Introducing a New Artist at Jordanwood

We are excited to introduce Moon-Lily Mobiles by Jan R. Carson to our gallery of “distinctive styles for life and home”.

Jan R. Carson's mobiles are reminders of the outdoors for those who garden, hike, or otherwise interact with the elements. But these are not ways in which the artist spends her time. She prefers to observe nature from a distance and comprehend its beauty from a place deep within herself.

"My sculpture is inspired by the balance of strength and fragility in nature. I express this equilibrium by suspending each artwork in a state of free yet limited motion. As well, perpetual, circular movement conveys both my desire to extend time, and the sensation of its endless, inescapable flow."

Jan's fiber works have been featured in juried, invitational, and solo exhibitions and are in numerous private collections. She has recently begun creating larger, commissioned pieces for corporations and public spaces.

In 2002, Jan was a finalist for the prestigious NICHE Award, honoring excellence and innovation in American and Canadian craft. Since 1999 she has been the artist and owner of Moon-Lily Silk Mobiles, the name under which she created a line of popular kinetic sculptures sold in galleries, boutiques and museum stores throughout the U.S.

Jan received her M.F.A. in fibers under Tom Lundberg at Colorado State University and her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University. She was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Jan creates these beautiful handcrafted mobiles from hand cut silk. Her handcrafted mobile designs are created from lightly starched hand cut silk and fine gauge stainless wire. Subtle variations distinguish each mobile as unique handmade pieces of art.

Shown above is one of her creations – Aspen Leaves, serrated leaves in gold tones grouped on delicate stems. Approximately 50” diameter, 20” depth

One tree is planted for every Leaf Mobile sold through our partnership with American Forests.

You may see other pieces she has created at http://www.jordanwood.com/moon-lily-mobiles-c-48_168.html

These pieces are made individually by the artist so please allow time for creation and delivery.

The Sierra Festival of the Arts, Sunday May 30th

The streets of historic downtown Grass Valley will be splashed with color and the air charged with music during the 27th Sierra Festival of the Arts on Sunday, May 30. Mill Street will be filled this year with over 55 of the region's finest arts and crafts. You will find a vast array of incredible booths at this juried street festival. Included in this years show are Paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, jewelry, woodworking, fiber art, ceramics, stone, glass and leather. Some of the artists may be demonstrating their medium and all will be happy to give you background on their techniques.
Continuous entertainment will be provided on stage at the end of Mill Street towards W. Main Street. Among the entertainment featured will be Bob Mora and the 3rd Degree and Bedouin Dancers. There will be a multitude of food booths along with the great downtown restaurants to provide you with nourishment throughout the day. The event brings thousands of people to downtown and this year there are many new aspects. There is new work and new artists.
Admission is free and everyone is invited.

Drop in, say hi and take a look at our many beautiful products.

Handmade Bags from Material Things

The Marmalade coloring is stunning for spring/summer events. The vibrant colors and design in this cotton blended fabric are a great combination. The small tote features comfortable over the shoulder handles, magnetic closure, zippered inside pocket with two additional pockets. Protective trim is on the bottom of the bag to protect it and the corners of the bag. Great structured style. 8.5" x 10.5" x 4" $115.00
Jordanwood features this and many other handmade bags from Material Things.

Gaze in Bronze by Manuel Ferreiro

Manuel comments about his Gaze in bronze:
"Eyeglasses and its frames –or the absence of them- say so much of a person… In my opinion, they are the personal accessory or garment which does it the most. I did not wear them until I was about 40, therefore became conscious about them, but not because I minded –in fact, I thought they added some character to me- but because I became aware of the importance of my sight…without my glasses I am lost.
It fascinates me how much the design of frames changes with only a little modification, and how much that change can be of influence in someone’s personality. La Mirada (2005) is a generic design which reminds me of people whom I admire or who’s gaze has been somehow meaningful to me: Jesús Ferreiro, my father, cinema people like Spencer Tracy, Woody Allen or even Mike Myers’s Austin Powers, writer Gabriel García Márquez, as well as visual artists Antoni Tápies and Rufino Tamayo… no wonder the ones I wear nowadays are a styled version of those and I have been collecting all the models I worn in the past.
But I have found eyeglasses are sculptural structures by themselves, and by making them with the appropriate material, scale, proportions and position they can have an aesthetic meaning of their own or that any spectator gives to them… as lovely Jennifer says: 'Those glasses are so my dad (gentle Ira)'. "

This and other wonderful handcrafted bronze pieces by Manuel Ferreiro are now available at Jordanwood or through our website at http://www.jordanwood.com/bronze-manuel-ferreiro-c-48_166.html

Ne'Qwa Reverse Painting

Ne'Qwa is recognized as the world's premier producer of reverse painting on the inside of glass. The same meticulous painting techniques that captivated emperors and art connoisseurs centuries ago are still used to create these amazing works of art. All of the Ne'Qwa products come luxuriously packed in a satin-lined, velour presentation case. In addition, each piece is accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity describing the unique art history and reverse painting process... perfect for gift giving.
Shown above is a Limited Edition Ornament designed by Paul Brent.

