Billie Beads Are Beautiful

Every once in a while, an artist comes along who just tickles our fancy. And no one has done that to me more than Billie Tanner. I first saw her work in New York years ago and just knew I needed some of it close by.

Billie and her husband Bob Nielson are both trained sculptors. But instead of creating huge statues, they turned their attention to polymer clay, Swarovski crystals and small objects. Lucky us! Their work is fastidious, fun and fanciful. It makes you smile. And in a mass produced world, their careful creations are amazing stars.

Christmas wouldn't be the same at Maddi's without Billie's tree brooches, and we just couldn't have Valentine's Day without the wonderful pins. As the hearts also have a bail, several of us have added all sorts of baubles and beads to make our Billie hearts the centerpieces of fantastic necklaces. And in this year of uncertain fortunes, we asked Billie for a piggy bank, a perfect place for the few pennies we can manage to save.

Be sure to see these amazing creations this season. They are in both Maddi's and on-line in the Art Jewelry section. They are small, but oh, so dazzling!

Maddi's New Venture: The Celia Flock Art Calendar

Have you seen the 2010 Celia Flock Art Calendar? Of course we're a bit prejudiced, but it really is quite wonderful! In each calendar packet there are twelve pieces of art, one for each month of the year. Pop it into a frame, and voila, you have a new piece of handsome art each month!

Celia Flock is a native North Carolinian and Charlotte resident. She graduated with a BFA from UNC and for her entire life she has been an artist. Her work has wide recognition: exhibitions at galleries including Duke University, Hodges Taylor, and Jerald Melburg; first prize in painting at the Coconut Grove Art Festival; and a North Carolina Arts Council Visual Artist Fellowship Award.

When Celia submitted her work to the Maddi's Artist Jury two years ago, we were immediately impressed and excited. As a result, she created two prints of the Charlotte skyline which we have sold at the galleries. They have been so popular, we asked Celia if she wanted to do an art calendar. Her response, "I've already started one!"

Celia's images are very bright and colorful and they have a definite Southern flavor. From January's cotton bouquet to July's peaches, Celia uses everyday images from her life's experience to brighten every month. To see every image, go to http://www.maddisgallery.com/ and click on the calendar.

Of course, the calendar is for sale at both Maddi's and on-line, too. And you will begin to see it in many other fine stores: Cameron's in Chapel Hill, all the Mast General Stores in western NC, Paper Skyscraper, Paper Twist and Buttercup here in Charlotte, the Sanctuary in Davidson and many more. Our new venture is off and running.

And if you're looking for the perfect holiday gift, put this fun new calendar on your list. There are two sizes for both wall and desktop and Maddi's has inexpensive frames as well. And it's the beginning of a wonderful tradition...we're already planning 2011!

Come Meet Sandy

Continuing our October "celebration of creativity", Maddi's has invited Georgia painter, Sandy Erickson Wright for a weekend show at both our galleries. We met Sandy several years ago at an Atlanta folk festival and fell in love with her work. After she stopped by to see our gallery, we went out for dinner and had a delightful evening with her and her husband Pat.

We convinced Sandy to participate in our annual Folk Art Festival at Birkdale Village, where she is clearly a star artist. Each year she sells more and has very little to pack up at the end. Her paintings are in turn beautiful, thoughtful, funny, and real. Since she has been an avid antique collector and seller, much of work is on old tin, windows, doors, and assorted vintage pieces.

Two years ago she created our celebrated "Twelve Days of Christmas", a modern interpretation done in twelve 12" x 12" canvases which we displayed in our galleries and used as a theme for our Holiday catalog. We envy the customer who bought the entire set!

Sandy's work will be at both Maddi's Friday and Saturday. She will be at the Birkdale Gallery Friday evening from 5 to 8 and at the Dilworth gallery on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come by to meet Sandy and enjoy this special show!

Meet Mona!

Mona! is coming to Maddi's this Friday and Saturday, and yes, that exclamation point is part of her name. And it says a lot about her energy, style and outlook on life. She is a whirlwind of color, pattern and paint. Her "stuff" is all cool and very durable.

A few years ago, a Kentucky friend of ours met Mona! at a show there. She told Mona! about Maddi's and how she was sure we would love her work. As a sample, Mona! sent me a small black leather change purse, painted in a bright frenzy of color. I decided to try it, pretty sure the paint would crack, peel, fade or wear away. But no, this is a LIFETIME change purse, years have gone by, it still looks like new, and everytime I pull it out of my bag, someone says "wow - that's cute, or different, or cool". (We stock these great little numbers and they'e just $18!)

Mona! is a North Carolina girl who loves to paint, and wear it too. In addition to handbags and shoes, she's now making fun clothing, mostly tops. They're as bright and cheerful as her personality. Come see her work in a special trunk show at both Maddi's this weekend. She will be making personal appearances at the Birkdale Maddi's Friday evening from 5 - 8. Saturday she will be at the Charlotte gallery from 11 to 4. It's a chance to add a bit cheer and a lot fun to a wardrobe near and dear to you!