Event Spotlights: Art Under The Elms

Each year, I usually go with my brother and his family to Art Under The Elms. It's an annual event during spring in Lewiston, Idaho. The event is full of art, hand-made items, lovely music, and food. The event itself is held on the LCSC college campus. It's also part of the Dogwood Festival as there's plenty of beautiful dogwoods blooming during this time. It's essentially a 3-day highlight - which covers a weekend in April. But I digress, I always look forward to going with my brother and his family. It's a family fun event where everyone is welcomed to visit, and I love going with my family. So much fun to do with them! 🌼

Once there, we entered the campus grounds and wandered past the white tents. Stopping at the first thing we saw - which was the caramel apples and fudge. I vowed that I would be back to pick up some for my parents. We walked atop the green grass and met a few familiar faces while exploring. We then proceeded past the tents, checking out the available goodies. I stopped at a few to look over the earrings, soap, photography, and more. So many enticing things! I tried to keep in check with what I saw if I wanted to go back and get later. My brother's family also seemed to be excited about everything.

While we were looking, I discovered Autum from A Touch of Autumn. I had met her before at Art Under The Elms. She's an amazing artist! If you ever get the chance, be sure to go during April to see her work at Art Under The Elms. You can also find her here on Facebook. I bought a bookmark and a sticker from her. The bookmark shows a scene that she created from Lord of the Rings, and the sticker is of Nessie at Lake Loch Ness. Thanks, Autumn! I love your art! After buying the sticker and bookmark, we gazed at almost everything else that was there. We followed each other checking out various items in the white tents.

At the end of the white tents, we returned to the caramel apples and fudge. I purchased a caramel apple for my Mom and fudge for my Dad. It was a blast seeing what everyone had to sell. I really liked being able to support local businesses and people in their passions. That's why I try to spotlight local. After shopping itself, we proceeded toward the food and drink trucks. I won't write about our experience at SmasHouse Burgers in this post but save it for its own spotlight. We ate, and then I left. My overall experience of Art Under The Elms was like it always is - an exciting event. If you get the chance, I definitely recommend going next year. I'll most likely be there, too. Thank you, Art Under The Elms! 💓

Many blessings,

- Grace Thorson

Business Spotlight: Glitter Glitz and Glow

I had met Jennifer on Facebook through her business page. Her business is called Glitter Glitz and Glow. I was curious about what she crafted, so I perused the page. I found all kinds of cool resin art. While looking, I found a couple of things I liked, so I contacted her. That's how we met. I found her talent to create so many unique pieces really awesome! I couldn't help but go back to her page after I had ordered to see what new item she had posted. After my first order, I had contacted her again for more. I was hooked!

About Glitter Glitz and Glow: Jennifer said this about her business, "My most popular items are my Bigfoot Coasters, but I love doing all things Christmas. I have always enjoyed the holidays and last year I was happy to create gifts for my family and friends. I like to keep my items at a lower cost so everyone can enjoy my little works of art. I have made hundreds of connections with people, and I enjoy meeting people and sharing my art. I have also helped others who have wanted to learn this hobby. This hobby is endless on what you can create. I find it amazing when I create something that I am not so fond of but someone else loves it. I think my most cherished moment is when I was asked to make a memorial piece for a family's horse, from his braided hair. The story behind it still makes me tear up and I gained a friendship with the owner."

About her: "I worked in retail management for over 30 years. I had an accident in 2020 and by 2021 I could no longer work. I started doing a small raised garden to try to occupy my time. I enjoy growing food and creating meals with what I've grown. I found myself stir crazy in the winter of 22/23. So I started thinking of things I could do to stay busy when I was able to do something. By the time garden season was in full swing of July of 2023, I grew poppies for my mother. I just needed a way to preserve them, I asked around and was told it would be over $400 to encase them in resin. I thought I can do it myself. So in August of 2023 I bought resin and a tray mold. I dried the poppies and proceeded to make the tray. This was a super large project for a beginner, and nothing went right. I didn't mix or measure the resin correctly or something as my poppy tray never cured. I ended up throwing the tray and mold in the trash. I was not going to fail, I told myself to start small and work my way up. So I proceeded to make bookmarks, keychains, and small trinket jars. I did my first craft fair in October as I had quite a bit of inventory by then. I met some amazing people and did a few more throughout the year."

