Leaping along in Llano, Texas

Well what a month it has been. I wish we could have leapt over the entire month. Our brother-in-law has spent most of it in the VA Hospital in Temple, Texas with a knee infection. We have made the two hour trip a few times, trying to help ease the boredom. The good news is he is coming home today! I know my sister and her family will be very happy to have him home. 

Sadly my Aunt was diagnosed with terminal, end stage breast cancer after what we thought was a year of surviving post treatment.  It has been a real shock to the whole family and has made Lou and I both remember how important it is for us to make each day count. We are both re-thinking our lives and making sure we are doing the things that really matter to us, the things that make our hearts sing.

Mesquite Valentines From Lou Quallenberg

4' Sculpted Hearts Mesquite Slab

Speaking of hearts Valentines Day was celebrated in our home in Llano, Texas with an amazing four foot, sculpted, dual heart, mesquite slab from the talented Lou Quallenberg.  The mesquite slab was left rough and unfinished with the mix of smooth hearts and  rugged texturing. (The photo does not do it justice I took it with my cell phone.)

I Just Love It! and have added it to my mesquite  heart collection that increases in size every February.  I know I have posted the photo before but I do enjoy my mesquite hearts that Lou makes and enjoy sharing them. Believe it or not each piece is usually created the day before Valentines Day.

Barry Bradley's "Two Halves Makes A Whole"

I also wanted to share this really cool limestone and mesquite heart by Barry Bradley of Artisans at Rocky Hill in Fredericksburg.  He always comes up with unique and interesting sculptures and furniture.   A True Artist.  

Speaking of Artists it is that time again.  @LAST Llano ART Studio Tour is the last Saturday in March. That makes it March 31st this year.  We are looking forward to the tour again this year and Lou will be doing a demo at 2:00pm on his turquoise inlay process and creating the mesquite laminate curves he uses in his mesquite furniture.

The following artists are participating this year:

Map 2012 @LAST Llano Art Studio Tour for use Saturday March 31st The Last Saturday in March Annually

@1
Ira Kennedy Home Studio
Painting Acrylic Ink
www.irakennedy.com/painting

@2
Texas Tin Lizard: Kathleen Smith
Mixed Media Bottle Trees
www.texastinlizard.com

@3
The Country Quilt Shop: Ann Fellar
Fabric & Quilts
www.quiltshopinthecountry.com

@4
Sweet Mesquite: Ken Cline
Wood & Frames
www.sweet-mesquite.com

@5
Tom Suarez Photography
www.tomsuarez.com

@6
Llano Fine Arts Guild
Guild Artists
www.llanofineartsgallery.org

@7
Nailhead Spur Company: Richard Wendt
Iron
www.nailheadspur.com

@8
DustDevilDiver Photography: Briley Mitchell
www.dustdevildiverphotography.com

@9
A Rosy Outlook
Mixed Media / Jewelry
www.arosyoutlook.com

@10
Gridiron Gallery: Jack Moss
Watercolor Western Art
www.thegridirongallery.com

@11
ClayThings: Lynda Hallmark Gammage

   Dana Williams Wood, the Single Tree Collection
   Shabby Chic

   Jane Lynch
   Altered Art

   Connie Lynch
   Stained Glass

@12
Sapphire (Sheri Zoch) Home Studio
Fused glass and oils

@13
Charles & Euneen Wendt Home Studio
Spurs, Iron, Fused Glass, Gourd Art
www.rockingwspurs.com

@14
Myrick Studio: Harriet Myrick
Mixed Media

@15
Bob & Lisa Pheil Home Studio
Iron & Baskets
www.pheilforges.com

@16
Lou Quallenberg Home Studio
Sculpted Mesquite Wood
www.LouQart.com

   Ralph Moresco
   Copper Wind Spirals
   www.westshorewindspirals.com

   Susie Fowler
   Shade Tree Potter
   www.shadetreepotter.com

Please respect the privacy of the Artists in Home Studios by making an appointment on dates other than the tour date of Saturday March 31st 2012.  Follow us on Facebook. and see photos of last years event.

 

Backyard Bluebonnet Bokeh by Briley Mitchell at DustDevilDiver Photography Llano,Texas

The bluebonnets are popping their heads out and with the recent rains it is setting up to be a good year for them.  I have included a photo of a few of these early blooming beauties taken by one of the @LAST Llano ART Studio Tour Artists, Briley Mitchell of DustDevilDiver Photography in Llano. Please note: This image is copyright protected with all rights reserved.

Lou has not had a camera in his hands in some time.  He has been busy in the shop but I hope to dust him off and drag him out as soon as there is a good show along the roadsides.  

If you get a chance it is a GREAT time to come and visit Llano, Texas.  Besides bluebonnets we also have a beautiful river with sandy granite beaches, a historic county courthouse and square, a bald eagles nest, and nearby is the incredible Enchanted Rock. The area is flooded with history and easily pulls up images of Cowboys and Indians riding horseback along the granite rocks and ridges.

