Marlene Dusbiber Folk Art Woodcarving

MORE NEW VALENTINE HEART PLAQUES

2012-01-13T17:37:00.000-08:00

After designing the red paisley heart plaque and
getting lots of wonderful feedback (thanks, everyone!),
I have done a white heart with black paisley (and would
like to paint a black one too), a heart with "love" in
different languages, and a heart lollipop. They each
cost $25. I am still working on an antique version
of the paisley, and a really grungy one, but they are
taking a little longer.

VALENTINE PAISLEY HEART

2012-01-05T18:14:00.000-08:00

I have packed up all my Christmas decorations
and have moved on to valentines. My first new
item is a Paisley Heart plaque and I am really
thrilled with it. It actually was my husband's
idea and a good one at that. And he says he
isn't artistic. Hopefully I can come up with
a couple more for this year's holiday.

ALL THE TRIMMINGS HOLIDAY SHOW - DEC. 3

2011-12-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

Hope you all can make it to our All the Trimmings
Holiday Show this Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10-4,
at Chelsea fairgrounds, 20501 Old U.S. 12,
Chelsea, Michigan 48118. It is a wonderful
artisan show featuring antiques, collectibles,
pastels, jewelry, handmade bears, rug hooking,
woodcarvings, counted cross-stitch birds, fiber
arts, bread boards, tiles, photography, folk
paintings, honey, cards, Christmas houses,
punch needlework and fresh greens. Free
refreshments, free parking and free admission.

SANTA'S ON HIS WAY!

2011-11-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

I have been working hard on carving new Santas for

my upcoming show - All the Trimmings Holiday Show

on Dec. 3 at the Chelsea, Michigan, fairgrounds - and

finally finished enough for my postcard. It was a

choice between this one and another one with a white

background. I chose the white one for my postcard

and decided to put this one on the blog. Too many

items for one small postcard, even though I like that.

Last year I didn't have enough Belsnickels for my

show, so this year I am determined to have a much

better assortment! I am off to a good start, but need

to make many more, as well as all of my other new

Christmas items. As I finish more, I'll put them on

my blog. My Christmas trees are new this year,

too. I designed a simpler version, much like

bottle brush trees, either with a base or without.

Got to go! I just got another idea! I'll post it later.

FRAKTUR BIRDS

2011-10-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun designing and carving my new

Fraktur birds for the open house! I have wanted

to carve them forever and finally decided to get

them done this year. They were a success, (yea!)

so I plan to carve a few more styles and paint them

in different color combinations for the Christmas

show. Luckily, I am in the mood for holiday

carving now! I already have carved more

Belsnickles than I had for the show last year!

FALL OPEN HOUSE - SEPT. 17 & 18

2011-09-06T18:33:00.001-07:00

I have been so busy getting ready for my open house
that I have forgotten to post my information!
Several customers have asked me about it, so I
guess I had better get on the stick and post it.

Join me on Saturday, September 17 from 9-5 and
Sunday, September 18 from 10-5 in my home at
5465 Conway Road, Chelsea, MI 48118. I'll have
my regular goodies to eat, lots of birds and new
fall and Halloween items. Everyone who attends
will get a free windowsill series (mini) bird. Hope
you all can come. I so look forward to seeing all
my friends!

THE AMERICAN SAMPLER

2011-09-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

I just added a new dealer and is it ever a gorgeous
shop! My sister and I decided to take a road trip
and show Betsy of The American Sampler some
of my carvings and she chose a nice assortment
for her shop. I am so flattered that she wants my
pieces. They are in the company of many wonderful
artists. Her place is all decked out for Halloween and
fall. You must take the time to visit her at 2915
Thornapple River Dr. S. E., Grand Rapids, MI 49546.
It's definitely worth the drive. I wish I had taken
some pictures.

THE TIN RABBIT FOLK ART SHOW

2011-05-16T12:59:00.000-07:00

I am madly getting ready for a wonderful
folk art show at The Tin Rabbit in Labadie,
MO, this Saturday, May 21, 9-4. Since I have
never been there before, I am trying to take
an assortment of carvings so that they can
see a little bit of everything I make. My
sister is going with me so that we can have
some rare sister time and a road trip. Can't
wait! If you are in the area then, stop by
and see me, and Barb's wonderful shop,
at 2733 Highway T, Labadie, MO 63055.
Check out her website at www.thetinrabbit.com
for the list of all the artists and details.

