Find my jewelry at...

Wondering where you can find some of my jewelry currently in stock? Visit The Gallery Shop in Oakland, MD! I just dropped some neck & ear goodies off this past week! https://garrettarts.org

#jewelrybymacee #meadowbrookarts#necklace #metaljewelry #earrings#garrettcountymd #deepcreeklake#ShopSmall #shoplocal #handmade#seymourgarrettcountyart

Seymour - An Art Experience...

Purchase Macee's work online during Seymour's online art event October 11-22, 2021!  Click on SEYMOURart.org/macee-knecht to see what morsels are available for your holiday shopping!!!

I'm gearing up for the 12 Annual Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival / Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival held on March 4, 5, and 6.  http:pghknitandcrochet.com   I'll be there in the Marketplace to show and sell my jewelry as an exhibitor.  Come out and drop by!  You can also register for classes each day and then shop all the other great vendors.  Registration for classes is open!

Marketplace Hours:
Friday: 12:00 - 7:00
Saturday: 9:00 - 5:30
Sunday 9:30 - 3:30

For advanced ticket prices: http://pghknitandchrochet.com/2016-admission-tickets/
110 classes offered.  This show embraces jewelry making, fiber art that includes quilting, sewing, embroidery, surface design, recycling, weaving, tatting, spinning, wet and needle felting, rug hooking, dyeing, and paper crafts.

Steel & brass nubs.....



steel & brass nub rings

A few new designs I have created   are available at http://manhattangolfandgallery.com/.  I dropped these steel and brass nub fun pieces last week.  Snatch them up before they are riding the body of someone else! "wink"




steel & brass nub earrings

steel & brass nub necklace w/forged links

I know you can't see it, but this necklace is handmade links of both steel and brass... I'll be experimenting more with this cool and fun design.  The nubby horizontal bars move, so its fun to play with!



steel & brass nub bangle

 Hot item! They are a fast seller! That means I have made this similar design before.

A little tid bit:  Steel jewelry is easy to care for.  Your body oils keep it from rusting on you, but don't allow any of your jewelry to sit in standing water for any length of time, especially steel.  If you get it wet (in the shower), just towel it off and wear. If you want to make sure you get the water off an item, blow it dry for a few minutes with a hair dryer!  I do this when making the jewelry to insure no residual water is left!

Cram in a bus.....

or a car and come see us on the WVU campus in the Mountainlair for our next festival event.  Come visit us this weekend - get directions:
http://mountaineerweek.wvu.edu/arts_crafts

Friday, Nov. 1 Noon – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 3 Noon – 4:00 p.m.

 

I'll be waiting for you!

 

 

Enjoy October by checking out ART

 

I'm part of the tour again this year after taking a break for a couple years.  Copy this address into your browser to get details and directions. http://artsaleandtour.com/artistpage.cfm?recordID=284 I'm artist 22 in the book and will be at Manhattan Golf & Gallery for all 4 days of the event!

2013 Mountain Maryland Art Sale and Tour
 

The 2013 Mountain Maryland Art Sale and Tour will take place over two weekends this coming fall: Saturday and Sunday, October 19 & 20 and Saturday and Sunday, October 26 & 27. On all four days of the event, all participating Tour locations will be free and open to the public from 11:00AM to 5:00PM. Coordinated by the Allegany Arts Council on behalf of the many talented visual artists in Western Maryland, the Tour has grown for more than a decade to become a highly anticipated annual event. Free guidebooks for the Tour will be available by mid-September.

Chandelier Earrings by Macee McCunn

This year’s Mountain Maryland Art Sale and Tour will feature 41 participating artists (several of whom are new to the Tour), so there will be lots of great artwork to experience and enjoy! As you make your way around from location to location, be sure to register for your chance to win a $100 cash prize during each weekend of the Tour. You may register to win at each location where you stop to visit participating artists. The more locations that you visit, the more chances you have to win! Winners will be contacted by phone or email after each weekend.

