BlueFrogArts

Fiber Day at the Frog a Success!

 

What fun!

Vikki Morain, weaver, and spinner-wannabe, invited area spinners, weavers, knitters and curious observers to participate in the first Spin-In at The Blue Frog.  Apparently, people were more than ready to break away from cabin fever in Lamoni.  More than twenty visitors stopped into the Blue Frog to spin, learn to spin, have experienced spinners urge antique wheels into working order, knit, share patterns, chat with other fiber enthusiasts and generally just have a good day together.  Lamoni residents came to be supportive and feed their wondfully curious minds.  Great to have you all there!

Spinners Anna Knapp (Lamoni), Linda Graves (Osceola), Mary Parks (Pleasantville) and Sue Olson Jamison, MO) shared their expertise and were enthusiastic and patient teachers.  Thank you so much!

If you missed out, don't worry.  The consensus was that there should be a repeat performance so watch this space for another invitation in 6 weeks or so. 

Lynda Rolfe Adds to the Blue Frog Gallery

Lynda Rolfe, a well-known and accomplished potter, lives in Lamoni with her attorney husband, Rob.  She has a degree in Art Education and twenty years of experience teaching in the public schools and in a Shelter School where she shared her talents and encouraged others to create.

And create she does!   Lynda does not limit her creativity to one medium but ventures courageously into other art forms with wonderful results.  We are fortunate to display her work in pottery, jewelry and painting.  Recently Lynda added two new paintings to the collection at The Blue Frog.

The Mediterranean was inspired by a recent walk on the beach in Italy.  It was pre-dusk and the atmosphere was lavender so she painted the complete canvas in lavender then manipulated it with watercolor adhesive and a rubbing technique to get a unique effect.

There is so much depth and movement in The Eye of the Storm. The land is built up with a paper clay. and a three dimensional result comes from the lighthouse which is cut from a light board.   A sense of foreboding grasps the viewer of this painting.

 

Visit Blue Frog Arts in Lamoni to see more of Lynda's art work and marvel at the scope and variety of her creations.  Lynda is a member of The Blue Frog Artists Co-op.

Oops! Name Spelling Correction

Let me correct my mistake.  In an article below I spelled Rebecca's last name right once and wrong once.  So here it is right:

Our talented artist is Rebecca Abarr. My apologies.

Come Spin a Yarn at the Blue Frog

Really, no tall tale here.

 

 

There will be spinners and spinning wheels at The Blue Frog on Thursday, January 14 from 11:00 am-3:00pm.  Come watch a demonstration of spinning by area spinners.  You can even give it a try if you'd like to.  This is not a formal class but just an opportunity to watch and talk with people who have mastered an ancient/modern skill.

  Don't let work hours keep you away.  Even if you can come only during your lunch break, feel free to pack a lunch or bring take-out from one of our local restaurants and come to The Blue Frog.  Consider it a brown-bag lunch opportunity to learn about another art form.  

There will also be knitters and weavers, so if you have a project you are working on and would like some company while you knit, you are welcome to join the fun for a few minutes or a few hours.

Blue Frog Artist Rebecca Abbar Shows Artwork in Mason City

Rebecca Abarr, a member of the Blue Frog Arts Co-op is an award winning basketry artist.  If you have been in the Blue Frog in Lamoni you have been able to admire a variety of her basketry art from kaliedescopes to free form pieces.  Last summer Rebecca was awarded a best in show at the Iowa State Fair.   We are so proud of her!

Here are photos of some of Rebecca's work that is currently on display in  a juired show in Mason City.  Details of the time and place to see the entire exhibit are below.

 

Museum Hours:

Date:  November 19, 2009 - February 21, 2010

Museum Hours:

Tuesday,Thursday : 9am - 9pm
Wednesday,Friday,Saturday : 9am - 5pm
Sunday : 1-5pm

Location:

MacNider Art Museum,
303 Second Street South East,
Mason City, Iowa 50401.
Tuesday,Thursday : 9am - 9pm
Wednesday,Friday,Saturday : 9am - 5pm
Sunday : 1-5pm

These are such wonderful whimsically abstract pieces that Becky quips that they are challenging to name, so she just calls them WIRS---- could refer to whirls...or When I'm Ready...or Woven in Random.    Hey... can you come up with a good name?  For more of Rebeccas are be sure to visit Blue Frog Arts...open Wednesday Through Saturday in Lamoni.

Registration Open for Winter Classes at Blue Frog Arts

Jan 5 12 and 19     1-3 pm      Color and Texture in the "Key of Cool"

        Watercolor class with Beth Knotts

Jan 17      2-4:30 pm            Let It Snow -- Fused Glass Jewelry

        Create snowflake and stacked glass fused jewelry with Vikki Morain, instructor

Jan 28 and Feb 4  6:30-8 pm            Beginning Knitting

        Winter is a great time to learn to knit---with Priscilla Eppinger

Feb 27   10-3 and Feb 28   2-5ish pm     Bring Your Cocoa and Weave Mug Rugs

        Basics of weaving from winding a warp and dressing a loom to weaving a finished set of mug rug coasters with weaving instructor, Vikki Morain  (Actually, I'll bring the cocoa for you!)