Welcome Spring at Jordanwood - Tomorrow’s Spring Fling

Join us tomorrow, Saturday March 20th, for the annual downtown Spring Fling. At Jordanwood we are offering a raffle entry with every purchase, refreshments of Bellagio Chocolate Martini and Homemade Cookies, and to top it off - 10% off on all purchases.
The raffle drawings will be at noon, 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM for $25.00 store credit. The final drawing at the end of the day for all who have entered the raffle will be for a beautiful comfy bathrobe.

The Wine, Food and Camaraderie at the Foothill Celebration

It appeared that everyone had a great day. The weather was pleasant, the rain held off, the wines from Bent Metal Winery were great and the cheesecake and chicken from Pleasant Valley Grill was wonderful. Over 700 people came into the store to sample the fare. The lines were long but everyone thought it was worth the wait.
Make a point of attending next year – the first Saturday in March.

Totem City - Hip From Holland

Nominated for Speciality Toy of the Year and selected by Time Magazine Green Style & Design as top 100 from around the globe, the Totem collection by Hip From Holland.
Shown above is Totem City which like the rest of the Totem collections is a 3D construction kit for the young and old. Totem City has over 130 building pieces made of sturdy recyled cardboard. The kit includes instructions for the four models shown. (Note the models are not made simultaneously.) Once you have made the models you can then go on to design your own creations.
Besides Totem City there is Totem Dragonfly, Totem Spider, Totem Papillon Night, Totem Papillon Day and Totem Nature.
Available in our store, these great kits range from $18.00 to $36.00.

Foothill Celebration - Saturday, March 6th

Foothill Celebration Saturday, March 6th

Here is a list of all the downtown Grass Valley sites (click on the list to enlarge) with their respective wineries and restaurants for the upcoming Foothill Celebration on Saturday, March 6th.

Be sure to visit us at Jordanwood where we will be hosting Bent Metal Winery and Pleasant Valley Grill.

See you on Saturday.

Coming To Nevada City and Grass Valley

Announced last week – on Sunday, May 16th the Amgen Tour of California will begin in Nevada City and make its way through Grass Valley before ending the first leg of the tour in Sacramento. The Tour of California is the premier professional bike tour in the United States drawing professional cyclist from around the world including the Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and many others. Plan to spend that Sunday, May 16th on the streets in Grass Valley or Nevada City for a once in a life time opportunity to see some of the greatest cyclists in the world.
THEY WILL BE PASSING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OUR STORE.
So bring your cowbell and join us in cheering them on.

Hand Painted Lamps - Just In

This hand painted lamp is ideal for that bedside night table for late night reading or as an accent lighting piece elsewhere in the house. It measures 17 ¾” high, by 14 ¾” wide and is 9 ½” deep. It retails for $149.00 and we currently have two of them in stock Come into the store and check out these and other newly arrived table lamp fixtures.

Another Find From The New York Gift Show

Arriving soon will be numerous beautiful tiles with a variety of themes. The least of which is this table with a lovely inlaid wine scene. These items have been shipped to us from the Pacific Northwest so I would expect them to arrive during the coming week. If you would like more information just drop into the store or send me an email at john@jordanwood.com

A New Find

At one of the shows last week, I believe it was the San Francisco show, we came across beautiful pieces of wood “sculpture” from Wood Wildflowers out of Minnesota. Several of their pieces will soon be gracing our store. For the items we will be bringing in the retail prices will range from $39.00 to $85.00. These are unbelievable prices for such beautiful pieces handmade in the USA. Stay tuned to the blog and will let you know when they arrive.

Railroad Birds by Stiles in Clay

Created by Chris Stiles these railroad birds are an artistic expression combining man’s industrial pursuits and Mother Nature’s enduring presence. These intimate sculptures marry both discarded railroad hardware and finely carved porcelain birds. Each bird bares the maker’s mark ensuring that time was taken with each piece by the artist Chris Stiles of Stiles in Clay.
We discovered these items at the New York Gift Show and they arrived in the store today.
Bird on a ring retails for $49.00, Bird on a spike retails for $49.00, Two birds on a spike retails for $79.00, and not shown Bird on a square nut and Bird on a bolt/nut also retail for $49.00.

Blue Americas from the Glass Eye Studio's Celestial Series

Born of Fire the Glass Eye Studio's Celestial Series includes this 3” diameter piece entitled Blue Americas. This item reveals a glimpse of the continents of Earth’s Western Hemisphere as they would be seen from space. This piece is just one of many of the Glass Eye Studio's Celestial Series available through Jordanwood. The retail cost of Blue Americas is $119.00.

