blue light special art show

The blue light special art show is an absolute can’t-miss for Christmas shopping – I did over half my Christmas shopping there last year!!

This art show is a conglomeration of the works of over 30 local high-end artisans. They will have work from their regular collections, as well as highly discounted items including discontinued items, slightly imperfect items, and atypical items. It’s a great way to get amazing works of art for rock bottom prices!

The forms of art there will include pottery, jewelry, glass art, fiber, mixed media, basketry, drawings and paintings, soaps and lotions, and more.

Plus you can help fight hunger with Empty Bowls: Purchase lunch served in handmade bowls—prepared by Chefs partnering with Cahaba ClayWorks benefiting First Light Women’s Shelter.

Your $25 (tax deductible!) lunch gets you an original, hand-made bowl with soup of your choice prepared by Chef Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club, Laney’s Country Cooking and Chef Sean Butler of Food Studio B.

The dates are Saturday, December 11th from 9-5 and Sunday, December 12th from 10-4.

The location of the sale is at Cahaba Clayworks in Leeds -

7575 Pkwy Dr.
Leeds, AL 35094

Admission to the show is $2, a portion of which goes to charity.

Christmas Shopping: By Hand Boutique

I’m going to try and feature some upcoming opportunities for Christmas Shopping, as we have an abundance of wonderful arts and crafts festivals this time of the year – some huge and well-known, and some smaller and harder to find.

One of those that you may not have heard of yet is By Hand Boutique, coming to Moody, Alabama (just East of Birmingham) November 12-13.

By Hand Boutique is a market made up of more than thirty local artists and crafters that make a variety of well-made items that are great for gifts.

They have a blog, By Hand Boutique, where they have featured some of the artists, and you can see some of their amazing creations! They are also currently hosting a giveaway at their blog for two $25 gift certificates to the market.

Details:

By Hand Boutique
November 12th, 7-9pm and November 13th, 9am-4pm
Hosted by Community Presbyterian Church, 825 Oak Blvd. Moody, Alabama

If you know of more great Christmas shopping festivals, bazaars, or shows, please feel free to email me at rachel@alabamabloggers.com

Vote for Alabama Artisan and Small Business Owner to Win!

Tena Payne, owner of Earthborn Studios in Leeds, is one of only FIVE finalists in this Forbes contest! Please vote for Tena here! Here are the details of the contest:

FIVE FINALISTS ADVANCE IN FORBES’

2009 “BOOST YOUR BUSINESS” CONTEST

Grand Prize Winner to Receive $100,000 in Cash and Advertising

NEW YORK, NY (November 4, 2009) – The readers have voted, and Forbes.com today announced the five finalists in its “Boost Your Business” contest, available online at www.forbes.com/byb. Voting is now open to select the grand-prize winner, who will be announced in early December. Two Massachusetts-based companies made it to the final round. The five finalists are:

· Audissey Guides ( Boston , MA )

· Earthborn Studios, Inc. ( Leeds , AL )

· Ksplice ( Cambridge , MA )

· Naturally Bamboo ( Mankato , MN )

· NuBarter, Inc. ( Savannah , GA )

The finalists were flown to New York City to give live presentations to an expert panel of judges. Their videotaped presentations are posted on Forbes.com for further reader voting, which ends on November 30, 2009. The grand-prize winner will receive $100,000 in cash and advertising.

“When the klieg lights go on, the stress level is high, especially during the question-and-answer sessions,” says Brett Nelson, Entrepreneur Editor at Forbes. “But all five finalists prepared well and performed admirably. I am proud of them all, and they will be better fortified when stumping for capital in the real world.”

In the first phase of the contest, small business owners submitted 500-word business plans; 20 semi-finalists survived. Forbes.com users had the opportunity to review the plans and self-recorded 30-second “elevator pitch” videos before voting for their top five.

Support Local Artisan in Nationwide Forbes Contest!!!

From the time that I was a little girl and we went to Tannehill State Park to watch her demonstrations, I have always been amazed and in awe of my Aunt Tena Payne's exquisite pottery abilities.

She has taken a hobby that she picked up in High School and turned it into a world class brand of artisan dinnerware, Earthborn Pottery, based in Leeds, Alabama. Her dishes now serve the cuisine of 5-star restaurants, resorts, lodges, and country clubs across the country including Sensi at The Bellagio in Las Vegas, Ozumo in San Francisco, Hot and Hot Fish Club here in Birmingham, Sushi Samba in New York, Chicago, Miami, and Las Vegas, and many others.

And now, she is being honored in Forbes Boost Your Business Contest!!

One of only 20 finalists nationwide, Tena has an amazing opportunity to win this contest, which would help her grow her Alabama Based business so much further!

Please take a second and click on this link and vote for Tena Payne of Earthborn Studios Inc. and help support Alabama Artistry!!!

Thanks!!!

Christine Linson

By Leigh Bratina

Artist Christine Linson had lived in Cleveland, Ohio her entire life. It was there she had raised her family and was a successful art consultant. She promoted artist in the Ohio area and worked with high profile clients and corporations in assisting them in purchasing art. For 15 years, Christine made her living in the arts industry. After her children were grown, her son, Dan became engaged to a young lady from Fairhope, Alabama. Christine became familiar with the area by attending parties for the engagement. Christine fell in love with the area. "The man I was seeing at the time was planning to retire in the south. In 1988 I moved down to Fairhope and started my own gallery."Christine built her business alone for two years. Then her boyfriend was able to join her in his retirement. They married and together have worked together at the gallery. "Bob helps me have the creative time I need".

Christine and Bob have extended their family with the addition of adopting two cats, Toulouse Lautrec and Matisse. Her cats inspired her to write two children's books, "Cat Tales;A Fairhope Adventure" and "Cat Tales; A Beach Adventure". "I wrote these stories to include real people and real local flavor, they include 18 Fairhope Paintings".

At the Christine Linson Gallery you will find fine art and hand crafted accessories. The gallery serves as Christine's art studio for all paintings in progress from large water color to figurative works., charcoal drawings and oil paintings. Christine is well known in the area for the creation of many Fairhope and local area/Eastern Shore water colors scenes. She also has ornaments, puzzles and note cards with her painted designs.

You can find Christine's Gallery located directly across from the landmark clock on Fairhope Ave. Stop in at the gallery for art talk, small talk and pleasant conversation with Christine.

Christine Linson Gallery

386 Fairhope Ave

Fairhope, Alabama 36532

251-929-2015

http://www.christinelinsongallery.com/

christinelinsong@bellsouth.net

*Leigh is a full time mother, a part time photographer and writer. Her photography and written work is featured in several professional business and local publications. She owns her own photography business, Photographic Memories. Leigh resides in the Alabama with her three children and husband "Big Daddy". You can read more of Leigh's daily adventures by visiting any of her three blogs: Tales from Bloggeritaville , Plates and Places , as well as Photographic Memories