AMERICAN HARVEST

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY 2008

Happy Fourth of July to all. 
(Photo taken at Disneyland Feb. 2008.)

THANK YOU TO ALL ARTISTS....

We want to thank all of the many artists who emailed applications and photos for our open call to artists campaign.  We thought that we'd get a small handful of artists to apply.  We are very pleased that our handful became a bushel full.  Because of the large number of applications,  the process is taking longer than we anticipated.  We are carefully and dutifully considering every artist.  Our panel of jurists is amazed at the quality of every applicant.  We hope to be finished with the process this weekend and we will be emailing notices at the beginning of next week. 

Thank you to everyone who participated.  We wish that we could showcase all of you, but that just isn't feasible at this time.  Again, thank you for taking the time to apply to our Family of Artists.

AN INVITATION TO ARTISTS

American Harvest invites you to become one of our "Family of Artists".  We are looking for people with extraordinary talent in all categories.  This will be a juried process in two steps.  Email photos are being accepted until June 15, 2008.  Please email your information to info@americanharvestinc.com

Artists that are accepted will be debuted at our Halloween Party on August 16, 2008. 

Step 1.  All applications must include the following:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number
• email address
• web site, blog or Etsy Shop
• Wholesale pricing for each piece
• You may include a brief biography and description of your work if you feel this would be beneficial.

Each applicant will be juried and contacted by email at the end of the first step.

Step 2.  Those selected after step 1 will then be asked to submit actual samples of their work by mail.  These samples must include appropriate return postage if you would like your samples returned to you.

We know that there is incredible talent waiting to be promoted by American Harvest and we are looking forward to viewing the "best of the best".

Sharon and Rodger
American Harvest

SUMMER FUN AT AMERICAN HARVEST

Beautiful summer weather has hit California and American Harvest was ready with Summer Fun items.

We carry a variety of wood signs that can be personalized.  Beach themed signs and golf signs are our best sellers.

Vintage wool bathing suits hang in our front window display.  The two vintage "boing boing" chairs add to summer relaxation.

How more American can you get than hot dogs and baseball in the summer?  We have 2 vintage boy's baseball uniforms and many gloves for sale.  Marbles and other vintage toys grace the window display.

Here is a sweet garden angel.  Can't you just picture her in your yard?

The writing desk and bench pictured above was sold the day we brought it in!  It was a great find!

June is just around the corner and we carry a nice line of wedding toppers and wedding decorations.

As always, we have an extensive line of collage art.  Clever "dialogue" sets these two apart.

Baby pin cushions that are made with vintage materials are a must have item for the new mom!

Lisa Kaus originals and prints are a summertime favorite at American Harvest.

Here's a brand new product for us at AH....wine bottle stoppers.  The Livermore Valley Wine Region has great boutique wineries that receive international awards.  These great bottle stoppers are made with vintage door knobs, golf balls and billiard balls.  A perfect gift for Father's Day along with a bottle of wine from the Livermore Valley Wine Region.

We also carry wonderful antique and collectible items, such as these two pretty tea cups.

Craig Yenke's animals are completely handmade by the artist and are very collectible.  There are only a small handful of stores in the USA that carry his creations.

In the background...a collage made with a French fashion plate and vintage photo frame.  The transferware casserole dish is a great find in its near perfect condition. 

Stop by the shop or email us if any of these treasures entice you!  We are always happy to assist our wonderful customers in person or on the internet.  Many of these items are listed on our website's shop section.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call us at 925-485-1577.  We'd love to talk with you.

THE SKY ISN'T ALWAYS BLUE

I grew up surrounded by art...

I can never remember a time in my life when our home was not filled with sketch books, brushes, easels, watercolor paper, and the smell of oil paint on canvas.

You see, my mother is a painter, a watercolorist...an artist.

As a little girl, my mom was confined to her bed with a long illness.  In those days, what was a kid to do?  There were no videos, no X-boxes, barely TV! 

Her love of drawing and art began with pencil and paper.

I remember as a child proudly showing my mom a picture I had "colored" in school.  She was always encouraging to me, but also added, "Sharon, you know the sky can be yellow or pink or gray or even purple."

"The sky isn't always blue."

This statement expanded my world of creativity and opened my thought process to "think outside the box".

I always knew my mom had a special talent.

None of my friends' moms were featured at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, gallery openings, art exhibits in New York City or one-woman-shows.  Their moms didn't have piles of blue ribbons haphazardly pinned to a bulletin board shoved in the corner of an art studio.

My mom's circle of friends included potters, abstract painters, metal sculptors, batik artists, oil painters, and other watercolorists.

Today, new friends that have come into her life, all share the same passion for art.

I am so fortunate to have a career where I continue to be surrounded by incredible art in a variety of forms.  American Harvest continues to search out new talented artists to showcase in our shop.

At American Harvest, our "family" includes paper mache artists, doll artists, jewelry sculptors, mixed media and collage artists.

Thanks Mom for opening my eyes to the world of art and for reminding me that the sky isn't limited to blue.  Happy Mother's Day!

(Please do not copy or reproduce any of the art work shown in this post.  All of my mother's paintings are copyrighted and cannot be used without her written permission.  Thank you.)