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Fra Angelica Gallery - Blog
 While knitting at River Colors a couple of weeks ago, I noticed a great fiber necklace designed by Heidi of Stitch Cleveland. Called "Chain Addiction", it's a multi-strand crocheted piece that lays beautifully around your neck. So, armed with my Size I crochet hook and some gorgeous, soft yarns from River Colors, I crocheted a few of these beauties in a variety of colors. You can wear it as a necklace or as a scarf inside your coat. Check them out at BayArts in Bay Village and at Artist Review Today in the Galleria downtown.
Artist Review Today was featured on "That's Life", a television show hosted by local celebrity Robin Swoboda and filmed in Cleveland. Aired on Thursday, October 1, it was filmed at the gallery and showcased the beautiful artwork on display. Michael, the owner, discussed the gallery's focus on local art and artists. I'm disappointed that I didn't see the show, but several friends did and said they recognized my fiber art. What a thrill to have my work and that of my friends at the gallery on television!
 You'll find me selling my handknits and jewelry at a boutique table at the sixth annual Wearable Art Fashion Show and Sale. Sponsored by the Textile Art Alliance of The Cleveland Museum of Art, the event will be held on Sunday, October 18 at LaMalfa in Mentor. In addition to the boutique, the show features a stunning fashion show and luncheon. The wearable art, some of the best in Northeast Ohio, includes one-of-a-kind garments, coats, jackets, accessories, jewelry, and other imaginative fiber wearables for day and evening.
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites LaMalfa 5783 Heisley Road Mentor
10:30am Boutique Preview Shopping and Artists' Raffle 1pm Fashion Show and Luncheon 3pm - 5pm Boutique open to the public $5 at the door Tickets Boutique Preview, Fashion Show, Lunch, Runway Sales: $45 Advance reservations, call CMA: 216-707-6820
Maggi Jackson is a truly unique knitwear designer, originally from Northern Ireland. She creates wonderful, innovative designs and markets her own line of yarn to support her patterns -- linen, Irish tweed, cotton, rag, ribbon in beautiful, organic colors. Now through November 28th, River Colors Studio has designated Saturdays from 10am - noon as official Maggi KnitAlong times. We recommend the Cloughjordan Wrap (book 16) and the Trapiche Wrap (book 14) as great projects for this knitalong. I've knitted both pieces and have the samples available to view.  Posted to the left is a picture of my Cloughjordan Wrap done in linen. The original is knitted in Maggi's tweed, also a good choice. The tweed is much heavier and suitable for our Ohio winters. The linen gives the design a beautiful drape, and it can be worn in all climates. I love wearing this wrap so much that I've started knitting a second one, using some Indigo dyed cotton that I purchased from my friend Joann at Three Pines Studio in Cross Village, MI. Joann is an expert dyer, specializing in indigo.  The bottom photograph is a picture of my Trapiche Wrap, knitted using Maggi's tweed, linen, and angora. It includes a few ruffles not knitted in the original. I had a lot of fun knitting the Trapiche and completed it in less than a week. I was obsessed, to say the least, and stayed up until well past 1am several nights because I just wanted to knit "one more row". Erika at River Colors just got in some great new buttons in a lighter shade of lavender that I added to the wrap on one end. They provide a nice compliment in color and texture. What a fun piece to knit and wear!
The 2009 Cleveland Labor Day Oktoberfest is scheduled on September 4 - 7, Labor Day Weekend. It will be held at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, in Berea. Food and beer (brats!!!), music and dance, artists, crafts, and loads of fun. The schedule is Friday (5pm - midnight), Saturday & Sunday (noon - midnight), Monday (noon - 9pm). The festival includes an Art Market and Craft Show, with over thirty artists participating. In addition to wonderful arts and crafts for sale, artists will be demonstrating the processes they use in creating their artwork. Artist Review Today is participating as a vendor, and bringing a variety of art from the gallery. You'll find wall art, ceramics, jewelry, wearables, photographs, books, cards, etc. I'll be there on Sunday and Monday to assist in the booth and offer some of my items for sale. The weather forecast is for a gorgeous weekend (high70s and sunny), so why not come to the fair! What better way to celebrate the gorgeous summer we've had.
  Some knitting friends and I visited Middle Bass Island last Thursday. Middle Bass is one of a group of small islands in the southwest corner of Lake Erie. We caught the ferry at Catawba Island for a short , forty minute ride  to Middle Bass. A perfect day -- Lake Erie looked like a sheet of glass and shimmered as the sun bounced off of it. My friend and fellow artist, Mary, met us at the dock. Mary owns My Aunt Irma's, a charming retail shop on island, where she and her family have a home. Visit her website at http://myauntirmas.com// She offers colorful, fun, and comfortable resort wear and jewelry, as well as her own original handknits (scarves,  shawls, purses, sweaters) and art quilts. Mary is closing the shop and retiring after this season, so our visit was bittersweet. We love the shop and all the wonderful, funky, eclectic treasures, but we know that this is the last time we'll visit it. Mary has had a shop on the island for more than twenty years and is happy with her decision. (However, I'm always so sad to see a small, especially a business owned by a woman, close.) Our all-too-short day on the island was wonderful. We had lunch on the patio of a great restaurant, Walleye's, and most of us enjoyed the delicious Lake Erie Perc  h. We also saw the peacocks, which are absolutely beautiful. Sadly, the islanders are frustrated with them. They aren't native to the island -- someone brought two about two years ago, and they've multiplied. However, I still think they're gorgeous and am always amazed at and awed with the beauty of the natural world. Today the colors of the island and the lake can't help but inspire: the luminesence of the lake water, the subtle neutrals of the seagull greeting us at the dock, the vibrant colors of the male peacock. Each provides its own palatte of colors.  To say we had a wonderful day sounds so trite, but it couldn't be more true -great weather in a beautiful setting - a group of friends visiting, shopping, sharing our love of knitting, and just enjoying the natural beauty of the island.
We're having a big, blowout sale at Artist Review Today in August. Preview party is Wednesday, August 12 and the sale is Thursday and Friday, August 13-14. Artists are clearing out their studios. You'll find some great buys on wall art, ceramics, fiber, jewelry, etc, as well as art supplies, yarn, fabric, beads, buttons. Many items under $10 and nothing more than $50. Stop by I promise, you'll find some great deals!
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