Stand out in the leather and pleather crowd

We've just ordered our Fall 2007 selections from Maruca's line of tapestry handbags, and expect the order mid-September.

Why does Maruca Design continue to be so popular? Because in a sea of leather and pleather purses, there remains a devout customer with whom we share a common thread: an appreciation and passion for fabulous textiles.

They are recognized for their custom-designed fabrics, fashion-conscious shapes and commitment to making bags by hand in Boulder, Colorado.

We hope you are inspired by their colorful world. Here are the season's fabric swatches:



We're especially excited about two new designs Maruca is offering. The "Metro" is a courier-style bag (see above) with a broad adjustable woven strap and big flap with pockets for pens, phone, glasses, etc. The "Soho" is large enough for daily use, but small enough to make a statement with a single strap — short enough to hand carry, and just long enough to fit over your shoulder. We love the two exterior pockets — one for your cell, the other for your keys.

Check out their website to your selection at www.marucadesign.com. Then call Gallery Fifty and make your order: 231-932-0775. We'll offer free shipping on any order over $75.

The odd, the old and the beautiful

The power of opposites is the basis of Michigan artist Julie Pearson's work. Finding the balance between order and disorder, old and new, simple and ornate, delicate and rustic is the never-ending challenge that continues to beckon her.

Two passions dominate the artist's creativity: the need to experiment with creative processes and the love of collecting the odd, the old and the beautiful. She has found the format of assemblage to be the most satisfying method of combining these elements into something through which she can express herself.

To begin, Julie allows emotion, imagination or curiosity to inspire... the intuitive process then takes on a life of its own. This particular experience is the very reason the she sees herself creating in this way for the rest of her life.

See more of her work on Gallery Fifty's web site: www.galleryfifty.com/artists/pearson.asp.

Note: After nearly a year of coveting 'My Understanding,' I'm finally treating myself to this incredible piece (above). The text reads, "in the space between birth and death, all that really matters is love..."

Modern and easy to wear

Michigan jewelry artist Kristin Perkins has been drawn to the pure and natural beauty of glass all her life. Her jewelry is among the most contemporary that I have seen. While the colors make them fun to wear, the geometric glass shapes or silver shapes that she uses to accent them make them very modern and easy to wear.

Kristin makes each of her distinctive glass beads using a process called lampworking. Lampworking is an ancient term referring to melting glass and forming beads and other small glass sculptures by oil lamp. Glass bead makers now use a special torch to melt the glass, but the term lampworking continues to be used today for this type of art.

To make her beads, Kristin uses colorful rods of glass and heat them with my torch, which is fueled by natural gas and an oxygen generating machine. When the glass becomes molten, she winds it around a steel rod that has been coated with a clay-like mixture that will later allow her to remove the bead from the steel rod.

Kristin shapes beads by evenly applying the glass to the steel rod, keeping the molten glass constantly turning, and allowing gravity to do most of the work. What is not achieved by gravity can be done by using graphite and steel tools to attain the desired shape. Rods of glass in other colors are used to decorate the surface of the bead. Once the bead is complete, she properly anneals it in a kiln. Annealing is critical to the glass bead making process because it allows it to cool down slowly, which removes stress in the glass that could cause it to crack.

As a jewelry designer, she considers her lampworked beads very special because each bead is created with an end use in mind. Kristin is a trained silversmith, so she has the advantage of customizing each piece exactly as she envisions. What further differentiates her work from other lampworkers is the use of clear or transparent glass in every piece so that the fascinating properties of glass become the focus.

Her prices are extremely reasonable: $34 - $50 for earrings; $56 - $95 for pendants; $95 for cuff links. Contact Gallery Fifty for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

Time for fine design and craftsmanship

Traverse City woodworker Joe Stearns has been designing and building furniture more than 20 years. With formal training in architecture, he's studied with several woodworking mentors. Most important, though, is his passionate interest in all aspects of fine woodworking and design which he's studied as a full-time occupation since 1999.

Joe gives equal emphasis to craftsmanship, design and selection of the finest materials available. His finished works are characterized by an uncluttered, organic flow of lines and shapes. His designs are intended to transcend the dictates of any particular school or style and to be intrinsically appealing on the strength of their roots in time-honored principles of form and proportion.

We're currently carrying five different styles of Joe's clocks including the "Open Frame Oval" shown above. These unique clocks are his latest designs. He uses the finest quartz-movement clockworks and sculpts each one by hand from a variety of beautiful wood combinations. They can be fitted with alarm clocks for your bedroom or displayed as art pieces on on your wall, shelf or mantle.

This one is cherry and wenge, $245. Call Gallery Fifty for more information: 231-932-0775.

Art Lasts, Life is Brief

New York artist Eduardo Milieris has always been fascinated by the integration of art and time. Originally from Uruguay, he studied photography, video art and sculpture before creating his unique line of watches under the "Watchcraft" name.

From a young age his mantra has been: "Ars Longa, Vita Brevis" (Art Lasts, Life is Brief). And you'll enjoy counting life's brief seconds with his artful designs.

Eduardo's collection with its antiqued brass, copper and silver bands, and the hand painted dials, creates the feeling of a wristwatch long lost, now found.

Each watch is weathered and oxidized, using carefully researched techniques. The metals are left unsealed so that they continue to age gracefully.

The pieces are unisex in design and we're able to add or remove links right here at the gallery. They come with a one year warranty and use a sturdy Citizen watch mechanism.

Gallery Fifty always has a nice selection. Call 231-932-0775 to see what we have in-stock.

Note: I've owned one of Eduardo's watches for over three years and I can honestly say it looks better with age and wear! It allows the wearer to become a participant in the evolution of the piece. Air, temperature, and the skin of the wearer all change the inherent molecular structure of the metals, resulting in a wristwatch that is most uniquely their own.

Get on 'board' with these popular gifts

Michigan wood craftsman Matt Joppich creates these one-of-a-kind cutting boards from his furniture making scrap. Constructed of local hardwoods, the sizes range from 7.5" x 5" up to 15" x 10". The small boards make excellent gifts for the barteder or boat owner. Prices are $18 - $55. Call Gallery Fifty for our current selection: 231-932-0775.

Scenery, light and seasons

I just returned from the studio of Lisa Wilkins Schulte and couldn't be more excited! She's been very prolific with her plein air pastel paintings and many feature local landscapes, such as the scenes from Old Mission Peninsula shown above.

Because she was born in Guyana, the rich, vivd hue of pastels appeal to her Caribbean sense of color and she loves the textures that she can create with them. Lisa is constantly inspired by the northern Michigan region and its spectacular scenery, light and changing seasons. Her influences include Michael Chesley Johnson, Wolf Kahn, Wassily Kandinsky and Marjorie Broodhagen.

We're getting a great range of new work in early July. Check back then for more information.