As Solo Artist At 2013 Ocean City Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival Anne Gives Thanks

Anne here — in countdown mode — putting the finishing touches on an extravagant assortment of new GlamTribale products on their way to the 2013 Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean City, NJ, sponsored by the Jersey Shore Artisans Guild.

This show is part of a series created by JoAnne Schauf to support thousands of people and animal friends, too, in the Ocean City community. See my earlier 2013 Christmas Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean City Taps Anne Enke As Solo Featured Artist.

Pleased, proud and also humbled to find myself as the solo featured artist, I can’t help reflecting on the fact that in seventh grade my art teacher told me I had absolutely NO creativity. For decades I believed her, although my career rise to become the Fashion Director and head of product development for Victoria’s Secret confirmed the errors of Mrs. Charnesky’s assessment of my skills. The things we do to our children!!!!

It’s not even a year ago that I took full control of making GlamTribale jewelry and now home gifts. The journey has been enormously challenging with jewelry being such a competitive category. It became clear that I had to learn how to make beads as a way of distinguishing GlamTribale jewelry from the work of other artists. In all honesty, there are necklaces that have been made and remade 3-4 times as my own skills increased.

I’m especially moved by discovering The Kibera School for Girls in Kenya, the recipient of 5% of GlamTribale revenues. My own artistry is very centered now on the Sumra and Mursi tribes of Southern Ethiopia, the entire region of Lake Turkana — home to human civilization — then traveling south into Kenya and Nairobi, where a young Dan Eldon grew up. Dan lived less than a mile from Kibera and was regularly in the slum trying to work his philanthropy magic. In a very real sense, Dan — as my muse — is going to Ocean City this weekend, too.

Planned Parenthood PA, the recipient of another 5% of GlamTribale revenues, reflects our commitment to women in America as well. For every woman who complains about our commitment to Planned Parenthood — two I believe — hundreds address the topic directly with applause. Planned Parenthood is America’s most important health care provider to America’s poor women, and I am happy to stand with PP, especially since 2010. I’ve really dug in my heels on women’s issues in America, refusing to give up without a battle to the finish.

I head to Ocean City so thrilled to have finally arrived at a place in my life where my self, my values and my work vision are in total alignment. The road ahead remains enormously challenging, but I’d say we’ve crossed second base without stopping. Many new direct invites are coming my way, as curators tap into the fact that GlamTribale is a very special concept. With one show organizer, I would not have reached out to them, believing that I’m not qualified to meet their standards. How wonderful to know that they feel differently!!!!

It’s fair to say that this is a special Thanksgiving for me — one in which I’m thanking all the goddesses and all my muses — Dan, of course — but also Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, Marilyn Monroe (yes, Marilyn), Hillary Clinton, Anais Nin, Angelina Jolie, Shakira, and the young Pakistani activist Malala for Yousafzai shot by the Taliban for believing in girls’ education for their inspiration and motivating energy. Their stories are infused throughout Anne of Carversville and represent the foundation of my thinking and artistic vision.

In three weeks, GlamTribale will run our first trifecta weekend, with Laura and I at the Philadelphia Ballet Nutcracker Market; my jewelry and now gifts also at Philadelphia Main Line Art Center Galleries Holiday Fine Craft Sale — where I will work on opening night Dec. 5 — and also the Hoboken NJ Holiday Crafts Fair. Hoboken is very important to me because Manhattan is just across the river. Returning to New York in 2014 as a fine artisan is a key goal for me.

Track all our events on our GlamTribale calendar.  I’m hoping we connect in person and online with total passion for putting my talent and creativity to work for women and girls worldwide. Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in America and best wishes to all my Anne of Carversville readers worldwide. Sending love. ~ Anne

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