Time & Pace

Whenever our pets need veterinary care, they seem to need it after normal business hours or on a holiday weekend. In my last post about our seaside trip to Homer, I left out the gross, graphic detail of Tauzer (our Giant Schnauzer) having an “accident” in the back seat of the truck. *BREAKFAST SPOILER ALERT* Let’s just say it didn’t come out her mouth and after purchasing the economy size upholstery cleaner at the grocery store in Homer, Daddy-O had to take the truck to the Seastar Carwash TWICE. Gus and I fortunately continued collecting driftwood on the beach where we could keep our gag reflexes in check. Before you think my husband is a TOTAL saint –he admitted to me as he was racing towards the store with all of the truck

windows down, head hanging out the window and gasping for fresh air, he saw a hitchhiker and briefly contemplated picking him up just for the fun of it…

Since it is Memorial Day -a holiday weekend, OF COURSE Tauzer needed to go to the vet. Her “discomfort” didn’t clear up and I was freaking out that she may have HGE (acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis) again –which it was about this same time last year we raced her to Pet Emergency where they literally saved her life. Fortunately, after we were able to get our Market booth set up our wonderful Vet fit us in early on Saturday. The Dr. determined Tauzer only has a minor “bug” and with some antibiotics is thankfully is on the tail end of it. No pun intended.

We had another GREAT day at the Spenard Farmers Market on Saturday. Daddy-O and I were talking about how fun it’s been to see so many of our friends, visit & laugh and at the end of the day bring home dinner provided by the Market vendors. We had FRESH Shrimp on the BBQ, grilled potatoes, onions and peppers this week and Derek slurped down some of our Market friend Kellen’s, Kachemak Bay Oysters. Sorry, but I skipped the oysters and much to my hubby’s chagrin, I eat my seafood with beer batter or tarter sauce. We also have met many new customers, many of whom learned about my metal work and the Spenard Farmers Market through my FaceBk page (yes, I finally did it). Not to jinx it but I have to say we have been pleasantly surprised at how many of our customers and clients have kept updated with my shows and work through FB. I also picked up some lovely plants from In The Garden’s Market booth Saturday and should try to get my garden in today… but only after I put in a few hours of welding. One down side to committing to a regular schedule of being at the Market has been DOUBLING my workload and production schedule –yikes. I’m going to need to work out a better pace so I don’t burn out before Summer Solstice and can still fit in time for FISHING!

For the past month our thoughts and prayers have been with those affected by the Gulf Coast oil spill tragedy. Today, our thoughts and prayers are with those families and soldiers who are a part of the United States Military. Thank you for all you do. Here is a video link that Tracey’s husband, an AP photographer, Gerry put together for Memorial Day.

Hunter-Gatherer's in Homer

Tauzer chewed up my last stick of driftwood so we decided to take a road trip to Homer early Tuesday morning, returning on Wednesday eve. I use about 12-15 pieces of driftwood in each “Wind Salmon” sculpture –which tend to sell out at each show. They’re fun to make and are a customer favorite but no driftwood would have meant no Salmon for this Saturday’s Spenard Farmers Market -and what's a Market without

“fresh fish?!” We shared the beach with curious tourists who had just disembarked from the huge Holland America cruise ship –which had just also docked in Anchorage the day before. A blue-bird day, low tides and a beach full of treasures means you can never have a bad day in Homer! We camped out but the tent had to be tied down to the truck –no kidding the winds were that strong. After a full day of hunting and gathering our treasure sticks, we stuffed ourselves with Fat Olive's Pizza and yummy Kodiak Brown Ale around the campfire. Gus and I were up at

midnight to see the most amazing moon set against a lavender sky looming over Kachemak Bay. The best surprise was being out of range for my mobile phone and hearing the voice mail left by Heather Thamm. The Anchorage Press was running her article and photos of my metal work as a feature story in today’s paper!! Now that skiing is over, she has something else to update her Blog with -ha! Check out her article and photos in the Press on-line here.

Market Day -OMG!

When I woke up this morning my stomach was FULL of butterflies... I couldn't even eat breakfast or drink any coffee as I loaded the trucks in the early morning chill. I had been worried about the weather, the sculptures, pricing, loading in and setting up, bringing the credit card machine junk OR worse, I thought what if no one came to the Market...??