MY FAVORITE BUNNY AND EGGS

2011-04-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

After carving all my new bunnies this year,

I think this is my favorite - the Garden

Bunny. Love his color, basket, trowel and

carrots. I also love my redware eggs in

the little antique green basket.

EASTER BUNNIES!

2011-03-31T08:12:00.000-07:00

I am having fun carving Easter bunnies for a change.

They have always given me trouble for some reason,

and I think I have a problem with the pastels associated

with Easter, so this year I have tried harder to achieve

the bunny/rabbit face I love and forget the pastels to

follow my redware colors. Here are a few of the things

I have been enjoying carving.

SPRING SHOW

2011-03-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to thank everyone who came to the Dexter Pioneer Arts Fair on March 19th. The show was better than last year thanks to your support. It was great to see you all and I am so grateful for your continued business. Happy Easter!

DEXTER PIONEER ARTS FAIR

2011-02-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

Join me at the Dexter Pioneer Arts Fair, Saturday,
March 19, 2011, Creekside Intermediate School,
2615 Baker Road, Dexter, MI 48130, from 10-4.
Admission is $3. I'll have lots of new birds and
spring and Easter items. Hope to see you there!

2011 BIRDS

2011-02-26T09:27:00.000-08:00

I finally finished all the new birds I have been

carving and here they all are! Some are standing

versions of older hanging ones, but the rest are

brand new birds. I'm not sure if I will ever see

some of them in Michigan, but they are common

for some of my customers in different parts of

the US. Wish I could spot a painted bunting!

BIRD CARVINGS - NEW FOR SPRING!!!

2011-02-18T08:54:00.000-08:00

I have been working on some new bird carvings for

spring and have almost finished 12 new birds! I have

painted 3 of them - the house finch, pine grosbeak,

and painted bunting, and hope to finish the other

9 today. The picture shows them in various stages

of "paintedness". Must be the sunny weather and

temps in the mid 50's that are getting my creative

juices flowing. Spring is in the air! I know winter

will be back next week, but almost all the snow is

gone from our yard. It is so exciting! Except that

it has brought mud, a normal part of spring in the

country. Ugh.

CHRISTMAS CARVINGS

2010-12-06T14:35:00.000-08:00

I think I have photographed 99% (I am creating

new ones every day) of my Christmas carvings,

so I wanted to publish them on my blog.

ALL THE TRIMMINGS HOLIDAY SHOW THANKS

2010-12-06T14:30:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to thank everyone who came to our show
and made it a wonderful success. It keeps growing
every year with more talented new artists as well as
our fantastic regulars, and more and more customers.
Thanks to all and have a Happy Holiday Season!

ALL THE TRIMMINGS HOLIDAY SHOW

2010-11-21T12:41:00.000-08:00

Hope you all can make it to our "All the Trimmings
Holiday Show" on Saturday, Dec. 4, 10am-4pm,
located at the Chelsea Fairgrounds Service Bldg.,
20501 Old U.S. 12, Chelsea. We have 18 local
artisans who create beautiful pieces of art!
Free admission, free parking and free
refreshments. Check out the blog at
http://www.allthetrimmingsshow.blogspot.com/.

CHRISTMAS CARVINGS

2010-11-21T11:51:00.000-08:00

I am madly working on all sorts of carvings for our

All the Trimmings Holiday Show, Saturday, Dec. 4,

at the Chelsea, MI, fairgrounds service building at

20501 Old U.S. 12, from 10am-4pm. Here is a

sampling of my items. There is no snow outside,

but plenty of glitter swirling around my work area!

ANN ARBOR ARTWALK OCT. 22-24

2010-10-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

Our home studio will be open for the Ann Arbor ArtWalk

on Friday, Oct. 22 5-8pm, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23

& 24, from 12-5pm. Hope you can join us, as well as the

River Gallery and Chelsea Center for the Arts in Chelsea.

Our address is 5465 Conway Road, just a couple of miles

outside of town off Cavanaugh Lake Road. It will be a

great weekend of wonderful art and delicious food!

