Saturday, December 18, 2010

Call for Artists

I would like to begin to post about other artists and their crafts.  Please email me at melburness@msn.com if you are interested in being displayed on my site.  I will send you a questionaire and request for photos.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

New website!

I have a new website that offers all of my works for sale.  Latest and greatest are paperweights and ornaments!

Go to:  http://www.kaleidoscopephotoart.com/   Let me know what you think.

Take care,





Mel

Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Opener Art Show

I will be participating in the Art show Below

The Opener is the Bemidji Minnesota's newest art show and sale. The Date? November 6th, 2010, the opening day of the MN deer hunting season. For those of us who do not hunt, its also the opening of our Holiday season!




Join us at the New City Ballroom 2300 24th St (behind Home Depot and Target) from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM!
 
http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=151908358153726

New Products Available

Now available 3" beveled glass 2/sided sunchatchers and/or ornaments and 3/3/4" dia. 1" thick paper weights.  Go to Facebook: Melbe Creations and send me an email to order!  I accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover or I can send you an invoice via Paypal!  I hope you like!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

East Grand Forks Art and Crafts Fair

The show went very well and I hope to hear from some new friends.  Okay guys you took my card.... I want to hear from you!

This is the first time I have shown my ornaments except for at Bad Cat who always has my work first!  My ornaments were a hit and everyone seemed to like Tiny Dancer the best.  I sold out of all of my hummingbird photos except for Summer Hummer.  Mystic Waters and Circle of purple and Tropical Treasure were also big sellers.  The Grand Forks Herald featured me in the paper.  Take a look at the link below.
http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/177548/

I will soon have more titles available in ornaments and Bad Cat Creations will have them first... so  keep an I out!

I hope everyone is thinking of Christmas gifts  and what a wonderful gift a Melbe Creation will be.  I will be  offering gift wrapping for on line orders.  I will also ship to whomever you chose.

Take Care,
Mel

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Ely Harvest Moon Festival

The Ely Harvest Moon Festival was a success! The people there were supportive of my art and provided me wonderful input. Ely is a wonderful place to visit if you have not been there. The citizens of that town are not only fun but also genuinely kind. I sold out of five different cards, which was quite unexpected.




I hope to hear from some of you that stopped by my booth. Stay in touch and let me know how you are.



I am creating sun catchers and/or ornaments with my kaleidoscopes. I have only completed three and they are available at Bad Cat Creations. I will post some pictures as soon as I am done with another set of them.



Take care,

Mel

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Melbe Creations By Melissa Burness: Hummingbird Kaleidoscopes

Melbe Creations By Melissa Burness: Hummingbird Kaleidoscopes: "Good things come to those who wait! I finally completed my hummingbird kaleidoscopes. I ended up with four differnt kaleidoscopes. I have..."

Custom Frames

Well here they are.  My kaleidoscopes are now  offered in custom frames made by my wonderful husband.  You can find a selection of custom framed kaleidoscopes at Bad Cat Creations in Bemidji, MN or you can go to my facebook page and order via email.  Just a reminder I accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Hummingbird Kaleidoscopes

Good things come to those who wait!  I finally completed my hummingbird kaleidoscopes.  I ended up with four differnt kaleidoscopes.  I have been working on getting just the right photo and creating the kaleidoscopes for about a month  now and I am thrilled with my results.  Right now they are only available at Bad Cat Creations and I will debut them at Ely's Harvest Moon Festival September 10, 11 and 12th. 

I will post pictures of my hummingbirds soon.

Take care,
Mel

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Hummingbird

I am determined to get the ultimate hummingbird photo to create a kaleidoscope.  I have a few shots that I like but what to spend a few more days on getting shots. 

I am pretty sure I have a good shot of the pileated woodpecker, a mother feeding her baby, and a few other wildlife shots.  I hope to be able to share my new work with you soon.

Please leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

Take care,
Mel

Friday, August 20, 2010

Ely Harvest Moon Festival

I will be showing my Work at the:
17th Annual Fall Harvest Moon Festival
September 10th through 12th, 2010
Booth #105 Corner of Seventh Avenue and Harvey Street wing across from the restrooms 4th tent in from Harvet /Street.
Mention my post and get $10.00 of a purchase of $60 or more or get a free card with a purchase of a set of 4 cards a $7.50 value!

125+ Art & Craft Exhibitors, Demonstrations, Food, Musical Entertainment, All-American Lumberjack Show.

