Garden Delights Arts – gifts for all!

We’re back! Stay safe while you find gifts & treasures at my 2021 Garden Delights Holiday Sale! If you’re vaxx’ed and masked*, I’d love to host you in my Studio by appointment starting November 14 (7 days a week from 11 am – 5 pm).

*If you can’t be vaxx’ed I’ll ask for current negative COVID test. To protect everyone, please wear a mask inside the Studio. George & I are fully vaxx’ed and will wear masks. I’ll be outside the studio while you’re inside, to chat & answer your questions. Small groups welcome. I’ll space appointments & sanitize surfaces between guests.

The Studio, transformed last year into my Auntie Sewing Squad Mask Central, is back! I’m SO happy to show you my photos, mixed-media artwork & crafts, upcycled creations, hand-knits and fabulous felted creations!

Never pressure to buy, but you’ll find lots of handmade and original-designed gifts, for yourself and for friends and family, including pets!

Jewelry, wearable art, purses, cards & prints, boxes, home decor, and more!

Our honeybees bless us with delicious honey, which many people swear helps their pollen allergies.

George’s divine handmade lotion, lip balm, and 100% natural beeswax candles, including two sizes of tapers, from our honeybees’ wax! Read all about them at my article.

Want a postcard reminder sent to your mailbox? Email me!

Save the Date! Holiday Gift Sale & Art Show

My yearly gala, the Garden Delights Holiday Gift Sale & Art Show, will be the first two weekends of December, so please save the date! If you want a postcard reminder sent to your mailbox email me your address.

The Show is at my art studio on December 1-2 and 8-9, from 11 am to 5 pm (or by appointment).

I’m so proud to show off my new photos, designs, and mixed-media artwork and crafts, and just as excited about my upcycled creations, where I bring fresh life to paper and fabric destined for landfill.

Come see my handmade bracelet cuffs, purses, phone and e-reader holders, all from fabric books and silk neckties; and envelopes and other paper crafts I make from outdated calendars and books. I’ve also been busy assembling kits and supplies for paper and fabric artists and crafters, ideal as a gift for yourself or for anyone who loves to create mixed-media, collage, book, and mail art.

Stop in to relax during the holiday rush, enjoy snacks, and chat. Never any pressure to buy, but if you’ve got a list you’ll find a wide range of handmade and original-designed gifts (for yourself and for friends and family – including pets), at all different prices.

Jewelry, wearable art, purses, cards and prints, boxes, home decor, books, beeswax candles, and more! Our honeybees blessed us with a great harvest of delicious honey, which many people swear help their pollen allergies.

And a new batch of soap – plus Honey Kissed lotion and lip balm, handcrafted by George from our honey and wax!

Can’t make the show or want to see my artwork online? Click these links:

Website

Artfire Gallery

My blog

Zazzle shop

Facebook

Holiday Gift Sale and Art Show 2016

A chill in the air, rain promised — the holidays are coming! My yearly gala, the Garden Delights Arts & Crafts Holiday Gift Sale & Art Show, is the first two weekends of December again this year.

The Show’s at my art studio, 5810 Barrett Ave, El Cerrito (just past Edwards), December 3-4 and 10-11, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or by appointment on another day – email me).

I’m so proud to show my photos, designs, and mixed-media artwork and crafts, and way excited about my upcycled creations, where I bring fresh life to paper and fabric headed for landfill.

Come see my handmade bracelets, necklaces, purses, phone and e-reader holders, from fabric books and silk neckties; and envelopes and other crafts I make from outdated calendars and books.

I also have DIY kits and supplies, ideal as gifts for you or your artsy-craftsy mixed-media, collage, book, and mail art friends! I’ve added several new ornaments, perfect stocking stuffers or to adorn your own tree.

Stop in to relax during the holiday rush, enjoy snacks, and chat. Never any pressure to buy, but if you’ve got a list you’ll find a wide range of handmade and original-designed gifts (for all – including pets), at great prices.

Also, our local honey (as long as it lasts), some swear by it to help pollen allergies.

And handcrafted wonders by George from our honey and wax — heavenly beeswax candles and luscious batches of Honey Kissed skin lotion and lip balm.