 

In advance of your visit, be sure to check out www.artsaleandtour.com, which is the official website for the Mountain Maryland Art Sale and Tour. The web site will provide you with detailed information about each participating artist, downloadable driving maps, and links to additional information about hotel accommodations, other area attractions and special getaway promotions. For questions about the 2013 Mountain Maryland Art Sale and Tour, please call the Allegany Arts Council at 301-777-ARTS (2787).

Acrylic painting by Sibyl MacKenzie

Sibyl MacKenzie will be joining me on the tour (artist 21) at the Manhattan Golf and Gallery!  Her work is lovely and quite vibrant!

 

Jewelry Arrives In Scotland!

I'm officially an international artist! My jewelry has crossed the seas arriving Nov 1st to be included in a really cool jewelry show in Scotland ! I'm totally jazzed. http://www.touchedbyscotland.com/2012winter.php .

What a journey this was, learning to adapt to customs requirements for the United Kingdom and the time spent on the phone gauging what I could and could not ship via UPS and all the restrictions!  Apparently spent bullet shells are a NO NO, so I had to hold back some very cool and striking jewelry pieces.  Live and learn, but after much hoop jumping, the work made it there safe and sound and just in time to put on display for the opening.  Jenni was simply "brilliant" to work with (as I thoroughly enjoyed her sweet jovial accent) and I really appreciated the invite to such a cool show.    Robin, one of the super friendly owners, extended this invitation to me so I could be a "little ol' representative" of the U.S. since she is originally from here and come to find out has been seeing my work for quite some time and thought it would be a unique fit for Scotland since she hasn't seen anything like it.  I was tickled at the invite and excited by the representation in the beautiful small village of Oyne in rural Aberdeenshire!  I can't wait to make a future journey to this contemporary gallery and explore Scotland.  Now, where'd I put my kilt and bagpipe?

Jewelry Tins are IN!

Jewelry Tins are In! I put together the cutest little tins of jewelry for the holiday shoppers and just delivered them to the Manhattan Golf & Gallery at 50 North Centre Street in Cumberland, Maryland (301-777-0021). 

The sets include a necklace and coordinating earrings and are creatively displayed and hand wrapped in the most adorable tins.  It is such a fabulous gift or stocking stuffer. You can even slide a hook through the round tin bow and hang it on your tree for her to find!  Limited quantities are available so drop in and grab one soon.

That being said, did you ever wonder what goes into the packaging process of a professional but independent artist?  It can be a task sometimes for sure.  For instance, not only do I make the product, but then I have to come up with some creative ideas for display, especially for the stores I sell in.

I found myself sitting on the floor half asleep a couple nights ago as I prepared these particular jewelry tins.  After ordering the tins, I had to design the inserts without a team of company helpers like the big boys.  You simply can't find companies that already pre-make the inserts - believe me, I checked thoroughly.

Things I had to consider as I tried to make this adorable, yet functional:

• find the right tools: cutting boards, scissors, circle cutters
• gather other tools: glue, wire, hole punch, foam, etc.
• make sure the inserts were the perfect fit, cut & cut again
• don't let jewelry chains get tangled
• raise it up to give it dimention and make room for earwires & chains
• coordinate it color wise to current displays
• does the color work and flatter the jewelry
• as it is handled, will it fall apart
• how can you see it better if you want a closer look and make it easier access
• identify the price, contents & inventory numbers so you know what you are buying
• make it attractive so you feel good about giving it as a gift and your gift will be loved when received
• cut, glue & stick each insert in each tin
• design, print, trim and prep the bows and tags
• get another set of hands to help tie the bows (husbands and daughters are great for free labor!)
• assemble assemble assemble
• wait, what time is it???? it's that late?!!!

Now how do I display them in the store? Being a bit of a collector of stuff (aka mini horder) I found some metal brackets.

  Then stacked them into an old antique drawer.



 Then take some pictures. And wha la, cute as cute can be and ready for sale!



