Well, that was fun! 

I was Artisan of the Day at the Forks Trading Company on Friday. What a beautiful place to be at this time of the year! The spirit of the place, the lights, music, food and the shopping!

I will be set up again on 

Saturday December 17th, 11-4

and Friday December 22nd, 11-4

Yay! Hope to see you there!

Hats off to the Stores!

The Forks Trading Company

I am dedicating a blog post to the great Winnipeg stores that carry my stones and cards! I am so lucky to work with stores that support artists and makers with respect and care. These retailers make an extra effort in local curation and in the end it benefits creators and customers alike with beautiful, unique handmade goods.

The Forks Trading Company

Located on the 2nd floor of the Forks Market, this store specializes in art by Manitoba and Canadian artists. Filled with hand made arts and crafts, you could spend many a pleasant hours shopping in this interesting and delightful store. Just in time for the holidays, the store did a renovation to move their cash desk
(a beautiful copper one) and make room for even more makers.
I am proud to have my painted stones, stone magnets and press letterpress cards (including holiday ones) in the store!

Radiance Treasures and Gifts

I have been providing my ArtRocks inspired Stones to this store for 10 years. It has many unique gifts including journals, jewelry, healing stones, and crystals. Radiance also carries my whole line of letterpress cards! Go for a walk on the Corydon strip and stop in the warmth of this lovely store.

Radiance Treasures and Gifts

Wolseley Wool

Winnipeg's best wool shop has created a gift corner of which I am thrilled to be a part! They have included Manitoba makers as well as their fantastic selection of knitting wools and accessories. They carry my letterpress cards and some knitting-inspired ArtRocks magnets as well a small selection of Inspired Stones.
Check out this gorgeous store while you are walking in Wolseley!

Wolseley Wool

Martha Street Print Studio

The Print Shop at Martha Street Studio is full of treasures from the printers and artists who work at the studio. I took an etching class 3 years ago and it rekindled my love of printmaking. All my letter press and screen prints are made in their space with guidance and support from the wonderful people who work and make art there.

I have a selection of holiday and all-occasion cards in the shop.

Love this place!!!

The Blue Heron

I have loved the Blue Heron since I was a kid. (see the blog post I wrote a few years ago here)

The store is just like I remember even though it has gone through a huge transition and renovation: keeping the uniqueness of this iconic store and updating with new displays and handmade goods! I am so happy to have my stones and magnets in Kenora at The Blue Heron!

I also want to mention Poor Michael's Emporium in Onanole, Manitoba! This store is open from April until October and also carries work by Manitoba artists. They carry books (new and used), and art and crafts from Asia. They have a restaurant and host concerts in a beautiful log house store. Plan a trip there next summer!

photo credit: Poor Michael's Emporium

Holiday Artisan Market!

This is coming on the weekend- The First Annual MANITOBA MUSEUM Holiday Artisan Market!
Open 11-5 Saturday and 11-5 Sunday, 190 Rupert Street. Hope to see you there!

2016 Fall Show Schedule!

Hi Everyone,

I am pleased to announce my 2016 fall schedule. Please click on the " Upcoming Shows" icon on the left hand side to get further details!

I will be announcing a contest and some  more dates in the very near future so keep tuned.

xo

Getting Ready for Fall!

Getting ready for the fall show season is always a little hairy! I have been gearing up all summer: picking stones, washing stones, painting stones!  But there are also letters to write, cards to fold and get in sleeves, contests to plan, (more information coming out soon!) orders to complete and stores to fill with stock.
This summer I also opened a Etsy store with my cards which added a bunch of paper and ink to the mayhem! 
I love this time of year because it is full of excitement and deadlines. I look so forward to participating in all the beautiful shows and meeting and seeing lots of exuberant people.

Above are a batch of stones with positive sayings that were just sent to the Blue Heron in Kenora. 

Enjoy the fall colors and talk to you soon!

Karen

P.S. Please stay tuned for my fall show updates and contest announcement! 
Yay!

Fall Schedule! Let the Shows Begin!

Happy Fall!

Autumn is here and let the shows begin! I am thrilled to announce my show schedule for fall 2015.

Please follow me on Instagram 

(  instagram.com/artrocksbykaren  ) or facebook 

(  facebook.com/artrocksbykaren  ) to get weekly updates on added events, recent deliveries, inspirational quotes and new art!