Want a postcard reminder? Send your address to heidirand [at] gmail.com

Or can’t make the show or want to see my work online? Click these links:

Website

Artfire Gallery

My blog

Zazzle shop

Holiday Gift Sale and Art Show

UPDATE! I’ve extended the Show for last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers. If you’d like to come by until December 24th, email me at heidirand@gmail.com

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A chill in the air and rain promised, to me that means the holidays are coming! My yearly gala, the Garden Delights Holiday Gift Sale & Art Show, is the first two weekends of December this year, so consider this my ‘save the date’ post. Want a peacock postcard reminder? Send your address to heidirand [at] gmail.com

The Show is at my art studio, 5810 Barrett Ave, El Cerrito (above Edwards Ave) on December 5-6 and 12-13, from 11 am to 5 pm (or by appointment – email me).

I’m so proud to show off my new photos, designs, and mixed-media artwork and crafts, and just as excited about my upcycled creations, where I bring fresh life to paper and fabric destined for landfill.

Come see my handmade bracelet cuffs, purses, phone and e-reader holders, all from fabric books and silk neckties; and envelopes and other paper crafts I make from outdated calendars and books. I’ve also been busy assembling kits and supplies for paper and fabric artists and crafters, ideal as a gift for yourself or for anyone who loves to create mixed-media, collage, book, and mail art.

Stop in to relax during the holiday rush, enjoy snacks, and chat. Never any pressure to buy, but if you’ve got a list you’ll find a wide range of handmade and original-designed gifts (for yourself and for friends and family – including pets), at all different prices.

Jewelry, wearable art, purses, cards and prints, boxes, home decor, books, beeswax candles, and more! Our honeybees blessed us with a great harvest of delicious honey, which many people swear help their pollen allergies.

And new this year! Our Honey Kissed skin lotion and lip balm, handcrafted by George from our honey and wax.

Can’t make the show or want to see my artwork online? Click these links:

Website

Artfire Gallery

My blog

Zazzle shop

Facebook

Holiday Gifts & Art: Shop Local!

Time is flying, and the holidays will be here before you know it! This year I’m throwing my yearly blast (aka my Holiday Gift Sale & Art Show) the first two weekends of December. You know how busy you’ll be in December, so here’s my early “save the date”. If you want a real-live postcard in your mailbox, just send your address to heidirand [at] gmail.com

After two years away, I’m excited to bring the Show back to my art studio at 5810 Barrett Ave, El Cerrito, just above Edwards Ave, on December 6-7 and 13-14, from 11 am to 5 pm (or by appointment – email me).

I’m so proud to show off my new photos, designs, and mixed-media artwork and crafts, and just as excited about my upcycled creations, where I bring fresh life to paper and fabric destined for landfill. Come check out the bracelet cuffs, purses, phone and e-reader holders I make from fabric books; and the envelopes and other paper crafts I make from outdated calendars and books.

I’ve also been busy assembling kits and supplies for paper and fabric artists and crafters, ideal for anyone who loves to create mixed-media, collage, book, and mail art.

Stop by to enjoy some snacks, catch up and chat. You know me – never any pressure to buy, but if you’ve got a list, I have a wide range of handmade and original-designed gifts (for yourself and for friends and family – including pets), at all different prices, and an overflowing sale bin with great deals while they last.

Jewelry, wearable art, purses, scarves, cards and prints, boxes, home decor, books, soap, beeswax candles, and more! Plus, our honeybees blessed us with a great harvest of absolutely delicious honey this year, and George has made some beautiful hand-dipped beeswax candles, as well as his divine soap.

If you can’t make the show or want to see my artwork online, click these links:

Website

Artfire Gallery

My blog

Zazzle shop

Facebook

Holiday Gift Sale and Art Show

Hard to believe it’s holiday season again, but December is fast approaching. I love this time of year because I get to show my friends and collectors what I’ve been working on for the past 12 months.