^{Mar 4 and 11  7-8:30 pm}                    Simple Knitted Shrug

        A great project for the novice knitter!  Priscilla Eppinger, instructor

Mar 7  2-4:30pm               Escape the Winter Slump--Fusing and Slumping Glass

        Make a beautiful glass dish while exploring warm glass techniques of contour fuse, full fuse and slumping.  Instructor: Vikki Morain

Mar 23 and 30                  Color Three Ways!

        Intermediate knitting: intarsia, fair isle, mosaic...with Priscilla Eppinger

For more details and to register, contact:

Blue Frog Arts   119 E Main       Lamoni  IA      641 784 6827       Open Wed-Sat 10-5

Holiday Sparkle from the Blue Frog

Lamoni and surrounding areas sparkled just a bit brighter this year thanks to glittery glass ornaments created by a group of creative students who gathered at Blue Frog Arts to learn about the fun of creating with fused glass.

   

Let me tell you a little story about the young girl in the center of the picture.  Lily Meline and her dad, Randy, came into Blue Frog Arts not long ago searching for just the right birthday present for her mom, Linda.  They found it, but IT wasn't a thing...it was an experience...a mother/daughter shared class at The Blue Frog.   What a great idea, Lily!  And what a great time everyone had learning about how glass changes from solid to liquid in a kiln and then back to solid again in a new form that had been created by the new glass artists. The expressions in the picture above capture the fun and creativity of a great group of students from Lamoni, Sun Valley Lake at Ellston, Decatur and Des Moines.  

This inaugural fused glass class was taught by Vikki Morain, Blue Frog Artist and Co-op member.  The next fused glass class will be offered January 17, 2010. we'll be learning how to fuse dichroic glass to make jewelry----- looks like more sparkle ahead in the new year.  Of course, YOU are invited to join in the fun and learning and creating by registering at Blue Frog Arts, open Wednesdays through Saturdays on Main Street in Lamoni, Iowa.  641 784 6827 
 

New Year ---New Classes at The Blue Frog---Save the Dates

Not all classes have been posted yet, but they are being planned so watch this space as details of classes, dates, times and fees are announced.

As of the writing we have these classes to announce:

January:

Let It Snow   Sunday, January 17, 2:00-approximately 4:30

Fused Glass Jewelry---Create snowflake dichroic and stacked glass jewelry.  Come into The Blue Frog any time to see examples of the kind of fused glass jewelry that YOU can create.  Location: Blue Frog Arts

    

 

 

 

 

 

February:

Bring your Cocoa   ---   and Weave a Mug Rug  

Sat. Feb. 27 10:00 - 3:00 and Sunday 2:00 to 5-ish as needed to finish your project.

Actually, I'll have the cocoa ready for you.  YOU will learn the basics of weaving from winding a warp and dressing a loom to weaving a finished set of mug rugs.  Class size is limited to the number of looms available--probably 3---so sign up early.  No experience necessary.  This class will be held at the LOOM-a-tic Asylum in Lamoni

March:

Escape the Winter Slump

Fusing and Slumping Glass  

Sunday, March 7, 2:00 to approximately 4:30

Make a beautiful plate or dish while exploring the warm glass processes of contour fuse, full fuse and slumping of glass.   You can imagine and design your own dish, picture frame or similar size item.

Featured Blue Frog Artist of the Month----December

Deborah Etcheson has lived in Iowa almost all of her life.  She grew up on a farm near Mason City, Iowa and graduated from high school there.  She has been creating artwork almost as long as she can remember.

Deb received a Bachelor's Degree in Art and Education from Macalester College in St Paul, MN.  She had a few art related jobs in those early years, but she has devoted most of her professional life to being a teacher.  She is a devoted wife, mom and "Grammy" enjoying life with husband Gary, children Emily, Eric, Jared, Jennifer and grandchildren Ashlyn and Katelyn.  And, of course, part of the family is her beloved dog, Nova.

Deb's artwork reflects her love for the simplicity

 and grandeur   of the natural world.

 

 

Her favorite media are paints, oil pastels, wildcrafting and Chinese and Japanese brush painting. 

 

 

Many of her pieces include her favorite place, the open horizons of the prairie.

Here are a few samples of her work, but to really capture the feel of them you  are invited to visit Bue Frog Arts  in Lamoni where Deb's art is displayed in the Green Gallery during December, 2009.

 

Deb is one of the co-op members of Blue Frog Arts.  Her talents and her willing participation in The Blue Frog are a benefit to all as we strive to bring art to the community and the community to the arts.  Come in and see Deb's talents on display!

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

                                                

 

 
 
 
 
  

Learning Continues at The Blue Frog

  Two new weavers were introduced to looms and the art of weaving by taking November classes at The Blue Frog.  Both students learned weaving skills while creating cozy winter scarves.  Carolyn Smith from Decatur, Iowa, chose to weave with a variegated yarn which created a self-striping effect on her colorful scarf.   

 

Karen Van Buskirk from Sun Valley Lake has a loom at home.  Her aunt who has been an expert weaver for years gave her the loom which Karen is eager to use.  She just needed to learn how!  So she signed up for a class at The Blue Frog so soon she will have a shuttle flying on a loom of her own.  Karen's scarf is made of a fluffy, nubby yarn woven in a novlty weave pattern on four harnesses of the loom.   

Well done!   We'll look for Karen and Carolyn and YOU???? in future weaving classes.  Watch for new classes to be announced soon at The Blue Frog.