Joan Z. Horn Jewelry

Joan Z. Horn is our favorite jeweler! We have featured Joan's work for somewhere around twenty years now and her designs have been consistently popular with our customers. That is one reason she is our "favorite", but to be our "favorite" is much more than a dollars and cents thing. We admire her work from an artistic standpoint and we admire her as a person. She is a very good business woman and she is very devoted to her family. Check out her work by clicking here.

Mike Smith Watercolors

About once a year, a box shows up at Smith Galleries containing new paintings by Mike Smith. Mike is our most popular artist and it is always exciting to open the box to see his latest creations. This group contains six new originals...five watercolors and one oil. "Bills Plane" (10"x 10")shown at left is in our opinion one of the best pieces of Mike's we have seen. "Fjord" is equally good and is also 10" x 10".
You may see the all six new pieces by clicking here and be sure to see other pieces of Mike's on our site.

Gifts For Her

We are busy preparing a mailing to all our E-Club members titled "Gifts for Her". If you are not a member of our E-Club, you can join here. Join today so you won't miss out on the neat things we do at Smith Galleries for E-Club members.

You can see all the pictures we have taken for the "Gifts for Her" presentation on our Flickr account. Take a look and tell us your favorite.

Pictured at left is a beautiful handblown glass perfume bottle by Roger Gandleman which has been a favorite of many ladies. Make her feel very special by including a bottle of her favorite fragrance.

Open House Today & Tomorrow

The big day has finally arrived...our 20th open house at Smith Galleries. Jean has baked several thousand cookies and they are being gobbled up as I write this. We hope you can come by today or tomorrow for a cookie and conversation.

Gifts For Men

"Men are so hard to shop for." We hear that statement more often this time of year than any other, so let us help you "demystify" shopping for him. He doesn't need another shirt; and he's already gotten all the electronics your house can handle, so give him something really special.
We've chosen a dozen ideas to show you from those items we see men admiring most in the gallery; but if you need additional help, come by or give us a call! You may view the items as a slide show.
Shown is a three stack wooden book treasure box. It has hidden compartments and is perfect for a man's desk or study.

New Sticks Mirrors

Wow! We received two new mirrors by Sticks today and they are fabulous. If you have not looked at our Sticks furniture before, take a moment and give it a look. You will see both new mirrors there on the top row. We cannot show prices on the web but you can email us from there and you will get a instant reply with prices. Let me know which piece is your favorite.

What Will the Neighbors Think?

"Time To Go" is the name of this clock made by Andrea Paige and her brother Eric. A brother and sister design team is very unusual. Their studio is called "What Will the Neighbors Think?". That is a fun name. Their whimsical clocks are wonderfully well crafted using hand painted lucite in vivid colors and wild patterns. By back-painting the lucite they achieve a glossy and brilliant finish. These quirky and colorful clocks reflect the personality of both artists. See more and tell me your favorite.

Hand blown Glass Flower Waterers

We have just received these fabulous hand blown glass flower waterers made by Kahill Deerman. They are designed to water your plants when you can't. They come in two sizes ($36 & $66) and all you have to do is stick the glass stem into the plant medium (dirt) and pour the water in. The water will slowly dissipate and your plants will be very happy. What a great idea...they are beautiful too. They are all one of a kind, so drop by the gallery to see them all.

Chesapeake East Returns

Dana Simpson is a young artist we have admired for a long time. Not only is she an accomplished ceramic artist, she is also a noted book illustrator. She has been absent from Smith Galleries for awhile, but she has some new table clocks that caught our eye and we thought you would like them. She has also redesigned her animal candlesticks that you used to love. Stop by and see them all.

Cookie Madness Has Begun

Jean has begun experimenting with the cookie recipes you have submitted for our big cookie contest. There is still time to submit your favorite recipe before the November 15, 2007 deadline. The winners will be announced and served up at our annual open house on November 23 and 24. Pictured is the "Boy Catcher" cookie which was recently submitted. The lady who submitted the recipe said that she and her college roommates used to make these cookies when they were in college and the boys would come a running. I (Wally) tried a couple and they are fab! Come to our open house on the 23rd & 24th and sample for yourself. Pictures of the various cookies will be posted on Jean's Flicker...take a peek and let her know what looks good.

Camillias Are Blooming

I took this picture this morning in our yard. It is one of the first camellias to begin blooming. One of the great pleasures of living on a sub-tropical island is that the winters are green and there are flowers and shrubs blooming all winter.

Beki Killorin...New Arrivals

Beki Killorin is one of our most popular artists. Her style brings a contemporary look to familiar subjects, imbuing birds, flowers and other images of the natural world with a unique life and spirit. Each work receives her special imprint.....a small red dot the precedes her signature. It is an acknowledgment of God's ever present and lasting love and and affirmation of the wonder of His creation. Amen...

Viscosity Glass Arrived Today

Viscosity is the name of the studio of Scott Graham and Cristy Aloysi. The husband and wife team reside in Seattle where they create a line of contemporary glass objects for the home that are unique in their clean lines and crisp designs.

The bowl shown is quite large, measuring 14" across and 9" in height. It is unique in that it is double walled.

There are several others to see in various colors and sizes, so drop by to see them when you can.

