You would not expect to see lumber in an art gallery or exclusive gift shop, and you would also not expect to find fine arts and gifts in a lumber store.

However, Hills Flat Lumber in Colfax has partnered with The Artistic Garden to provide just such products. Local artists Sue Amidon-Mansdoerfer and Bill Mansdoerfer provide their award winning art in a variety of gift and home decor venues.

Originals are painted oil on canvas, and then, through a process called sublimation, art is transferred onto glass and tile for an assortment of choices. Hills Flat Lumber in Colfax is featuring items including coasters, serving trays, hotplate trivets, cheese and baguette boards, as well as backsplash tiles and art on tile.

The selections are far more numerous than displayed because patrons can choose from over 130 paintings from the Art Display Book, and place an order in any format they wish.

Hills Flat and The Artistic Garden will provide quality gifts to those living in the Colfax area where such shops are not readily available.

Susan and Bill are local artists from Grass Valley who specialize in custom backsplashes and tiles made in the USA. They are members of the Banner Mountain Artisans and have won numerous awards for their artwork.

The Artistic Garden maintains an active Web site at www.theartisticgarden.com and provides its art venue over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season at the Banner Mountain Artisans Show, Music in the Mountain Home Tour, Roamin Angels, Winterfaire, and either the Auburn or Grass Valley Christmas Fair.