Congratulations to our TOP agents for 2009

Espresso Shop in a Boat

This 1973 Fiberform was gutted and fabricated into an espresso shop in 2008-2009. The boat (then named the Wetta the Betta) was used in the Port Orford, Bandon area as a fishing vessel for many years. After a trade and barter deal made by my father (John Berge) in the late 80's the boat was in his north forty for a long span of years.
While I was out of work for several months my father came up with the idea for the shop. My brother (David Berge), myself, and my father spent 3 months on the project. We began gutting the fiberglass shell and framing up in September 2008 and finished construction in December 2008. The shop was on highway 101 south of Bandon for 2 months and moved to its current spot in May 2009.
We serve custom espresso drinks. Most of the drinks can be served either hot or cold. Creamosas and red bull drinks are very popular items.
We are located in Coquille, Oregon at 1081 West Central.

Graceful Envelope Contest

The following link will delight anyone who loves to letter or just appreciates lettering art. Each year the Graceful Envelope Contest is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers and administered by the Washington Calligraphers Guild. Calligraphers from around the country vie for top honors by creating an envelope design. In addition to promoting the art of calligraphy, the Graceful Envelope Contest celebrates the role of letters in binding people together and serves as a reminder that the people who deliver the mail are career government employees who take pride in their work and care about the communities they serve.

See this year’s winners and learn more about the contest at http://calligraphersguild.org/envwinners2009.html

This year’s theme was Address the Environment. Entrants were urged to design an envelope that promotes the preservation of our natural world and address it artistically. A trio of judges looked for skill in lettering, effective use of color and design, and creative interpretation of the theme. Enjoy!

Art Connection
165 S. 5th Street
Downtown Coos Bay
(541) 267-0186
http://coosartconnection.wordpress.com/

Encaustic - Painting with Hot Wax!

Encaustic painting, painting with pigmented hot wax, is an ancient method that is currently enjoying a resurgance. Encaustic painting allows a wide variety of working techniques from delicate layering of thin, transparent glazes to the creation of heavy impasto textures. The wax paints are gently warmed to the melting point in their tins on a pancake griddle and applied with natural bristle brushes. The wax cools and hardens quickly but can be re-heated and re-worked endlessly.

Enkaustikos® Hot Cakes® brand of wax paints are now available at Art Connection. They contain only the finest artist grade pigments which are lightfast and engineered to withstand the heat requirements of the encaustic process without colorshifts. Hot Cakes are also solvent-free! The colors are rich and creamy.

For more information see our blog: http://coosartconnection.wordpress.com/

Art Connection

Downtown Coos Bay (near the Library)

541 267 0186

Fiddlesticks Gifts, Coos Bay's award winning gift store says THANKYOU

At Fiddlesticks, our sales are up in a down economy.
We would like to say thank you.

First, a thank you to our loyal customers:
Next year will be our 30th year in business and there are so many loyal customers that have come back year after year. We even see the children (and dare I say grandchildren) of customers coming into our store. Thank you loyal customers.

Next a thank you to our dedicated staff:
We have had great employees through the years. Our present employee, Michelle has been with us for about two years. We usually hire the older teen and twenty something age employee. They seem to have the energy and desire to do a great job with our customers. We have stayed connected and watched our wonderful past employees grow and create lives of their own. Thank you to wonderful staff.

Besides offering great customer service, our employees have often been models in our ads.
Here is Nichole in a photo shoot for the woven blankets we make:

Here is Michelle in photo shoot for a tie dye shirt and sunglasses ad.

Thirdly, we would like to thank our advertising partners:
Through the years, we have advertised with the following media:
The World, KCBY, Bi Coastal Media, KDOC, KLIGHT, KMHS, Southcoast Shopper, coosbaybiz.com as welll as school newspapers, family fun night sponsorships, organization donations, team sponsorships and more. We most often advertise with The World newspaper (and started with them 29 years ago). Thank you to our professional local media.

We would like to offer a special thank you to The World newpaper. The World staff has helped our business grow and has given much more than just the ad space we purchase. Through the years, they have featured our store in articles and also provided advice on ad creation.

