The Birdy is back, and I had the pleasure of being surrounded by beautiful, incredibly unique jewelry at Indulge, a Bellevue Arts Museum event last month - it was a bejeweled reminder that one should shop creatively. Unusual events and places can yield truly Fancy finds! Apologies for not posting this sooner, but my vacation snuck up on me and I had so many February-themed posts already lined up, but I don't want the timing of this to alter the fact that one should search out unique opportunities to find one-of-a-kind wearables. Many of the artists at this event were local to the Pacific Northwest, but there were several who came from afar to show their pieces in the museum's annual marketplace event. It doesn't matter where you live -- chances are, there are special boutique events or artisan craft shows that showcase artists' works. Embrace these as opportunities to discover a new statement piece to add to your wardrobe.

There are other places to go besides the traditional department store to find a true treasure. Some of the jewelry and metalwork artists I had the pleasure of meeting and trying on their pieces included these lovely folks:  {1} gold statement necklace by Maria's Jewelry Designs, {2} garnet spinner pendant by Peggy Foy, {3} ring by Tamara Kelly Designs, {4} necklace by Stephanie Tomczak Jewelry, {5} Anemone earrings by Tegan Wallace. Everything is so different, with such a wide range of aesthetics, and that's the best part -- you have the opportunity to make a personal connection with artisan-crafted accessories and find a piece that is truly "you." I did some shopping and found a unique gift I look forward to giving, along with a good story of how I came across the piece. It's that wonderfully Jaunty feeling of receiving a beautiful experience as you give a beautiful gift. 

Jaunty Fine Print: photos from artists' websites listed above -- please think of independent artists the next time you're shopping for your next jewelry purchase!

Discovering beautiful, interesting art is like unearthing a treasure. Not that the artist was hidden, but sadly, in this lifetime, we'll never be able to see all the beautiful things we would like to see. So I hope that sharing the work of Diane A. Archer will feel like a Jaunty introduction for some to a wonderful new discovery. Diane was another artist I met at this year's Artsfair, the downtown Bellevue celebration of independent artists, which happens every summer for a whole weekend. I've always had a love of mixed media, and Diane's work is really engaging and tactile. I picked up one of her prints, as it felt like art with a message. She uses old maps, layered type and unusual objects to convey messages about inner strength, adversity and the connection between man and nature. The messages are both personal but universal. They certainly came from a private place in the artist's heart, but the language is something we all connect to, in one way or another. 


Jaunty Fine Print:  artwork by Diane A. Archer

This Bird mentioned before that she went to this year's Artsfair and met some of the artists who showed at the annual festival -- Cori Dantini is one of the talented creatives I had the pleasure of chatting with. I also picked up a few prints of her absolutely lovely mixed media illustrations. Her work is a bit like looking at a grown-up nursery rhyme. The illustrations are sweet and feminine, but there's a layered edge, with handwritten notes or printed words ghosted from behind, as well as her own lyrical messages layered into the piece. I had a chance to talk to Cori and she said she has a wide collection of unusual found papers, like grocery lists, professional notes, items that were written for a brief purpose in time, now immortalized in works of art that redefine what that fleeting moment was. 

People were getting pieces for children's rooms or just for themselves; her appeal is universal. The pieces I chose will be for some sweet friends and family who have little girls, because Cori's work is so much about inner beauty, and that's a good lesson for little girls to carry with them. Do take a look at Cori's work -- she's from Eastern Washington, so very much a local artist, if you're in the Pacific Northwest. Even if you're not from this area, her work is fabulous -- it's even been on a Kleenix box!!


Jaunty Fine Print:  artwork by Cori Dantini

It's been two years in a row that I've been shooting photos at Artsfair, the weekend-long artist streetfair that literally takes over downtown Bellevue. It's actually like a trifecta of art festivals, as there's a couple of smaller ones that run adjacent, but Artsfair is the main attraction, giving space to over a hundred different vendors, both local and out of state, offering them the opportunity to chat with the crowds and sell their unique hand-crafted goods directly to the public. Sponsored by the Bellevue Arts Museum, this festival has been going on for several years, it always happens towards the end of summer and inevitably, fortune tends to smile down upon this weekend with good weather.

The Bird was on shutterbug duty on Friday, the opening day of the festival, and it was a great opportunity to not only capture fun moments, like the artists being selected to win a special award, or the kids doing crafts and making little derby cars, but you wander through every row of artist booths, so you literally see everything. These are the days you put your walking shoes on, as you're on your feet for hours, no time to rest, as there's always something happening that you want to take a photo of. It's one of those days where you break for lunch at 4pm and don't realize how long you've been up and running!

Despite it being summer, I totally have the holidays on the Jaunty Brain. Sure, you could buy your gifts online, head to a shopping mall or just send a gift card, but how fantastic is it to talk to the person who made the jewelry or sewed the article of clothing? You get a story with each piece and make a connection with the artist. There's artists of all sorts, from two dimensional, to textiles, to jewelry. A lot of the two dimensional artists sell smaller prints of their work, so you don't have to buy the original piece to take a bit of the experience home with you. I personally got several prints from a couple of artists as gifts -- Diane Archer and Cori Dantini -- they're like little treasures you share with someone special. And of course I browsed the jewelers' tables. So many to choose from. I had to go with the sustainability of Kathleen Plate's Smart Glass Jewelry -- she makes beautiful, organic looking jewelry from reclaimed soda and wine bottles, plus incredible chandeliers, which you can see one in the photos above. I also couldn't resist picking up a little something whimsical and lovely from Della Goheen Millinery for an upcoming birthday gift. Why no photos of the goods? Because they're all gifts and it's just getting too close to birthdays and holidays to spoil everything, of course! But please check out their links and blogs. I think you'll find their work as charming, personal and unique as I did.

There were so many artists I wanted to support, but my little bird budget could only stretch so far. However, these artists made the cut and I'm looking forward to passing along these finds to lucky loved ones this year. Take this to heart and consider shopping at a local arts and crafts fair, or pick some favorite artists on Etsy for your special occasion shopping. It's never too early to get your holiday shopping done and there's always a birthday or special occasion on the horizon, so why not make the gift extra-special for that extra-special person?


Jaunty Fine Print:  photographs by Denise Sakaki

This Bird has been a longtime fan of the natural loveliness of the Sundance jewelry collection. Yes, it's that same Sundance, as in Robert Redford-founded, carrying on his gospel of sustainability, independent storytelling, and artisan-supported goods since 1969. Every holiday, this Birdie looks forward to the catalog filled with glittering baubles, uniquely designed by different artists, showing a variety of styles and materials. It might be a little early for Valentine's Day, but some of the pieces definitely make one think of a sweetheart.

Browsing through their site, a few shiny, happy objects caught the Birdie's eye: {1} Sungazer ring, {2} Aqua and Labradorite Cosmos Necklace, {3} Earthly Delights Earrings, {4} Open to Romance Ring, {5} Lilly Pad Bangle.