Another Whopper Tag Sale At The Farmington Valley Arts Center, 9:00-2:00, September 20th, 2014

Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, CT Artist Boardwalk Tag Sale: September 20th, 2014

If you missed the Artist Boardwalk Sale at The Farmington Valley Arts Center earlier this summer, you will get another chance to shop on September 20th, 2014, Visitors to this non-profit Art Center Fall Tag Sale,  will find fantastic treasures including brand new art supplies, creative materials, paint, supports, art tools, artwork, decorative items, jewelry and more at amazing bargains.

The last sale attracted a HUGE crowd.  There are over twenty artists in residence who will  open their studios for this special sale. Save the date, Saturday, September 20th, Farmington Valley Arts Center, two floor of great stuff!

Be sure to also visit the fabulous Fisher Artisan Gallery for gifts and functional art and the Drezner gallery, both on the first floor of The Farmington Valley Arts Center. 

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Artist Boardwalk Tag Sale: Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, CT Saturday July 19th, 9:00-1:00pm

 Announcing 

BIG ARTIST TAG SALE at THE FARMINGTON VALLEY ARTS CENTER , AVON, CT 

I love going to tag sales and I love doing artwork so I'm excited to tell you about the

"Artist Boardwalk Sale" at the Farmington Valley Arts Center (FVAC)  in Avon CT this Saturday, July 19th, 2014.

Original Artwort, Art Supplies, Studio Furnishings, Frames, Crafts, Jewelry, Books and More 

You will find everything and the kitchen sink at this sale. Artists are notorious collectors of creative treasures so you can imagine how much ART STUFF  the twenty plus artists who have studios at the Farmington Valley Arts Center have accumulated over the years. This is the BIG one...the Center, which is celebrating it's 40th

While at FVAC, be sure to visit The Fisher Gallery Artisan Gallery and Gift shop and The Drezner Gallery for the "Words and Birds" Summer Exhibit.   

year is boasting a great indoor and outside sale. Be sure to get there early..hours are 9:00-1:00 at 25 Arts Center Lane in Avon, CT

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

The Art of Style: Fine Art & Contemporary Fashion" Featuring The Fuse Factory Artists of The Farmington Valley Arts Center at Bodytalk Boutique May 1, 2014, 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Opening Night, May 1 For The Fuse Factory Artists of The Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, CT 

Tonight, May 1, 2014 is a big night for me and my sister Fuse-ettes....tonight, The Fuse FactoryArtists is having the opening reception for our debut show "The Art of Style: Fine Art & Contemporary Fashion" at Bodytalk Boutique, 21 East Main St., Avon, CT.   Our opening wine and cheese reception is from 5:30-8:00 and will also include music and a few surprises. Terry, the amazingly creative manager of Bodytalk and her spirited staff have transformed this popular clothing store into an exciting, vibrant, quirky Chelsea-esque art gallery. Artwork will be on exhibit the entire month of May.


Spring Into Color at Bodytlak Boutique, Avon, CT

Bodytalk's Spring line of stylish clothing  has been paired with coordinating artwork, sculpture and ceramics from eleven different artists who all have studios in the nearby Farmington Valley Arts Center. The Fuse Factory Artists adopted their group name from the original use of the Art Center building which houses the "Climax Fuse Company in 1884.  OK stop laughing..... I didn't know myself, I was renting studio space in such an "exciting" place.

The Fuse Factory Artists An Artist Collective With Members Who Have Studios at The Farmington Valley Arts Center  

Anyway back to our professional group of artists. Our mission is to take our work on the road and to get out of our studio once in a while. There are currently 11 members of this recently formed artist collective with a few fence sitters who are soon to join us.  Melissa Meredith, a Master printmaker at FVAC came up with our wonky name which was enthusiastically adopted by the group. Our terrific logo was designed by group member, Susan Brereton. Getting consensus on our "identity" is a miracle in of itself....have you ever gotten 11 women in a room together to agree on anything ...no less 11 very accomplished juried artists?

Meet The Fuse Factory Artists

Our clan or is it posse, includes Candace Abbott, Ginny August, Annette Baser, Susan Brereton, Claire Fish, Betsy Gardner, Fran Hoffnagle, Danielle Langford, Estelle Laschever, Melisssa Meredith, and yours truly C. Dianne Zweig. Each of the artists works completely differently with works featuring original oil painings, ceramics, pottery, sculpture, Mixed media, Monotypes, collages and more.

Readers Please Tell Others About The Fuse Factory Artists

Please help me out, by spreading the word about our show. Be sure to let me know if you are a blog follower when you visit. Hope to see you soon!

   
C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Shop Handmade Gifts For The Holidays at Farmington Valley Arts Center New Gift Shop and Gallery

 CHOOSE HANDMADE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY GIFTS: VISIT THE DREZNER HOLIDAY GIFT GALLERY AND SHOP at the FARMINGTON VALLEY ARTS CENTER, AVON, CT

Drezner Holiday Gift Shop Gallery open Wednesday through Friday 12:00-4:00pm and Saturday all day 

Visit  http://artsfvac.org/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Quirky, Colorful, Glimmering Exhibit in The Fisher Gallery During 37th Annual Candlelight Celebration at The Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon CT November 22, 2013 - December 21, 2013

Mixed Media, Sculptures and Urban Folk Art By Artist Bill Healy Showing in The Fisher Gallery at Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, CT 37th Annual Candlelight Celebration, Opening 5:00 -9:00 pm November 22, 2013 Through December 21, 2113. 

