Meet Emily Costello

Emily Costello of Emily Costello ART

will be bringing her unique style of work to the
Parade of Souls Art show this Saturday.

 I'm mainly a self-taught painter and mixed media artist that finds much of my inspiration from my heritage and its cultural icons and images.  I'm irresistibly attracted to the curious and bizarre and create images that amuse and intrigue me. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) are abundant in my work.  I also love to paint my skully babies and try to give them their own creepy but cute personalities.   

  I left my corporate job several years ago and I now paint full-time.  Since then I've exhibited in over a dozen local and out-of-state groups shows, including Vision Gallery, the Arizona Historical Museum, Arizona Latino Cultural Center, XICO Gallery, The Desert Botanical Garden, Adelante Gallery, Alwun House, The City of Tempe, The Ice House, ChimMaya Gallery in East L.A., and Puente Allegre in San Francisco, CA. 

Currently I  volunteer at Maricopa del Artes/YMCA; a program that blends fine art and academic instruction, social and emotional support, GED and work readiness training to young adults.  I also teach youth art classes at Vision Kidz in Chandler

Emily Costello's art has been featured on azcentral.com, Arizona Foothills Magazine, Visual Source, and Latino Perspectives Magazine.  BIC recently released a special collection of their lighter with her art images.  Recent commissions include Chicanos Por La Causa/Parenting Arizona 2012 Champions for Children; and the Arts & Business Council of Greater Phoenix. 

Emily was also selected this year as one of eight Arizona artists to create art for the

2012 Governor's Art Awards.

To see more of Emily Costello's work, and to learn about her

up-coming events

click HERE

or contact her through email by clicking HERE

Save time on Saturday to shop the

Parade of Souls Halloween and Fall Art Show!

Sweet B Folk Art

Amelia Schaefer will be bringing Treats and a few Tricks to the

Parade of Souls Halloween Art Show

In the World of  Sweet B Folk Art,  lollipops smile sweetly, tiny pumpkin pies wink before you take a bite and vicious cream cakes defend themselves with miniature forks and knives.

Welcome to the imagination of Amelia Schaefer!

To say that I have a "sweet tooth" would be putting it mildly! 

I love everything about candy.. the shapes, colors, packaging... even my artwork is influenced by my love of all things sweet!

Working with paper mache has allowed me to create the candy and desserts that are served in my imagination. In my mind cakes and sweets come to life ...right on the plate!

Many of my pieces are accented with vintage trimmings and findings. Vintage bow ties may be found around lollipop sticks, Victorian beading and silks adorn my romantic candy boxes and retro fringe often finishes my custom tree-skirts.

The Candies and treats that I create are fun to display on their own, or may be incorporated into a real candy or dessert buffet for an added bit of fun!

 Try one of my famous chocolates.... they are to DIE for!

Growing up in New Zealand I missed out on many childhood Halloweens (no Halloween in NZ).  My most memorable costume, however, was a glamorous mummy queen of a few years ago.
I made my costume from scratch using a vintage evening gown and layers and layers of gauze sewn to the dress.  The costume was beautiful, and it fit like a glove... a really,really,  tight glove... after getting zipped in I discovered that I couldn't sit down the entire night!

See more of Amelia's work on her blog
Sweetbfolkart.blogspot.com

And make your plans to visit our show on the 13th of October.

It is the only show of it's kind in Arizona this year and there will be some fantastic Halloween and Fall shopping!

Meet Marlene Sabatina

Marlene Sabatina will be bringing her eclectic style to the

Parade of Souls art Show.  

I have been wearing jewelry all of my life. 

When I was a little girl I would spend hours in the yard finding rocks that would mimic a grand stone for a necklace, bracelet or ring.  I had polished tumbled stones before they were popular, as my mother would wash them in my clothes. 

I take great pride in each piece I create, with my muse as a guide, I delve into many mediums to create a one of a kind piece.

My training first started when I was in grade school, I made a ceramic rabbit with forest green glaze. (wish I still had that piece)

Now I can create my own glass rabbit in any color I choose. (see blue rabbit photo)

I went on to take many hours of classes and workshops to develop my style and inspiration for my work.  I have been focused these last several years on Metal-smith techniques and PMC.  Currently I teach bronze clay and cast glass classes.   Although jewelry is my first love I do have training in water media and enjoy those times that I can create, paint and play. 

My favorite Halloween story is a bit quirky.  I wanted to dress like a hippie, when I was about 9 or 10, we would always make our own costume's so I took an old blanket and made a poncho, but it was not just right until I decided to write "bad words" in spray paint all over it...boy did I get into trouble.  We still got to go trick or treating and we always used a pillowcase for our treat container.  There was a stop along the way that was a farm stand market and we were treated with cider and donuts at that place.  Not like the Halloweens of today for sure.

Marlene will be showing and selling her best Fall and Halloween work at the

Parade of Souls Art Show

October 13th!

Meet Mary Heldenbrand

Meet

Mary Heldenbrand

of

Twisted Sisters' Designs

  In my younger years, creativity was never a focal point for me.  I was always interested in sports, anything that was physically challenging.  But, as my years progressed, I realized I would not be able to keep that up forever.  When I volunteered to be the Chairman of my church festival, I needed to come up with projects for the ladies to make during the year.  I found that I actually could come up with creative ideas, and the ladies enjoyed the projects I found for them.

                It was now time to broaden my horizons, especially because my physical activity was curtailed due to two hip replacements.  A friend was telling me about a beading class she was taking, and since I had always wanted to do beading, this was a good time to start.  I took one class, followed by another, then another—you can see the pattern—I was hooked.

