Platte River Christmas kicked off with Springfield,Ne businesses

Yesterday Springfield Artworks officially kicked off Platte River Christmas by inviting Main Street Businesses to the gallery. Consigning artists also attended the event.

Wine, cheese and conversation were enjoyed by all.

                                  Great holiday shopping
  has begun in one of Omaha area's most unique gallery and boutiques. 

We welcome all shoppers to experience the hospitality and free gift wrap on items over $20. Artist demos and refreshments too!  from Omaha take 144th St South just 6 miles from I-80, turn left on Main St to 183 Main or exit 440 on I-80, then south just 6 miles and left to 183 Main.

Christmastime at Springfield Artworks

It's that time of the year again, holiday lights, family time, decorating (which I love) and Holiday demos at Springfield Artworks.  This year Omaha artists Glenn and Margie Trembley are showing how to make elegant Christmas bows and ornaments.  Glenn is also  making Hanukah ornaments for those who celebrate Hanukah.

 Love to shop, hate the crowds and long walks in the parking lot, take the short drive to Springfield and park at the door!

Omaha Spinners and Weavers Guild Sale Tomorrow

It will be a great sale...so many lovely things.  Come see us. I'll be there from 8:15-12:15 and then at Springfield Artworks.  A customer is coming for some roving.  She didn't know we sold felting supplies.  I need to get the word out.  Mega colors available of wool roving, plus tools, etc.

Margie

PS Glenn's piece for Columbia, South America is almost done...Yeh!

Busy November

This has been the month of garden events.  First I had items in the boutique at the Fine Art of Fiber at the Chicago Botanic Gardens...then it was a booth at the Omaha Lauritzen Gardens  at "Quilts in the Garden".  I had wearable art in my booth.  There are some great Omaha, Council Bluffs and surrounding area women walking around with some beautiful pieces around their neck, head or shoulders!

Tomorrow is the Omaha Weavers and Spinners Guild holiday sale at Westside Community Center.  I'll be there too with my own personal wearable creations....Previous attendees know to be there when it opens....Come see me, I'll be working that shift.  This is  a great event to pick up some outstanding gifts, both large and small.

While in Chicago I got to play catch up with my friend Jan and stayed with my friend Alice.  Always a fun time laughing and telling stories with her.

Made a rush trip to Champagne, IL to see the wonderful Indigo exhibit at the Krannert Art Museum (picture below)...would love to go back and take photos.....wasn't allowed while there but creator of the exhibit said I could...of course, after I had already returned home!

Stop by Springfield Artworks for our Platte River Christmas celebration.  Artist demoing today and tomorrow and starting the week after Thanksgiving.  Come see us...would love to help you start (or finish) your shopping.

Margie

Preparing for November events

It's been busy around the studio.  Glenn and I have both been working frantically preparing for the upcoming holiday season.  His new ornament tree is full and his Wild Animal pieces have kept him busy.  He has done a couple of commissions for companies using their logos.  He loves doing that.

I have been experimenting with a new dyeing process...working with silk only...results are fantastic....will surprise you some day with the luscious colors.  I can use them on my fascinator hats as well as shawls and scarves.  I think I could enjoy dyeing all day long.....love it.

A magazine contacted us about some info on our classes....That's exciting! Guests coming to shop tomorrow from Topeka Shriners. We look forward to having them.  Great weather for shopping!

The Latest plus New Exhibit Opens at Springfield Artworks

Can you tell I've been busy?  Haven't posted in a while.  Went on a fantastic trip to Arkansas. Gave a talk at the Regional SAQA meeting in Conway, Arkansas on Japanese Surface Design.  Great group of gals...and oh such talent!  Loved every minute of it...didn't want to leave...

Headed up to Mountain View, AR to enjoy the folk capital of the US.  Brought back many memories.  Dance weekend was the happening event and met up with a clogger who was one of the instructors.  She is from Springfield,MO and she was in Springfield,NE last year at Springfield Days....small world.

The Arkansas Ozarks are sooooo beautiful.

Also got to attend a football game in Sallisaw, OK where our grandson is the new band director...so proud!

Miss going to the Creative Felt  Gathering in Michigan this year...especially the opportunity to take a class from Andrea Graham from Canada.  Maybe I can catch up with her some other time.

Busy making pieces for the Handweavers and Spinners Guild show here in Omaha and the Lauritzen Gardens event in November.  Missed the deadline for the Chicago Botanic Gardens Fine Art of Fiber...maybe next year.  I would also like to have a couple of pieces in their Fashion Show.

New exhibit opened at the gallery yesterday. It runs through the end of Sept.  Great glass art, textiles and photographs.  Exhibit is entitled Wild Animals on Parade.  Check it out. Would love to have you visit.

Trembley days on TV

Today Glenn appeared on Omaha's Morning Blend with a sampling of his glass art and our daughter Dayna Trembley Hilton will appear in Salt Lake City during the 2012 Blog Paws Conference on a Salt Lake TV station. She will also appear on a second tv station tomorrow. (She is also up for a pet blogging award during the conference). Follow her and Tango, the fire safety dog on facebook.

Springfield Days

Springfield Days was a hugh success!  We both serve on the committee and this years theme was going Gaga in Springfield.  Springfield's claim to fame last year was the filming of the popular stars recent video. There was the parade which we participated in with Springfield Artworks

"float" being an authentic sheep wagon. Many events kept the town hopping. Of course Warrior Games were also being held down the road near Louisville.

