We had our first wine tasting event with East Shore Vineyards last night – it will not be our last.  The wine was delicious and enhanced the wonderful foods brought to us by Jeanne Dellamarco and her husband, Tom.  We are so very pleased that Jeanne will be working with us on developing a cafe at The Grand Isle Art Works!  Those of you, who sampled her food last night know that this is a very good thing! Work will be starting soon on the gallery kitchen.  We will begin with weekend fare as soon as we can.   Jeanne’s sandwiches, biscotti and bear claws are well worth stopping by!

This month we welcome two new photographers to the Art Works:  Clair Dunn of Fletcher and Ellen Powell of South Burlington.  Both photograph Vermont scenes and each has a unique and individual style.

You will not want to miss the wine tasting at the Grand Isle Art Works! The gallery will be open all day…but you will want to be sure to be there at 4:00 pm when East Shore Vineyards pops the first cork for our very first wine tasting at the gallery! Couple these wines with delicious sweets and savories and new friends! It is a party in the making surrounded by the beautiful creations made locally by the members of the gallery.

Wish you could take some of the beautiful artwork home – you can. The gallery will be open for sales during the wine tasting: 4:00-8:00 pm. And…there will be a silent auction starting NOW… ending at 8:00 PM.  All bids must be placed by then!

See you there!

You will not want to miss this at the Grand Isle Art Works! The gallery will be open all day…but you will want to be sure to be there at 4:00 pm when East Shore Vineyards pops the first cork for our very first wine tasting at the gallery! Couple these wines with delicious sweets and savories and a new friends! It is a party in the making surrounded by the beautiful creations made locally by the members of the gallery.

Wish you could take some of the beautiful artwork home – you can. The gallery will be open for sales during the wine tasting: 4:00-8:00 pm. And…there will be a silent auction starting NOW… ending on November 6th!

Interested? It is as easy as clicking on this LINK to cast your bid now! All proceeds will benefit the Grand Isle Art Works!

Maple Bowl with malachite inset, hand turned by Jim Holzschuh of Yellow Dog Farm.
Value: $125.00
Current bid: $100.00

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Turquiose Cairn neck lace and earrings by Manny Neuzil of Manny Beads
Value: $95.00
Starting bid: $60.00

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Framed original photograph by David Juaire
Value: $75.00
Current bid: $50.00

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Hand sewn purse created by Karen Searles
The bidder can take their pick from the purses Karen has in the gallery.
Value: $75.00
Starting: $45.00
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Checker/Backgammon Board made from repurposed wood created by Anne Zolotas of The Clark Horses
Value: $65.00
Starting bid: $35.00
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Dear Friends,

September has just turned the corner and Fall is truly upon us. Our numbers of visitors to the Gallery seem to be a bit lower, but our sales are moving ahead with the season. I have noticed a steady stream of local shoppers coupled with visitors from the north and beyond – perhaps on that elusive hunt for Fall foliage colors.

Our first Member Mixer was a fabulous event even if it was the rainiest day of the month. The fall decorations really looked great. There were many delicious treats shared amongst the group. It was nice to hear the chatter and laughter in this old house – I am sure it has heard much in its long past of over 200 years. Just imagine what the humor of 1797 brought to a party! Thank you for joining us – for those who could not make this event – we will plan another soon! This is a nice relaxed way to get to know each other and our art work.

We have two new members to introduce:

Sherry Corbin, of South Hero, has joined the cooperative. Sherry is a Raku clay artist. She will be adding in her pottery lamps, jars, plates, bowls, delightful birds and more.

Susan Tobey and Scott Burke will share one membership at the gallery. Susan is a silver jewelry artist, known in the area for her beach glass pieces. They are stunning. Scott is a blacksmith. He creates both functional and decorative pieces in wrought iron.

As we shared last month, Grand Isle Art Works is member driven. It’s only work force and the majority of the income come from the actual members themselves through annual membership fee. The 10% commission mainly covers packaging materials and credit card costs for the gallery. In our initial financial planning we budgeted our expenses around this membership fee and the addition of “Friends” and “Corporate Sponsors” for the Gallery. With this, we pay the rent and utilities, procure appropriate technology, lighting, display furniture, signage, and advertising.

Friends of the Gallery
$75 per year
Invited to work in gallery for special events.
Listed in print publications and on website
10% Discount to special events

Our current Friends are:

* Karen Tyler, Burlington
* Nick Durso, North Hero
* Elaine Harrington, Chicago
* Kim Kinney, South Hero
* David Carter, South Hero
* Norma Miller, St. Albans
* Lucille Bryan, Tennessee

Corporate Sponsors
$125 per year
Listed in all print publications and website with advertising information, business card size advertisement.
10% Discount for 2 individuals for special events

Our current Corporate Sponsors are:

* A&B Beverage, Grand Isle
* Apple Farm Market, South Hero
* Vermont Brownie Company, South Hero
* CWG Enterprises, South Hero
* Kevin Harrington, Architectural Consultant, Chicago

November 6 will be our next special event from 4:00-8:00 pm. We have lined up East Shore Vineyards to help us with this one. This event will include a silent auction. The bidding will begin in mid-October and will take place through our website, facebook, twitter, and in person in the gallery.

I continue to marvel at the amount of talent represented by our group.

Sincerely,

Ellen

The Grand Isle Art Works is extending a challenge to our artists and community members! Red Scarf Project – Here we come! The Grand Isle Art Works would like to provide a work site for knitters making these amazing scarves. Norma (from: Normaknits) will help us with the details…mark your calendar for Oct 7, 14, 21 and November 4, 11, and 18th. Bring your best red yarn. Can we make 25 scarves for the project before December 15? Yes, we can!

Where will my Red Scarf be sent?
Your wonderful handmade creation will be sent in a Valentine’s Day Care Package to an Orphan Foundation of America student enrolled in college or trade school.

Not close enough to knit with us – that’s okay. Your finished scarf can be sent no later than December 8th to Grand Isle Art Works, Attention: Red Scarf Project, 259 US Route 2, Grand Isle, VT 05452.

We all need to follow closely the directions below for our scarves to be accepted!

HOW TO MAKE AN Orphan Foundation of America RED SCARF
Scarf Size: Approximately 60″ long and 5″ to 8″ wide. Scarves should be long enough to be
wrapped around the neck, with tails long enough to be tied in the front.

Style: Think unisex collegiate. The scarves go to both male and female students, so they
shouldn’t be gender specific. Fringes are optional. Your scarf should be 60-70 inches by 6-8
inches.

Yarn: Preferably DK, double fingering-weight, worsted weight, or light bulky yarns. No lace
weight, super-chunky, or mohair yarns as there are many people who find mohair too itchy. The
yarn should be soft. (Yellow Dog Farm definitely disagrees with the mohair designation!)

Color: Red! However, this could mean burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, or
multicolor hues including red.

Finished and tagged: Yarn ends should be securely sewn in. For a personal touch, attach a tag
saying “Handmade for You” with your first name, city, and group affiliation, if any. We also
suggest that you include washing instructions and personal messages of encouragement.

For more information check out the official website for OFA

We have had a steady stream of visitors to the Grand Isle Art Works.

New to Art Works this past month:

• Member Amey Radcliffe of ReArt.  Amey creates much great art from found items.  Check out her mini mutts!
• Member, Linda James.  Linda is a mixed media artist who loves adding unique layers of paints, pastels, crayons and even papers to her work.
• Jennifer Buckner added her fused glass dishes as a new line of art work.  They have added much color to the “orange room.”
• September 3:  Member, Paula Bradley.  Paula is a pastel artist with gobs of energy!
• Several new artists are currently in the jury process for membership in the gallery.

Our Grand Opening Celebration on September 4 offered a visit to the gallery along with a fundraising meal and fabulous raffle of members’ artwork.  Raffle ticket sales were good.  This will allow us to purchase the much needed track lighting for the “yellow” room!

Raffle winners were:

Maurie Harrington:  $75 gift certificate to the gallery from Manny Neuzil of Manny Beads
Bernadette Jones:  $60 art doll created by Meta Strick
Lynn Goyette:  $50 re-frame from Amey Radcliffe of ReArt
Linda Forrer:  $40 shawl kit from Ellen Thompson of Yellow Dog Farm
Karen Searles: $25 gallery gift certificate from Naomi King of Lemon Lily Farm
Deb Mach: $24 mug created by Marcia Hagwood, Chasworth Pottery and Farm
Jim McKnight:  $22 Vermont poster by Jennifer Prince

We had a yellow room full of artisan demonstrations all day on Saturday.  It was a happening place with Maurie, Karen, Linda, Meta, Marcia and Jim all sharing what they do for the Grand Isle Art Works.  Raffle items came from Manny, Marcia, Meta, Ellen, Naomi, and Amey.  Thank you all!

Mark your calendars:

• November 6 will be our next fundraising event from 4:00-8:00 pm.  We have lined up East Shore Vineyards to help us with this one!  It is sure to be tasty.  We are looking for help to create this event.  We would love it to draw a large crowd and offer a true sense of the Art Works to those who attend.  Are you a fan of the arts? Interested in helping?  Drop us a note via email.  We’d love to hear your ideas.