MOOSE JAW — With the Moostletoe Artists Spotlight on the horizon, residents will soon be able to meet eight local artists and learn about their work, watch live demonstrations, and perhaps find the right Christmas gift for a loved one.
Moostletoe will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Beth Barrett is one of those artists and will be attending her fifth Moostletoe experience.
“It will be a different year,” she said, explaining that guests typically come to her house where she works alone. “(W)hen you have your lone studio it’s quite fun to be around other artists as well.”
Moostletoe has become a tradition in Moose Jaw and includes a range of art from paintings to pottery, jewelry, and photography.
Whereas the event normally includes a tour of each artists’ studio, organizers are trying something new this year by holding Moostletoe at only two locations — the artisaNGrounds studio and the nearby Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery.
Barrett has been a potter for over a decade and runs One Sweet Dream Pottery as a part-time endeavour. It all started with a memorable Christmas present.
“I was given a pottery class as a Christmas present from my husband,” she recalled. “That class was at the Moose Jaw Pottery Club with Wendy Parsons. The first night that I put my hands on clay, I just fell in love and smiled for like a week straight. I think I dreamt about it and it was just wonderful.”
To further hone her skill, Barrett studied a few videos and got to work. “I think my biggest inspiration now comes from nature,” she said. “I tend to go towards flowers and leaves more than anything else… and I like the softer hues.
“,” she added. “I think He’s given me this gift, and I hope to use it to His glory. I put scripture verses on some of my mugs and I’ve had people tell me over and over how much they feel at peace when they’re having their morning coffee….”
At Moostletoe, Barrett plans to showcase a range of unique mugs, vases, nesting bowls, serving dishes, and a variety of Christmas-themed wares.
It would be quite a challenge to set up her kiln — which isn’t mobile by design — and fire it up to the recommended 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,260 degrees Celsius) or so required to harden the clay — not to mention, the process might prove to be disruptive and could take up to a week to fully complete. The kiln itself takes around a day and a half just to cool down.
Instead, Barrett plans to do a quick 15-minute hand building demonstration of how she works with wet clay — also called greenware — and will finish it offsite later.
For Barrett, Moostletoe has inspired her to keep going, built her confidence as an artist, and has helped promote her pottery business.
“Every year I get repeat customers,” she said. “I’m so happy they love my stuff. That encourages me to keep going. It’s been a bit hard… working full time and trying to do this on the side, but .”
To learn more, visit or follow her on Facebook at ‘.’ Her works can be identified by a telltale flower stamped on the bottom of each creation.
The artisaNGrounds studio is located at 262 Athabasca Street East and the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery is located at 461 Langdon Crescent.
