25 Artful Days at TraillWorks

Jewels Garnet, Fiber and Found Object Collage, 6" x 4" Martha C. Hall

On December 1st we kicked off a holiday gift program on the TraillWorks' Facebook page. From now through December 25th, we're posting a gift idea daily on the page. Most of the gifts stem from our current exhibit, "Good Things, Small Packages," while a few come from TraillWorks in general. 

Cover, 2013 TraillWorks Calendar

Throughout the month, we encourage you to like our page, comment and interact with the ideas we're posting. At the end of each week, the fan with the most interactions during that period will be awarded a complimentary 2013 TraillWorks Calendar featuring the work of ten of our artists. Winners will be announced every Saturday in December on Facebook.

Feel free to share this on Twitter by using the hashtag #25ArtfulDays. We hope you like the selections we've chosen for you - the gallery is full of really unique and meaningful handmade gifts, made by local and regional artists. Enjoy your holiday season and remember the importance of buying local and from artists and artisans.

Jewelry News at TraillWorks

Jasper, Unakite and Sterling Silver Bracelet, ©2010 Marty Traill Schaeffer,

$150 @ TraillWorks

Guest artist, Marty Traill Schaeffer, just created a new piece available at TraillWorks. It's a gorgeous beaded bracelet, showcasing a large Jasper stone, surrounded by two smaller Jasper stones, two Unakite stones and sterling silver tube beads, spacers and clasp. The main stone features an olive green background with traces of red and naples yellow.

Jasper is a beautiful stone that has been used in jewelry and referenced since ancient times by the Greeks, Minoans, Assyrians, Persians, and Jews. According to one site, Jasper has healing properties and the ability to provide courage, protection and justice. This bracelet has an excellent weight, with a very grounding feel to it. I know you will fall in love with it.

Liesl Carlson, another guest jewelry artist whose work I've featured in a previous blog post, has just been featured in the book, 30 Minute Earrings, launched this month by Lark Books. Carlson's earrings were selected for the main image gracing the book's cover. Congratulations to her - she's a very creative and talented jewelry artist and am honored to represent her at TraillWorks. Stop in to see her collection at the gallery and learn more about Liesl by catching her blog.

Bernadette Blaney's work, the "the glass lady" from Newton and former owner of Radiant Essentials, has been selling consistently to new and old collectors. Featuring fused Dichroic glass, Bernadette's pieces have an elegant modern quality. The iridescent glass is cut and layered in soft, geometric patterns, seemingly influenced by Kandinsky.


I have worn all of the artists' jewelry and know that you will find something that suits your style at TraillWorks. In the photo above, I'm wearing an omega chain necklace by Carlson and earrings by Blaney. Not pictured, was one of my mom's (Schaeffer's) bracelets on my wrist. I've been lucky enough to represent very diverse and talented studio jewelers, who also all happen to be good friends and family. If you're a studio jeweler interested in submitting work for review, please send an email to jennie@traillworks.com with two sample images of your work no larger than 3mb each @300dpi, a resume / bio / statement, and web site link.

TraillWorks is open Tuesday - Friday 12 - 6pm, Thursdays late 'til 8pm, and Saturdays 12 - 5pm.