Open Doors

This weekend is NH Open Doors.  Every where around the state, artists, artisans, small businesses are 'open' and celebrating the diversity of NH.  I was invited to participate in the Open Doors project with my friends Susan and Mary Jo (artstream) at open studios in their gallery in Rochester.  There were about 30 artists including those represented by the gallery and a bevy of invited guests like myself including:

 Miss Hawklette, a spinner/hand-dyer had the most delicious wool and colors. There was a metal smith/fiber artist who created edge-y art jewelry.  A rug hooker who did lovely, fun and wonderful rugs, mats and other decorative items. Several fine artists with sketches and paintings. And the sweetest little potter: 10 years old and learning from a master  --  owns her own kiln and has a studio in her basement.

Megan Bogonovich , NH ceramacist , who is represented by artstream was there . 

Representatives from the NH Poetry Society

were on hand in the afternoon to give poetry readings.

Here's a few images of work that I brought to NH Open Doors
 This is "Kitamba" a small beaded and quilted wallhanging

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I found this evening . . . .

by cricketapollo

 by fullenstar

 

 by gunnel

 

 by kamatrice

 

 by mama ulani

 

by sewz4fun

I spotted these lovelies on Flickr this evening

All made by talented fiber and textile artists

And all inspiring,

Don't you think so too?

Concertina book

An homage to Celia Thaxter
19th Century poet, artist, gardener,

5.5x24 inches
12 collaged panels

Cotton, silk, antique lace, antique doily,
buttons, beads, embroidery,
photo images of Celia's garden, web images of Celia and son

Daughter of Thomas Leighton, Celia was born in Portsmouth NH but lived for most of her life on the Isles of Shoals, a series of small islands nine miles off the coast where her father became keeper of the White Island light.

It was there that she met Levi Thaxter, a Bostonian near-do-well who came to tutor Celia and her brothers. She was romantically attracted to Levi and married him while still in her teens.

Celia's marriage to Levi was sad and disappointing.She disliked living away from the sea. While in suburban Boston, they lived in house purchased for them by Levi's parents and had two sons. They were often quite destitute as Levi was a poor provider.

However, these difficult years of longing were overshadowed by Celia's growing fame as a writer of prose and poetry. Her work, initially published by the Atlantic Monthly, became widely known and read and she later published small volumes. It was her writing and her delicate painting on china that sustained the family financially.

But it was her role as salon hostess on Appledore that brought joy to her. It was there that the most celebrated artists and writers of the day came seeking the cool fresh ocean breezes. Childe Hassam, Ralph Waldo Emerson and others among the intelligensia of the day were entertained in her salon which is said to be among the first of the artist colonies in the America.

Celia is also know for her garden which survives still due to the diligent efforts of the Rye Garden Club and others who re-claimed it from brambles and gave it new life using Celia's precise plans and drawings from her book, An Island Garden.

Note:
This is original work
uploaded by PatStudio.
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Do not use without
permission.