Plant Buddies Are Back

Plant buddies are cool little plant stakes (about 12") that are really fun in your favorite flower pot. Made by Canadian artists Don Gidley and Sue Parke, they have proven to be popular gifts at $12 for the plant sitter or the person who takes care of your pets while you are away having fun. We have been sold out of them for some time, so it is great to get them back in the gallery. Don and Sue furnish us with the neat pot to display them in. Drop by or give us a buzz (1.800.272.3870) to pick up a few for gifts. Click on the picture to see close up.

Baking Day

Today was my (Wally) day off from the gallery and I was in a baking mood. I started off with an old family favorite...sourdough apple butter rolls. We freeze them as soon as they cool off from the oven and pull a couple out when needed. They are yummy.

I next tried a new roll recipe that has dill, green onion and cheddar cheese. Definitely a winner!

Email me if you would like the recipes.

Nativity by Don Drumm

This fabulous standing nativity arrived today. It is designed by the well known sculptor Don Drumm. It is large enough to make a significant display in your home. It will be cherished for generations. Click to purchase.

New work by Heather Judge

Wally has been busy the past few days framing four new mixed media paintings by Heather Judge. Shown is "Monarch 10" which measures 16" x 16". Wally has done an archival framing for it which measures 30" x 33". He has also used the new AR (anti-reflective) glass which is amazing. The AR glass reduces reflection so much that you cannot see the glass. The framed price is $895.
Get your picture framing coupon by clicking here.
Heather Judge is one of our most popular artists...drop by soon to see her new pieces.

Looking for a few good cookies.

October means planning for the Thanksgiving weekend open house at Smith Galleries and the 1000+ cookies I'll make for it. I've already begun scouring the newsstands for the holiday baking issues in search of the perfect cookie! But my favorites are usually recipes I get from friends. That's where you come in.

Do you have a favorite cookie recipe you'd like to share? Wally has created a form (click here) for you to fill out with your favorite. If I make your recipe for the open house, you'll receive a gift from Smith Galleries.

The rules are pretty simple--when you submit your recipe you are giving permission for me to share it with others (I'm thinking about compiling a "colossal cookie collection" of the submitted recipes). Only recipes I don't already have will be considered for prizes although they will all be included in the collection. Decision of the judge (me) is final. Ha!

Click here to submit your recipe.

Sugarboo Arrives Today

Some of you may be familiar with Sugarboo photo frames designed by Rebecca Puig. They are great gifts from parents to children and husbands to wives. All you have to do is select your favorite photograph from your personal collection and insert it in the center and walla...you have a work of art that is very personal. Each frame measure 20" x 20". Check out the ones we received today and let us know your favorite.

Hulet Glass Chocolates Arrived Today

We have loved Hulet Glass chocolates for many years and have today added them to our glass selections at Smith Galleries. You know a beautiful gift of glass chocolate says it all. It is a symbol of love and romance that lasts forever. A unique box of glass chocolates is appropriate for any occasion. Satisfy your passion for glass today. Drop by the gallery soon to see the entire selection. Write us a note if you are familiar with Hulet Glass chocolates.

Pottery by Amelia Stamps Arrives Today

We are very "picky" when it comes to choosing pottery for the gallery. Some of you may recall that I (Wally) was a professional potter for many years. Perhaps I should dig up some old pictures of my work and post them on this blog for you to see? Should I?

We were excited to discover Amelia Stamps at a show we went to in May. Not only do we really like her work, but we also found her to be delightfully charming. All of her pottery is thrown on the potter's wheel and is made from a white stoneware. Her craftsmanship is flawless. The work we commissioned her to do arrived today and we had a great time unpacking it and getting it ready for you to see in the gallery. We do not have any of her work posted on our site yet, so the "Tea Set" above will have to satisfy your curiosity for now. Stop by the gallery to see the entire collection.

Artglass

Isn't it amazing what a glass artist can do with heat, relatively unsophisticated materials (silica, sand and feldspar), talent, bunches of experience and imagination? The attached image of "Coralette" by Glass Eye Studio out in Seattle is an amazing example of the combination of the above mentioned elements.
We have been busy over the past few days photographing some of the beautiful glass pieces we have in the gallery and have just gotten them posted for you to see. Check them out and tell us which piece is your favorite.

Kelly Davidson - Glass Lampwork Jeweler

We have been busy today photographing the work of Kelly Davidson. New to the gallery, she is an incredible lamp work artist who makes beautiful glass jewelry. Kelly lives just across the water from Hilton Head in Beaufort. She grew up here on Hilton Head and is the daughter of our most famous "shrimpin' boat captain" - Captain Woody Collins. We have just finished posting a good portion of her work on our web site. Check it out and let us know what you think. Pictured is her "Carmen Miranda" necklace and matching earrings...fun!

Photo Shoot at Smith Galleries Today

Jean and I were thrilled to have well known Hilton Head Island photographer, John Brackett, visit Smith Galleries today and do a photo shoot for an upcoming edition of Hilton Head Monthly Magazine. John also does a lot of the photography for Celebrate Hilton Head. John is a fabulous photographer and we had a pleasant time with him. We have an ad in HH Monthly every month featuring our STICKS furniture. John took a great picture of us with a new STICKS table and chairs. Check out our STICKS pieces and let us know what you think. I would love to have a 13 Mega Pixel Nikon and wireless flash like John's!

Sticks' Santas Arrived Today

Yes, I (Wally) know, it seems a bit early to think about Christmas. I had a great time today unpacking these fabulous Santas from Sticks. My favorite is the Santa with shorts and shades! They average 18" to 20" in height and are $345. Each is an original. Check them out.