Art of the Opera
Mirella Cimato Gallery
Opera Central / Opera Box Office
2145 1st. Avenue South
St. Petersburg, FL 33712
January through February 2027
Get ready, get set, create!
Choose an opera as your inspiration. Lots of fun information online. Search the St. Pete Opera, New York Metropolitan Opera, San Fransisco Opera, Cincinnati Opera to name a few. There are also lots of modern operas to find.
Only sizes of work to be accepted will be 18”W X 24”H and 27”W X 40”H. Pieces will hang vertically. This is the outer dimension, so if you add a frame, the frame has to stay within these dimensions. The Committee looked at the space and decided to add size restrictions. This will also give you experience with other juried shows that have restrictions.
Your work can be any medium, it just has to fit the size dimensions.
Registration fee will be $20 for 1 or 2 pieces and will be juried. The Guild is responsible for the refreshments at the openings, and printing of postcards for marketing, that this fee will help fund. We also plan on displaying this body of artwork at Lewis House (Eckard College) in Spring 2027.
The information needed for your label will be:
Title of Work
Name of Opera that inspired the piece
Artist Name
Medium /Materials Used
Cost of piece
Relevant documents:
Art Dimension Page
Opera Suggestions
Call for Artists
A Small Show at a Small Gallery
Mix Studio
5812 28th Avenue South
Gulfport, FL 33707
Opening reception: October 23rd
Show dates: October 23 thru November 21
Elizabeth Neily has been invited to exhibit at the gallery and she is sharing the space with Guild Members.
This is an opportunity to exhibit and sell small pieces. The gallery room dimensions are 11’ x 14’, but the 14’ walls have a doorway in each.
The pieces should be no larger than 12” X 16” and can be vertical or horizontal. They can be framed or unframed. They can be 3-D, as there will be a small table area possible.
The commission is 70% to the artist / 30% to the gallery.
Walls are drywall and nails and hooks are used to hang art.
We will supply apps and refreshments for the opening.
As items sell, they leave with the buyer at time of purchase.
Please email photo of work and dimensions, price and medium to
jodidoll55@gmail.com and aidajune@me.com
Due date October 1st. so presentation can be made to gallery.
Art drop off will be October 18th to 19th.
Take down will be November 22.
Waldorf-Style Sweater Babies!
Taught by Lisa Ahbel
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 9:30-3:30
Location: King of Peace Church
Workshop Fee: Member $115 Non Member $135
Maximum enrollment: 15
In this workshop you will learn to make your own, adorable natural fiber Waldorf-style Sweater Baby. From forming the head to embroidering the features, to stuffing and assembling the finished product— I will be there to guide you through each step. Along the way you get to pick your favorite pre-sewn wool “jammies” (made from lightly felted, recycled sweaters), choose from 3 different skin tones and then coordinate with the perfect eye and hair colors, all from my extensive stash.
Your finished doll will measure about 14 inches long. Stuffed with clean, combed wool batting, these dolls reflect back warmth when held and cuddled. Your sweater baby could end up being a treasured play companion (and future heirloom!) for a special child in your life….or you might decide to keep it for your own delight and enjoyment.
The Waldorf doll head construction is easy to learn and you can adapt it to any size and type of cloth doll you want to make in the future.
Supply Kit Cost: ALL materials—valued at $45 per doll–are included in the workshop fee!
Materials Students are Expected to Bring:
Small sharp scissors, pins, tape measure, pencil, medium-sized crochet hook, sewing needles including a sharp darning needle (with a large eye, if you have one), thimble if you use one, chopstick or other tool to help with stuffing. I will bring extra needles and other supplies to use if you don’t already own them. If you have a spare wool dryer ball you are not using anymore, bring it along—it can speed up your head construction. If you don’t have one, no worries.
Also bring a bag lunch and something to drink.
Materials Provided by Teacher: Wool batting, sturdy rug warp thread for tying eye and chin lines, pre-sewn sweater “jammies” and coordinating sewing thread in a LOT of colors for you to choose from, choice of skin-tone cotton stockinette for hands and face (you may choose those ahead of time), hair yarn in many colors and textures, large assortment of embroidery floss colors for eyes/lips, long doll-making needles to use during class. I will bring extra scissors, measuring tapes, pins, crochet hooks and anything else I can think of for you to use during the workshop.
TBSDG Member Meeting
Date & Time: September 21, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
NOTE NEW DATE, 3rd Monday, for this meeting only
Meeting Location: King of Peace MCC, 6085 Park Blvd Pinellas Park
Please arrive a few minutes early so that we can all socialize and start the meeting on time.
Show-n-Tell: We are all anxious to see show-n-tell items in-person, but please limit your number of items to three, so that everyone will have a chance to "show-n-tell." If you attended last month's workshop, please bring your created items to share.
Mini Demo: Cathy Simms will demonstrate how to modify photographs for mixed media and journal use and making an intuitive folding book.
A "Free Table" will be available for the free exchange of no longer needed surface design materials and supplies. Please check the table before you leave the meeting to be sure to take home with you anything you bring that does not go home with someone else.
Date & Time: October 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Mini Demo: Pam O’Connor will demonstrate kinusaiga, a Japanese fabric collage technique.
Nneka Jones, Point of Intersection
@artyouhungry, www.artyouhungry.com
From Student to Full-Time Artist: Building a Creative Life with Purpose
An Artist Talk with Nneka Jones
Friday October 16th at 11 AM on Zoom
Member price : $20
Non Member price: $25
Join Trinidadian-born multidisciplinary artist Nneka Jones for an inspiring conversation about creativity, courage, and building a sustainable life as a working artist.
In this virtual artist talk, Nneka will share her journey from Trinidad to the United States and the experiences that shaped her path from art student to full-time professional artist. She will reflect on making that transition during the uncertainty of the pandemic, selling her first original artworks through her first public exhibition, her hand embroidered TIME magazine cover and learning to build a career beyond the traditional expectations placed upon emerging artists.
Nneka will also explore the evolution of her artistic practice, from creating work that was primarily visually appealing to developing deeply narrative, research-driven pieces that examine identity, history, culture, resilience, and the stories that are often overlooked. Through examples from her portfolio, she will offer insight into how an artist’s voice can deepen over time and how personal experience can be transformed into artwork with broader social and emotional impact.
Today, Nneka’s practice extends beyond the studio. She travels throughout the United States and internationally to exhibit her work, collaborate with organizations, and teach hands-on workshops that encourage others to explore their own creativity. Her goal is to be not only a living artist whose work may be studied and written about, but also an accessible artist whom students, makers, and community members can meet, learn from, and engage with directly.
The talk will conclude with a brief introduction to Nneka’s curated art kits, created to help participants continue exploring embroidery and mixed-media techniques beyond the event.
About the Artist
Nneka Jones is a Trinidadian-born multidisciplinary artist known for her intricate embroidery, mixed-media portraiture, public art, and narrative-driven installations. Her work combines traditional handcraft with contemporary storytelling to explore identity, cultural memory, social history, and the experiences of underrepresented communities. In addition to maintaining an active studio practice, Nneka teaches workshops, speaks about her creative journey, and works with museums, schools, cultural organizations, and communities across the United States and internationally.
Lecture will be recorded, recoding will be available through October 23rd
Title: Get Messy with Handmade Paper
Instructor: Judi Jetson
Location: Suntan Art Center
Date: October 17, 2026
Time: 10am - 2pm
Maximum Enrollment: 10
Price: $60 Members, Non Members $80
Description: Ever wanted to blend up old paper and turn it into something you'd actually frame? This is a four-hour playground for doing exactly that. You'll pulp, splash, dip, and press your way to a stack of paper that's 100% yours — no two sheets alike, and every one of them started as something you'd normally toss in the recycling bin. Come for the papermaking, stay for the very satisfying squish of wet pulp.
We'll toss this in the blenders:
Colored paper, unbleached abaca (banana) and junk mail
Flower petals, leaves or grass clippings
Turmeric, beet or onion skins for a pop of color
Who should come play:
Crafters, gardeners, teachers hunting for a fun classroom project, and anyone who's ever wondered "wait, could I actually make that?" Zero experience required — just show up ready to get delightfully soggy.
Materials Instructor Brings: blenders, colored paper and abaca for making pulp, sponges, dried flowers and other add-ins.
Materials Student Brings: a plastic tub approximately 20" x 15" x 7" (a grey bus tub), a towel or 2, an old sheet cut or torn into 8"x10" rectangles to couch your paper onto, bits of fiber, flower petals & other creative add-ins. Optional: junk mail (NOT glossy) or tissue paper or pages from a book, grass clippings or onion skins.
Date & Time: November 16, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Mini Demo:
Date & Time: December 14, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Mixed Media Collage Enhanced With Thread with Nneka Jones
Date: Friday, January 22, 2027
Time: 10am - 4pm
Location: King of Peace Church, 6085 Park Blvd. Pinellas Park, FL
Member Price: $200
Non Member Price: $240
Workshop Description:
Exploring Surface Design Through Paint and Embroidery
Join internationally exhibited mixed-media artist Nneka Jones for an immersive workshop exploring the intersection of paint, pattern, and embroidery. Drawing from her distinctive artistic practice, Nneka will demonstrate how botanical-stenciled imagery, layered color, and hand stitching can be combined to create contemporary textile-inspired artwork rich in texture and meaning.
In this hands-on workshop, artist Nneka Jones will guide participants through her signature process of combining stencil-based painting techniques with hand embroidery to create richly layered designs.
Participants will explore methods for transferring imagery, working with stencils, building color through paint application, and enhancing compositions with simple embroidery stitches. Through demonstrations and guided experimentation, students will learn how to create texture, depth, and visual interest while developing their own unique artistic voice.
This workshop is suitable for beginners as well as experienced makers looking to expand their surface design practice. Students will leave with a completed mixed-media artwork, new technical skills, and inspiration for incorporating paint and stitch into future projects.
Skills Covered:
Design transfer methods
Stencil application techniques
Color layering and paint application
Introduction to embroidery for mixed media
Creating texture and dimension through surface design
Minimum # of students: 10 Maximum # of students: 20
Scissors
Fabric swatches - solid or patterned(optional)
Embroidery hoop (optional)
Embroidery threads
Pencil
Pen
Materials Provided by Instructor:
Fabric or canvas
Stencils/templates
Acrylic paints
Paint application tools (brushes and sponges)
Transfer materials (carbon paper)
Demonstration samples
Instructional handouts
Needles
Needle Threader
Embroidery thread
Needle holder (tubes)
Supply List: A detailed supply list will be distributed to registered students approximately 60 days prior to the workshop. Students should anticipate bringing basic embroidery supplies.