A recent visitor posted about Llano, Texas and Coopers BBQ on twitter:

 @FrankBruni

New York Times Op-Ed columnist, food lover and author of several books, including the family and diet memoir Born Round New York, NY · http://tinyurl.com/3ev8hpn

"@FrankBruni: Finally made it to heaven. It's in Llano, Tex., and it's called Cooper's bbq. Brisket, pork ribs, taxidermy and ecstasy." posted Feb 25 @2:27pm

Don't forget to stop by the shop if you are in the area but do call ahead to be sure we are there. Life is short and I plan to make sure we put a few miles on the Harley this spring. At some point we hope to finally make it back to New Jersey for a long awaited visit with friends and family.

The End Is The Beginning

Is it the end of the old year or the beginning of a new one that we celebrate? I really think it is a little of both as we look back at what we have survived and accomplished (or not as the case may be) and then prepare for all of the incredible possibilities a new year brings......

Is it the end of the old year or the beginning of a new one that we celebrate?

British Airways Face to Face Award

A quick look back on 2011 reminds me that at this time last year I was busy planning my trip to New York, London and Egypt. All thanks to the British Airways Face of Opportunity Award.  The New York leg was detoured because of the crazy weather and Egypt obviously did not happen due to the turmoil in the country but it was replaced by sunny and beautiful Barcelona and for that I am thankful.  Barcelona was never really on my top 10 list but now I can't wait to take Lou there, if I can ever get him dusted off and out of the shop.  I guess it is hard to take a vacation when you do what you love and feel like you don't have enough time to accomplish what you want to with it in this lifetime!

Mesquite Entry Table 2011 by Lou Quallenberg

Lou worked away this year through the extreme cold and then the exhausting heat and drought. Projects included a Mesquite Dining Table, a Mesquite Entry Table, and then eight beautiful Benches / Pews for the Chapel.  We were blessed this year with plenty of work, new clients and even more to come in the New Year as the work schedule fills and the waiting list grows ever longer.  

Is it the end of the old year

or the beginning of a new one

that we celebrate?

While one door closed, Riverbend Fine Art in Marble Falls came to an end, a few opened as we found representation in Fredericksburg with Galeria 19.  Marta Stafford Fine Art will open her doors in Marble Falls and while she has no room to place our pieces we wish her huge success and value her advice and opinion on all things art.  Thanks goes to both Galleries for selling pieces, old and new, of Lou's work this past year.  Thank you also to Ann Bradley at Artisans at Rocky Hill for referring a client our way. We do miss the regular visits with the owners, Art and Artisans from that Gallery but as we know things change and change has been good to us this year.

Crated and ready to head across the pond.

We sent two pieces to the United Kingdom last year and are  being patient as the seeds planted there begin to take root and will hopefully bear fruit.  We thank Joe Prest and Amie Prest of The Mesquite Company as they do the hard work of introducing the UK and Europe to the beauty and character of all things Mesquite and especially Lou Quallenberg's Mesquite Furniture.

@LAST Llano ART Studio Tour 2011 MAP

This year we contributed to the Llano Art scene by helping start up @LAST: Llano's Art Studio Tour  the LAST Saturday in March. It was such a great success that we will be holding @LAST Annually! We joined the Llano Fine Art Guild and expanded the Llano Trail of the Deer Art Project with another deer our own Buck-B-Q!  While he is not an actual working Barbecue pit, he does sport his own food, flames , thermostat and BBQ tools.  He also has the ability to spurt smoke out his nose.  Our homage to Llano's famous Bar-B-Q and it's reputation as Deer Capital of Texas.      

Buck-B-Q our 2011 contribution to  Llano's Trail of the Deer

We continue to deal with the issues associated with aging parents and while difficult at times we would not trade it for anything.  This year's knee replacement for Me Maw brought us back together with some of the same nursing and care staff at St. Davids Hospital that we got to know with last years broken ankle surgery.  It made me wonder about paths and journeys crisscrossing and entwining and really opened my eyes to teachers and lessons.  

Thank you for reading this blog because I know that if you are actually reading this blog you are one of our supporters, clients, friends or family and we are so thankful to have you in our lives.  So it looks like we will continue on for another new year discovering the many mysteries that mesquite furniture making in the Texas Hill Country holds in store for us.......

Reflections of Spring in the Texas Hill Country

This has been an amazing year for Texas Bluebonnets and Wildflowers especially here in the Texas Hill Country! They have been bursting over the edges of the roadsides and are taller than I can ever in my forty plus years remember. (We tried to celebrate my 44 and his 54 years this month, but were so worried over our sweet Louie who we nearly lost to a serious kidney problem. He has dropped alot of weight but we think he is out of the woods now.)

This year we have taken a few moments here and there to stop and smell the bluebonnets. Yes, they do actually have a scent! When they are in mass abundance they give off a light, sweet fragrance that reminds me of my childhood,  Hill Country Spring and winding Texas back roads. The smell of  Texas Bluebonnets and Texas Mountain Laurel are both such delicate fragrances that require long term memory storage because they happen only briefly once a year and most years are barely noticeable to the undiscerning, unconscious nose.

Capturing the oceans, lakes and ribbons of blue flowers on film (or pixels) is not an easy task although many do attempt it.  Lou's Bluebonnet in a Mesquite Frame (shown here) is popular with the many Wildflower hunters.

