces are so whimsical, and in each she manages to capture the personality of many dogs, regardless of their breed. (Coco's laying by my feet right now, and she totally agrees.) Rachelle also does a beautiful job of framing these pieces in a distressed barnwood, and they show incredibly well as a collection.

I hope that you enjoy this peak at Rachelle's work. If your in the area, please visit Artist Alley to enjoy the full collection. If not, a selection of her work is also available for your viewing pleasure in our online store .

Where does the time go?!?!?

It's hard to believe that it's been a week since I last wrote. Where does the time go?!?!

We have lots happening here at Artist Alley now. There are new artists; new art; and several sales this month. I'll try to bring you up to speed on the specifics of these exciting developments over the next few weeks.

It's a beautiful day here today. The temperature in Southern Pines has dropped at least ten degrees. The sun is shining. There's a gentle breeze blowing. And you can finally feel a touch of fall in the air.

Today our grasshopper friend paid yet another visit. Each time he does, we wonder if it will be his last. Fall, and the seasons in general, provide me with a reminder of how quickly time passes.

On that note, it's time for me to go home and appreciate every minute of an evening with my family. I hope that you'll enjoy yours tonight too.

Kathleen Miller: Opening for October's Featured Artist

Kathleen Miller will be our featured artist for the month of October here at Artist Alley. We'll be holding a First Friday Opening for her on Friday, October 5th from 5:00 - 9:00. If you find yourself in the area, please join us!

With over 28 years of painting experience, Kathleen creates decorative artwork on furniture, and accessories for home décor, in Traditional, Country, and Folk Art styles. When asked what inspires her, she replies, “I have so much inspiration that I can hardly catch my breath! I love to recreate images of the past - the primitive styles, the charm of country living. This season I feel inspired by autumn, with its glorious rusts, oranges, and golds. The holidays inspire me; my collectors inspire me; my students inspire me. I’m never at a loss for inspiration.”

As these photos show, Kathleen's work is an inspiration to us too!