LOCATION: Whiteside Park (between 7th & 8th Avenues on Sheridan Street) Ely Minnesota

HOURS: Friday, September 10 noon - 6 pm
Saturday, September 11 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday, September 12 10 am - 4 pm
ADMISSION: Free

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: Spiritwood Music of The Boundary Waters
Three days of live acoustic music featuring Pat Surface and The Boundary Water Boys, and Donna Surface, performance artist in sign. Uplifting performances featuring Celtic, Bluegrass, and Folk.

Lumberjack Shows:
All-American Lumberjack Show: The legend lives on with the All- American Lumberjack Show �.. Two teams, ten exciting lumberjack events and everyone comes out a winner.
Kid�s Lumberjack Sport Camp --- free to youngsters young and old
PRIMITIVE ENCAMPMENT: Demonstrations
Birch bark basketry, wool spinning, spinning angora rabbit hair, blacksmithing, trapping, leatherworking, bead working, dream catchers, spirit gourds, carving, knife making, tomahawk throwing, and fire starting.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Common Ground

I will be featured Lakeland Public TV Common Ground soon.  They filmed a story on me August 10th and will be aired when the season starts in October.  I will let all of you know when I get an air date.

Thank you to Scott and Ashley for their interest in my art and making me feel at ease!

Take care everyone,
Mel

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Glensheen's Fine Art and Craft Festival

Thank you Glensheen's and Duluth for the opportunity to show my work this weekend.  I had some wonderful feedback and met some amazing people.  I hope to see some of my new friends visit my web page, I would live to keep in touch.

My next show will be in Ely at the Havest Moon festival September 10th, 11th and 12th.

Mel

Friday, August 13, 2010

Melbe Creations By Melissa Burness: This is my Town Bemidji

Melbe Creations By Melissa Burness: This is my Town Bemidji

This is my Town Bemidji

I have been showcased on this website and have a few examples of my work on the This is my Town Bemidji site this weekend.  Take a look at the blog archive for East Bemidji or the link attached to view my story and my slideshow.  I hope you enjoy!

Glensheen's Fine Art and Craft Festival

I have made improvements to my display tent and hope that the fine people of Duluth enjoy my work!  I am excited for this weekend's show.  If you are in the Duluth area please stop by.

Monday, July 19, 2010

First Art Show

I have successfully completed my first art show.   I was so nervous!  I had wonderful feedback and good sales.  Thank you to everyone who stopped by.  I was lucky to have Christina from Bad Cat Creations right next to me and that gave me great comfort.  My sister flew from Michigan to be with me as well.  Her input and support is so important to me.  My husbad worked so hard setting everything up I can't thank  him enough either.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by and took the time to view my work.  Thank you for your positive input!  I hope you continue to view my new works.

Up next the Glensheen's Art Fair in Duluth.  I think I will make a few  adjustmest to my displays and jazz it up a bit.

Keep in touch everyone - tell me what you think - tell me what you would like to see in my future pieces.  Your input is important to me as I am creating these for all of you.

Take care,
Melbe

Saturday, July 3, 2010

My Story

My journey began the summer of 2006 in Owosso, Michigan where I lived for ten years with my husband and six children. Don’t be too impressed, I didn’t give birth to them all, we are a meshed family, but a family all the same and I love them all as if they were my own. Most of our family vacations were long weekends to the upper peninsula of Michigan. The only place I found solace. My heart was heavy on the trip back and my husband and I fantasized about moving to the U.P. buying a tiny cabin on a lake surrounded by forest. It was not practical and selfish for us to consider uprooting our children from the only home they could remember, so we patiently waited. The summer of 2006 marked the milestone of all children graduating from high school. It was time - our time! I was on the search for a job in the north, what I thought would be the U.P. of Michigan.


Fortunately a fairy godmother found me, and of course as fairy godmothers go, much wiser than I, took pity upon me, and paved the way for my journey home. I had three job offers in northern Minnesota and no prospects in the U.P. My husband and I decided why not investigate. The first company did not offer enough salary so I turned it down. The second offer was from Arctic Cat. Thief River just did not feel like home. The third offer from a company not far from Bemidji seemed just right. (I know – too Goldilocks – sorry) I flew into Bemidji airport for my interview and immediately sighed and said…..HOME! I rushed to the interview, accepted their offer, rushed back home to tell my husband that I have found our paradise; Much more beautiful than what we imagined. Two weeks later I was in a manic dash to pack and start my first day of work. In keeping with my Goldilocks theme, there was a bear involved (or if you choose a Big Bad Wolf both villains are appropriate) and just over a year after my first day I left the company. Once again my fairy godmother stepped in. This, like other fairy tales has a touch of irony. The company that offered me a job when I thought no one ever would (long story and too negative to elaborate) happened to be the first offer I turned down, Nortech Systems. Forgive me for not noticing what this company had to offer, I had yet to learn that what seems like a frog is truly a prince! (Yes again with the fairy tale theme!)