I'm so excited, I now have a new Cumberland Maryland location for my jewelry!  I just installed this jewelry today at the Manhattan Golf & Gallery on 50 N. Centre Street!  They are revamping the space and are representing me as their sole "jeweler".  They also have some really fun 2D artwork, do matting & can fit you for golf clubs!  They have some fun and great contemporary painters that they are also representing.  I took almost 50 pieces today and there will be a ton more to come over the next month and beyond!

Itty Bitty 2 opening Sat. Oct 1st 6-8 pm...

Arts at Canal Place co-op gallery is featuring the work of member artist, Mary "Macee" McCunn in "Itty Bitty 2". The solo jewelry show opened Sep. 25th and is going on through October 30th. McCunn will be present to discuss her work and greet visitors at the Opening Reception with refreshments on Saturday, Oct. 1st from 6 to 8 p.m.

McCunn is know for her sculptural jewelry that has an antiqued textural appearance and includes earrings, necklaces, rings and other items made of silver, brass, steel and copper, yet with a subtle primitive appearance. All work is handmade through the forging process as performed by many blacksmiths and metalsmiths from the earliest of times.

The typical feel of her current works will be available, but also a repeat of her new dainty and more delicate line of necklaces, earrings, bangles and rings called "Itty Bitty" that was introduced successfully last fall. The new line is perfect for those who want the look that the artist is know for, but that want something more light and airy to wear. "I constantly re-evaluate my merchandise and listen to what the customers want and the "Itty Bitty" line adds another choice so there is something for everyone for the holiday gift giving season" says McCunn.

You can learn more about McCunn, her upcoming shows and where you can purchase her work at other galleries by visiting her blog at www.meadowbrookarts.blogspot.com or Meadowbrook Arts on Facebook.

McCunn's work can also be found at Lost River Artisan Cooperative, Gifts Inn Boonsboro, The Gallery (Oakland, MD) and Mountain Made (Thomas, WV).

Arts at Canal Place is a local co-op artists' gallery. Any artists that may be interested in jurying in to become a member is encouraged to call (301) 777-8199 for information regarding becoming a member. The gallery, located at 16 Howard St. among the Shops at Canal Place Heritage Area is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Jewelry, pottery & Nora Roberts....

Come have fun with us at the Open House and the book signing event! Mary McCunn & Steve Sullivan Open House at Nora Roberts' - Gifts Inn Boonsboro. 4/2/11 SATURDAY 11-3p.m. Stop by & visit Mary (jewelry) & Steve (pottery) in Nora’s giftshop that features regional artists. Next door at her bookstore, Turn the Page, Nora will be signing her new book (Chasing Fire)! http://www.ttpbooks.com/ http://giftsinnboonsboro.com/events.htm

Art in the Park....

Another festival down and with new merchandise, mixed in with cool older classic Macee designs.

It was a beautiful weekend with the weather being gorgeous along the side of Deep Creek Lake! I went back to my older display since we were on uneven ground. Such is the life of an artist that goes to outdoor shows, ALWAYS uneven ground!

Lucky me, I got to be beside my good friend Annie and her lovely handmade paper creations! She keeps exploring and these quilt like sewn paper 2D works are fabulous!

Art on the River & the new display....

It was that time of the year for me when you decide it's time to go be one with your customer base. It never is a small task and I always appreciate what other artists do to get their work out to the masses. I started this season with a trying out a new, and what I hoped to be, easier and less time consuming display to set up. My family humored me as I roughly tried it out in our livingroom for about a week!

My daughter helped me pack the Rover. This is only part way filled and with the new display, quite the puzzle to put together! I can't believe what I stuffed in there! Uhm, time to buy a larger vehicle.

The new display. It set up, knocking 2 entire hours off my time! It is a flat surface set-up only though, so on unlevel ground, I'm back to tacking on those hours. I was pleased with how it clean it looks.

I love my snazzy banner a friend created for me out of my images. It all added to my professional image and was very well received by my customers at Arts on the River in Morgantown! Thanks to those who always make it worth my while to hump and slump my entire store to them.