16 HANDS DEMONSTRATION AND TRUNK SHOW

2010-09-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

John and I will be demonstrating Friday night, Oct. 1 from 7-9,
and selling our carvings Saturday, Oct. 2 from 12-5, at 16 Hands,
a wonderful art gallery in downtown Ann Arbor at 216 S. Main St.
If you weren't able to make it to our open house, we hope you can
attend this event. We're looking forward to making new and seeing
old friends this weekend!

FALL OPEN HOUSE

2010-09-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to thank everyone who came to my fall
open house for making it one of the best ever! It was
great to see you all and catch up on all your lives. I
certainly wouldn't or couldn't do this without your
continued support. Thank you, thank you , thank you!

2010 ANNUAL FALL OPEN HOUSE

2010-08-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

You are all invited to my annual fall open house on Saturday,

September 18, 9-5 and Sunday, September 19, 10-5. I'll have

lots of new birds and butterflies. Hope you all can come!

BUTTERFLIES!!!

2010-06-22T05:27:00.000-07:00

I have had many requests from customers for butterflies

(and moths), so with the inspiration of the beautiful live

ones in my garden, I finally have pushed myself to design

the ones shown above. They were much more fun than I

thought and a lot easier too. Should have tried sooner!

They are available either hanging or standing, or for use

as a plaque.

DEXTER PIONEER ARTS FAIR

2010-04-09T16:52:00.000-07:00

Join me at the 2010 Dexter Pioneer Arts Fair on Saturday,

April 17, from 10-4. New location this year - Creekside

Intermediate School, 2615 Baker Road, Dexter, MI 48130.

If you can't make it, give me a call. If you can, see you there!

2010 SONGBIRD GRADUATING CLASS

2010-03-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

Here are my 2010 Spring birds! Just waiting to be adopted
by you. All are priced at $35, except for the Cooper's hawk
and Wood duck which are $45, and the Oystercatcher and
Scissor-tailed flycatcher which are $50. They can be either
standing or hanging. Shipping is $5.00.

American redstart and Ovenbird

Wood Duck and Wilson's warbler

Red-winged blackbird and Pine siskin

Scissor-tailed and Cooper's hawk

flycatcher

Oystercatcher and Lazuli bunting

Kirtland's warbler and Junco

Female Cardinal and Indigo bunting

Common yellow throat and Chestnut-sided warbler

Cerulean warbler and Carolina wren

Brown creeper

DOG SHOW WINNERS

2010-03-13T19:56:00.000-08:00

I guess all the dogs are winners!
Congrats to all the dog breeds.

DOG SHOW - COLLIE & HUSKY

2010-02-21T10:43:00.001-08:00

Your choices for today are the Tri-color Collie or the
Siberian Husky. My vote is for the collie, since our
family dog is Belle, a wonderful, relaxed, yet alert
tri-color who has warned us many times when our
horse has escaped. Anyone moving too fast or not
in their normal location has to be reported to us.

DOG SHOW - PORTUGUESE WATER DOG & GERMAN SHORT-HAIRED POINTER

2010-02-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

Today's choices are the Portuguese Water Dog or the
German Short-haired Pointer.

DOG SHOW - BEAGLE & POODLE

2010-02-19T10:51:00.001-08:00

Here are two more entrants in the dog show,

the beagle and standard poodle. Pick your

favorite!

DOG SHOW

2010-02-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

Golden Retriever, Basset

Hound and Great Dane

In the spirit of the dog show season, I am having

an on-line dog show. Vote for your favorite dog

and check back to see who wins best of show!

All carvings are for sale and range from $75 to

$150, and more for custom breeds.

ALL THE TRIMMINGS CHRISTMAS SHOW

2010-02-15T20:28:00.000-08:00

I know it's a little late to be thanking everyone for coming to
our Christmas show, but I want you all to know how much I
appreciated your attendance. Your continued support just
amazes me and obviously has kept me in business for a long
time. I consider so many of you my friends now, not just
customers, and look forward to seeing you at my shows.
Thanks so much! The winners of the drawing after the show
were Kris Miller of Spruce Ridge (rughooking) Studios, who
won the Belsnickel, and Alice Caterino who won the snowman.
See you all at this year's show on December 4, 2010.