My 2013 Holiday Art Show and Sale will be held at the Village Shops and Galleries,10330 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito, between Eureka and Stockton Streets, on Saturday to Sunday December 7 and 8, and Wednesday through Sunday Dec. 11 to 15. We’ll be open each day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

I’m so proud to show off my new photos and mixed-media artwork and crafts, and excited to introduce a line of upcycled creations, where I bring fresh life to paper and fabric destined for landfill. Come check out the bracelet cuffs, purses, phone and e-reader holders I make from discarded home decor fabric books; and the envelopes and other paper crafts I make from outdated calendars and unusable books.

I hope you’ll be able to stop by to enjoy some snacks, catch up and chat. As always, I have a wide range of handmade and original-designed gifts (for yourself and for friends and family – including pets), at all different prices: including jewelry, wearable art, purses, scarves, cards and prints, boxes, home decor, books, soap, beeswax candles, and more!

The Gallery is wheelchair accessible, and there’s plenty of on-street free parking. It’s about a half mile from the El Cerrito Plaza BART station.

If you can’t make the show or want to see my artwork online, click these links:

Website

Artfire Gallery

My blog

Zazzle shop

Facebook

If you have any questions, or would like me to mail you a postcard to remind you about the show, email me at heidirand@gmail.com or leave a comment after this post.

Art and Craft For All

Without further ado, I’d like to introduce you to the other artisans in the ArtFirst! Holiday Show and Sale, as promised in my previous post and the one before that. 

Beka Brayer is  a mixed media assemblage artist. Beka says that her goal “is to breathe new life into intriguing old or found objects.” Beka has also published a limited edition hand embellished book entitled “Art of Whimsey”. She has contributed works for a wide range of fundraising benefits and has shown at ArtSpan, City Art Cooperative, Mission Artists United, and Studio 333.

Glass blower Holly Wallace, formerly of Ruby Glass Works, is currently an exhibiting member of Berkeley’s oldest art cooperative, ACCI Gallery on Shattuck Avenue. Her work has been shown and sold at SFMOMA, Gumps, Celebration of Craftswomen, and many other galleries, shows and museums.  Holly describes glass blowing as “the whirling dervish of the art world. It is a juggling act with fire and form.”

Victoria Veedell paints vibrant and colorful abstract landscapes. In her words, she “captures the essence of nature by examining the effects of light on form in the natural world.” Victoria’s paintings have been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries and art centers, and are in many private and corporate collections.

Julie Long Gallegos creates hand beaded jewelry and accessories, including purses. Julie finds inspiration for her designs in Art Nouveau, Arts & Crafts, California Decorative Style, Art Deco, the Wiener Werkstatte, African art and Native American beadwork. Her Klimt “Kiss” cuff bracelet and “Coral Snake” lariat appeared in Lark Publications’ Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry book (2012).

The ArtFirst! Show continues this Wednesday through Sunday (November 28 through December 2) at the Village Shops and Galleries, 10330 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito (cross streets Eureka and Stockton), from noon to 6:00 pm.

This is my original blog post with all of the information about the show. Visit the ArtFirst! website.

The Fragrant Arts

I promised in my last post to introduce you to more of the talented artists and crafters who’ll have their work at the ArtFirst! Holiday Show and Sale. 

One of our main goals was to include a wide variety of artisans in the show, so I was thrilled when popular Pinole soapmakers Jane and Nadine Robbins-Laurent, of sassafras,were able to participate. They have a faithful following of customers for their handmade soap and bath products, candles, and fused glass jewelry at the Pinole Art Center and the Pinole Farmers Market. I always crack up when I see their slogan: “Life’s Too Short for Crappy Soap!”

sassafras soap, copyright sassafras

Which leads me to another fabulous craftist – my husband George McRae. George is multi-talented. His main vocation is acting, but on the side he produces handmade soap and beeswax candles for our company, Garden Delights Arts & Crafts, under the name “Bubble Queen Soaps & Scents”.

George uses only natural ingredients in his soap, and he doesn’t add color or extra scent, using only the ingredients (lavender is my favorite) for fragrance. By far the most popular Bubble Queen soaps are these cats. And for the first time at this show George will offer beeswax candles, handmade from wax produced by his bees (the hive is at a friend’s house in Richmond).

After you’ve cleaned up good with either sassafras’ or Bubble Queen’s soaps, you’ll want to dab on some artisanal botanical perfumes made by Laurie Stern. Laurie is an award-winning natural perfumer. In her own words: “Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery revives the romance of the golden era of perfume through a blending of perfume’s legacy of romantic scent and gorgeous packaging with a modern sensitivity to organics, health, and ethics.”

Laurie Stern’s Fleur de Caramel Parfum

If you want to meet Laurie in person and see her line of perfumes, she will be at the show the second weekend, December 1st and 2nd. Before then she’ll have luscious bath salts and other goodies available.

I hope you enjoyed this olfactory tour. Oh gee, did I mention when and where the show is? We’ll be at the Village Shops and Galleries, 10330 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito (cross streets Eureka and Stockton) from November 24th through December 2nd, from noon to 6:00 pm, open every day except Monday and Tuesday. And the launch party will be opening day,  this coming Saturday, November 24th, from 5 to 8 p.m. Hope to see you there!

This is my original post with all of the information about the Show.

Meet Some of my Favorite Artists

I told you the other day that my dreams to expand my usual solo Open Studio to include other artisans will finally come true, at the ArtFirst! Holiday Show and Sale starting next week. Here’s a look at the work of a couple of the amazing artists in the show. (And stay tuned, I’ll introduce you to more in my next posts).

How many art shows boast talented mother and daughter artists? Meet Grace Taormina and her daughter Rachel. Grace is a mixed media and fiber artist who teaches a wide variety of art classes in the Bay Area and online at CraftArtEdu, and has published books about rubber stamping and other crafts. This is Grace’s Paper Paste Accordian Book.

copyright Grace Taormina

Rachel Taormina paints and draws, works in mixed media, and creates upcycled jewelry. This is the home page of her website – showing the amazing variety of her artwork.

copyright Rachel Taormina

That’s your sneak peek for today! Much more to come, and if you’re in the Bay Area, I hope you can make it to the show — at the Village Shops and Galleries, 10330 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, from November 24th through December 2nd, from noon to 6:00 pm, open every day except Monday and Tuesday.

Come to meet us at the opening launch party, next Saturday Nov. 24, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

ArtFirst! Pop-Up Holiday Show and Sale

Since 2004 I’ve spruced up my basement studio and invited people in to see my artwork and handmade crafts for my yearly holiday Open Studio and Sale. From the beginning I dreamed of including other artists, but those of you who have come by know how small the space is, and that I filled it to the brim with my own work.

Well, my dream is finally about to come true. ArtFirst!, the art cooperative I started this year, is having a group pop-up art show and sale at the Village Shops and Galleries, 10330 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, starting the last weekend in November and running through the first weekend in December.

We’ll be there from November 24th through December 2nd, from noon to 6:00 pm, open every day except Monday and Tuesday.

The opening launch party will be held on Saturday Nov. 24, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. I hope you can all make it, it’s going to be a blast! Our host at the VS Galleries, Mark Canepa, says he’s going to roll out the red carpet (really), and you’ll be able to meet the artists and enjoy music, wine and yummy snacks.

You won’t want to miss this exciting opportunity to see the diverse and unique work of eleven talented local artisans, and to shop local for original and one-of-a-kind handmade gifts for yourself and for family and friends. Some highlights include assemblage art by Beka Brayer, my nature-based arts and crafts, blown glass by Holly Wallace, vintage-inspired loomed beadwork by Julie Long Gallegos, mixed media and fiber arts by Grace Taormina, fused glass jewelry and handmade soap by Jane and Nadine Robbins-Laurent, artisanal botanical perfumes by Laurie Stern, painting by Victoria Veedell, Rachel Taormina and our host Mark Canepa, and much more!

As always I’m eager to show you the many new photographs I’ve taken this year, and I’ve been working hard on my nature-based artwork and crafts. George brewed up a new batch of his wonderful natural soaps and we have a limited edition line of beeswax candles from local beehives.

The Gallery is wheelchair accessible and there’s plenty of free parking. It’s about a half mile from the El Cerrito Plaza BART station. I hope to see you there!

Follow ArtFirst! on Facebook. And please check out our website.