The past three and half years in this little piece of heaven have been the most inspiring time of my life. I have grown as an artist, mother, wife and person. I am no longer that tightly wound woman that was ready to stress out about any issue, frazzled to the point where getting out of bed took all the energy I could muster. I turned from a puppet to a real girl! (Yes now a Pinocchio theme) Life here in Bemidji has taught me to slow down, take in the magnificent landscape and wildlife, breathe in all the beauty and diversity that Bemidji and life has to offer. So, in essence, I was RE-BORN and raised in Bemidji.

My artistic outlet has been landscape and wildlife photography. I was only inspired to take photos when I was in the Upper Peninsula, which was only one maybe two times a year for long weekends. Now I find it hard not to photograph, document, and share the beauty that envelops me, much of it in my backyard on Stump Lake. Yes I got my cabin on a lake surrounded by forest and a state game refuge at that!

Hmmmm… I love drinking my coffee on my deck at sunrise listening to the loons, chickadees and that friendly call of the Phoebe – PHEEBEEE, PHEEBEE. The various woodpeckers lend their percussions on the pines and a determined little sapsucker has taken up the cymbals by drumming on the metal around my chimney all the while the wind whispers through the pines. I am hypnotized into complete bliss. And NO, this is not in cartoon format with the birds landing on my shoulder and I am singing back at them this is no fairy tale – it is my fantastic life! I never imagined having such an incredibly beautiful place to live.

In the evenings I can either set in my living room or on my deck and watch the family of deer browse the yard to see if there is any leftover bird seed to feed on. In the fall the bucks begin to claim their territory and you can hear them thumping their feet on the ground or the clashing of antlers. Not to be out done, the quail flap their wings and I am amazed that a bird can make such a thunderous noise. I find myself torn - watch the wildlife or the amazing colors of the sun setting over Stump Lake.

Last summer, while fishing for perch at the end of my dock, I caught a nice size perch. I tossed it behind me in the grass for my cocker spaniel, Oreo, to lick. That is her job – fish licking and she takes it very seriously! Then a SWOOOOOP just above my head and as I looked up a bald eagle had just flew inches above me. Wow, I thought to myself, how cool and he even has a fish in is talons! Then it dawned on me, “Hey, there is no water behind me where did he get that fish!” Yes, lesson learned, when you live up here you can’t leave fish lying around – eagles tend to think it is fast food!

Yet another favorite Bemidji pastime I enjoy is a Mississippi cruise from our dock to Lake Bemidji. The trip from Stump Lake to Lake Bemidji is so picturesque and bursting of wildlife. I have seen large families of white pelicans, the ever majestic blue heron, and the daredevil kingfisher diving from a high branch that most certainly looks like a suicide mission to catch a fish or frog for a tasty meal. There is this charming home with a rope hanging from a tree that you will occasionally see kids swinging off from and falling into the refreshing water. The gateway to paradise starts right in my back yard.

I suppose you wonder if I miss my children. Well they never gave me the chance. Five out of six of my kids have moved to Bemidji, or very close to Bemidji. They love the area just as much as my husband and I do. What can I say; they inherited their good taste from me!

I have just recently found a new fairy godmother that has encouraged, supported and help make my dream of sharing my art with the world come to fruition. Christina Thorne at Bad Cat Creations is kindly showcasing my photography. It is not the average photograph. I create kaleidoscopes from my photos. It is my interpretation of the wonders of nature. I have been on a marathon of creativity and Bemidji is my muse! I have just learned that my artwork has been accepted to the Bemidji Community Art Center’s Art in the Park this July. I am thrilled as this is one of my favorite events that Bemidji offers. I am so proud to be a member of a community that supports and appreciates the arts. I love to walk downtown and revel at the amazing sculptures decorating the corners and store fronts. It is one of the first things I will show family that comes to visit. First Friday art walks is one of the best opportunities to view artist’s latest work and find a unique gift for someone special, or a centerpiece for a room.

For me there is no other place to live. Bemidji is full of culture, natural resources and the most hospitable citizens I have had the pleasure to meet.

And I live happily ever after…………..