HOLIDAY GLOW OPEN HOUSE at Mary Rose, Dec. 10th, 10:00-5:00

Mary Rose is glowing for the holidays

with gifts made by hand.

Every time I think I've filled all the nooks, I find another cranny to put our latest finds.

Join us for our Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 10, 10:00-5:00:

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  Serving Swedish almond cake and hot cider all day



• 
  
  
  Penoach wine-tasting in the afternoon



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  Jewelry by Wendy Rains, Ankeny lampwork glass artist



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  Hand blown glass ornaments by Art Ciccotti, Ames



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  Needle-felting demonstration by Colleen Eckhoff, Minburn



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  Spinning by Sally Farley, Perry



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  Origami demonstration by Chrissy Von Behren-Danger, Perry



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  Violin played by Janice Johnston, Rippey (She also makes warm, felted-wool mittens!
  

Glass bead necklaces

by lampwork glass artist, Wendy Rains, from Ankeny

I met Wendy at the Metro Arts Expo this year and was thrilled when she agreed to have some of her incredible glass necklaces and earrings in Mary Rose.

I am amazed at the intricacy of her designs--and she uses a torch!

These look like bubbles blown from soap,

but they are really hand blown glass ornaments

by Art Ciccotti, from the Ames area.

I visited him in his glass-blowing studio

and brought these amazing balls to the shop.

More hand blown glass ornaments

A hand blown glass lily

My daughter, Kate, who lives in Winona, Minnesota

created these zippered quote pouches.
It is the quotes she selects that make these a favorite for me.

Those of you who are fans of Kate's work

will be glad to know she has minki baby blankets,

bibs, bonnets, pillows, colored pencil rolls, and more in the shop again.

Kate's gift tags, which accompany her

Handmade in the Midst of Life creations,

say it best:

"I think you're awesome enough to buy handmade for. Go you!"

or

"Your awesomeness enhances my awesomeness.

A handmade gift for you."

Colleen Eckhoff, from Minburn, has needle-felted these Christmas critters

made from wool roving.

At the open house she will show us how it's done.

This is one of Chrissy Von Behren-Danger's origami crane trains.

She will show us how they're made at our open house.

A larger crane train

Swallowtail Jewellry

by Karen and Emma Vincent,

a mother-daughter pair from Nevada

(Yes, two "ll's" in jewelry because that is the British spelling!)

With their use of assymetry, filligree, and stone selection,

their designs have been very popular--

sure to make for a happy gift recipient.

Jeannine Sandler's circular tie-dyed scarves, which are posted in our earlier blog,

continue to be a sure choice for gift-giving.

She had to bring in her own gift stash to keep customers happy.

Hope to see you Dec. 10th!

PRAIRIE SPINNERS, Grand Opening

Come join us April 9th, 10-5:00, to celebrate the Grand Opening of Prairie Spinners, a fiber arts gallery in Mary Rose. We'll have spinning demonstrations, wine-tasting by Penoach Winery, cake ball samples by Bites of Cake (Esther and April from Dallas Center), cookie/cake samples by Auntie B Creations (Bethany Wicks from Perry).

I'm excited to have the Prairie Spinners in the shop. They have filled the front room in the lower level with their hand-spun/hand-dyed yarn; woven rugs, towels, scarves, pillows, shawls; handmade soaps; and much more. It has been a joy to get to know these creative artists who live in the area. I'm learning so much. I look at a crocheted hat and am amazed by the steps involved in its creation--raising the sheep, shearing them, carding the fleece, making roving, spinning the yarn, and then crocheting.

This is a perfect chance to meet the artists who will join us on April 9th for the open house and demonstrate spinning. Before we all become busy in our gardens, find that perfect yarn to create a handmade gift for a loved one.

We are also celebrating spring April 9th with the rest of the shop full to the brim with Easter baskets and handpainted eggs, new April Cornell linens, new Polish pottery, a new stationery line (Michel Designs), vintage finds, stained glass, Scandinavian gifts, and work by many local artists.