The number one question customers ask me is....

Is it hard to make stained glass?

The answer is sometimes depending omn the glass you work with. Youghiogheny is beautiful glass that is shale like- layers and a little brittle ans can spinter when you break it.

Really doing stained glass is not that hard. When you start out, picke easier patterns and non expensive glass, this will make it easier on yourself. Ask questions, it is better to ask them than not to ask!

When I teach stained glass classes, I do not hover over them but give guidance when needed. The best way to learn is by doing and making some mistakes so you do not do that again.

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American Craft Week comes to Wilson!

Art Happens on Tarboro, joining more than 200 retailers and art institutions nationwide in celebration of American Craft, will be hosting workshops and demos October 2-11, 2020

Open to the general public during these workshops at 106 Tarboro Street Wilson NC, this American Craft Week will feature jewelry classes, stained glass classes, mixed media classes and various demos.

American Craft Week, now in its 11th year, is an annual coast -to-coast recognition of the makers, retailers, collectors and exhibitors of handmade craft. “We’re passionate about the exceptional value, enduring quality and cultural significance of handmade American craft”, says Diane Sulg, co-chair of the campaign. “In a society filled with machine-made things, we need to support the talented and dedicated people who create decorative and useful goods by hand.”

Art Happens on Tarboro supports American Craft Week because public awareness of the local crafts scene helps sustain jobs for artists and their businesses. There is a local return on that investment: in many towns, the arts help promote economic development and tourism. Art Happens on Tarboro is a multiple arts and crafts gallery and teaching space.

For more information about the American Craft Week celebration at Art Happens on Tarboro call Kim at  252-650-2530 or visit www.arthappensontarboro.com and go to American Craft Week tab. For a complete list of American Craft Week public events taking place locally and nationwide, go to www.americancraftweek.com

Do you ever wonder if you could make a stained glass panel? Just how hard is it? What if it looks bad? Will I be happy with it?  

I think the photos below answer all those questions. All first timers that completed their pieces (one even made a suncatcher with her scrap), they all look great and look at their faces... they are happy!

I have been teaching stained glass since 1982 and have had so many students. I did keep track but then I lost the total! I can say that everyone, except for an overachiever that designed his own HUGE piece, completed their class projects and some started or finished a second project.

I love my students, each and every one of them. I learned something from them all. I appreciate that they took the classes and helped me grow as an instructor. I carry a little bit of each one with me into the classroom. 

Would you like to lesarn how to working in stained glass? The pieces they hold are samples of some of the 14 patterns to choose from and you get to choose your own glass to make it unique to you. Classes are held on Tursday nights and Saturday morning. Check the classes page for the schedule. If you have any questions call Kim at 252-650-2530 or stop by Art Happens on Tarboro Wednesday through Saturday 10 am- 4 pm

I look forward to seeing you in class!

Mona Lisa is my muse. Mona Lisa and Stained Glass two of my favorite things. I set out to create her in glass. Little did I know how hard it would be to cut glass for her face. I am sorry Mona Lisa if you look like Hannibal Lector from Silence of the Lambs! I was broken hearted when it was all done. The rest does not look bad to me, what do you think? Next time I will use the band saw to cut her forehead and nose in one piece and her cheeks and chin in one piece also. This piece was done in 2013.

It is amazing how a person can continue to learn each day. And thank goodness I am open to learn from my mistakes!

If you have a photo or a painting you would like to have done in stained glass, let's talk. 

​To find out about the studio,  classes and events be sure to sign up for the VIP List.

 I have listed the September classes here on the Classes Page and Explore Wilson Website. They are on Art Happens on Tarboro Facebook Page. They will also be coming out in the September Issue of Wide Awake Wilson coming out September 1.

I am excited and a little nervous about having classes again. I do ask that student wear a mask and we will social distance and have santizing stations. Class sizes will be smaller than before. I have cleaned the studio and we will label student tool boxes so you get the same one back each week if you sign up for stained glass or jewelry making.

The studio has been busy. I just finished a repair from last August, it kept getting pushed aside for other projects until I said enough... finish it! There is a commission in the works and another repair waiting for its turn.

Art Happens on Tarboro will be participating in American Craft Week October 2 through October 11, this link goes to all participatants, ou need to scroll to find us. They will be listed on Art Happens on Tarboro Classes Page also for ease. If there are any classes that you missed that you would like to see again please let me know. I will be lisiting classes September 12.

What have you been creating during this time of sheltering in place? I have branched out and done some collage work and art journaling.

I am in two Virtual Book Clubs. One is with DelArts and have read two books- A Month in the Summer by JL Carr and The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant, so far. Zoom is amazing- getting to meet people in Delaware and get toether once a month to discuss a book. The one I am really looking forward to is Clara and Mr Tiffany, about Clara Driscol the designer of the Tiffany Lamps- she did not get credit during the creation.

The other Book Club is more Non-Fiction type- we did The Artists Way by Julia Cameron and are in Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon. This group is much younger..... I could be everyone's mom! But they roll with and it is great. We meet every Sunday!

To tell you thruth I have not read this many books, since March, since the college days! I am loving it. I want to start a Book Club and do a Zoom!

