Breadside Tables are Here!

Guest artist, Steve Butler's "Breadside Tables" are now at TraillWorks. Though not yet organized for the official exhibit, they are on view. "Breadside Tables" are Steve's unique reuse of kitchen kitsch. A collector of bread boxes, Steve combines them with feet from vintage ottomans of the same era to create a really neat piece of retro furniture. These would make excellent bedside tables or side tables with the right mid century modern furniture.

The exhibit starts Monday and runs through September 29th. An opening reception is scheduled for Saturday, September 12th, from 5 - 8pm, coinciding with Newton's Tour of Art on 2nd Saturday.

You can read more about Steve's process and interest in bread boxes on his blog, Steve Butler-Furniture Maker.

A Big Announcement!

I am officially being represented by ArtQuiver, a sleek, new online gallery that is getting a lot of buzz. As of today my gallery is live and you can view it directly at www.artquiver.com/artist/jennie-traill-schaeffer/gallery. They are representing some phenomenal painters and I'm deeply honored to have been sought out by what looks to be a promising venture. ArtQuiver offers an incredible marriage between technology and art. You can search for artwork by style, price, medium, size, artist, color and popularity. If you visit an artist's gallery directly, you'll come to a virtual gallery which shows the artist's work on a virtual wall with lighting and scale of the work by including architectural features and people in the room. I'm just thrilled to be part of this new way of buying art.

And, to top it off, ArtQuiver is running a giveaway right now . . . when you become a fan on their Facebook page and write on their wall or start following them on Twitter you'll have a chance of winning a painting, valued up to $5000 (see rules for details)! So check out my new gallery and visit their blog for more info on the giveaway, maybe you'll win one of my paintings!

Thursdays Late 'til 8

TraillWorks is now open Thursdays late until 8pm. The merchants of Spring Street finally came to a consensus . . . to be open late on Thursdays. Most merchants will be open until 8pm. Since we're all independent business owners, it's been tough getting everyone to agree. Hopefully with more pedestrian traffic on the street more merchants will be encouraged to stay open. So, shop locally and come on out to Newton on a Thursday to find many stores open for your convenience. Visit Main Street Newton, Inc.'s web site to check out individual store hours, as well as where to dine.

Look for a promotion coming in the fall that will reward you for visiting us late and shopping on Spring Street. In the meantime if you're interested in buying from local, independent businesses wherever you live, check out the 3/50 Project which is gaining media attention all over the country.

20 Under 40

The past week has been so busy that I never got a chance to open my mail from a week ago. Yesterday, I tore open a letter from the NJ Herald, our county paper, thinking it would be an invoice for advertising. To my pleasant surprise it was a congratulatory letter for my selection as one of the NJ Herald's "20 Under 40."

A panel from the Herald selected the 20 honorees from nominations to honor business and civic leaders under the age of 40 who are making our community a better place to live. Wow! I am truly humbled and touched by this recognition.

According to the letter I will be getting a phone call for an interview for publication of the project at the end of September. I'll keep you posted! Thank you to whoever nominated me.

New Painting Available

Blue Topography I
Ceramic Paint on Tile
6" x 6"
©2009 Jennie Traill Schaeffer

unframed with hanging hardware on back

$89

2nd Saturday Summer Blues

Whether music, food, or color, there's so much to do with Blue on 2nd Saturday in Newton. Enjoy Summer Blues with . . .

Music - FREE from 5 - 8pm
Glenn Zervas, The Rum Boogie Blues Band AND Queens Blvd.
8pm on Peter Biedermann playing electronic inspired music at Now Now Gallery

Detail of Topography I ©2009 Jennie Traill Schaeffer

Art -
The Topography of Blue at TraillWorks
new works featuring a vintage blue apron by me

Food -
Blue Cheese Tasting Tent on Spring Street by Cheddar Alley - FREE
Blue Plate Specials at JC's Grillhouse
$35 Three Course Meal at Andre's Restaurant

Blue Sales -
Now Now Gallery
Feels Like Home
Prima Donna's Consignments
Craft Creators

Education -
Readings from the Paulinskill Poetry Project at SCA&HC Gallery, 4 - 6pm
Lecture on the "Influence of Blue" at Inner Designs, 11am & 4pm

For more information and links to each merchant, visit www.mainstreetnewton.org.

New Student Works

Exploding Poppy, Mixed Media on Canvas, 20" x 20", ©2009 Laurel O'Rourke

One of my students, Laurel, just finished this four-panel mixed media painting. It was her first experience with acrylic which was then touched up with soft pastels. She and I had a lot of fun exploring color relationships and the expressive qualities of the paint / pastel together.

For more student work, see the student album on Facebook. No, you don't have to be a Facebook user to view my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/traillworks.

Another Giveaway and Reason to Become a Fan

Since my last promotion in early July to get fans added to my TraillWorks Facebook page was so successful I'm doing it again to drive traffic to my Wedding Cake Portraits page on Facebook. During the month of August you might be the winner of a 6" x 6" Wedding Cake Portrait, valued at $99! I will create a painting of your wedding cake topper on a tile.

All you have to do is become a fan of Wedding Cake Portraits on Facebook and suggest it to your friends. I have to reach 200 fans during the month of August. A winner will be selected on August 31st only if I have reached 200+ fans. The winner will be selected from people who become fans during the month of August.

So go ahead and become a fan!