Happy Thanksgiving, 2021

 This year we traveled to Atlanta to spend Thanksgiving at Jeremy's mother's home. It was a relaxed day with charcuterie board and appetizers followed by the traditional meal around 3:00. Cheryl's brother, Butch, and his son, Mitch, joined us. Honey-baked ham, turkey, green bean casserole, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce...and my new neighbor, Nikki Montero, made a pecan pie. It was delicious!

18K Gold-Plated Earring Collection is Perfect for Holiday Gift-Giving

 The 18K Gold-Plated Earring Collection, the most popular collection by Rita Knight Designs, has new designs for the holiday season. These earrings have the look of gold without the price. At this point, they can be ordered through my Etsy shop, ritaknightdesigns.etsy.com or purchased at MAGallery in downtown Madison, Georgia. They are perfect for gift-giving because they come boxed and ready to deliver to that special person!

FALL is here..."Art & Wine" Event

 Summer was a blur this year! It is usually my favorite season, but it was rainy all summer. Combined with the rain, I had a pinched nerve. The pain associated with it was debilitating and the journey to recovery lasted six weeks. Thanks to wonderful friends, a dedicated chiropractor, a fabulous massage therapist...plus many ice packs and pain patches, I am back!

Fast forward to now...my new neighbor, Beverly Sampson, hosted a "Wine and Art" Event at her wonderful, beautifully decorated home. She has a beautiful sunroom that was perfect for my paintings...angels, florals, and the girlfriend art...for those of you who haven't seen them... the galpals  get together for wine.

Here are some photos from the event which was a drop-in on Thursday, September 16 from 6-8. We had a great turn-out and everyone did a little Christmas shopping for friends or bought large for their homes. It was delightful, and I think everyone had a good time! A big thank-you to Beverly for a wonderful get-together!

Hodgepodge Art Walk at Walton Mill

Spring is here...florals are in bloom! I have been working on floral paintings for a couple of months. My style has gotten more whimsical, and I love it! I have found a new venue for my paintings, Hodgepodge Art Walk in the town of Monroe, GA. Monroe has several cotton warehouses that have been remodeled. My friend, Deborah Boyd, has been developing the wonderful concept of Hodgepodge for several years. Her business is at Walton Mill. She has a blend of art, antiques and interiors from many vendors. Her vision has become a reality, and it is such an asset for Monroe.

If you are in the area, stop by at 600 South Broad, Building 3, and check out this wonderful warehouse full of treasures.  My art wall changes weekly so there will always be new paintings available. I have paintings in all sizes for gift items as well as large paintings for the home. I paint angels, florals, children's art and girlfriend art...sharing a glass of wine just to name a few... in all price ranges. 

Dotee Dolls...Friendship & Fun

 I love this whole concept! When I dropped off my painting at OCAF, the Oconee County Art Foundation, for the Members' Show in June, I found out about these wonderful dolls called Dotee Dolls. They were originally started by "Dot" Christian, an Australian crafter, for therapy, fun, or friendship. The Vivis, a group of women who are "friends of OCAF" who have their own show in the OCAF Holiday Market had made several of these for an OCAF fundraiser. I have bought several items from this group...usually one of a kind items...a red and black bird ornament with "Georgia" on top, an small owl ornament with lots of detail, a large angel tree topper...just to name a few. 

I bought these two funky women...my favorite being the one with black hair, embroidered lips, and a wild, beaded outfit...the other caught my attention because of her different color strands of hair. Believe me, it was a hard decision just to stop at two!

Anyway, you get two "unfinished" ones to "make" and share with friends! I can see teaching a class in my future! Kids of all ages would love this project and it would encourage friendship! 

If you read my book about the jewelry-making classes I taught at Cedar Shoals and Clarke Central in Athens, GA, you heard about the Traveling Mermaids. Their journey of friendship is documented in this blog...you will have to scroll back in the blog entries. 

Stop by OCAF and take a look. They are in the case right when you walk in the door. When the focus is put on helping others, all kinds of good things take place...including creative ideas!

The Charming Town of Madison, Georgia

Madison, Georgia is a picturesque small town a short distance from Atlanta. The streets are lined with beautiful, flowering trees...perfect in the spring season.  The town has many antebellum houses since it is the town Sherman did not burn. (There's a story there, but we will get to it in another post.) Madison is going through somewhat of a transition in the downtown area. The old buildings are getting a facelift...many are being turned into residential lofts as well as new retail stores. 

If you are looking for a day or week-end trip, you can spend the day biking, hiking, shopping or your own self-guided walking tour around the town.

My art studio is in one of the quaint cottages built in 1900. It is charming with a few quirks that I am willing to overlook because I love it! Most of my art is full of color and whimsical! I paint angels, florals, and girlfriend art. Here is my first painting in the Madison Collection...it is small town America with all its charm.

18 K Gold-Plated Earring Collection at MAGallery in Madison, Georgia

I am so excited about the new 18K gold-plated earrings that have just arrived at MAGallery in downtown Madison, GA for Mother's Day!  There are many new designs that are perfect for the discriminating buyer. This line has been popular since I began selling them at Athens Interiors Market in Athens, Georgia. Take a look at the video highlighting a few of the styles. To view all of them as well as the new art by Rita Knight, please stop by MAGallery this week. The gallery is open Tues.-Sat. from 11:00-5:00. All jewelry items...earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are boxed and ready for gift-giving. Remember those special moms!

 

It's May, 2021...New Art, New Venues and New Beginnings

 Hello! Wow, it has been a year since I posted on my blog! Time flies! We are in a much better place now than we were a year ago! I feel like we have turned a page, and we are in a new era. Many have been freed up from the fear that we experienced during the pandemic...thanks to the vaccine and a new perspective!

I painted a lot during Covid and started a new series, "Girlfriend Art". It is about connecting with your girlfriends over a glass of wine. Girlfriends need to talk...group therapy...and socialize! What better way to do it than meeting for dinner and a drink!

I have also expanded my art to two other venues besides MAGallery and MWCA. I am currently at The Art Walk at Hodgepodge in Monroe, GA and The Art Box Gallery in Monticello, GA. Angels and florals are at both venues. I am continuing to do well with my art & jewelry at MAGallery and MWCA.  You can also purchase my art on my web site, ritaknightart.org and my jewelry in my Etsy shop, ritaknightdesigns.etsy.com

Find us on Instagram under trinketsjewelrydesigns and on FB under Rita Knight. Glad to be back! Have a great week!