              

 

The beading classes were followed by Precious Metal Clay classes, which were followed by classes in making dichroic glass cabochons to put into the PMC. The dichroic glass classes segued into making lampwork beads, which led to glass fusing—lots of chances to work in many different colors—I love colors.  I started doing chainmaille in copper, brass and silver, and am now incorporating colored niobium rings into my chainmaille pieces.  While participating in classes, two of my friends asked me to partner with them and form a business, Twisted Sisters’ Designs. 

I was delighted and we now have a beautiful web site,

 www.twistedsistersdesigns.net.  

Please visit and  take a look at our offerings and our class schedule.

               

Now I find that I am able to combine all the mediums I’ve learned, beading, PMC, glass fusing, chainmaille, wire twisting, and fashion unique designs.  I take great pride in each piece I make and revel in the notion that I have creativity within me; I just need to let it out.  I know there are many doors I have yet to open in my art, and I look forward to my continued enrichment.

Mary Heldenbrand, Twisted Sisters’ Designs

Meet Linda Hubbard

Linda will be bringing her whimsical wood creations to the

Parade of Souls Art Show

Oct 13th

My name is Linda Hubbard. I have been married forty years, and have one daughter, three wonderful grandchildren and my sweet dog Spike.

I have been working full time as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist for over thirty seven years. My job is very complex and carving has become a great stress reliever.

I began woodcarving in the late eighties after being inspired by a friend and wonderful woodcarver. Thinking I would just carve a few things....well twenty some years later I still love carving. Seeing what becomes of a block of wood is challenging and exciting.  I carve a variety of subjects, but I must say I have a soft spot for Santa.  I have lost count of all that I have carved and usually have given them to family and friends for Christmas gifts. I am always looking for new ideas and projects; a great place to look is at the local annual carving show.  My friends and I go every year and love to see the carvings that have been entered in the contest; and I try to load up on enough wood to hopefully last me until the next year's show.

 Fall is one of my favorite seasons.  As a child I remember on Halloween going into the neighbor’s houses for our treats.  There were always homemade popcorn balls, cookies and cider.  Most of our costumes were created from what we had at home; but one year I was a mouse and had what I thought was an awesome mask made out of plastic.

My other hobbies include drawing, watercolor and needle felting.  After working long days it is nice to relax and be creative.  Because I am always looking for new inspiration, I love to take classes and connect with friends who enjoy art.

Meet Rita Offutt

Rita will be bringing her Wonderful Woodcarvings to the

Parade of Souls Art Show

October 13th!

My name is Rita Offutt.  My whole life I have loved to make things with my hands. As a little girl I could entertain myself for hours creating and it has continued through my adult life. I want to try everything and as a result I have an abundance of hobbies and more projects than I can ever finish in a lifetime. I honestly believe that all of these endeavors have helped me to grow artistically.

  About 25 years ago I wandered into a tole painting shop and they were offering a wood carving class.  Of course, I signed up on the spot and have been carving ever since. I love the feel of wood and discovering the endless possibilities of creating a piece of art. Often I spend time carving with friends.  We sometimes carve the same project and they all turn out so differently because of our own unique style. I am fascinated with carving tools.  If I see a knife with an unusual or pretty handle I am a sucker for purchasing it!!  As with any art or craft, tools are very important. Keeping my knives sharp and in good condition is essential. I prefer using knives and gouges when carving; I feel that I have more control than when using power tools.

My other love is creating jewelry.  I am in partnership with Debra McKee and Mary Heldenbrand in Twisted Sister Designs located in Mesa, Arizona.  We create unusual one of a kind jewelry designs and teach classes.  Check out our website: 

 www.twistedsistersdesigns.net

  Preparing for Parade of Souls has been very fun. I have always loved Halloween and remember my brother and me, as children getting ready for Trick or Treating. Living in the Midwest was a challenge deciding which costume to wear. Because of the cold weather, my mother always vetoed the beautiful princess and superman costumes in the stores, so we usually wore my dad’s clothes and dressed as hobos. We rubbed charcoal all over our faces to give us a heavy beard. I loved carving my jack-o-lantern…maybe that is where my love of carving originated.

I am originally from Illinois; after living in seven states I settled in Arizona.  I have two grown children and two handsome grandsons with a granddaughter due in October. My cats, Patchy and Samantha keep me company and are very interested in what I am doing; they are always right in the middle of my wood chips!!

Wicked Arts

Meet Donne Goldstein

Of

Wicked arts. 

Donne's work has bee seen in Somerset studio,

Somerset Gallery special book section,

Stuffed and the premier issue of Somerset Apprentice.

I was a ceramics artist for many years, when a new person joined the ceramics studio and introduced me to mixed media, I was hooked! 

I have been involved in making art since I was a child.  From coloring books to
needle and thread I loved it all.  I come by my art skills from both of my
Grandmother's. 

One was a self taught painter, the other an amazing dress maker.
I guess that is why I use so many different medias in my work. 

But sooner or later I return to fabric - my art home base. 

Using found objects or recycled and re-purposed items in my art satisfies my earth friendly side. 

 

Halloween is my favorite holiday. 

That works out well as it is also my
birthday.  So a ghoul girl I am.

You can find my art at etsy.com/shop/wickedarts.

Come and Visit  Donne at the PARADE OF SOULS SHOW!

It will be a wonderful opportunity to purchase from a selection of her original works.