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 . . .

Tides out...I mean, FAR OUT!!!

Our weekend sale at Oceanside Community Center was Great! Thank you to all that attended. We were suprised with a minus two tide that weekend, exposing rocks and access to far reaches of the beach not easily reached. We all got a little wet, but what a great experience to see "Lost boys Cave," and other sites once seen when we were children. Don't forget our next sale at "Sandy Mt.Festival in Sandy, Oregon July 11-12. See you there!

Two Custom Orders . . .

One of my clients wanted a Lazy Susan to go with her set of dishes. She gave me a picture of the dishes and I took the idea of the blue and red flowers. Vines creep around and fill the surface . . .Pam, all this needs now is a couple coats of sealer to protect it and add depth and shine. Then you can use it in your kitchen.

Jeff wanted to get his wife a one of a kind gift for Mother's Day. We talked about a chair or an end table. In the end, they decided together that they wanted to update a coffee table that has been in her family for years. Julie's father built this table and she remembers that it was a part of her home growing up. It was sent with her when she moved out to furnish her first apartment. Now it is a part of her and Jeff's home and a part of their family.

The table is unique - it is approximately 5 feet long in the shape of a surf board. Unique features on the base make it a one of a kind piece of furniture.

Since this has been a part of Julie's family for as long as she can remember, she wanted it to reflect what means the most to her family - the beach. I worked on the base first - the colors are laid in. The details are yet to come!

Here is a brief preview of the top. A blue sky, a sun, the start of a beach. You will need to stay tuned to see the finished product. Check back soon!