ALL THE TRIMMINGS HOLIDAY SHOW

2009-11-13T13:51:00.000-08:00

I've been working hard on my Christmas items getting

ready for the rapidly upcoming season. Yikes! It will

be here before I am ready. Here are a few of my new

items. Contact me if you are interested or:

Join us at our "All the Trimmings Holiday Show" on Dec. 5,
2009, from 10-4pm, at Chelsea Fairgrounds Service

Building, 20501 Old U. S. 12, Chelsea, MI 48118. We

will have 17 different local artists with wonderful work!

Check out our blog to see many of the artisans and their work - http://www.allthetrimmingsshow.blogspot.com/.

THANKSGIVING AT THE CHELSEA GALLERY

2009-11-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

Check in at the Chelsea Gallery at 115 S. Main St.,
Chelsea, to see our fall and Thanksgiving carvings.
We've got fall leaves, acorns, turkeys and pheasants.
They will be there until...Thanksgiving!

BOTANICALS OF LA CANADA, CALIFORNIA

2009-10-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

Several customers of Botanicals of La Canada, California,
have asked where they can purchase my carvings now
that Botanicals no longer has a storefront. Julie now has
an online store at www.shopbotanicals.com and will
feature several seasonal carvings monthly (along with
a lot of other wonderful things), but will also take any
special orders. We will continue to work together and
will ship to her on a regular basis. If you have any more
questions, please contact Julie or myself.

HALLOWEEN AT THE CHELSEA GALLERY

2009-09-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

For the month of October, I will have my Halloween carvings at the
Chelsea Gallery, 115 S. Main Street, Chelsea, MI 48118. Call for hours

at 734-475-1008. Their website is http://www.chelsea-gallery.com/.

It is a beautiful gallery with local artists' work, and it has a gorgeous

coffee bar. Gary and Doris Galvin are the charming owners and great

friends of our family. Please visit them and tell them I sent you.

HALLOWEEN!!

2009-09-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

I'm getting excited about Halloween because I am having so
much fun creating my new Halloween creatures. Afte
researching all of my old magazines (and there are a lot of

them!) for ideas from Halloween collectables, I have designed

carvings that use my carved pumpkins along with tin, wire

and antique spindles. I almost wish they won't sell, because

I love how they look in my house, and I have only a limited

number of spindles to use. Come see them at my fall show

September 19th & 20th. Lots of new carvings and good food!

HALLOWEEN AND FALL OPEN HOUSE!

2009-09-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

"SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT"

My annual fall and Halloween open house will be held

on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20

from 10-5 at my home at 5465 Conway Road, Chelsea,

MI 48118. I will have many new fall and Halloween items

as well as some new birds for the bird collectors, as well

as lots of crows, as usual. I'm also working on lots of new

pins and necklaces. The carvings are piling up high and I

need to stop carving and start painting soon! Hope to see

everyone there!

SEASIDE CARVINGS

2009-09-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

A good friend from Florida showed up one day
to look at my seaside carvings and went home
with an instant collection of 27 carvings! Lobsters,
crabs, fish, dolphins, flamingos, spoonbills, scallops,
sand dollars, mermaids, lighthouses, rays and more
all went home to Florida. I haven't carved so many
sea creatures at once in a long time and thought I
would have some left over for my fall show
September 19th and 20th, but she wiped me out!
(That's a good thing.) Now I am once again carving
more seaside items to replace them. I had forgotten
how much I love to carve most of them.

QUILT SQUARE AND INITIAL PLAQUES - NEW!

2009-06-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to inspiration from one of my dealers,

Botanicals from La Canada, California, I have

added quilt squares and initials to my line of

removeable plaques. So far, the letters have

been painted black, but any color is available.

As for the quilt squares, I just picked some of

my simplest patterns and an assortment of

colors. Obviously, the possibilities are endless!

The initials and the quilt squares are $30. The

plaque holders are $20, in fifteen different colors.

WINDOWSILL SERIES

2009-04-30T05:59:00.000-07:00

Just a little smaller and a little less expensive,

these cute little birds fit nicely on a windowsill.

Bluebird, crow, white bird, cardinal, goldfinch

and junco. Approximately 3 1/2" long. $25 ea.

Shipping included.