Quirky, colorful, whimsical and magical is how I would describe the holiday exhibit for the 37th Candlelight Celebration in the Fisher Gallery at The Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT.

This year, you will find a shimmering giant kinetic mobile sculpture of a Pegasus created by Robin Protz, centered in the gallery surrounded by original Urban Folk Art, Assemblage art, Mixed media, sculpture, Art glass and more.


Urban Folk Artist Bill Healy at Farmington Valley Arts Center

Local artist Bill Healy funks up the gallery with his offbeat menagerie of  Urban Folk Art which will remind you not to take life too seriously. His unique funky junk art assemblages
and offbeat wall decor with bold form and bright colors will both charm you and keep you entertained.

Bill, known for his metal can robots using vintage advertising tins has expand his reportoire of looney objets d' art to create both large and small colorful figurative assemblages.

You will find a good represention of sculpture, glass art, photography, mixed media, pottery by regional artists on exhibit during the 37th Annual Candlelight Celebration.

For more information please visit http://artsfvac.org/ 
  
C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Visit Open Artist Studios At Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, CT During Candlelight Opening, November 22, 2013, 5:00-9:00pm

Visit Esther Drezner Holiday Gift Gallery, Open Studios, Tea Room, 
Fisher Gallery at Farmington Valley Arts Center   Candlelight Opening, November 22, 2013, 5:00-9:00pm  

The Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, CT which boasts 20 artist studios, two galleries and classroom space has also been known for carrying wonderful holiday gifts made by fine artists. Each year, FVAC celebrates Candlelight season which is a series of festive events beginning with an opening on November, 22, 2013 at 5:00-9:00pm. 

 Bill Manocchio

This year, the studio artists are hosting a delightful Tea Room on the second floor in studio 6B with an exhibit of small works displayed and available for purchase. 

Farmington Valley Arts Center Kicks off The Holiday Season With Open Artist Studios    

In a addition to previewing a sample of the studio artist's work in the Tea Room, you can also stroll two floors of professional  artist studios and visit directly with the artists. You will get a chance to see paintings, pastels, monotypes, sculpture, textiles, photography, jewelry and more. As a tradition each artist studio will also have complimentary holiday refreshments.  

Second Floor FVAC Artist Studios Open 

 Danielle Langsford

1B Candace Abbott        
1B Annette Baser           
2B Claire Fish                 
3B Danielle Langford    
4B Susan Brereton         
5B Brion Johnson           
6B Tea Room                   
7B Melissa Meredith        
8B Lisa Ludwig                
9B C. Dianne Zweig        
10B Pia Sjolin 
10B Deborah Velasquez 
11B Jan Bennett                   
             

Kathy Goff

First Floor Artist Studios Open

2A Ginny August   The Pottery Spectrum
2A Betsy Gardiner The Pottery Specturm
4A Melisssa Croghan
6A Bill Manocchio
7A Mary Steele
8A Kathy Goff
9A Fran Hoffnagle
11A James Brunelle

The Esther Drezner Artisan Holiday Gallery

In the Esther Drezner Gallery and Gift Shop, on the first floors you will find wearable art, fine crafted jewelry, photography, functional pottery and ceramics, hand painted silk scarves, Judaica by Gary Rosenthal, original artwork, home decor, glassware and more. Under the direction of Sandy Buerkler, a new gift shop manager this holiday season, the Drezner GIft Gallery has a new look and new artisans. 

Sculpture and  
Mixed Media Exhibit In The Fisher Gallery
  
Be Sure To See The Kinetic Mobile Sculpture By Robin Protz

Sandy, originally from Switzerland has added a very special touch to the Drezner gallery, one of two galleries at FVAC. In the larger Fisher Gallery you will find a sculpture show which surrounds a magnificient shimmery kinetic mobile sculpture by artist Robin Protz. This installation is a must see for both adults and children. Mixed media artwork by artists is also on display. 
This year visit a lovely Tea Room on the second floor with a gallery of small works by FVAC artists in additon to visiting all the other artist open studios (two floors) .

MAKE A HOLIDAY GIFT! —OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOPS — 10 AM-12 NOON 1 PM – 3 PM  visit   http://artsfvac.org/37th-annual-candlelight-opening/ 

  
For more information visit  http://artsfvac.org/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists
community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:

Shop Handmade For The Holidays at The Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT

My Idea Of Holiday Shopping Is To Buy Handmade Fine Artisan Crafted Gifts and Art at The Farmington Valley Arts Center, Avon, CT  

Tis the seasosn for holiday shopping....and FVAC Candlelight Celebration - Opening November 22, 2013

Tis the season for holiday shopping......I went to get my mail yesterday out of my mailbox and I thought I had just picked up the delivery for the whole neighborhood. Nope...it was all for me... a pile of holiday catalogs and flyers from retailers.

 Shop Handmade: Be Artsy 

I made two piles for the catalogs... keep and toss (or collage). In the keep pile were mostly home decor catalogs which I like to browse through to see what colors and styles are being promoted this season. Do I actually go running to the mall to buy something I saw in a catalog.....nope! I'm more apt to get ideas from catalogs rather than prompted to go shopping to the mall.

Where To Shop For Artisan Crafted Holiday Gifts and Art In Connecticut

My idea of holiday gift giving is to shop handmade. I prefer artisan crafted ceramics, textiles, jewelry, home decor wearable art etc.  I'm lucky to have a beautiful art studio at The Farmington Valley Arts Center  (FVAC) in Avon, CT because shopping for the holidays is simple for me, I just have to  go down to the first floor and shop at our fabulous Esther Drezner Gallery and Holiday Gift shop.  (This year Chanukah is on Thanksgiving...yikes!).

Visit 20 Artist Studios And A Tea Room  

The FVAC  complex which boasts 20 artist studios, two galleries and classroom space has also been known for carrying wonderful gifts made by fine artists.  This year visit a lovely Tea Room on the second floor with a gallery of small works by FVAC artists in additon to visiting all the other artist open studios (two floors) with lots of art, sculpture, textiles etc.


The Farmington Valley Artisan Holiday Gift Shop Has A Brand New Look 

Out gift shop at The Farmington Valley Arts Center has had a brand new look this year with a very talented manager, Sandy who has acquired objets d' art from regional and national artisans. Keeping all budgets in mind, Sandy has been very successful at finding gorgeous jewelry, clothing, artwork, clocks, glassware. ceramics, pottery, giftware, Judaica by Gary Rosenthal and others and more which will appeal to holiday shoppers.

Before I forget......be sure to visit The Fisher Gallery (larger of the two galleries at FVAC) for a spectacular SURPRISE......

 For more information visit: http://artsfvac.org/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists  

Decorating Your Art Studio With Mid Century Collectibles And Furnishings

Organizing Your Art Studio With  A Mid Century Theme

My art studio at The Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT  reflects the Mid Century themes which inspire my Mixed Media abstract  collages and paintings. I like to surround myself with objects from the 1950s which carry through the design elements that I integrate into my work (hopefully).

Hunting For Collectibles For Your Art Studio

I hunt for collectibles in all the wrong (and right places).  I have my favorite Antique Malls and Junk shops that I periodically visit as well as snooping around Craigslist and other online sources.








Finding Bargains For Your Art Studio

The best place to find bargains is in a place that doesn't care to be sellling what you are looking for. For example, let's say a shop specializes in Victorian antiques but dabbles in a few other odds and ends. This might just be the place that you  actually find a quirky piece of pottery or decorative item  (which is out of place with the other itmes for sale)  but is just what you want and is not priced too high.

Look For Furnishings And Decor In Unexpected Places

Now it isn't always the case, but when a dealer comes across vintage items that they are not fond of or well versed on, they generally are happy to unload those items quicker. So you may actually do better finding what you are looking for in unexpected or even odd places. Some of my best finds arrived  this way.

The dealers who mostly carries collectibles with a Country kitchen theme may just have a funky vase  mixed in among the baskets. A collectibles dealer in Vermont who like Primitives is probably going to part with an Atomic era lamp for a better price  than the Mid Century dealer who has a shop in New York City.

There are no hard and fast rules here, but be open to finding what you are looking for all kinds of places and travel off the beaten path for real bargains.

Reader Input: Tell us what you have found in an unexpected place?  I  welcome your comments and feedback.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Organizing Your Art Studio Brushes And Tools With Vintage Pressed Glass Vases

Storing Paint Brushes And Tools In Vintage Glass  Vases

Artists by nature are resourceful people. Anita Gangi Balkun, a studio artist at the Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT who lives in the world of installation art  uses old pressed glass flower vases to store her paint brushes and tools. The collection looks quite nice sitting on her window sill of her  art studio.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Hand Felted Wool Ornaments: Holiday Workshop Series At The Farmington Valley Arts Center

Artful Giving Holiday Workshops At The Farmington Valley Arts Center

It was so exciting  this past Saturday (November 17th)  to see classroom 3a  at The Farmington Valley Arts Center  (FVAC) well attended with participants learning how to make felted wool holiday ornaments. Part of the FVAC  focus on Artful Giving, the felt workshop conducted by fiber artist Elena Gibson was packed with busy learners who seemed to be enjoying this colorful and  spirited holiday workshop.

For information on upcoming holiday workshops at The Farmington Valley Arts Center click on this link:http://www.artsfvac.org/category/classes/

 

The technique of transforming wool roving into felt and than creating wearable art or decor such as ornaments is very easy to learn.

Read more about Art in Felt 

http://www.feltingsupply.com/store/ecom-prodshow/6000_BOOKS_MACKAY_ARTINFELTANDSTITCH.html

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists