Artsplosure 2009

Artsplosure 2009 is this weekend and Allover Art will be there! "The 30th Celebration of Artsplosure The Raleigh Arts Festival will take place on May 16 and 17, 2009 in downtown Raleigh. Join us as we celebrate three decades of bringing the best in visual and performing art to the community!" Here's a little more about Artsplosure from the festival website.

Artsplosure's mission is to produce high quality annual festivals that celebrate excellence in the performing and visual arts; to promote and bring recognition to national, regional, and local artists; and to bring artists and the larger community together to improve the quality of life and cultural environment.


Artsplosure was conceived in 1978 by subcommittees of the newly formed City of Raleigh Arts Commission who were planning a citywide arts festival that would combine an "explosion" of art activity with people's "exposure" to all types of art. The following year, Artsplosure was incorporated to produce high quality and accessible arts festivals and to identify, nurture, and showcase artists seeking to reach wider audiences. Since its first festival in April 1980, Artsplosure has presented thousands of established and emerging artists whose works span across many disciplines and art forms in both traditional and non-traditional indoor venues and outdoor settings.

There is something for everyone at the festival including Kidsplosure, music, the art market, the Aerial Angels, a living sculpture conglomeration, giant chess boards, sand sculptures, and more! Check out the site HERE for more details! I hope to see you out there.

Facebook App Fun

Thanks to a tip from TheHouseOfMouse, Allover Art now has a Facebook App! You can send unique hand-painted jewelry to your friends; there's a piece for every mood and occasion. Whether you're feeling goofy and want to send an Ostentatious Octopus or want to tell someone you love them, there's a piece of wearable art to express it.

Check out the new app here: -------> Give Some Wearable Art!

I'll be adding new pieces as time goes on. Check it out and send some to your friends! Have a wonderful day.

Workshop Wednesday

Each week I run a blog series titled Workshop Wednesday. Each Wednesday features either a tutorial by yours truly or another talented artist or artisan, or a snapshot of an artist's creative process. I've expanded the Workshop Wednesday feature to include photos of artists' workspaces or studios. It's been difficult to regularly find tutorials and snapshots of an artist's creative process, so I'm hoping that by expanding the Workshop Wednesday I'll be able to feature more artists and artisans. Plus, it's always interesting to get a peek inside another artist's creative space. :)

Today's studio feature is Gretchen of WhiteHopeDesigns. Gretchen creates jewelry, aprons, bags, and softies. Here's what she had to say about herself and her work.


I am mommy to a 2-yr-old named Layla and wife to a soldier with the 82nd Airborne Division. We are originally from Tampa, Fl but "Home is where the Army sends you" so we live here in NC. Honestly, I'd rather be at the beach. I am lucky enough to be able to stay home with my daughter and work full time on my crafts. This is so much better than punching a clock! My crafts are my creative outlet, my break from a "terrible two" and my distraction during long deployments.


Gretchen was gracious enough to open the doors to her studio and give us a peek at her creative space. When asked about where she creates all her fabulous work, this is what she had to say.

What I do in my Workshop/Studio: I do pretty much anything I can get my hands into; sew bags and aprons, make jewelry, scrapbook, paint, embroider, color with my 2-yr-old Layla, and (unfortunately) pay my bills. Right now, I'm working on a new bag design that came to me in my sleep. I'm also teaching my husband how to make jewelry. He really likes it and I think it's a good change from guns and ammo with the Army all day! My studio is the one place in the house that is all mine! I don't have to share if I don't want to. I can make a huge mess and just shut the door. I can be quiet and be myself!


Want to find out more about Gretchen and WhiteHopeDesigns? Check out these links!

Shop: www.whitehopedesigns.etsy.com
Blog: www.armyapronstrings.blogspot.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/whitehopedesign


If you're interested in being a part of Workshop Wednesdays, please feel free to convo me in my Etsy shop or comment on this post. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with! Have a wonderful day.

Mischevious Indie

"What? Someone got into the planter and threw dirt across the dining room floor? It wasn't me; I swear. I was on the couch the whole time."

