by kathleen-obrien | Dec 12, 2023 | year ReView
As the year rolls along, the December rituals unfold. One of the most enjoyable practices is to compose a year review. The more I gather ideas from calendars, blog posts and notebooks, the more I appreciate my projects and bodies of work. (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Dec 5, 2023 | artist book, classes
Color Book Class ~ exploring color, tools and materials. (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Nov 30, 2023 | beads, talismans
One of the first talisman bead necklaces I made started out as a single strand piece. A few years later I used a bone spacer to design a three-tier necklace out of the same beads, making it a shorter. The stringing material was still intact, but I decided to restring it (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Nov 20, 2023 | new art, Studio Special
It turned out to become “Atmospheres”, a collection of ethereal textured abstract watercolor paintings, to be revealed on November 25 for Small Business Saturday (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Nov 6, 2023 | celebrations, Open Studio
My heart is full of sweet memories when I think about the 15th Annual Autumn Open Studio. My mind is full of amazement that it was the best open studio to date, after considering that it might be the last (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Oct 31, 2023 | 4 seasons, celebrations, Studio Special, studio updates
Greetings to you at Mid-Autumn and happy Halloween, Samhuin, Dia de los Muertos, All Soul’s Day. Along with peoples of many cultures, I celebrate the Night of the Ancestors by remembering my parents and grandparents. In the Celtic tradition we believe that by telling stories about them, placing their beloved objects out, offering some special treats and lighting candles to guide their way to us, we will not be tricked by forgetting them. In this war-torn year, it is a more solemn night than usual. (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Oct 9, 2023 | 4 seasons, inspiration, Open Studio
Now that its autumn things are falling into place nicely. After six months of creating a myriad assortment of paintings, rare bead jewelry, artist books and new card designs I am preparing for the presentation cycle of studio work. (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Sep 28, 2023 | artist book, celebrations, videos
On short notice we had a few days vacation, so we got away from it all. It is a beautiful drive from our place through the Cumberland Gap to Hot Springs NC. (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Sep 22, 2023 | Art Farms, beads, inspiration, special event
I just love conversation about beads, especially at a setting like Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. I am grateful to them for once again giving me the opportunity to share my art with “the world”, as the Believers would say. (more…)
by kathleen-obrien | Sep 12, 2023 | art shows, beads
Yesterday I catalogued some of the beads from my collection that I’ll be talking about Saturday (Sept.16, 10-5) for the bead demo at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. It is a task I’ve been meaning to do for ages. (more…)