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RINGS! RINGS RINGS!

We've been hard at work in the shop and are excited to show you some of the beautiful Maine stones we have set into Harvest Gold creations! 

A Look Into the Gallery, Featuring: Marty Elkin
Hello everyone! My name is Ava Birchfield, and I am extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to work at Harvest Gold this summer. I am an incoming junior at Virginia Tech, studying Human Development and Disability Studies. My family has been coming to Lovell for almost 15 years and it has become one of my favorite places on earth. Harvest Gold truly captures and illustrates the beauty of Maine, showcasing every aspect of this incredible state. 
"Birches"
One of the first things I noticed when touring the gallery was the use of various materials and textures. For example, the wonderful, Marty Elkin, creates her artwork using original needle felted wool. I was especially drawn to her piece titled, "Sheep in the Field." Her artistry with wool not only highlights her technical skills but also deepens the connection between sheep and their wool. Sheep, through their natural cycles, provide the very material Elkin transforms into her art. This process showcases the relationship between the artist and the subject of the piece, emphasizing sustainability and the beauty inherent in raw materials found in nature. Elkins piece not only illustrates the physicality of sheep but also the bond between animals, humans, and the natural resources we share.
"Sheep in the Field"
Although not all of her pieces include images of animals, there is an undeniable connection between the different aspects of nature. Her pieces are not only beautiful to look at, they are also uniquely thought provoking, with each piece telling it's own story. 
"The Kettle and the Cup"
I highly recommend checking out Marty Elkins art work when visiting the gallery in-person or online. Thank you all for taking time to read my thoughts and I hope you all have an amazing summer! 
Jean Swan Gordon In Full Bloom

Happy Day, all! I'm Emma McDonald, and I am thrilled to be helping out as a summer employee at Harvest Gold for the next few months. I've spent the last 2 years as an undergrad, pre-med major at Virginia Tech and have been given the most amazing opportunity to enjoy all of the beauty that is here in Lovell as well as on Kezar Lake! It is truly a peaceful oasis, and I've never seen any place quite like it.

"Sleepy Poppies"

When walking into the gallery for the first time, I couldn't help but feel drawn to the larger than life floral pieces by Jean Swan Gordon. The late artist vacationed in Boothbay Maine which is where her love of flower bouquet painting developed! She began by just simply using pencil and pen, and then transitioned to layered watercolor. The juxtaposition between the soft watercoloring and the ink outlining along each petal and edge of the vase creates a very delicate look that is easy on the eyes. Each piece sits centered on a white background which further accentuates the details and beautiful color schemes! Although summer is only just beginning, my personal favorite piece is titled "End of Summer", which reflects the somewhat dried nature of the flowers placed sporadically in the vase, while still retaining their vibrant warm and cool tones. The vases themselves also create contrast within every piece, with each having distinct shapes, designs and colors. 

"End of Summer"

Make sure to stop by Harvest Gold or check out our site to see more elaborate works by Jean Swan Gordon. I'm looking forward to learning about all of the talented artists that make this gallery so incredibly special, and I hope you all have a wonderful summer!

Finding Joy in the Little Things
Hello everyone! It's Ava, from the last edition and I'm here to share my favorite aspects of the gallery once again! As you all know, Harvest Gold is filled with beautiful paintings, sculptures, and jewelry but it's also full of unique home decor that brings color and comfort to your living space. Here, we celebrate the charm of those subtle details and sometimes overlooked pieces that transform everyday spaces into extraordinary environments. From silly animal salt & pepper shakers to handmade textiles, Harvest Gold has everything you need to elevate your home and find joy in the little things.
 
Not only is everything pleasing to the eye, shopping for homemade items is a sustainable way to fill your home. By choosing homemade decor, you're not only investing in unique, handcrafted pieces, but also contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle. 

I highly recommend walking through the gallery and seeing how Lynda and Bill have tastefully displayed everything beyond just the paintings. Their pieces bring a unique Maine ambiance into the space which evoke the same serenity and charm we feel throughout the state.
I feel extremely fortunate to work in such an incredible environment that ignites my creativity and feels comfortable no matter where I am in the gallery.
Teapots, Vases, Bowls, Oh My!

Hey everyone, it’s Emma! I am unfortunately nearing the end of my journey here at Harvest Gold soon, and I just wanted to thank you all for following along this summer. It has been so wonderful to work at such a charming, special place and it has also been lovely to meet all of you in the gallery! I will undoubtedly miss Lovell as well as Kezar Lake, however I am certainly hoping to return in the future!  

 For this blog post, I wanted to highlight the work of the incredible Lacey Pots! Lacey is an artist from the Portland, Maine area, and her work caught my eye the day I began working here. The various vases, bowls, teapots and cups of all different sizes are available for purchase and are perfect for summer entertaining. Below you can see the plethora of colorful designs and styles this artist uses, my favorite being the red floral teapot.

 Another one of my favorite pieces by Lacey is this lovely cream, medium-sized bird vase. This is such an adorable design, and I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it before- what a treasure!

The next time you stop into the gallery, you will see her mini vases scattered throughout each room, each with its own unique design and color scheme, among all of the other beautiful pieces. I think these vases are perfect for a small bedside table flower arrangement, or for a bathroom sink! Again, it was such a joy to be a part of such a wonderful community for the summer, and I hope each of you make time to come into Harvest Gold very soon to see all of the treasures!

Anchor Bend Glassware
Anchor Bend glasswork is a glass art collaborative created by three life-long friends, Michael Richardson, Timothy Underwood, and Justin Tarducci. Together they inspire and encourage one another to create the beautiful glass you see produced by Anchor bend. 