Fiddlesticks
Gifts, Gizmos and Fashion Accessories and Toys
Located at Newmark Plaza
1936 Newmark St.
North Bend, Oregon 97420
(541) 751-9033
http://www.fiddlefun.com/

Customer Show and Tell

This lovely old desk was finished by Art Connection customer, Carolyn Sutton. In Carolyn's words...

"The beautiful paper I used to decoupage the drawer fronts of this old seen better days desk was purchased from Art Connection. I now have the little desk in my space at Leaf's Tree House on 3rd in Coos Bay. The paper has a nice handmade look about it with beautiful script and ginko leaves. It was the perfect paper for this project, just what I wanted. Thank you for being there when I needed the perfect paper."

There are many other designs of the 12 x 12 sheets that Carolyn used for this project. We also have larger sheets in a variety of fibers, colors and patterns. Thank you Carolyn for sharing your work with us!

Art Connection
165 S 5th Street
Downtown Coos Bay
http://coosartconnection.wordpress.com/

Fiddlesticks is now in downtown Coos Bay during the Farmers Market

Michelle Bush at the Fiddlesticks tie dye table.

Come down to the Wednesday Farmers Market in Coos Bay and you'll find fresh vegetables, homemade bread, lots of crafts. You'll also find tye dye sweatshirts and tee shirts from Fiddlesticks at great prices (just $10 for S - L tee shirts).

The Wednesday has market grown into a Coos Bay happening. Visit the market every Wednesday from 9am to 3pm. It is located on Central Avenue in Coos Bay.

Fiddlesticks
Gift, Gizmos, Fashion Accessories, Toys
Located at Newmark Plaza
1936 Newmark St.
North Bend, Oregon
541-751-9033
http://www.fiddlefun.com/

Fiddlesticks Flags help grab attention for your business

Fiddlesticks now stocks giant flags, open spinners, windsocks and spinner baskets. If you would like attention for your business (or just a whole lot or lively happy color) come see the selection at Fiddlesticks. An 8.5 foot colorful feather flag is just $39.99 (more cost effective than any ad you could purchase for your business). Spinning Open Signs are $49.99.

Fiddlesticks
Gifts, Gizmos, Fashion Accessories and Toys
Located at Newmark Plaza
1936 Newmark St.
North Bend, Oregon 97420
(541) 751-9033
http://www.fiddlefun.com/

Benettis Italian Restaurant in Coos Bay - voted the best

Voted Best Italian Restaurant in the Area.

Noted for soup, steaks and calzones. Over 40 entrees and nightly seafood specials.

Come, relax and have some great Italian food.

Benettis Italian Restaurant
260 S. Broadway
Coos Bay, Oregon
541-267-6066

(reservations are helpful)
http://www.benettis.com/

Tuxedo Rentals at Checkerberry's

Stop by and check out Checkerberry's Flowers and Gifts expanded Formalwear rental department! Choose from the latest fashions and top designers. Looking good was never easier than seeing the staff at Checkerberry's.

Checkerberry's Flowers & Gifts

169 N 2nd Street

Coos Bay, Oregon 97420

(541)269-5312 of toll free (800)809-0593

http://www.checkerberrys.com/

Voted Best Italian Restaurant - Coos Bay and North Bend

Voted Best Italian Restaurant in the Area. Noted for soup, steaks and calzones.

Over 40 entrees and nightly seafood specials,

Benettis
260 S. Broadway
Coos Bay, Oregon

541-267-6066 (reservations are helpful)
http://www.benettis.com/

Artist Trading Cards on Display

ATC's from the June Swap are now on display at Art Connection!

If you suffer artist's block staring at a large white canvas or piece of paper you should try artist trading cards. Only 2.5 by 3.5 (the size of a baseball card) they are an easy, fun and inexpensive way to spur your creativity. Cut your own material to size or buy pre-cut cards, paper or canvas and paint, draw or collage you way to creative freedom! Then trade them with fellow artists if you choose. Stop by Art Connection to see these and other samples.

Art Connection

165 S. 5th Street

Downtown Coos Bay

(541) 267-0186

http://coosartconnection.wordpress.com/

Leaf's Treehouse Mini-Mall has over 70 vendors providing merchandise

Leaf's Treehouse Mini-Mall, the huge collectible store has over 70 vendors adding merchandise to the mix. You never know what you'll find at Leaf's because the merchandise changes quickly.

