Friday, April 26, 2019

Posies, Pendants and Procrastination

What a great turnout we had for the Studio and Garden Tour! Many thanks to all who participated, visitors and volunteers alike. The weather was perfect, the art superb and the flowers were glorious. I'd love to see another such tour take place next year, and expand it to include even more locations.

Have been busier than ever since the tour weekend expanding my mosaic pendant line. It's now up to 45 or more one of a kind pieces. Here's one of the latest, hot off my worktable. I've started including semi-precious stones in many of the designs; this one features peridot chips and dichroic glass. See more in my Etsy shop or on my web site, www.lynnedwardsart.com.

"Sweet Autumn" pendant
Besides the jewelry I'm working on small paintings and other items for an event I'm doing in December. I'm determined to get this done now so I'm not caught in a last minute rush.

After several years of occupancy, I'm finally decluttering my studio to better accommodate the work I'm doing now. Much of the challenge is dealing with stuff I've collected thinking I had a use for it. Maybe I did "back when," but now it just takes up valuable floor space. Do I really need a big storage tub full of used bubble wrap and brown kraft paper? What was I thinking??

So now it's back to work...! Have a great weekend, y'all!



Saturday, April 6, 2019

Coming April 13: the Acworth Arts Alliance Studio and Garden Tour!!




If you've ever wanted to get a peek inside a working artist's studio, and are curious about the ways they use art in their home and garden, you won't want to miss the first ever Acworth Arts Alliance Studio and Garden Tour this coming Saturday, April 13! The event is distinctive in that it offers glimpses into not only the homes and garden spaces of three professional artists but also into their personal studio spaces which are not usually open to the public

The three participating artists are Carol Allegood, Cathy Green, and Palma Rhoades. Like the art they create, each of their homes and studios is a unique expression of their personalities and aesthetics.

Carol Allegood's studio is located in a historic home at 4572 Northside Drive in Acworth that she shares with her husband, Tommy Allegood, Acworth's mayor. Majestic trees surround the house, which dates to 1900, and a small guest house built in the 1880s. Over the years, the couple has painstakingly restored their home to its former glory. In her second floor studio Carol's vibrant paintings and mixed media pieces come to life. For the tour large pieces of outdoor art by Alliance member Laurel Bowers will also be displayed on the grounds, along with some of her pet ponies.

Palma Rhoades' home at 3725 Valley Hill Road in Kennesaw is tucked away in a tranquil woodland setting. An avid gardener, Palma has collected and planted a wide variety of blooming shrubs, trees and perennials on her terraced property, which seems a world away from the hustle and bustle of West Cobb traffic. Occupying the lower level of her home, her studio is where she creates noteworthy works in oil and clay.

At 905 Grandview Way NW in the Brookstone community of West Cobb, artist Cathy Green and her husband Jeff have created a backyard gardener's paradise. Here a pond, pergola and fire pit are hardscape features in their lush multi-level garden which boasts a life sized carved wood statue of St. Francis of Assisi. Upstairs in their home, Cathy's studio displays an impressive collection of watercolor and acrylic paintings on floating shelves rising to ceiling height.

All three artists will be on hand in their studios to greet visitors and answer questions, while fellow artists -- Alliance members as well -- will be available to help guide visitors through the homes and garden areas. I'm excited to say yours truly will be one of the artists helping out on site at Cathy Green's.

So come enjoy all the colors of spring in the art, the homes and the gardens! Tickets for the self guided tour are $20 ($35 for couple). They can be purchased at the Art House, 4425 Cherokee St. in Acworth, or online at http://www.acworthartsalliance.org/events. Tour hours are 11 a.m.-4p.m.; rain date is April 27.