Another contemporary artist was at the festival and decided to play artist on the sidewalk in front of his space. Some kids even joined in, and it ended up to be a pretty cool piece. He almost had his own type of language and it was about 20 feet long by the time he stopped. It stuck around for both days considering people were walking on the Deckers Creek Trail that begins at the Hazel Ruby McQuain River Front Park, where our small festival was located. Funny, but people didn't want to step on it!

Of course, one of my favorites is the paper booth! Annie Morris Simcoe (from http://www.annabellpetunahead.com/ or check her out on facebook.com under ABPH) makes fabulous hand made paper, out of things like ramps, vegetable matter and so many other items. Then she sews the papers together to make both 2D work and 3D vessels, jewelry and lamps. This lovely friend put me up for the weekend in Morgantown and we both tried to deal with the upper 90's that mother nature threw at us. It is always lovely to be at a festival, side-by-side with a friend, but especially one that has such refreshing and original work. Did I mention, I own many of her pieces! Now, on to the next festival.

Jewelry to Lost River...

It was the time of year to clean the barn and install art work at the Lost River Artisans Cooperative in Lost River West Virginia. As usual it was a wonderful collaboration of cleaning fiends or should that be friends, because it sure seems like this is a great group of peeps who come out to lift a dust rag and eat good food together to get ready for the public!

The buds will hopefully soon be popping in time for this seasons opening of April 10th. The Lost River Artisans Cooperative was founded in 1988 in the scenic Lost River Valley in West Virginia's Potomac Highlands and is home to nearly 100 regional artists and crafts people. http://www.lostrivercraft.com/

Tim Wheeler (current LRAC President) is directing his artistic cleaning crew to paint, dust and sweep this large space. About 30 people showed up to lend a hand.

A little window washing (also known as an outside comedy act!). Much more goofing off from the heights of the ladder would have resulted in a few broken bones!

Yours truly on another ladder for a calmer job of dusting lights. Trust me, Tim was running out of jobs to give people. "What do you want me to do now, Tim?!"

After clean up, a little installation of some of my work.

After a nice warm day with this lovely group, I took off in my old car for a nice 20 m.p.h. ride home. Okayyyy, I was BEHIND this slow poke, but what a cute slow poke it was, until I passed him. This is always a nice country ride to and from Lost River and well worth the drive. So is the art - take a stroll and wheel on down sometime. Check out their site and see the demos, classes and festive activities ramping up for the year. If you are an artist interested in selling your wares, they will still jury new artists in for 2010. There is even a cool shop next door for a yummy bite to eat.

"What's New" exhibition......

Arts at Canal Place is featuring a collective art show titled "What's New". Included in the exhibition are necklaces and earrings by Mary "Macee" McCunn, made of copper, brass and steel. Pat Hilton is included in the show with her lovely pastel titled "Snow Shadows". Other artists showing photography, monotype prints, felting, watercolor, enameling, 2d paper, steel forged items and sculpture are also part of this show that is open to the public from March 7 - April 10. Stop by the gallery anytime between 10-6 daily to check out the show. For more information visit www.artsatcanalplace.com.

The Hard & Soft of It

After lots of hard work and a great artist to partner with, The Hard and Soft of It show went off beautifully!

A new direction for me. What a fun collection of jewelry to work on and have available to the public and what a neat way to present "hugs and kisses". This is becoming part of the wholesale line and will be avaible to retailers very soon.
Jean (Barnes Downs) explored new directions and has such a great way of exposing texture and this happens to be one of my favorites!

More "hugs and kisses"! I love the way the softness of the idea behind a gentle kiss can be combined with such hard steel & brass.

Our opening mug shot! More importantly, look at Jean's organic works in the background. Her works are always wonderfully soothing and if you happen to explore the new hospital (Western Maryland Health Systems - Cumberland, MD), her artwork can be found in the halls surrounding the waiting area on the Outpatient Surgery floor. You can explore more on Jean at http://www.solitudestudio.com/. More fun, colorful and fuzzy! This bracelet stretches over the wrist and reminded me of the days when sweat bands were cool to wear on your wrists and head! Hum.... 70's, plastic, wool & bullet casings.... what a combo!