Leaf's Treehouse
175 S. 3rd
Coos Bay
Mon-Sat 10-6 summer hours
541-266-7348

Singer Sewing Machine Model 57815

We list a lot of our trade in sewing machines on eBay (the nice ones). This is a machine that we are going to list, but thought we’d give local customers a chance to purchase it first. The advantage to living here in the Coos Bay-North Bend area is you get to test drive the product before purchasing. See it here and save on shipping when you visit the Electric Hospital.

One of the things we get a lot of requests for is a basic, easy to use, straight stitch/zigzag sewing machine. Here is a nice one.

This is a Singer sewing machine model 57815C straight stitch/zigzag machine that was traded in on a new sewing machine.

We did a service on this machine and sewed it out and it does a good job. You can see the stitches we sewed out that it does a good job.



You can use this with the table on for larger projects.

If you take the table off, it becomes a free-arm machine.

Nice for sewing pants legs or shirtsleeves, as they slip right over the end of the machine.

There are some accessories that come with this sewing machine.

They include:

• 5 extra bobbins
• Extra pack needles
• 2 thread caps (large and small)
• Feed dog cover (for doing free-hand embroidery)
• Electronic foot control and cord
• Manual

The electronic foot control makes using this machine easy to use.

Also the manual will help you to get started on your sewing projects.

Here is your chance to pick one of these Singers up at a good price as we are selling this one for $49.95.

If you mention this ad, to sweeten the deal we will include 1 free class with purchase of the sewing machine.

Come see it at The Electric Hospital, 988 S Broadway, Coos Bay, OR, or call us at 267-2241.

Artist's Board Books

Board books are an exciting new outlet for creative expression. Mixed media artists are going wild with these little books. New at Art Connection are blank board books ready for your creative inspiration. They come in both white and black in a variety of sizes. The manufacturer, CT Publishing also has a great line of books with tips, techniques and inspiration.

Stop in to see these fun new surfaces for the mixed media artist.

Art Connection

165 S 5th StreetDowntown Coos Bay

541-267-0186

http://coosartconnection.wordpress.com/

Airport Shuttle Service offered by Yellow Cab - Coos Bay

Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH). is located on the Amazing Oregon Coast,

Call and let us know what time your flight arrives, and we will have a cab waiting to take you to your destination.

Yellow Cab
541-267-3111

http://www.yellowcabcoosbay.com/

Bird Feeders for our feathered friends South Coast Oregon, Coos Bay

Craft-Wise Bird Feeders are made of plates and jars. Just screw the jar off the bottom feeder and refill. Your bird friends will appreciate your love. Many more craft items in our 7,500 sq. ft. collectible store. We are the largest and only of this type store where you can find anything you might want or need in your home or for gifts. Come in and browse, see what you just have to take home with you, and meet the local owners, Doug and Nancy Leaf

Leaf's Treehouse
175 S. 3rd
Coos Bay
Mon-Sat 10-6 summer hours
541-266-7348

Renee Frati joins Coos Bay Biz!

Exciting news! I have joined Coos Bay Biz along with other local businesses! This is the perfect way to feature my clients, my businesses activities and/or partnerships in the Community!

Glad to be a part of Coos Bay Biz!

Renee Frati

Art Supply Source for Coos Bay - North Bend

Just returned from the National Art Materials Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky! What a show...all the top art materials manufacturers displaying the latest and greatest. One of the new items that will be arriving in the store any day is the Aqua Promarker from Letraset. This is a pigmented watercolor marker that will be wonderful for outdoor watercolor sketching. For more information and all the news from Art Connection see:
http://coosartconnection.wordpress.com/
Or stop by Art Connection at 165 S 5th in Coos Bay
267-0186

Coos Bay Oregon Weather Forecast

It's always a great day to make a Fiddlestop!

This posting is sponsored by:
Fiddlesticks
Gifts, Gizmos and Fashion Accessories and Toys
Located at Newmark Plaza
1936 Newmark St.
North Bend, Oregon 97420
(541) 751-9033
http://www.fiddlefun.com/