BlueFrogArts

Making Felted Soaps!

Fiber artists Prisiclla Eppinger and Vikki Morain experimented with making their own wool felt over Spring Break and came up with some amazing results...

You probably have never thought about felted wool soaps, but they are a functional as well whimsical addition to any sink!

Below are a few photos of the process, but feel free to stop in the Blue Frog to touch and feel the final results!  Let us know if you would be interested in taking this as a class.

Vikki revealing some of the felted wool.

One piece of felt is finished, while another is being uncovered.  It looks like so much fun!

Wine & Women

Blue Frog fiber artist, 
Prisiclla Eppinger 
and Painter, Helen Caples 
are pictured at the Wine 
and Women event held at 
the Summerset Winery in 
Indianola on Saturday, 
April 5, 2008.  

Helen Kaples, Vikki Morain, 
Myrna Morris, Priscilla 
Eppinger and Donna Trudell 
set up two tables with 

artwork representing many, if not all, of our Blue Frog Artists.  
There was a luncheon and style show (Cold Water Creek) and an 
opportunity to browse, shop and network with other businesses 
in the area.  

Our water color artists contributed works that were cut into 
beautiful bookmarks with the Blue Frog logo and contact information 
on the back.  These were put in the goody bags each guest received.  

We were proud to represent the Blue Frog Arts artists to over 125 
women who attended the $40 a plate event.  Great public relations 
for the Blue Frog and for Lamoni!

   

Artist Membership Drive!

Are you an Iowa or Missouri artist looking for a home for your work?  Do you see yourself as part of a group that works as a resource and inspiration for you?

We've got the answer!  Blue Frog Arts is a non-profit artist co-op in Lamoni, IA with a mission of promoting the arts in Southern Iowa and Northern Missouri.  Our gallery features art, fine hand-crafted items, art enrichment activities and classes.

We are currently having a membership drive! Professional-level artisans please submit photographs of your work to: bluefrogarts@gmail.com, or bring photographs or samples of your work during our business hours:  Wed.-Sat. 10am-5pm.

There are currently two types of membership:  Members and Associate Members.  Below are the main benefits of both:

Artist Membership Benefits:

•  Beautiful Main Street location to display and sell your work
•  Grow your art business along with a group of quality artisans from the region
•  Local and regional exposure
•  Work and career highlights featured on Blue Frog Arts website
•  Gallery space for one person shows
•  Classroom to teach classes
•  Opportunities for grant funding
•  Build a following with customers
•  Artist receives 100% of the retail price  of work sold in the gallery
•  Only $25 and one day per month *   - Less than one newspaper ad!

Consignment Partner Artists (Associate Membership):

•  Work displayed in the gallery store
•  40% Commission added to artist price
•  Artist updates featured on web site

(There is a one-time fee of $50 to cover costs associated with setting up the artist.)

Blue Frog Arts becomes a Non-Profit!

On February 22, 2008, Blue Frog Arts officially became a non-profit artist co-op!  For our customers and community we serve, all will appear to be the same. Former owner, Deb Skinner, has now become the founder, and is very excited about the changes taking place.

"When the Blue Frog opened in December 2005, everyone pitched in to help: Graceland University students, the artists, my family, friends, and co-workers. It was beautiful and exciting to see it come together. 

The whole purpose of the gallery was to help the very talented artists of this community develop into a defined artist group and have an affordable venue to show their work.  It operated much like a non-profit from the beginning, with artists volunteering to help out in the store special events and projects.  Prior to opening, I had been told by several credible sources - an attorney and an Iowa State University faculty member it wasn't possible to combine art sales with non-profit status.  So, I forged ahead with a vision I thought would be mutually beneficial to the community and the group of artists who had become such dear friends.

When I recently found an artist co-op online that had non-profit status, it sparked a whole new exciting vision and direction for the Blue Frog.  The Board Chair and Board of Directors have stepped up and are doing a great job.  I'm very proud to be a part of it all."

Our non-profit mission is to stimulate and enrich the arts in and around Southern Iowa by providing high quality art workshops; art enrichment and awareness activities for the community; become a cultural destination for travelers, students, and new residents; and by offering an effective and affordable venue for local artists to exhibit and sell their wares.

We hope to achieve our 501(c)3 status in 2008.  This is a special non-profit status for organizations who have a charitable purpose that serves the greater community.  501(c)3 status will allow us to apply for grants and receive donations that will be tax-deductible to the giver.

We have to give credit and a huge thank you to the Larned A. Waterman Non-profit Resource Center for providing the workshop that turned this process from appearing impossible into a very edible elephant!  If you're thinking of starting a non-profit in Iowa, we highly recommend them!  Richard Koontz is the bomb!

Iowa Basket Weavers Guild Spring Meeting

Are you an Iowa basket weaver and would like to connect with others who share your passion for basketry?  The Iowa Basket Weavers Guild is having their spring meeting Friday, April 11, 2008.