Her Services: Jennifer has a lot of items available to see on her Facebook page for Glitter Glitz and Glow. I think you can ask for a custom piece if you want something specific, too. She sells earrings, bookmarks, keychains, coasters, art pieces, ornaments, decor, magnets, wands, business card holders, figurines, and much more. She can also ship items with a shipping fee. To see her art, you can find her on Facebook here. Be sure to visit her page, and check out her various art. Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing about your business.

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Art Gallery Spotlight: Artisans At The Dahmen Barn

It was Sunday. I picked up an iced coffee from Starbucks. Recently, I've been asking for my coffee to have almond milk instead of the other. Getting used to the taste. It's good, it's just not what I'm used to. But I digress, it was Sunday. After I picked up my coffee, I then headed to Moscow. When I arrived, I joined my good friend, Jolene. Our first stop was at the Artisans at the Dahmen Barn. The weather was perfect. It was sunny with clouds. There was also a nice coolness to the morning. It was supposed to warm up. The first thing we did was walk around the place. I took pictures as we followed the fence down the road.

We both admired the fence and barn. Before we stepped into the building, I took some shots of the cow. After getting some outside shots, I walked into the barn with Jolene. We entered the gift shop and looked around. There were so many amazing things to shop for. I knew we'd most likely be back from viewing the galleries. I wasn't allowed to take pictures of the art - which I understood. I can only describe what I saw. For the rest of this post, it'll only be photos of the outside. I hadn't been to the Dahmen Barn, so I was really excited.

They had many galleries set up with art by various people. There were so many different kinds of designs. Some of my favorites were the black and white photography. Throughout the barn, there were many items for sale. From pottery to weaves, there was a lot to look at and take in. I was in awe. I know I couldn't have enough patience and perseverance to make anything even close to what some can do. The woodwork was especially interesting. My Dad is a carpenter, so I enjoy seeing any kind of work done on wood. In fact, my parents plan to visit the Dahmen Barn this year at some point. I'm sure they'll like it all.

After walking through the galleries, we headed down to the gift shop. I picked out a hand-made pumpkin, a wood bookmark, a bowl cloth, and a really cool card (it has a cat on it, of course). My friend picked out some neat hand-made towels. I didn't get a keychain for my keychain collection this time around, but maybe when I stop by again. The whole thing was a wonderful experience. I love that the barn doesn't just show art but tries to include the community. There seems to be many events and even maybe workshops. We actually grabbed a flyer for one that we're considering doing. Looked like fun.

I highly recommend stopping by and exploring this whole place. 

To be continued... (Part 2 next week)

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Artist Spotlight: A Touch of Autumn

I knew of Autumn Cole from Facebook. I had seen some of her art and met her at Art Under the Elms in Lewiston during spring. Her paintings and sketches are amazing. I had to get a keychain from her to add to my keychain collection. The keychain has a little picture of an art sketch hooked to it. I recently connected with her to do a portrait of my cat (Kenji). It turned out awesome, and I hope to frame it. She's so good at what she does. I highly recommend checking out her art. Thanks, Autumn, for my piece. I love it.

About a Touch of Autumn: Autumn Cole is a full-time professional artist from Lewiston, Idaho. She specializes in black and white acrylic realism painting of local and magical places. At the beginning of this September, she marked a 2-year anniversary of doing art full time. She travels to around thirty art shows and craft fairs in Washington and Idaho each year. She's also painted multiple murals in northern Idaho. 

About her: Autum Cole was trained by Disney to be an Ornament Personalization Artist. She does a pop-up live ornament personalization during the holidays. She's also been featured in multiple art galleries. She's currently the feature artist at the Bea You Yoga Studio in Lewiston and one of the select artists at the Conspiracy of Artists Gallery at the Jacklin Center in Post Falls, Idaho. In her free time, she enjoys sculpting, drawing, participating in church activities, and enjoying tea parties at home with her cat.

Some of her art:

Her services: Autum offers custom murals, art pieces, and prints. You can find more info about her on the touch of autumn website at: atouchofautumnart.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram. She's on Etsy, too. You can find many of her items there. I would like to thank Autumn Cole for sharing with me about her life and in what she all creates. Be sure to check out her stuff. She's wonderful! Once again, thank you, Autumn!

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson