Lake Forest Artist Among 30 On Display at Artisan Guild Holiday Boutique

Lake Forest resident Sande Noble was born with artistic talent, it’s in her DNA.

“My creativity came from my mom, she could do anything, she was amazing. My sister is a studio art major, so clearly that has all carried along,” smiled Noble as she talked about her innate ability to create jewelry, crocheted scarves and hats, and silk tie purses.

Noble graduated from with a degree in art history and was recently named 2011 Artisan of the Year by the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Artisan Guild.

The Guild was created in 2005 when 13 local artists, Noble included, decided that their work was too special to keep to themselves. They put together a Christmas show in a room at the .

This year's Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Artisan Guild Holiday Boutique will run today (Nov. 9) and Thursday (Nov. 10) at CROYA in the from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Noble's ware will be among those on display for purchase.

“It came out of, golly, we need a forum for people who are local and for people who make everything that they do and not just buying stuff and enhancing or whatever,” said Noble.

Since 2005, the Guild has grown to 50 members and hosts three artisan shows a year. In 2009, they began recognizing their most prolific artists with the Artisan of the Year Award.

“I was told at our spring board meeting and I was actually fairly surprised,” said Noble.

Noble Finds Her Passion

Noble recalled her artistic talents began when her mother was sick.

“I would go visit my mom and I couldn’t sit still, and my mom was very creative so I started crocheting pot holders, then I made 6-foot scarves,"she said. "I made 18 scarves and hats.”

Her passion for making jewelry began in 2001 when her sister took her to a bead store and they made some things for her girls. "That’s what started it for me as far as making jewelry,” Noble said.

Today, Noble makes both simple and intricate necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Most of her jewelry is make with gemstones and pearls. She uses sterling silver and 14K and 18K gold, though she doesn’t use quite as much of the gold since prices have soared in the last few years. Her design inspiration comes from the materials that she’s working with or from a request from a client.

“If I just found something really gorgeous, then I might do nothing but string it and add a little metal to it," she said. "I had one string of the most delicious amethyst that you’ve ever seen. They’re little, tiny flat discs that are all hand done and faceted. So all I did was string them and put pearls every once in a while, that only took about 10 minutes, but the more detailed pieces can take a couple of days."

Purses Made from Ties

Noble’s latest endeavor has been creating little purses made out of men’s silk neckties.

“I woke up one morning and thought that I needed to do something else, and decided I should do something with ties,” she noted.

The purses are constructed from woven silk ties and lined with silk shantung. This year, Noble increased the size of the purses and began embellishing them with jewelry and antique buttons. They will be shown for the first time at the Guild’s Holiday Boutique.

Noble loves showing her work in the Guild’s Holiday Boutique and fairs because she gets the opportunity to talk with people about her art. She has shown her jewelry at the , in Lake Bluff and has some of her things on Virtual Art Fair.net, a website that sells the work of artisans and allows the buyer to donate part of the purchase price to a charitable organization of their choice.

However, she said that she would love it if she could sell more from her home.

“My dream in the world would be if I could park myself, and people would knock on my door. If someone comes to you and says I love a certain stone or want something to be really long, that’s what so much fun,” said Noble.

Artists Seek Out Artisan Guild Shows

Aside from being a talented artist, Noble is also a tireless volunteer. For the past few years, she has co-chaired the Holiday Boutique and the fall artisan show with her dear friend, Nancy Mieling.

Mieling, a talented artist who creates glass works, was also one of the original 13 who began the Guild. Together they work year round interviewing potential artists and helping other board members choose which artists will be included in the show.

“We have to pull in new people and it has to be balanced. You can’t have all of one thing and not enough of something else, “said Noble.

Mieling noted that in the early years, they had to go out and try and recruit artists for the shows. Now artists are asking to be in the show.

“People are calling us now and it’s great,” Mieling said.

This year the Holiday Boutique will showcase 31 artists. There will be three new artists participating in the show. Janet Unruh from Lake Forest will show her unique picture frames and purses that are adorned with jewels. Barb Johnson from Minnesota will have her one-of-a-kind Tuscan throws and table runners on display, and Kristin Ashley of Lake Bluff will present her beautiful and spiritual painted feathers. There will also be jewelry, photography, pottery, mosaic art, children’s gifts, and much more.

The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Artisan Guild will donate their proceeds to and Mother’s Trust this year. Each year they choose a charitable organization, and CROYA is one of them because they allow the Guild to hold their show in their facility.

“CROYA has always been close to everybody’s heart, and the thing that’s nice with CROYA is that the kids pitch in,” said Noble.