Category Archives: Events & Classes

Lost in Denver: The Adventure of an Artisan Aficionado

Skyline Park in downtown Denver is a faint green line on a Denver metropolitan street map.

I stood near the corner of 13^th and Speer turning my Denver Metropolitan map this way and that, trying to orient it the same way I was looking. The street sign a few yards away said Fox Street, but my map didn’t show it. Skyline Park, my destination, was a thin, short line of green where more than a dozen roads filled a square inch of paper.

I had never been here before. I hadn’t been anywhere in the area that defines Denver’s skyline since I moved to Colorado four years ago. Although I was the only pedestrian in sight, I was sure that if I walked a little way up 13^th, others would soon join me on their way to the Handmade in Colorado Expo in Skyline Park. Continue reading →

Wandering the Estes Park Wool Market, Gathering an Education in Fiber Arts

This wool vest made by Una Walker was on display at Estes Park Wool Market last month.

From raw, recently shorn wool to wearable wool art, I saw all the products that anyone who loves fiber might want at this year’s Estes Park Wool Market. While I was searching for Front Range artisans to feature on this blog, I met several who had come from farther away. What they taught me on the spot was fascinating – so much so that I pulled out my notebook and camera and tucked away my Front Range criteria.

First was Una Walker, California owner of Wooly Walkers, who made the vest pictured here. Punch needle rug hooking is Una’s business – she sells supplies, designs patterns, teaches workshops, and creates handbags, cushions, and anything else suitable to the heft and durability of a hooked rug weight. Continue reading →

Art Show and Festival Season Springs to Life along the Front Range

A new post appears on the blog every other Wednesday. Next post: May 20.

"Birches in the Snow" -- wool tapestry by Elizabeth Shoeman of Longmont, Colorado

“Birches in the Snow” by Elizabeth Shoeman of Longmont is on display through June 6 at Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley. This handwoven tapestry is one of 50 pieces of fiber art in Fiber Celebration 2015.

This year’s art festival season along the Front Range burst open last weekend. Four special events unfolded in addition to the usual First Friday art walks in Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, and Fort Collins. Before May is over, at least ten more will entice art lovers to venues from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins and west to Estes Park.

There are several ways to make sure that you don’t miss out on the pleasure of seeing artisans’ work in person. First, check out the 2015 Calendar of Art Shows and Festivals here on the blog. If you looked at it a couple of months ago when it first came out, you may want to scan through it again. Twelve more events along the Front Range from May through August have been added since then. All events have links to websites with more information. Continue reading →

Artisans in Winter: Where Do They Go?

These functional ceramics from Dot’s Pots were on display at one of many booths during Loveland’s Art in the Park in August of 2014.

If you have been following Handmade on the Front Range for a few months, you may have noticed a dramatic drop in events listed under “What’s Happening” in the right side bar since late December. Usually that section shows artisan events coming up in the next seven days. Currently it shows events for the month – or it would be bare. If I’ve missed something coming up this month, be sure to let me know in comments!

I’m constructing a new calendar of events for you, and I’d like your feedback. More on that in a moment. First, here’s an interesting question to consider:

How do artisans spend these seemingly quiet winter months? Continue reading →

Words of Thanksgiving, Pictures of Christmas

The Japanese craft of temari inspired these ornaments by Becky Margenau. This photo was taken in October at Trimble Court Artisans in Fort Collins.

It’s the day before Thanksgiving Day in the United States. Across the country millions of people are either making preparations for tomorrow or traveling.

Especially at this busy time, I want to thank you for being a loyal reader. No announcement by an artisan or gallery led you here today. Thank you for being an essential part of this blog . . . for letting me share with you the fascinating world of artisans on the Front Range.

Some of you don’t live in the United States, let alone Colorado, and I’m honored indeed. I hope you’ll leave a comment (click “leave a reply” below today’s title) about where you’re from and what drew you here.

Light glows through windows in ceramic cottages by Christina Hellyer. Her work has been featured at Trimble Court Artisans this month.

If you also happen to be one of the artisans featured on the blog, please accept an extra thank you for trusting me. It took a leap of faith, I think, to let me photograph your work and tell your story – particularly if we met in summer, when you didn’t have previous posts to view.

I’m grateful for the idea of writing this blog. The idea seemed to come from . . . I’ll let you finish the sentence. Whatever you put there I accept; very likely it is true at least in part.

Handblown glass ornament at The Evergreen Gallery

This handblown glass ornament by Paul Lockwood was on display at The Evergreen Gallery earlier this month.

I’m grateful for my older daughter, an English teacher whom I playfully call my editor. She has given me some creative titles and subtitles for posts, and my conversations with her have catalyzed my own creativity for many others. The posts are better because of the many paragraphs I’ve polished while reading them to her.

I’m grateful for my younger daughter, a web developer who led me to the idea of writing a blog when I was looking for what to do next with my life. She helped me launch this website and has refined its appearance and functionality. Not only has she graciously supported me through technical difficulties, but she has also led me to workshops and meetings where I could learn to help myself.

Long-horned sheep of felted wool by Fran Bowen

Long-horned sheep made of felted wool looked ready for the holiday season in October at Trimble Court Artisans. Their creator Fran Bowen will be featured here in next week’s post.

Finally, I’m grateful for my husband, the father of my two children, who encourages me to do whatever makes me happy. The more I follow my own vision, the more he admires me, it seems. What a blessing!

I hope your list of blessings is a long one. And I hope you enjoy the signs of the season in today’s photos.

Have a lovely Thanksgiving.