Missing In Action

I am looking at my last blog post and am somewhat appalled that it has been over a month! Where has the time gone. We are well into September; school is back in session; the days are still warm, but the evenings are getting cooler and there is no denying the feel of fall in the air. I'm afraid I am going to blink and it will be . . .dare I say it? . . .the Holidays. In fact, in many ways we are already into the Holidays full swing.

The last month has been spent getting family members ready for school and canning the fruits of our (and our local farmers) labors. We are feeling quite proud of the rows of jars we have put up. I can't wait to start enjoying home canned peaches, pears, applesauch, jams, pickles, salsa, and marinara sauce. It is such a satisying feeling to bring in overflowing bowls of tomotoes that we have watered and babied all summer.

As an artist that does sales and festivals, we are already preparing for the Holiday gift giving while the temperatures are still reaching into the 90s. Here are a few samples of some paintings that I have recently finished. These, and others, will be available in print form at our upcoming sales.

We are excited to do our next show in October in beautiful Sisters, Oregon. This will be our first time participating in the Sisters Harvest Faire on October 10th and 11th. If you are in the area of Bend/Sisters on that weekend, be sure and stop by and say hello!

A Chair for Joyce

I met Joyce in July at one of the Summer Art Festivals - she fell in love with one of my paintings as well as the concept of an art chair. So we combined the two concepts together and used a version of of the painting on a chair. She also chose some sentiments that spoke to her and made her feel happy and inspired.

I hope this brings you joy as it sits in your home. . .

ESCAPE THE HEAT -

Escape the heat this weekend and head to Lincoln City, OR. for a day at the coast, some shopping and some art! I will be showing and selling my creations at the Lincoln City Cultural Center as part of the Last Days of Summer Sale.

If you live in or around Portland, you know that we have been experiencing a bit of a heat wave with temperatures in the 100's. This has definitely been a year of extremes for weather. I am looking forward to a trip to the coast where the temps have been about 30 degrees cooler!

This will be our last sale for the summer -although we may take a stab at the Portland Saturday Market for one weekend! If you have ever been down there you know a what a great time it is. Amazing artists, lots of food, good energy . . .and all handcrafted. It has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager.

Then we will be working on filling custom orders and getting ready for the fall and winter sales. How did I get so blessed to be able to do what I love? I am very grateful.

Information for the Lincoln City Cultural Center can be found at:

http://www.lincolncityculturalcenter.com/welcome/

Here is what they have to say on their website about this weekends show: " Please consider our show this year held on August 1st & 2nd. Formerly Heartflame, we are now associated with the Lincoln City Cultural Center. It’s a really big event with artists & crafters from all over the Pacific Northwest – actually from all around the country! In the past we’ve had folks from as far away as North Carolina, Arizona, California, Montana, Utah, etc. Situated on Highway 101 with at least 300 feet of frontage and approximately 5 1/2 acres & a historic school building. We host approximately 20 inside vendors and 100 outside vendors.

Summer Sale

This Saturday is the Gresham Art Walk held in downtown Gresham, Oregon. This Art Walk is one of our favorite shows that we do throughout the year. There are all sorts of great artists - 100 this year; live music and entertainment, a kids area with crafts, face painting and balloon art, and a chance to see friends in the community. Located adjacent to the Farmers Market, you can even get some yummy treats to nibble on while you look at art.

Come see what we have this year. I have some new paintings, new chairs, and a few other surprises. We have been working hard on our booth and are excited to dress it up into a little boutique for the day.

The Art Walk runs from 9-5 this Saturday, July 18th. Check out the website for details. Hope to see you there!

http://greshamartwalk.com

SUMMER IS HERE!

I have been missing in action these last few weeks. I took a short vacation and have spent the rest of my free time working on building inventory for my next few sales. Add to that a computer that decided to go on the blink . . .well, you get the picture.

We are ready to officially start the summer festival season. This weekend (July 11th and 12th)is the Sandy Mt. Festival in Sandy, Oregon. This is an amazing festival that continues to grow every year. There will be approximately 150 artists, food, and live music on 2 stages. Admission is free and fun is to be had by all!

http://www.sandymountainfestival.org/

The following weekend, on July 18th, is the annual Gresham Art Walk.

http://greshamartwalk.com/

Another great event with wonderful artists - 100 this year!

Check out the web links to get information on hours, directions, entertainment schedules, etc. The weather is going to be great - come out for a fun weekend event!

The Next Sale is on June 13th

June 13th from 10:00-5:00 I will be hanging out with my friend Chris Tymoshuk http://www.ctymoshuk.com at the Springdale School. We are setting up on the lawn to show our work to friends, family, and passer-bys. Chris is involved in a wonderful project to "Save the Springdale". Originally, the building where we will be setting up was the home for the Springdale Elementary School. Several years ago, the school was closed down and the citizens of Springdale and Corbett created a grass roots effort to turn the building into a Community Center. They are moving closer to achieving their dream. Springdale has an active children's theater group, artist studios inside and local scouting groups meet there. They want to expand the building to be a true artistic for the community. And the best part is . . .

You can come next weekend and check out some great original artwork. There will be paintings, mirrors, furniture, lanterns, mosaics, jewelry and more. And we are donating a portion of our proceeds to the Springdale fund. Support the arts! To get to Springdale, follow the Old Scenic Highway - you can't miss it.

The surfboard coffee table has been a fun project. I love to paint. I love the beach and all things "beachy". I love family . . .put them all together and you have a really fun project.

Here's a shot of table after I worked on it for a few hours. But remember, it's not finished yet! Think of this as the before . . .
And here is the after. Full of color, details, words, and whimsy. The main statement on this piece is "Family is nature's masterpiece."

Other word strips that highlight the beachy scenes include "Make a new memory", "cherish simplicity", "make time to play" and "look for miracles".

The table is long -about 5 feet. A wonderful full "canvas" to work on. The only thing left is several coats of polyurethane to bring out the glow and make sure the beauty lasts for years to come.

Thanks Jeff and Julie for allowing me the opportunity to create this for you.

Look around your house - maybe you have something you would like to to have personalized with a touch of color and whimsy.

Upcoming Events - on June 13th I will be participating in a show with Chris Tymoshuk http://www.ctymoshuk/ in Springdale on the Old Scenic Highway. Chris has a great gallery in the old Springdale school and we will be setting up outside. chris does great laterns, mosaics, and paintings. Come and visit us - you will be in for a treat full of color and creativity.

July 11 and 12th - The Sandy Mountain Festival

July 18 - Gresham Art Walk

August 1 & 2 - Lincoln City Arts Festival

More details to come . . .