Page 14 - Small Shops of Sonoma County 2016

DISCOVERIES cont’d from page 13
Christopher Queen Gallery.
And I have to sing the praises of Sophie’s Cellars owned by John Haggard who writes our Wine Banter column every month. On Friday evenings he hosts Locals Night (you don’t have to be a local) when John serves beautifully prepared snacks with wine by the glass. Sometimes
he brings in live music and on cold nights people hang out on the glassed in deck by a fire snuggled into the warmth of Alpaca blankets from Worldly Goods.
Sam Sirdofsky, our cover artist this month is my very dear friend and she and I work together creating coloring cards and folios of her art that we
sell in Russian River Gallery (16369 Main). This gallery is a gathering of many genres and styles...all people who create because they love to. Pottery, sculpture, jewelry. Painting, illustrations...all available as original art and reproductions.
Every month a different artist is on display in the window, and because this is a co-op gallery, you get to meet one of the artists tending the gallery on any given day.
Bodega
Sophies Cellars
Artisan’s Co-op (17175 Bodega Hwy) in the tiny town of Bodega is a collection
of 25
resident
artists.
Their
new store
is large
enough
to have
wearables
from finely
woven
fabrics made into fine art jackets, hand spun wool crocheted into hats, scarves and sweaters, leather crafters boots, and of course jewelry to adorn your body.
Graton
This one block long town is famous for its fine restaurants and for Graton Gallery, another co-op of exceptional artists. One of these artists is Rik Olson whose art graces the back cover of every Gazette, including this one, with illustrations for Fine Tree Care.
I end this shopping journey & hope you enjoyed yourself as you explore stores you’ve never experience, and support ones you love.
Happy Holidays!
The Queen of Duncans Mills
is Nancy Ferreira who owns Christopher Queen Gallery. Her collection of early California paintings is museum quality and takes your breath away. If you want to see what our landscape used to look like, come see these paintings.
Guernevillle
Carol Sklar @ Artisan’s
It’s my second home in many ways. I get just as involved with issues in this town as I do my own. One of my favorite Guerneville experiences is 1st Friday Art Walk. All the stores stay open, restaurants burst with the scent of flavorful food, and creativity runs high. Some artists set tables out on the sidewalks with their wares. It’s all to promote local art and artists, of which there are many.
Right next door, Dressmaker Yeunny Mears creates hand made clothing. Her latest creations are made of 100% cotton woven into patterns from the natural colors of cotton.
I have the glass work of Rebecca Lichau Russian River Glass Images (16369 Main) in my windows and her beautifully drawn botanical illustrations on my walls.
14 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - SS-12/16