Marlys Sowers is hosting the spring meeting at her farm in Milo, IA (near Indianola).  Her farm is called Pinicon Farms.  If you'd like to join her making a small Nantucket basket she will be teaching at 4pm the day of the meeting.

Business Skills for Artists

The Blue Frog Artists Co-op wants to spread the word about events that help artists become more successful. 

Business Skills for Artists Workshops

---

Corning Center for the Fine Arts is proud to sponsor  The Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists (sessions 4, 6, 7 & 8) workshops by Springboard for the Arts, April 4th and 5th 2008.

Details:

Session 4. Marketing for Artists

This session is devoted to identifying the right audience for your artistic output, positioning yourself (including how you price your work) and then developing marketing strategies and a marketing plan geared for that audience. Understanding the rules of the game of self-promotion will help you.

Session 6. Recordkeeping and Financial Management

How does your actual income compare with your desired income? If working with numbers drives you crazy, we have clear, simple methods for setting up your financial books. Learn how Budgets and Cash Flow Statements help you plan for profit (it isn’t just whatever is left at the end.) Making accurate projections about what to expect allows you to plan for it and to prosper.

Session 7. Simple Business Plans

A business plan will help you grow your artistic business, a.k.a. your career. This session explains how to prepare a simple business plan, in arts friendly language. People primarily think about writing a business plan when they are seeking money, but a business plan is an essential planning tool for any small business (even if you’re “just a painter!”)

Session 8. Funding Your Work

This session’s topic is generating income. We’ll discuss the value of multiple income streams. We’ll cover research and application preparation techniques for grants, fellowships, scholarships, and residency programs available to individual artists, We’ll also talk about finding and maintaining partners in the community as a strategy for expanding your audience and appeal to potential funders.

When:

Friday, April 4, 2008; 4.10:00 am – noon, 6. 2:00 - 4:00 pm and Saturday, April 5, 2008; 7. 10:00 am – noon, 8. 2:00 - 4:00 pm 

Where:

Turner Room, Midwest Opportunities Bldg, 724 Davis Ave., Corning, IA

Presenter:

Chris Osgood, Director of Artist Services with Springboard for the Arts

Fees:

$50 ($45 members) per session or $170 for all four ($160 members)

 For more information and registration forms visit the Corning Center for the Fine Arts website.

Rebecca Abarr wins at Iowa Artists Show

Blue Frog basketweaver, Rebecca Abarr of Redding, Iowa, won a blue ribbon for her gorgeous antler basket entitled, "Al's Antler."

The 2008 Iowa Artist Show was held this past weekend at Southwestern Community College.

Rebecca is pictured discussing the different materials she uses in her basketry.

A close up shot of the blue ribbon antler basket.  Several types of willow are combined beautifully with a large deer antler.  Rebecca's masterful finishing of the details is perfected in the gorgeous basket.

The basket is currently on display at the Blue Frog Arts gallery in Lamoni, IA and can be purchased for only $250.

Call the Blue Frog Arts gallery for more information.

A close up of the long-leaf pine needle basket also shown at the Iowa Artists Show.  Rebecca's pine needle baskets are stunning.  This one has a slice of a walnut shell and an blue agate woven into the composition. 

Rebecca offers classes in willow and pine needle basketry, call the Blue Frog for her spring schedule, or scroll through the archives to peak at our entire Spring Schedule.

Drawing Children

Deb Skinner's latest commissioned portrait is a drawing of a couple's grandchildren - a gift for their daughter.  The image is 11x14, and was done in pencil on an acid-free rag paper.  Below are her thoughts on the work:

"I chose to draw the faces life-size, and make them look as if they were sitting very close together.  Their eyes were intentionally placed at the intersection of the 1/3 axis lines to make the focal points off-center and more interesting to the eye of the viewer.  I also made sure to draw enough of the neck and clothing to anchor the portrait and avoid a "floating head" appearance."

"The photographs my client chose were excellent, because the children have very natural expressions on their faces.  It will most likely be very different from their mother's other framed images of them, which many times are posed professional photographs."

"While I worked on this drawing I kept thinking about what a blessing and a privilege it is to be a parent - and a grand parent.  This was a very uplifting and fulfilling project to work on."

Deb Skinner can be contacted through the Blue Frog Arts Gallery in Lamoni, IA.

A One-of-a-kind Porcelain Teapot

Chuck Manuel has created a beautiful wheel thrown porcelain teapot with a red glaze that would be the envy of all potters.  When the firing was complete, Chuck knew just who to go to to put the perfect finishing touch on this jewel of a teapot.

Rebecca Abarr worked her magic with a smooth piece of Oregon driftwood, twisted copper wire and a small piece of turquoise.

Available at Blue Frog Arts in Lamoni, Iowa.  Call for details.

New Gourd Art by Jan Meng

Check out this amazing new gourd produced by Blue Frog gourd artist Jan Meng.

"I've become addicted to bottle caps. Can't get enough of them. I'm now doing a wall in the living room. "  Jan Meng

It's just the kind of thinking outside the box that we love at the Blue Frog!  You go girl!  Send a few up north to us in Lamoni, so we can check them out!