More Pictures of the wood

2009-04-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

Ray Worden on the left and John, my husband
and fellow carver on the right, after an
afternoon of milling a basswood tree.

The whole tree in boards ready to be stored

in the barn for several months till dry.

Here are pictures of the tree once it has been milled into

boards which we will keep up in the barn until it has dried.

The time varies by thickness, but generally it is 2 months

per inch before it is dry enough to carve. I cannot wait!

A NEW TREE!!!

2009-04-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

After a few years of carving hard and not the best basswood,

(you never know before you cut down a tree how it will be

on the inside) we bought a wonderful tree from our farmer

friend Sonny Beeman, and had it cut into planks by another

friend Ray Worden, with his portable saw mill. These pictures

show my husband, John, and Ray spending the afternoon

transforming a tree into carving material. It is beautiful

wood and we can't wait till it dries and we can start carving!

Sheep pins and carved buttons

2009-03-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

Here is a flock of sheep pins and necklaces on their way to

Kris Miller for the Black Swamp Fleece Fair in Bowling

Green, Ohio, this last weekend, along with an assortment

of springy hand-carved buttons for your hand knitted

sweaters. I'll try to carve any idea you might have for

buttons. The possibilities are endless!

Inspirational Carvings

2009-03-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my carvings that inspired my stair

treads. The frog will probably be the ninth one.

Seven More Stair Treads

2009-03-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy getting ready for the Dexter show

(which was great, thank you everyone), I have

neglected my blog. A couple people asked about my

other stair treads, so I finally took a picture of them

too. They are all inspired by my carvings, with a black

and mustard border to tie them together. I have finally

come to the conclusion that I am not capable of hooking

a large rug, but love to do smaller ones. This way, when

they are all done, it will have the effect of a large rug,

but was done in smaller steps (haha). Partway through

the treads, I decided to add my bugs to the rugs too,

since I carve so many things and this would help to

incorporate more of my carvings into the rugs. My

dilemma now, other than what carving to hook,

is whether or not to keep each tread the same shape

and size, approximately 9 1/2" x 28", or to shape the

last 5 treads according to the steps which are winders,

and would be basically triangular. This decision might

hold up my hooking for a long time! I think my next rug

will be a big green frog with a fly on the end of his long

tongue. Perfect for spring, especially since we now hear

our spring peepers in our pond in the woods and on our

walks down the country roads. Kris Miller of Spruce

Ridge Studios carries patterns for the sheep, whale, frog

and Halloween scene, along with my chickens.Contact

her at http://www.spruceridgestudios.com/ for the patterns.

Hooked Rug Stair Tread

2009-03-06T21:21:00.000-08:00

I am so excited that I finished my eighth stair tread!

It is patterned from my carved patriotic hand with

flag and has my ant with flag in the bottom corner,

as shown in the pictures. I struggled with the color

for the hand until I found the PERFECT wool at

Kris Miller's Spruce Ridge Studios. If you need the

absolute best flesh-colored wool you'll ever find and

anything else you might need for hooking, check out

her website at http://www.spruceridgestudios.com/.

She also carries seven of my hooked rug patterns.

New Item - Birds on Antique Wall Mounts

2009-02-20T19:18:00.000-08:00

Check out my new songbirds on antique wall mounts.

Patterned after antique pieces I have loved for years,

I finally have had fun pairing my birds with old wooden

brackets. If you are interested too, please contact me.

Dexter Pioneer Arts Fair

2009-02-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

Join me Saturday, March 21, 2009, from 10-4, at the Dexter Pioneer Arts Fair new location,

the Atrium at the Dexter United Methodist Church, 7643 Huron River Drive, Dexter, MI 48130. I'll have lots of new birds, eggs, and FEATHERS! Hope to see you there.

St. Patrick's Day Plaque

2009-02-14T15:54:00.000-08:00

For collectors of my plaques, I have designed a new St. Patrick's Day

carving - a Celtic Cross. Email me

for more information at mdusbiber@aol.com.

Valentine's Day Snowfall

2009-02-14T15:28:00.000-08:00

On Valentine's Day we woke unexpectedly to 3 inches of snow. Here are some pictures

of our house in the snow (my favorite time of the year for the house) and our pets, Belle

the collie, and Genesis the horse.