Busy Saturday

Today was a busy day at our gallery and studio.  We had a bus tour from South Dakota this afternoon, inquiries about Girl Scout fusing and fiber art classes, guests from several different cities in Nebraska and people just stopping in because they saw our unique birdhouse display outside. Glenn used to make birdhouses for fun and we still have a few left. Birds really use them for their home too so that is a great thing. FYI:  We also have felted bird pods....very environmentally friendly.

New Colors, New Beginnings

Just spent an afternoon last week at the University of Nebraska textile dyeing lab in a class taught by Jay Rich on Indigo dyeing.  Love the results  and color variance of my sample pieces.  Since I love indigo and my teacher Akemi Cohn has encouraged me to work bigger, I have plans for creating a couple of large pieces.  Cutting out the stencil for katazome will take some time.

I have also been designing some more stencils and cutting them out.  

Also just got an email from Spoonflower that my design with watercolor and ink did not make it into the semi-finals for the Kauffman fabric design contest.  There were over 750 entries, wow! Try, try again! At least several of my friends liked it.  The sample had to be really small. I will continue to perfect my skill using that source also.  Wish me luck.

Catching Up

Just returned from Arkansas to see my grandson perform in his Master's Degree recital.  Never knew so many sounds could come out of a tuba.  As always, I was very proud of Michael. His great-grandmother got him started in music when she sat down with him at her organ. Love how it all turned out....now to the gallery.  Should have two packages waiting for me today.  One, some Kakishibu for my new classes as well as stencil paper...can hardly wait to open the pkg...also awaiting pkg from Europe with felting tools....they should be here too.  Stop by to see the latest....and sign up for classes! Have special running on Laura's scarves today only. Get free small felted item if you buy one of Laura's scarves today....orange, blue, etc...lovely.

Great Sunday!

Pheasant Stroganoff prepared by hubby, r and r on my day of rest....Love it. Yesterday was a fantastic day.  Had many visitors at the galleery, did a demo on making a felted vessel for some seniors, had a visit from an excited teen ager who is going to study international studies at college who loves the Japanese culture. It was so much fun sharing stories with she and her Mom and sisters.

Birds are chirping...they must be very happy.  Thinking of making felted bird houses so mama bird can lay her eggs safely and keep them warm til they hatch. I am not sure what size the holes should be...if anyone has some suggestions, please let me know.

Whew! Finally settling down.

After a whirlwind learning experience in Chicago and Racine,WI, I am finally getting to try some of the new things I learned. I also have big plans to develop a lecture on the Japanese fiber arts in the future....but first must "Make some Art".  Just finished a pleated vessel in blue and purple.  Part of the creation of the vessel was done yesterday in front of the TV camera for possible inclusion in a commercial for Sarpy County amenities....stay tuned...will see if it makes the cut.

Art and Soup Omaha/LaVista Conf Center

Coming up this weekend is Art and Soup. Glenn will have a booth there. Be sure and support the Visiting Nurses Association homeless assistance charity.

Exciting new skill

Recently returned from Chicago where I attended a workshop at my North Surburban Needle Arts Guild.  It was taught by Akemi Cohn.  The ancient art of Katazome is right down my alley.  I continue my strong interest in all things Japanese.  Have made 5 pieces so far.  I ordered a special tool for distributing the rice paste resist....can hardly wait to try it out.

Jane Davila class was great

Had a wonderful time at the Jane Davila class at Cottonwood Quilters on Sunday.  Will post pics later of a couple of my small pieces.  What I liked about this was that all things were small....I can do that! (That info is for all my quilt friends who know I'm sewing challenged)

Chicago Here I Come!

Today was a great day...spending time with old friends, visiting my favorite restaurant, finding a new bead shop (at least for me) and having dinner at the Japanese grocery store/restaurant and visiting the Japanese book store and gift shop.  I'm in heaven...Hope my friends didn't mind me dragging them all over the place.
I am preparing for the Japan exhibit at the gallery which opens on the 15th of this month.

There will be many day to day items as well as some traditional pieces in the exhibit.  On display will be the etched and carved glass table that I (Margie) did.  We will also have a real tea brush that is the design source for my etched table.  Hope many of you can make it.  Our hours have changed..Tues-Friday 1pm-5pm, Saturday 11am to 4:30 pm, or by appointment.
Here's a pic of my very first etching class in Japan...not sure why my eyes are closed.

Just for fun

This week I was privileged to take a class from the designer of Bloomin Minds patterns. She did a workshop for Cottonwood Quilters at a local hotel.  Her patterns are so fun.  I am still working on mine.  It's called Tweet, Tweet, Twitter. Picture is of my piece in progress.

Girl Scout artVenture project at Springfiled Artworks

Four girls are participating in the artVenture project at Springfield Artworks. The girls get an opportunity to work with an artist in designing and creating a project for a fund raiser at the University of Nebraska, Omaha on March 23 to benefit the local Girl Scouts.

The girls spent time designing and creating a needle felted beret and will be creating a felted flower for themselves using the same wool and yarn in the second session.

Valentines is coming

Busy making valentine hearts for your loved one.  I have etched mirrored ones, used crushed glass and fused it onto sheet glass....many, many things will be available first of February.  You have to come see us at Springfield Artworks.

Girl Scout Event

I am preparing for the Girl Scout Artventure at Springfield Artworks this Sunday.  Girls will be needle felting on a beret.  Should be fun.  More to come.