Jan Dunn "Feather Your Nest Basket" at the Joyful Jewel 5-26-13

"Feather Your Nest Basket"

Jan Dunn

Hand Dyed Basket Reed, ~ 4" x 5" + hanging handle

$15

          This sweet little basket that Jan Dunn imagined and then created is one of my very favorite things at the Joyful Jewel!  I'll be saving shed cat hair and dryer lint for Jan's next round of Feather Your Next Baskets.  Jan says, "Birds (chickadees, titmice) appreciate fine materials to line their nests with such as pet hair, yarn, thread, string, cotton batting, dryer lint.  In the sprint, fill the basket with any of these materials and hang on a tree limb several feet off the ground -- near a nest box, if you have one.  The birds will thank you!"

          What fun it will be to see who comes to remove the materials and carry them off.  Watch closely and you may discover where the nest is hidden, and which nestlings will grow up inside it comforted within by this softness.

http://www.joyfuljewel.com/Jan-Dunn.html

     
 Website:  http://www.joyfuljewel.com

 Newsletter subscription:  mariah.joyfuljewel@gmail.com 
 FaceBook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyfulJewel

 Linked In:   www.linkedin.com/pub/mariah-wheeler/12/861/a9b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheJoyfulJewel

Shannon Wall "Pine Needle Basket with Sharks Teeth" at the Joyful Jewel 5-19-13

"Pine Needle Basket with Sharks Teeth"

Shannon Wall

6" diameter, NC Longleaf Pine Needles, Walnut Shell, Sharks Teeth, Artificial Sinew

$50

     Shannon Wall has collected, processed and woven what must be millions of pine needles to make this sweet-yet-tough basket.  The lacy-looking slice of shellacked walnut shell in the bowl contrasts with the sleek power of the sharks teeth.  I wonder if she gathered this impressive collection of  teeth herself at one of our NC beaches.  This basket is sturdy and beautiful, expertly stitched and coated with protectant.  It makes a stunning piece of art to be displayed in a place of honor, as well as a useful basket to hold keys or what not by the front door of a busy household.                              ~ Mariah

         

http://www.joyfuljewel.com/Shannon-Wall.html

     
 Website:  http://www.joyfuljewel.com

 Newsletter subscription:  mariah.joyfuljewel@gmail.com 
 FaceBook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyfulJewel

 Linked In:   www.linkedin.com/pub/mariah-wheeler/12/861/a9b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheJoyfulJewel

Shannon Bueker "Birds in Grass" ceramic wall piece at the Joyful Jewel 5-18-13

"Birds in Grass"

Shannon Bueker

ceramic wall piece, ~ 9" x 14"

$125

          Known so well for her vibrant animal watercolor paintings, Shannon Bueker is less known for her pottery even though I think she's been doing it on the side for a long time.  You can see the same type of nature scene here,with all of the sense of movement in the grass and similar colors as you might find in one of Shannon's paintings.  Yet here it is gracing a three dimensional good-sized wall hanging.                         

~ Mariah

http://www.joyfuljewel.com/Shannon-Bueker.html

Website:  http://www.joyfuljewel.com

 Newsletter subscription:  mariah.joyfuljewel@gmail.com 
 FaceBook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyfulJewel

 Linked In:   www.linkedin.com/pub/mariah-wheeler/12/861/a9b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheJoyfulJewel

Susan Luster "Terra Cotta Fern" at the Joyful Jewel 5-5-13

"Terra Cotta Fern" Wall Hanging

Susan G. Luster

ceramic, glaze, reclaimed wood - 9 1/2" x 18"

$70

          This gorgeous fern, memorialized on Susan G. Luster's terra cotta pottery, and then mounted on a reclaimed piece of barn wood, is just asking to take it's place on a nature-lover's wall.  Susan has an unusual way of creating her pottery using slab and hand building techniques.  As you might guess, much of her inspiration for making and decorating pottery comes from the plant world. Each piece has leaves pressed into the clay before it is fired. The plant material is removed, leaving an impression that is enhanced with glaze or underglaze, making them appear to be alive in the clay after they are fired.

http://www.joyfuljewel.com/Susan-Luster.html

     
 Website:  http://www.joyfuljewel.com

 Newsletter subscription:  mariah.joyfuljewel@gmail.com 
 FaceBook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyfulJewel

 Linked In:   www.linkedin.com/pub/mariah-wheeler/12/861/a9b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheJoyfulJewel

Jerry Fowler "Sonic Chicken King" - Pottery at the Joyful Jewel 4-19-13

The Joyful Jewel

"Sonic Chicken King"

Jerry Fowler

Pottery, 10" x 8" 3-dimensional

$98

    Here is my favorite of the Sonic and Cosmic Chickens that Jerry has here now. BTW - that's King not a la king. This guy really rules the roost with a proud swagger-mixed with benevolent character that is quite striking.  To top it all, he is very cute although I'm sure he wouldn't want me to say that! (So is Jerry of course, cute that is + perfectly named with a last name of Fowler).                                                            ~ Mariah

http://www.joyfuljewel.com/Jerry-Fowler.html

     
 Website:  http://www.joyfuljewel.com

 Newsletter subscription:  mariah.joyfuljewel@gmail.com 
 FaceBook:   https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyfulJewel

 Linked In:   www.linkedin.com/pub/mariah-wheeler/12/861/a9b
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheJoyfulJewel