April 24, 2013

April Wilmington Art Loop: Bellefonte Arts

Written by Marsha of MarshaNealStudio


Galleries, artist studios, restaurants, and other venues that exhibit Artists work will open up their spaces for an "Open House" welcoming party over the First Friday of the month, usually during the evening between 5-9pm.
Here are some of our Local Northern DE Art Loops:
Wilmington, DE has a First Friday Art Loop

Kennet Square, PA has a First Friday Art Stroll
Oxford, PA has First Friday Art Stroll

So for April, I made it a point to get out of Hockessin, and head into Wilmington to hit up as many galleries and see as much artwork as I could.

The plan was to start around Trolly Square, hit Augustine cutoff, shoot up to Bellefonte Arts off of Brandywine Blvd, then drive down into center city, park, then hit up a bunch of the Market Street locations.

I was able to easily hop through the great exhibits at The Blue Streak Gallery and Delaware Center for Horticulture.
Because I was on a mission! 
I was going to see as much art as possible in the small window of time I had.
Entrance Gate for the DCH.
Gallery Space at the DCH.
Artist Bob Richey and his awesome pastels.
When I got to Bellefonte Arts, I knew my schedule was going to go way off...
I knew one of the two artists was a fellow Delaware Etsy Street Team member, although we had never chatted or met in person, and I wanted to stop by and say Hi to Kay Martin of Galaxie Gallery.
Kay Martin with some of her large up-cycled art sculptures at Bellefonte Arts.
Kay Martin of Galaxie Gallery
Kay was just so cool to chat with.
We had long discussions about making art and how exciting it is to find that creative place inside of you that you just seem to disappear into when you have time to work.
And that things around you just fall away (time, physical presence, distractions, etc).

She had some awesome up-cycled sculptures and these altered collages and clocks on display.
Kay was telling me about how she will get a box full of discarded items and will go through it and deconstruct, clean, and assemble her art from these unwanted items.
Check out this necklace set:
Necklace Set Flutter by GalaxieGallery on Etsy
 And I met Honeybabe when she was setting up her artwork. She collages and repurposes whimsical found objects what I like to call fairy garden decorations. I think she is a fairy herself and I hope to run into her at Spoutwood! Her art is perfect for hanging out in the garden up in a tree so that the sun can reflect from the mirrors or prisms to create whimsical lighting in the woods. Magical!
And there were other artists that also sell their work at Bellefonte Arts that came out for First Friday!
Arlene Finocchiaro is a very talented Polymer Clay Artist and also a member of the Philadelphia Polymer Clay Guild (so she and I have a lot of common friends in the bead and jewelry world).
Arlene Finocchiaro of The Olive Branch
By the time I looked at my iPhone, it was 8:40. I was just about out of time to run down to Market Street, find a parking spot, then hit up a few more galleries (as most closed at 9pm).

So I hung out and chatted with a bunch of other people until the loop ended.
Across the street from Bellefonte Arts is Bellefonte Cafe - you could hear a live band playing (it is of course Friday night!) which would have made for an awesome end to a fantastic evening...

Being the mom of two little ones (3 & 5 year olds), I made it home to make sure my husband was not ready to eat them alive by bedtime.

Besides, I am one of the two featured artists at Bellefonte Arts for the May 3, 2013 Wilmington Art Loop, and I plan on hanging out with other cool artists and friends that make a trip out to see me and my work that night.

I hope you can make it (if not to Bellefonte Arts, then at least to somewhere local).

And keep an eye out for how the Delaware Etsy Street Team is getting involved with Bellefonte Arts to promote Artists through Brick and Mortar establishments like Bellefonte Arts and through our being an online Artists Team (collective). We are going to meet up this summer to get the ball rolling...

April 16, 2013

Spotlight On...Bay Moon Design


Today we are please to feature another talented member's shop, BayMoonDesign, owned by Kathy Lindemer.  Kathy, her husband, and both of their "children" are proud graduates of the University of Delaware.  Her daughter is a Coastal Engineer and her son is in a Ph.D. program for Mechanical Engineering.  After 38 years in a career in education, Kathy finally decided it was time to retire, and take her hobby to the next level.  Kathy makes jewelry and cards, inspired by the water, Earth, and sky.

Yellow earrings
Now that her children have grown and moved out, Kathy, her husband, and their three cats enjoy the life of snowbirds, spending most of their time in lovely, historic Lewes and flying south to Key Largo in the chilly Winters.

Coffee Lover Card


About the materials she likes to use, Kathy had this to say, "I use materials made from fabric like my favorite-denim and silk ribbons. Materials found in nature like seashells and pearls are featured in my designs. I'm GREEN! I rework man made items like blue jeans and buttons into my creations."

Green Flower Necklace with Hints of Peach
She has one Etsy shop, which she opened in 2008, mainly to feed her bead addiction and to justify the need for beads. Later came the card addiction, and it all fits in well with her very fine photography skills. A perfect match. Besides, as Kathy puts it, "You can only wear so much jewelry and send so many cards!" Lately she's been tossing around the idea of putting her cards in a separate shop. (Any thoughts on that? She'd love to hear your opinions.)

Lavender Purple Necklace Crocheted

A question for Kathy:
If you could go back in time to when you first opened your shop and give yourself one bit of advice about being an Etsy seller, what would it be?
My advice is to join an Etsy Team and read their forums. You need to pick up on the advice that is offered there. You pick up tips like you need to have a minimum of 100 items listed before you can even expect to do any business if you sell jewelry. Also, the ability to take good photos of your items in critical. Finding a way to get the correct lighting is key. There is access to that type of information. Learning to create and print shipping labels from Etsy is such a time saver. All of this, plus expose in treasuries is really useful.

Starfish Bracelet
Love this shop and want to see more? You can find Kathy at the Delaware By Hand Members' Day Show on May 25th at Zwaanendael Park, in Lewes.  In November and December, look for her at the DBH Holiday Show at Biggs Museum in Dover, Lewes Yacht Club Christmas Craft Fair, and the Baywood Holiday Craft Fair.  Coming to Rehoboth Beach any time soon? Then you can find Kathy's jewelry at The Fabulous Dress and The Rehoboth Art League and in Newark at Postcards From Delaware in the Delaware Welcome Center Travel Plaza.  (Way to get your work out there, Kathy!)

Online you can find Kathy and/or BayMoonDesign here:

April 5, 2013

Spring Break Team Treasury Challenge

Trying to get caught up on timing, so this vote will only last until the 11:59pm on Sunday the 8th.  Please vote and share with your friends.


'Spring Break Means Beach to Me' by BayMoonDesign



$125

$58

$30

$20

$12

$10

$55

$30

$20

$18

$8

$12

$10

$18

$15

$8.99

Treasury tool supported by the dog house


'Getting ready for Spring Break' by britpals


$25

$9

$35

$5.5

$115

$8.99

$30

$5

$16.99

$40

$16

$26

$10

$10

$8

$55

Treasury tool supported by the dog house


'Spring Break - Warm sunshine and pretty flowers - DETeam' by ACrystalGarden


$3.25

$18

$19.5

$20

$24

$15

$18

$30

$30

$15

$4

$24

$19

$9

$5

$5

Treasury tool supported by the dog house


'It must be Spring! I see a Robin.' by lindakrieck


$22

$30

$11

$39

$45

$14.95

$135

$20

$10

$12

$5

$22.5

$45

$21

$120

Treasury tool supported by the dog house


'Spring in Delaware' by czappit


$147

$18

$22

$25

$3.5

$17

$20

$18

$65

$30

$28

$25

$16

$14

$135

$28

Treasury tool supported by the dog house


'Spring Means Getting Back to Nature!' by SeaForYourself


$19.5

$10

$27

$3

$10

$30

$35

$2.5

$20

$25

$24

$17

$15

$30

$70

$18

Treasury tool supported by the dog house


'Spring Break-Sunny Happy Times. ' by littlebucksanddoes


$25

$15

$28

$3

$6.5

$15

$24

$55

$24

$10

$35.5

$30

$14

$32

$20

$7

Treasury tool supported by the dog house