We have a wonderful group of talented local artists in so many different creative fields:
Amy Bettinger - painted wood and signs
If you tell Amy a big whopping story she says simply, "oh my." As a school guidance counselor and mother to four boys Amy has heard lots of whopping stories which give her ample material for her signs. A person with a vacation home might appreciate a sign reading, "Guests of guests may not have guests." If you have an active inner voice you might relate to, "Masquerading as an ordinary person day after day is exhausting." Come in to see how you can reduce your life's perspective into a single sentence.
Michelle Binkowski, Sokitume - soft sculpture sock creatures
Michelle Binkowski has a flair for sculpting creatures out of socks. She will try just about anything once! She made her own toys as a kid, so it's no wonder than every creature or monkey comes with a humourous story. If you are looking for a one of a kind gift, consider a creature who may bite or one who likes to ride in cars. Come to Collage to meet Mica, Roach, or Bernice.
Amber Bowers, Little Bowers - whimsical, handpainted birdhouses, garden art and home decor
If Amber were a bird, she would love living in one of her whimsical, durable birdhouses. Like Amber they are playful, imaginative, and unique. They may be lived in by birds, or used as little pieces of art in your home. These special works of art range in price from $11 to $85.
Karyn Brady- cards and paper arts
Karyn Brady makes handmade cards that combine beautiful paper with unique design. Her cards make a bold visual statement, but keep words simple so that senders can add their own handwritten message. She has fun making cards that are whimsical or even offbeat, cards that have unexpected color combinations, wonderfully strange juxtapositions of subject matter, or even a provocative word here and there! Many of her cards have a flower theme, often with three-dimensional blossoms made out of tiny little pices of paper. Each card is made with care to convey a sense of beauty and pleasure.
Julia Dorcas - soy candles
Soy Indulgence candles are the moisturizing candles! Our wonderful candles scent your room, just as an ordinary soy candle, but these are no ordinary candles. When melted, apply the warm wax directly to skin (elbows, feet, knees, cuticles, etc.) as a wonderful healing cream and moisturizer. Also available is our deeply moisturizing body lotion- use it to heal and protect even the most severe dry skin. Several enticing scents to choose from that change from season to season.
Linda Garcia - Mighty Magnets, wine gift bags
Linda Garcia is an Admin Assistant Monday-Friday, but tries to be creative in the evening hours and on the weekends (for sanity sake). Current products include: Mighty Magnets- Boxed sets of four pewter mini-magnets, each strong enough to hold 6 sheets of paper. Great for home or office to hold cards, invitations, schedules, etc. Currently over 20 different designs. Popular themes include Wine, Cooking, Cats, Dogs, and Ocean. Cloth Wine Bags with Cork Ties: Varied fabrics, but all have ties with attached corks.
Cheryl Gilbert - beaded jewelry
What started out as a hobby years ago, quickly became a full time business for Cheryl Gilbert, owner of Beaded Works. Cheryl creates beautiful jewelry from semi- precious stones and venetian glass, as well as sterling silver and 14-k gold filled beads. Her husband, Ken, now makes his own wonderful glass beads which Cheryl also incorporates into her designs.
Chris Gould-Hill - gourmet pet treats, pet toys and products
It all started with a Christmas 2003 garage sale and 10 pet treat flavors. Now Chris is proud to say PETSTUFF! has become a family business. We’ve grown into 30+ Northwest yearly craft shows and a web site! Our gourmet pet treats are veterinary approved, hypoallergenic & all natural - for those sensitive felines and canine. They are baked fresh weekly and are continually pet tested! There are over 60 gourmet flavors to please even the most finicky connoisseur! Animals are a huge passion and presence in Chris' life, so part of all her sales goes to the rescue, care, first-aide, spay and neuter, and placement of feral, abandoned, and stray animals on Ft. Lewis, WA.