Monday Must-Have

Today marks a new installment of my Monday blog series titled Monday Must-Have. Each Monday I will feature a fellow talented Etsian and his or her phenomenal work. Each featured artist will have their own online Etsy shop where you can peruse and admire their one-of-a-kind body of work. Hopefully you will find new favorite artists and artisans whose work you MUST HAVE. :)

Today's featured artist is Tracey Gurley of Tracey Gurley Original Art. I asked her a few questions and here's what she had to say.

Who are you (actual name/and or shop name)?

Tracey Gurley / Tracey Gurley Original Art / www.traceygurley.etsy.com

What do you create?

I paint landscapes, still lifes, flowers, fruit & veggies mainly. I may expand on that in the very near future.

Where are you located?

I have a studio in my home in Raleigh, NC.

When did you start creating?

I have always been creating something ever since I was a small child. I think it really started when I would dig clay out of the creek in my back yard and scupt bowls with it. I would set them out in the sun to dry and then I would paint them. I remember even finding big rocks to paint on too. When I was in school though, I was classically trained on the piano and violin, but I still loved visual art. When my daughter turned 2 and started preschool, I decided to follow my dream. I started taking art lessons 8 years ago and haven't looked back. I took my first art lesson at Sertoma Art Center in Raleigh and now I teach acrylic painting there.

What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from a lot of things. I take notice of all of the textures and colors that surround all of us everyday. Nature is a beautiful palette.


What is the most time consuming part of your art/craft?

It's hard to decide the most time consuming part, because time flies when you're having fun.

What's your next project going to be?

My next project is going to be painting ACEOs. ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions, and Originals." They are 2.5" x 3.5" little works of art that are fun to collect and trade.

What types of things do you do to turn first time buyers into repeat clients?

I offer a 10% discout to repeat buyers.

What do you do when you are not creating?

When I'm not creating, I love spending time with my husband and daugher. In the summer, you can find us jetskiing out on Falls Lake.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

There is something magical about painting - the way the colors go on the canvas, the way it feels, the experience to create something, that just feeds my soul.


You can also find Tracey and her work on her blog and her main website. Have a wonderful day!

Today Is My One Year Wedding Anniversary

Today's post is a personal one. :) My husband, Matt, and I were married one year ago today on May 10th, 2008 at the Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary, NC.

We met at the 42nd Street Oyster Bar in downtown Raleigh on my 23rd birthday. I had invited several of my friends out to dinner and one friend brought Matt along to join in the festivities. Despite Matt having an unsettled stomach which he fought off with a plate of mashed potatoes, he and I discovered that we shared a common past of collegiate swimming and ultimate frisbee. Matt was involved with coordinating games for RC Ultimate, and at the end of the meal told me to obtain his email from our mutual friend if I was interested in playing. Fortunately, I was not intimidated by Matt's good looks and charm, and always welcomed an opportunity to throw an elbow or two. The following week I sent Matt a witty email, which prompted numerous novelesque email exchanges, until Matt smoothly asked me out to dinner a week and a half later; and the rest is history.

On a gorgeous day in May we were married. Here are a handful of my favorite photos from our wedding. Enjoy! :)

Designers Downtown Market And A Sneek Peek

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 9th, marks the second day of the Designers Downtown Market! The market will be located in downtown Raleigh, so all you fellow North Carolinians won't want to miss it.

The Designers Downtown Market features fine locally made arts and crafts with an outdoor big city feel. The vendors showcase some of the finest handcrafted arts and crafts in the area: jewelry, pottery, apparel, stained glass, paper crafts and more! There are five shows throughout the year. Every show is different, with new artists and craftspeople coming in every event. Browse the vendor list on the Designers Downtown Market site to find out who will be at the upcoming Market.

The market will take place at 509 N. West Street in the parking lot of Ornamentea and the surrounding area from 9am - 3pm. Come by and check it out! I will have a few show specials going on.

And in other exciting news, you may have noticed that I've added a new section to my Etsy shop called "Earrings (Coming Soon)". Right now the section is empty, but I have been listening to you and have begun working on adding earrings to my wearable art collection! I should start listing a few pairs by the beginning of next week. Here's a sneak peek.