Shopping Handmade

...this is an overdue post about a little jaunt I made up to New Paltz to see pals Kitty B and Patti G! These talented artists were showing their work at the Unison Fair held at the beginning of December at the New Paltz Middle School…and my big chance to get some Christmas shopping done!

I am making a real effort to give all handmade things this year, and if not handmade (some small people around here are wishing for toys)

…then, Made in America or vintage/repurposed or recycyled!

I came home with a car load of new treasures from Kitty B (Michelle will be emailing images later this week and watch the site for updates!) And more than 100 gifts made in the Hudson River Valley.
(Thea...watch the mail for a Zippy Gift for Zippy Gal!)

Here are a few images of Kitty B's booth at the show...

Most of you know Kitty B as the mistress of assemblage, carefully curating her odd boxes of whimsy by freezing bits of everyday life for inspection. In her art, Kitty elevates castoff tools, misfit toys and broken tidbits in her celebration of whimsy, selecting and then surrounding them in their own little world of paper and glitter, whimsy and mirth.

I have – many times – confessed a passion for Kitty’s work. It strikes a chord deep in me for the loves of the worn, the underdog and the forgotten… it makes me comfortable…and at the same time unsettles me just a little bit…titillating. Her collaged tags are part of the fun and it’s a pity we cannot photo these for the site too…they have to be experienced when one of her boxes is held in your hands.

(I did a blog post about Kitty back in July…see the archives if you have two minutes. Some of my favorites she has ever done are pictured there…)

I also got to visit a bit with the lovely and talented Patti Gibbons…
You can learn more about her and her mixed media works and works in paper through her blog:

http://catskillpaper.blogspot.com/

Patti is one of the people on the planet I hope I get to know better. I commissioned her last year to make 100 ornaments for me to send out as gifts…did you receive one as a surprise in the mail from me?

I think Patti’s is just wonderfully fun and she could work as a super-model if her career in the arts ever allowed her the time! And to think, it was Patti who introduced me to the land of the Blog…thanks Patti for opening the world….hope you can make it down for “the heART of winter”…

…here’s a wee tree laden with Patti’s "Catskill Paper" magic…

I do love art and I am sharing it with as many people on my list as I can...my in-laws will receive a Jennifer Lanne painting of a running rooster, my twin nieces some wonderful collages made by pal Amy, I just packed up some fun Hotcakes bracelets for a few gal pals on my list...
I like giving old things too...so whew (readers of this blog will recall) I just unearthed that bargain of a chintz cup I found for my sister while antiquuing with Stacey Bear this summer...)

…so I am back to wrapping and more wrapping…with 24 nieces and nephews and a platoon of immediate family members to spoil over the holidays I feel like an elf. I must return to my dining room table which is under siege with paper, tape and...where are those scissors!

xxoo Merry Merry
Jen O’Connor
Earth Angels