Please check out the many Manitoba (and western Ontario) stores that carry my stones. They will be fully stocked for the season!

I hope that you can join me and all the other artisans at one of the shows!

Hope to see you soon and gratitude always for your continued support,

Karen

Lists, Lists, Lists

 Lists run my life! I couldn't live without them. I make lists for my business and my home continuously! Lists in notebooks, lists on the fridge, lists on the iPad. Lists for the month  get put into lists for the week and then for the day.

Are you a list maker?

Why I love lists-

1. They free up my head from the many things swirling in it (a good load off my mind) 

2. To remind me of things I need to remember (duh) 

3. So I can cross things off the list when the task is completed (so satisfying...don't you ever finish a busy day and wonder what you did? The "done" list is a great cheerleader!)

I have learned over the years that the list must be flexible (in most cases). It really defeats the good part of making lists if you are anxiety ridden by the thought of the list. 
(prioritizing is very helpful)

So, because I am going away for a month long trip next week, I have been working on many lists besides the regular grocery lists and house/work tasks—what to take, what the house sitter needs to do, how to keep the kitty cats happy while we're gone, places to see on the trip, and, a very important one,  the list of stones to make before I leave!

My summers are not normally this list filled, but it will stop when I am on vacation. 
Well, not quite—I guess I have the pages of things to do while on vacation that I'll be excitedly crossing off!

Please follow me at Instagram.com/ArtrocksByKaren if you want to see pictures of the Italian adventure as I will not be posting on my blog until October! 

Enjoy the rest of the summer and see you in the fall!

xo

Karen

Second Last Show of the Year!

 Springs Church Christmas Craft Sale is on Saturday! Only two more shows left for this season! Wow, that went fast! Hope you can join me :)

Fall Show Schedule!

I hope you will be able to join me at one of my show this season! I maybe adding one more Winnipeg show which would be held on a Thursday in December. I will confirm on my facebook page when I know!

Don't forget that my stones will be also be available in Winnipeg at The Forks Trading Company, Savoir Faire, Radiance Treasures and Gifts, in Gimli at Koma Heim and in Kenora in The Blue Heron.

Thanks for your continued support!

xo Karen

Letterpressing with Love

Besides working on orders and new inspired stones over the summer, I have also been working on my paper line for the fall season!

Since taking my two printmaking courses in the winter and spring, I have fallen in love with the medium. I am back at Martha Street Studio, with ideas galore and trying to put them into print!  

The second course I took at Martha Street was letterpress and I have become a little obsessed with it.   Letterpress is the oldest form of print in which raised letters or surfaces are inked and pressure is applied to make prints on paper. Designs have to be composed and set. Ink has to be mixed and paper folded and lined up.

 The manipulation of one letter at a time, the centering and setting of the design and the inking and pressing of each card is powerful and beautiful and joyful.....most of the time! I have been using vintage photo plates, making polymer plates with our own designs and using vintage and antique wooden and lead letters to create a variety of art cards.

Below are a few pictures of the studio and some plates. Next week I will show more of the results of my week of printing on my blog and facebook!
xo

Some of the tools of the trade.

a bunch of lead type that needs to be sorted

Drawers full of type

"Furniture" for holding the plates/type in place

Mixing inks- Isn't this a beautiful color?

This is a platen press...

This proofing press is set up with plates, type and furniture.

A sneak peek at some new cards!

The Blue Heron

photo credit: Curtis Walker

When I was little, we had a family cabin in Keewatin, Ontario. We would spend a month every summer at this magical place! My memories are of periods of quiet retreat and periods of bustling action with a cabin full of guests and extended family. One of the rituals I looked forward to every year was the day we would go to Kenora for lunch at the Kenricia Hotel followed by a visit to my favorite store: The Blue Heron. The store opened in 1977 and poked out over the lake where the old fish market used to be. It was packed full of antiques, artwork and fun collectables and souvenirs. I loved looking around in all the different rooms, filled with cool furniture and beautiful items.

Flash-forward 30 years later and here I am announcing that my stones and cards are now in The Blue Heron in Kenora! What a thrill it is- and also a little surreal!

I hope you get a chance to stop by this iconic store when you are visiting Lake of the Woods. You can take a look around, catch the view and have ice-cream!