Michael Richardson first tried glass blowing in high school, which eventually lead him to attend St. Michael's College in Vermont to continue exploring art. Now his favorite part about being an artist is seeing the pleasure people get out of using his work. Justin Tarducci first blew glass when he was only 14, he later attended Rhode Island School of Design, then he was an apprentice under John Bolger Glass. His field knowledge and studies have really aided in the creation of Anchor Bend and he hopes to continue learning.Timothy Underwood has a great reputation in the industry due to his fine-tuned skills. He also mentors local high school students and spends his free time teaching his son about glass work.
At the gallery we carry both the wave and confetti glasses. Stop by Harvest Gold Gallery to see Anchor Bend glasswork for yourself!
Bills's Pesto Recipe!
It's that time of year when the vegetable garden has seen better days, and the final harvesting of herbs and such must take place before the garden rests for the winter. For Bill, this translates into- PESTO making time! Pesto is a tasty sauce that can be made in a big batch and stored in the fridge or even freezer to add to your dishes at your convenience. Bill has a quick and tasty recipe that fits any pesto craving!
The recipe is as follows:  Pick your fresh basil, and using a food processor, add  2 cups of basil leaves, 1/3 cup of pine nuts, 8 cloves of peeled fresh garlic, 3/4 cup of shredded parmesan cheese. Blend this all together into a nice green and aromatic paste! Then add 1 cup of olive oil and blend the oil into the paste. Store the pesto in a jar and keep refrigerated and use within 30 days, or store your pesto into ice cube trays in the freezer. Once they are frozen, pop them out into a ziploc bag and Voila! Pesto all winter long! 
(Check out Bill's large can of Olive Oil- a sign of a true cook!)
 
We love this time of year! Happy cooking!
Birthstone of the month: Sapphire!
Anybody born in September knows that this month's birthstone is Sapphire!
Sapphire is a gemstone comes from the mineral corundum, and is most famous for its deep blue coloration. Though it is most commonly recognized for it's deep blue beauty, sapphires come in a very wide variety of colors.
The only color sapphires don't come in is red, because when corundum has a red color it is instead recognized as a ruby! Sapphires are super durable, ranking a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale which makes them the perfect stone to wear as jewelry. You can wear sapphires without ever having to fear about them cracking or chipping! Fun fact, sapphires can be man-made, meaning they can be synthesized in a lab and will have the same properties as a natural sapphire. Sapphire has been known as a royal stone, often worn by royalty as a status symbol.
Pictured above is a photo of Princess Diana's engagement ring. Sapphire has also been know to represent sincerity, faithfulness, and fidelity, which makes it the perfect anniversary gift. Sapphires are traditionally given as a gift on the 5th and 45th wedding anniversary.
Happy Birthday to all the September birthdays and we hope to see you all in the Gallery soon!
Nyla's Favorite paintings!
 Hello Everyone! My name is Nyla and I started working at Harvest Gold about two months ago. Every day I've been in the Gallery I've come to appreciate the beauty of the artwork around me and every artist's unique style. Today I'm going to share some of my absolute favorite paintings in the Harvest Gold Gallery with you.
Click on any of the paintings to see them on our website!
First, "Lupines in the Sky" by Varvara Harmon. This is one of the pieces that really caught my eye walking through the gallery for the first time. I love the visible beams of sunlight filtering through the trees, highlighting the delicate spiderweb in the bottom left corner of the painting. To me, the spiderweb nestled in the lupines is the centerpiece of the painting. The cool undertone of the painting makes it feel like Harmon has captured the first rays of sun in the early morning, the light reflecting off dew drops trapped in the web. The cool color palette is complemented by the soft orange shadows of the lupines' leaves and scattered throughout the tips of the tree branches.
Next, "The Yard" by Doug Houle.The first time I saw this painting the bright turquoise of the truck surrounded by the earthy tones of the rest of the scene brought my eyes right to it. The pops of bright colors lead my eyes around the entire painting, noticing the carefully placed details before taking a step back and viewing the painting as a whole. The painting feels like a warm day, standing in the yard with the sun directly over head, soaking in the late summer air.
"Sun over Field" by Varvara Harmon. Varvara's paintings are world renowned for their realism, and this one is no exception. The picture above doesn't fully capture the light emanating from the the sunset and the sky above. Seeing it in person, the blue sky and the sun's rays pouring onto the field almost seem to have their own life, glowing in a way I've never seen captured in any other artist's painting before. I love how focus of this painting is the background, letting the light bounce off the little trees in the foreground, decorating the field about not taking away from the bold clouds.
"The Lace Curtains" by Amy Laskin. Amy Laskin's paintings never cease to amaze me. The detail in her paintings is extraordinary and I get lost in a new part of this painting every time I look at it. The seamless layering of different aspects in the painting, such as the night sky poking through the lace curtains, is fascinating. It almost feels like if I shifted my gaze from the curtains to the moon I could see right through them and view the moon in perfect detail. I love the brightness of the painting and how each and every flower and leaf is highlighted, creating a  dimensional, striking scene.
Stop in and see these beautiful pieces for yourself at the Harvest Gold Gallery!
The Process of Making Our Cut-Out Pendants
Ever wonder about the process of how we here at Harvest Gold make jewelry? Well, it all starts with a concept, these can either be ideas we think of ourselves, or personal requests made by the customer. In this sample picture, a sketch was drawn to represent what the customer wanted on their earring!
Then, the process actually begins, with making the earring and turning a sheet of gold and silver into beautiful earrings. In this case, we cut the sheet into the outside shape of the gold and silver. Next we drill a couple of tiny holes ,insert a tiny jeweler's saw, and hand cut the design into it. With polishing and finishing, we complete the process of making beautiful earrings!

 

 Check out our other hand-crafted pieces at Harvest Gold!

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