Stay safe and remember to keep art in your heART!
Kim

Well the day is here! Art Happens on Tarboro is reopening today! It has been 147 days and I have the itch to be back in the studio so the doors are opening! We are open 10 to 5 this week. Everyone downtown says it has been slow, it normally is as people are at the beach ortaking a cvacation somewhere. I will revisit hours next week.

What's new? Well there is now a Book Nook in AHOT. Both hardback and paperback books for sale starting at $1, nothing higher than $5 right now. I am still tagging them. It was a big clean out at the home studio and other books also.

I am working on a commission so if you want to see the process stop by and visit. Also have a repair on the work bench in the process. 

Classes will start up in September. There is a stained glass class in process that needs to finish up. The Plant Pal class that was canceled due to closure will be rescheduled also.

Hope you are having a good week! 

​Remember keep art in your heART!

I never thought I would enjoy Book Club but this changing world has shown me just how much fun book clubs can be.

So I started The Artists Way by Julia Cameron in May with some folks from Seattle. I have known the facilitator, Sari, for awhile. We met for 10 weeks online. It was great to be in a group of like minded artists. Discussion was thought provoking and supportive. When it came to the end we decided to keep the group together and follow a differen path. We are reading books about arts and art. Our first one is Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. It is a fun book that also has a journal that goes along with it. This has very different activities. I loved building my family tree of artists! Who would you choose to put in your family tree? 

If you would like information on joining the group just reach out to me and I will get you in.

The second Book Club I am in (yes I know two!) is with DELARTS- Delaware Art Museum. They previous met in person at the museum but now meet on Zoom. The book we just finsihed was A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr. It is tiny book but filled with lots of goodness. It was only 134 pages but a great read. It is written in post WWI Yorkshire English The discussion group was great. Everyone was so welcoming and inclusive. It sort of felt like going home. If you get a chance to read the book do. There is a movie, but read the book first! 
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Our book this month is The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunnant. It is written in modern English, notdated language like the last book. Starting out good.

Are you reading any books? If so what ones? Are you part of a Book Club? How is that going?

Remember keep artin your  heART!

​Kim

I woke up today and felt great! Yesterday was a long hot day. I planted Black Eyed Susans, mowed the yard and weed eated the back- string kept breaking! Thursday and Friday I weeded all the flower beds, I will never let they go that long again!

The studio had a supply visitor come in on Saturday. If you need any supplies or you want to stop by to pick up a piece of art work, just email  or call me and I will meet you there. Digital Gift Cards are now available also.
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I have been keeping busy in my home studio. Making new jewelry pieces, photographing pieces to put in online stores. I have been slow with loading pieces and now am kicking myself. If I had full online stores then there would be that stream of potential income! Ugh, live and learn.

I am in two book clubs this summer. Bothare artist based, one with non-fiction and one with fiction books. The non fiction we are working on is Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. Each week we have tasks to work on. The group just finished The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron and we had a blast getting together online for 12 weeks. The fiction we are read A Month in the Summer by J.L. Carr.  I do love the mix and the mix of people also. All mediums of artists in a group sharing... it is great! If you would like information on either group let me know.

What have you been up to this summer? I can not believe how crazy hot it has been. What I would do to be on the river, on a lake or at the beach splashing in the water. Miss those days but they will be back.

Stay safe and remember to keep art in your heART!
Kim

Art Happens on Tarboro will remain closed for another month. After much thought and consideration I feel it is in our best interest to wait another 30 days to see where the numbers are. I appreciate your patience and hope you realize this is for all our good.

If you need any stained glass supplies please feel free to call or email me and I will meet you at the studio.

Thank you,
​Kim

I can not believe how things have turned out this spring. I thought we would be home for a few weeks while this virus ran its course. Well thank goodness I am not in anoffical city, state or federal position becuase I would be way off. Art Happens on Tarboro closed March 18, opened for one day when Phase 1 came to NC. I ended up sick the next day, no not COVID but it was a wake up call. I did not want to open and potentially be the place where people got sick. So needless to say Art Happens reminds closed for now. 

During "stay at home" time I did a lot of  work on the house, She Shed and gardens. I did finish up and "graduate from the Master Gardeners Program also. I am doing The Artist Way with an artist friend of mine, Sari who lives in Seattle. It is great to get together on Sunday evenings and support each other. We will probably continue on with a Artist Book Club. Love it!

In the home studio I have been collaging and art journaling, it is so much fun to do something that is not part of your artistic life but a trail of the path. Oh my goodness I have purged books and magazines. It is amazing how many I have and really don't need anymore. The new open space is comforting.

I have been in the studio to work and did a repair, framed three pieces. Fred goes with me and we have a blast. He does scare people walking by when he charges the front door unless he is asleep! I do not mind working by yself, i have done that for years so it is comofrtable. Part of my work at the house was clearing out and setting up She Shed as a stained glass studio at home, the only draw back is not electricity which means no soldering, no ac for the summer,  no heat for the winter! But is it a work in process.

The damage on the front of the building has not been repaired yet, contractors are working another big job right now. Trying to be patient.

​What have you been doing during your down time? Learn anything new, make anything new?