An art lover's marketplace An art lover's marketplace (May 07, 2004)

Browse through hundreds of well-stocked arts and crafts booths, chat with talented artists and craftmakers and discover unusual gifts at A La Carte & Art, May 15-16 on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View. More than two hundred artists from all over the West Coast will showcase their latest handcrafted wares --clothing, jewelry, furniture, sculpture, paintings, ceramics, music, photography, leather goods, glass and much more.

Sculpture and mixed media

Guerneville artist Michael Adams makes gorgeous hand-decorated kitchen pottery, including goblets and wine chillers in colorful floral and grape patterns. From functional to fun, artist Bill Bloom of Petaluma uses ceramics and raku to create purely aesthetic pieces. Intricately designed ceramic plates as big as 26 inches in diameter are perfect for hanging on walls, adding originality and imagination to your rooms.

Olaf Hoerschelmann of Sebastopol uses homegrown geraniums, larkspur and daisy flowers to create stunning pressed flowers enclosed in beveled and stained glass windows of all sizes. His favorite? A Victorian oval window replica filled with a lovely mix of blue and purple flowers.

For a mix of serenity and humor, check out "Lush Fountain" by Fresno artist Spencer Press. He will be showcasing his latest fountain where water pours from a Grey Goose vodka bottle into a martini glass. The fountain is set in natural stone with a mountain scene in the background.

Functional art

Brentwood father-and-son team Lyle "Buzz" Shabram and Patrick Shabram design and build durable Baltic birch wood indoor and outdoor tables and benches called "Spiderlegs" that fold neatly into a carrying case.

Santa Rosa artist Fred Albrecht designs gorgeous glass-beaded mille fleur bottle corkers that fit a variety of bottles from wine to vinegar and olive oils. Their unique non-porous corks prevent leakage of fluid and add a touch of class to your bottles.

Mountain View artist Jodi Cincinatus-Timm creates functional art for the home. French chef scenes, ladybugs and grapes are just a few of the designs on her handcrafted wooden trays and lazy susans. Clever clocks are also in her repertoire, like the one in the shape of a shoe with the inscription, "Kick up your heels!"

Kelly Smith of San Francisco offers a delightful array of natural skincare products with the scents of lavender, jasmine, citrus and gardenia that will please everyone from parents to pets. Her company, Rubber Ducky Soap, sells sea salt scrubs, bath teas, body and face lotions, candles, lip balm, doggie soap and, of course, rubber ducks.

Wearable art

Spring is the time for pedicures, sandals and toe rings. Monica Pineda of San Ramon has been designing and selling toe rings since 1989. She has expanded her fine jewelry business to include matching thumb rings and anklets in all sizes, using real gold, silver and precious stones.

"Every year I add a few new styles," said Pineda, who keeps up with fashion trends.

San Carlos jewelry designer Toni Barbera uses crystal from around the world to create classic, upscale designs with a unique blend of texture and color.

Oakland's Philippe Janssens creates beautiful handcrafted silver bracelets and necklaces. He began with designs of Hawaiian petroglyphs and now focuses solely on contemporary designs.

Berkeley husband-and-wife team Hiroshi and Sarah Morimoto specialize in men's Hawaiian shirts and women's sundresses with matching blouses in traditional Japanese fabrics.

Fine art

San Francisco photographer Lisa Kristine's dramatic photos of dwellings, humanity and water give us a glimpse of life we may not have previously experienced. For 20 years, Kristine has captured the face of humanity around the world through her travel in 51 countries.

Step back in time with a special watercolor by Mountain View artist Gladys Robinson. Paintings include historical train stations in the Bay Area and local California missions. For a world view of flora and fauna, Napa artist Gianna Marino has created a stunning collection of watercolors that document her world travels.

Alan Fong of Dublin specializes in painting autumn landscapes in California. Painting on rice paper gives Fong a unique approach and allows for a fluent blending of colors. Panoramic photographer Jim Guthrie of Sunnyvale uses a special camera to capture scenes from around the world. Landscapes, seascapes and nature scenes come to life in his clear, detailed photographs.

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