Sue Lahti, The Painted Egg - hand painted natural eggs
Sue paints birds and wildflowers on nine or so different types of egg shells. Her second grade teacher wrote on her report card that maybe Santa could bring her some art supplies. How simple statements/suggestions can change one’s life! It has been a millennium since second grade, but the art supplies are always around.
The painting on eggs started with a need for an Easter project in a folk art class she was teaching in the mid-70’s….but the evolution to “my” bird and wildflowers designs stem from being a biology teacher and her love of nature. However, she still paint bunnies and chicks on eggs for Easter!
Sue's eggs have been featured in over 25 shoppes nationwide, including the two gift areas of the Museum Of American Folk Art in NYC, and the Herb Cottage of the Washington Cathedral in DC. She painted Easter Eggs for the Clinton White House representing the states of Alaska, WA and Idaho. Some of Sue's designs are incorporated into greeting cards and journals and sheoccasionally does decorative painting on wood and metal.
Alanna Mills - baby items
Heidi Risse, Soapworks Studio - handmade soaps and natural bath care goodies
Soapworks Studio began twelve years ago out of a conviction to produce and share the highest quality natural soap, bath and beauty products possible. My passion for the celebration of the natural seasons and my delight for new adventures is reflected in my seasonal products and my evolving menu of bath care products. The handcrafted soaps are made in the time-honored tradition - cooked on the stovetop and stirred by hand in small batches. They are all vegetable based, utilizing food grade olive, coconut and palm oils, plus nourishing oils of organic shea butter and hemp seed. The clouds of luxurious lather are soothing and healthy for your skin. Colors and textures are created using all natural ingredients, and fragances are developed with primarily botanical essential oils. The bath care products are also created with the best quality natural ingredients available, gentle and mild for all skin types and sensitivities.
Janice Ristow, Rascal Wear - children's clothing, jewelry
Over eighteen years Janice has created more than twenty five different products. With little experience as an artist, her first line of hand painted resort wear was carried by Nordstrom. Beginners luck some might say. Over the past two years Janice has sadly become mostly an administrator for Collage. That will change March 9th when she introduces Rascal Wear, a line of clothing for little girls. Some pieces will be completely hand made and others painted or embellished. Janice was inspired by some large beads she found recently at the Tucson bead show and has created new jewelry pieces made from large beads that look like pearls but are actually made from shells.
Emily Rosell - hand designed coloring books, wind chimes, fused glass accessories
Emily is the artist behind the Color 'Em Books - 100 pages of unique coloring fun for children and adults both to enjoy. I designed the books with the child in mind, books are geared to both boys and girls with thick bold lines. Currently, there are 4 Color 'Em Book volumes with the next one always in the works, these coloring books are great for travel, boats, dining out and hours of fun. When she is not creating the next Color 'Em Book, she enjoys making copper windchimes from recycled materials and beautiful beads, painting and finding new ways to be creative.
Christy Smith - stained glass
Celeste Stuhring - dichroic fused glass
Celeste Rose Stuhring , a registered nurse by trade, has always had an interest in art. For many years Celeste has created and sold interesting beaded necklaces and wired jewelry. Her interest in glass took off over 8 years ago with her first glass fusing class and she has been an avid student and teacher ever since.
Among her many talents, Celeste has become an expert at using the Hot Box which is a little table top kiln that plugs into the standard wall socket. Using this rapid fire kiln she designs, fuses and slumps beautiful solid glass bracelets and watches. The slumping process includes using special graphite tongs over a very interesting, specially designed steel mandrel. Celeste is a master with dichroic glass which is included in the decorative elements in most of her projects. She creates dishes of all sizes, frames, wall vases, fish as well as jewelry including fine sterling watches, solid glass bracelets and cabochon bracelets.
Candy Troy, Catherine Lindsey Studios - hand-decorated stuffs
Catherine Lindsey Studios is dedicated to creating happy products, loving touches to brighten people's lives. Bellevue artist, Candy Troy, has always been fascinated by Folk Art and Childen's Art. Her goal is to bring that same joy of expression to all the products in her line.