Inspired Stones in Onanole!

 I am pleased to announce that a new shipment of stones, cards, magnets and pins (including the stone above) have been sent to Poor Michael's Bookshop, Art and Cafe in Onanole, MB! This beautiful store opened for the season last weekend and is full of books and local (and international) artist's work. The store also serves great coffee and hosts musical events all summer long. Doesn't it sound like an ideal place to visit when heading out to Riding Mountain or Clear Lake? xo

I am Interested in Pinterest.

 

 Hey Everyone!

As you may have noticed, I have added new social media buttons on the left hand side of the page.

Those buttons are for Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Bloglovin, respectively. They make it easier to connect to me and check out all my posts online!

One of my favorite sites is Pinterest—I think that I might be a little obsessed!

Pinterest allows you to collect images of favorite things, places, pieces of art or anything under the sun, and put them in groups called "boards". I already have multiple boards—one for art, one for travel, one for kitties, one for quotes, and many others!

Today, for my fellow lovers of rocks and stones, I am launching my "stones" board. To see pictures of my artwork, I have my "ArtRocks" boards. And then there is my "Love, Love, Love" board full of, well, things that strike my fancy!

I hope you enjoy pictures I have pinned and if you do you can "follow me"! Please let me know what you think!

Karen

And the Winner is......

Congratulations Bonnie! 

Thanks to all who entered the contest (over 200 of you!) online and in person.

It was a great pleasure to hold these contests in honour of 15 years of ArtRocks 

and to celebrate all of you for all your support!

Thanks again,

Karen

Last Sale of the Season!

Here we are at the last ArtRocks show of the season...where did the time go??

The show is Saturday, the 7th at Springs Church (10am-4pm) 

It is also the last stretch of the 15th Anniversary Contest #2!

Please remember to enter by commenting on a blog post or facebook post 

or enter in person at the Saturday show.

You can enter more than once, you know!!!

Keep warm!

 Karen

P.S. Contest closes December 9th; winner announced on the 11th!

 

 

News and Updates: Savoir Faire!

Hi Everyone,

I just made a delivery of fresh stones to

Savoir Faire , a lovely store at 241 Henderson Highway in Winnipeg.

The store carries local artist's work and carefully selected items for the 

home and garden as well as great gift ideas for the holidays.

I love making my delivery of Inspired Stones to Savoir Faire 

because I always find something new and beautiful.

Get away from the boxed stores and

check out this wonderful, locally-owned store!

Have a great weekend,

Karen

Pins, Pins, Pins!

Hey Everyone!

We are have had so much fun making our new "One Inch Art" Pins.

 Bryce and I have a display at the ArtRocks table (at the Signatures Show) this weekend and they are a hit!

 Hope you have a chance to stop by and see our eclectic variety of sets

that range from Snoopy to Leonardo da Vinci.
All recycled papers, all original art!
Have a great day!
  Karen :)

Big Sale!

Hello Everyone,

Just a reminder of the huge Signatures Craft Show and Sale starting tomorrow!

This is the first time I have been in the Convention Centre show in 3 years, so I am very excited! I have been happily glazing for days and busy packing up all my new stones.
I hope to see you there.
(Booth #219)
xo Karen

Here are the details:

Thursday, November 21st  11-9pm

Friday, November 22nd  11-9pm

Saturday, November 23rd  10-6pm

Sunday, November 24th  10-5pm

Free Admission 

            

15th Anniversary Contest: The Second!

 You can enter the contest in a variety of ways (and more than once)! 

Here are the ways:

1. Comment on this or any other ArtRocks blog post over the course of the contest

2. Share or comment on one of my Facebook posts

3. Enter your name in person at one of my sales by filling out a ballot

That's all there is to it! At stake: the ArtRock and set of 4 "one inch art" one-of-a-kind pins pictured above (worth $60). Remember to leave your e-mail address so if you win, I can contact you! Contest #2 closes on December 9th, 2013. (open to canadian residents only)

I'll draw and announce the winner on December 11th.

I hope to hear from you soon!

xo

Karen

Contest #1 Winner!

Congratulations to Vera for winning the 15th Anniversary Contest #1!

She won an inspired stones and two ArtRocks bookmarks!

Thanks to the over 200 people who entered the draw. Next chance: Tomorrow, when contest #2 begins. Check back! :)