The Gaze by Manuel Ferreiro

One of the many new items we discovered at the New York Gift Show is The Gaze by Manuel Ferreiro. This piece along with several others of his bronze art objects will be gracing the interior of Jordanwood. Manuel’s pieces have been shown and are on display in Paris, Tokyo, Singapore, Washington, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, France and now they will soon be Grass Valley.
This solid bronze piece is approximately 7x8x3 in, weights 4+ lbs. and retails for $370.00

It's Cold Here In NYC

We arrived in New York City after a long red-eye flight and it is cold here as evidenced by the above photo from Bryant Park. (Contrary to what you might first think, we were not in a search for new style fountains for the shop.)
Upon arrival they said it was 17 degrees with a chill factor of sub-zero. Can’t say it got any warmer during the day. We walked 10 plus blocks to one of our Christmas supplier’s permanent showrooms and it seemed that the wind was in our face both coming and going.
This morning (Saturday) it is currently 12 degrees as I am writing this and we are off on another walk to the gift show.
If we don’t turn into icicles on the way to the show I will have an update tonight on our show activities.

Valentine Ornament

With Valentines Day rapidly approaching it is time to think about “Hearts”. At Jordanwood we have a wide selection of heart ornaments from Glass Eye Studio, Elias Studio, Royal Copenhagen, and German artists. Also we have beautiful heart paperweights from Robert Held out of Canada. Pictured above is one of the heart ornaments from The Glass Eye Studios. You can see these Glass Creations in our store or on our website www.jordanwood.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=heart%20ornament&sort=2a&page=1

The Italian Connection

Beautiful Italian hand-thrown and hand-painted dinnerware - hand-carved and hand-painted marble Italian fruit – and Italian alabaster grapes all make for an exquisite setting. All of these pieces are available in our store or on our website www.jordanwood.com

Silent Auction To Benefit The Center For The Arts

Starting today and running through the 24th many merchants in downtown Grass Valley and Nevada City are holding a silent auction. Just go into anyone of the participating stores and place your bid on the item they have up for auction.

The above picture shows what we are doing for The Center here at Jordanwood. So come on in and place your bid or just give us a call and we will be happy to put your bid down. If you have any questions just give us a call – 530.271.5600

Another Fine European Photograph From Barloga Studios

CANAL BIKE – Amsterdam, Netherlands
This and other fine pieces from Barloga Studios are available in our store or through our internet. Check them out at www.jordanwood.com/barloga-studio-images-c-49_70_161.html

New from Alicia Klein - Red Croco Print Frame Wallet

A sleek, slim, and sophisticated Classic Frame Wallet includes some clever updates!
Interior features include a window for a driver license or ID, six credit card slots, gusseted currency pocket, roomy zippered coin pocket, a pen loop and pen, a receipt/card pocket, and a clear vinyl pocket for photos, tickets, etc.
Dimensions: 7.25"W x 3.875"H x .75"D
Currently available in an Imagery print leather pattern, as well as a red croco print color.

Nancy Drew Taxi Wallet

The world famous Taxi Wallet in a Nancy Drew motif will be available this week at our store. Once you are the proud owner of one of these Taxi Wallets by Alicia Klein you will never switch to any other style wallet.

Italian Dinnerware

This beautiful pitcher is straight from the Umbria Region of Italy. Hand-thrown and hand-painted these pieces make a bold statement at the dinner table and are a delight to look at as accent pieces as well. Pieces available include dinner plates, soup bowls, pasta dishes, mugs and desert plates. Drop into the store for a closer look or go to our website at www.jordanwood.com

Barloga Studios - LAVENDER AND ABBEY - Provence, France

Dennis Barloga-Fine European Photography

In 1966, when Dennis was given a camera to document an upcoming Peace Corps experience, his life's direction was forever changed. He found himself immediately challenged and frustrated by the difficulty of making his photographs express reality as he saw it. As he became increasingly excited by photography's possibilities, he worked almost as many hours in the darkroom as he was teaching in the classroom.Upon returning from his Peace Corps stint in Tonga, Dennis decided to abandon the security of teaching and began two years of commercial photography training at San Francisco City College. While in school and immediately afterwards he offered freelance commercial services in news, public relations, and portraiture to local and national clients. But even as his success began to grow, so also did his lack of fulfillment.In 1973, Dennis' work took a quieter, more expressive turn concerned mostly with natures's moods, design, colors, and forms. His photographic interpretations were well received and are collected on five continents and throughout the United States. Dennis' work has also appeared in books, calendars, and magazines on a national and local level. For over eight years (1979-87) he owned the Dennis Barloga Gallery at Pier 39 in San Francisco.However, in 1986, fate intervened again on a twentieth wedding anniversary trip to Paris. A new photographic interest was awakened by the architectural beauty of the city of light. Doors, windows, housefronts, storefronts, cafe scenes -- all became new subject matter; but mood, design, color, and form were still the primary interest. Since then, Dennis has returned twice a year with the sole intention of capturing on film those moments and places that define the uniqueness and beauty of Europe as he sees it. This new body of work is currently shown at various art festivals in the western United States as well as selected shops and galleries worldwide.

This is just one of the many images from Dennis that we now carry. Come by the store to see a wide selection of his work.

A Christmas Window

I have been so bad about keeping the blog current that my New Year’s Resolution is to improve on my performance. So before the last window in the store is converted over from the holidays to our next theme, (I believe it will be an Italian Dinnerware theme or a Winter White theme), I wanted to get this last reminder of Christmas out on the blog.