This year the tourists, photographers both professional and amateur, and spring breakers descended on the Texas Hill Country like a swarm of bees.  Don't get me wrong we appreciate the boost to the economy, I just wonder if we should stop them at the county line with a list of rules or warnings.

Something like:   

• No matter how great the photo-op do not stop and/or park in the middle of a highway.

• If the speed limit is 70 mph then driving 35 mph is hazardous to your health.

• Remember that Bluebonnet/Wildflower Season is the same as Rattlesnake Season, look and listen before you step.

• Fire ants live under Bluebonnets/Wildflowers look before plopping your baby or child in that patch of pretty flowers.

• Do you really need a sign to tell you that you are trespassing?

The Ross Bedside-End Table was picked up this month.  They had a busy spring schedule including a trip to Santa Fe that kept them from picking it up sooner. This sweet little table was designed to fit a very small space between the bed and wall with enough room to have a small drawer.  It has Lou's signature, floating, sculpted, live edge top and shelf, and curved legs. The deer antler drawer pull matches their other piece.

We know the clients were happy to add it to their collection. The weekend they picked it up they caught the tail end of the Bluebonnets and managed to catch the State Championship Goat Cook-off in Golthwaite. We had such a nice visit at the shop, then lunch at the Acme Cafe and a quick look at Circle on the square Gallery.

Speaking of Circle on the square we are proud to announce that we were chosen as one of six artists to participate in Llano's Trail of the Deer Community Art Project.  This will be a collaborative, partnership effort on both our parts. We will be painting one of the life sized White Tailed Deer sculptures scheduled to arrive in Llano, Texas the week of May17th. The artists will have 30 days to complete their Deer.  The Painted Deer will be placed around town in various revolving locations, attending local parades and events and then auctioned off at the end of the project.  We are excited and honored to be a part of this Community Art Project that promotes both the Arts and Tourism in the Texas Hill Country. 

Lou has designed and created several new mesquite mirrors  with turquoise inlay which can be seen and purchased at one of our gallery representatives:

Artisans at Rocky Hill in Fredericksburg

Circle on the square in Llano

Riverbend Fine Art in Marble Falls

or custom ordered through one of the Gallery's and/or directly through the website.  We do require that you let us know how you found out about us so that we can compensate our representatives properly.  They work hard to get the word out about Lou's mesquite furniture and art and we want to be sure they are taken care of.

Lou really likes to design and create mirrors and I wonder if it might have something to do with the fact that mirrors offer the viewer a reflection.  I think sometimes we see our physical selves as the image reflected back in a mirror, sometimes we see our souls in the image reflected back, and sometimes if we are lucky and look deeply we see the connection to others in ourselves reflected back.

Perhaps making mesquite mirrors is Lou's way of spreading light?

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton

To me he is both candle and mirror.....

Gold Stars, Awards and Recognition

As we prepare for upcoming shows: The Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and the Texas Furniture Makers Show in Kerrville, Texas we question why is it that we do them? It REALLY is NOT for the Awards or Prizes but more for a chance to push Lou's artistic vision and ability. The Gold Stars, Awards and recognition are always nice (probably necessary in Elementary School) and perhaps validate what the artist is creating but in the end that is not what Lou is working for.

He does this work in Mesquite furniture to satisfy something inside of himself and also to bring out something from the mesquite tree's spirit that is speaking to him. When we started this furniture making journey we had many head scratching, naysayers who did not quite understand what he was doing and why he invested so much time creating the curves that have become a part of his signature style. Lot's of folks just did not "get it". Lou Quallenberg's work is not traditional nor is it really contemporary. We honestly don't know what to call it. He is not repeating designs from the past or copying another style. His work truly is his own. His own Design. His own Style.

Someone recently found a piece online that was an "ill" attempt to copy his look. Lou repeated Charles Caleb Colton's words "Imitation is the sincerest of flattery." Lou also said:

"they can copy only the works I have already produced they can't copy the designs I hold in my head and have yet to produce." Lou Quallenberg

He is right but it still ruffles my feathers a bit. I guess because I feel like they are trying to take something away from him. But they can't.

Another reason we attend these shows is the opportunity to meet such amazing and talented Artists. At the Texas Furniture Makers Show we always look forward to seeing the work of Frank Strazza. (Our inside joke is that Lou has to come up with a Strazzanator) Frank's work is so amazing and he uses only hand tools!! Barry Bradley and Rex White are always coming up with something unique for the Texas Furniture Makers Show, we see them more often because we all have work at the Artisans at Rocky Hill Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas.

The Western Design Conference is the one that really inspires because it brings together western influenced artists from Jewelry, Fashion, Metal, Wood, Leather, and Home Accents. It is a room full of 100 or so Artist's bringing their best. It is pure inspiration from the moment you walk into the gallery setting show. If you consider the amazing talent and hours of hard work that come together under one roof for those few days it will blow your mind. We always hope that while we are there in the midst of that creativity some of that talent and inspiration will somehow sneak it's way into our souls and make us better at what we do.