H O W E V E R, within the first 20 minutes of the Market my nervousness went away and turned into full on laughing, selling and visiting! What an INCREDIBLE first day at the Spenard Farmers Market! The weather was perfect, the crowds were wonderful and the sales were even better! THANK YOU to all of our loyal customers who came out to not only support the new Market event but to buy my garden art AND Kahilta Birchworks syrups and jams at our booth! Thanks again to Will for the use of his truck and time helping us to set-up and tear down. Derek, Gus and I had such a great time visiting with friends and selling our things that the day was over before we knew it. I sold out of the popular Wind Salmon, Garden Dogs, Plant Stands, Neds, Raven Ornaments, Michael & Dulce's Strawberry/Rhubarb syrup and I have only a few Garden Ravens left! Lots of people wanted to take an entire flock of Sheep home -they just couldn't fit them into their cars -maybe next week they'll bring a flat bed -ha!

There were only a few bugs to get worked out, but nothing major for an event's first day. Set up was a bit delayed early this morning as some cars that were parked in Chilkoot's parking lot overnight, needed to be towed out of the way for vendors to set up -but just towed to the adjoining lot, NOT to impound. The best part was all of the Market volunteers were so happy to see this event come to fruition after years of ideas, dreams and efforts by our local community groups. As Alaska's growing season moves along we will see more and more veggies and plants. Starting June 5th we'll be jurying for additional arts & crafts vendors as well. Daddy-O and I got a kick out of watching customers carrying out net bags of FRESH Kachemak Bay Oysters that were harvested YESTERDAY and Spot Shrimp on ice. Wonder Bread gave away 600 loaves of their new Multi-grain bread FREE -Thanks Wonder, now we've got sandwiches covered for next week :) For lunch, Gus, my sister, Daddy-O and I ate delicious, fresh grilled La Mex Beef Skewers with cilantro salsa. We're planning on being there again next Saturday, May 29 from 10-3 so if you find yourself hungry, lonely or wandering around in beautiful downtown Spenard, come say HI and be sure to bring your market bags for shopping!

Click here to see more opening day Spenard Farmers Market pictures taken by Rina!

Blaming Ned

To ensure I have enough “inventory” for the Spenard Farmers Market on Saturday, my production schedule has been carefully planned out. This will be a brand new venue for me to sell my metal sculptures and considering that most of the customers will more than likely be locals shopping for fresh veggies and fresh caught seafood, I tried to keep the pieces fun. It’s been a push to have enough work

for Saturday’s event with coming off of the Half Moon Gallery Show and re-stocking Katie’s Gallery and Homer’s Fireweed Gallery –but this is the time of year I try to make up for the slower sales that happen every winter.

The temps have finally warmed enough to put two new hanging baskets out on the plant stands I made. They sell much better showing off their

“functionality.” As a gardener’s rule of thumb “when the Birch leaves are the size of a squirrel’s ear” it’s O.K. to set plants out and FINALLY this week our Birch trees leafed out. Not that Alaska still won’t have an overnight freeze in May… I’m normally not a Marigold person, but these baskets that had Marigolds and fuchsia Lobelia were too hard to pass up! I thought the color combination was great. Yesterday was my cut-off for welding up things for Saturday’s Spenard Farmers Market

and I’d wanted to make a couple of “Neds” –a fun character that customers like to stick in their garden. I’d put a drawing of him somewhere in my idea files, somewhere in the studio… Looking for Ned lead me to clean-up, organize and categorize my entire collection of patterns, image references and idea folders!! Aye –yi-yi, I can get so easily distracted from the task at hand! But hey, all of my files and large portfolio’s have never looked so good! Thanks, Ned!

"Ned"

Doing A Little Market Research

Daddy-O teases me that I have a bit of “Carney” blood in me. It’s all my Dad’s fault. He’s the one with a bit of “Carney” in him and over the years I’ve just observed all the fun he has at Markets, Fairs and Festivals. The new Spenard Farmers Market is now less that a week away and I’m all fired up to be a vendor. The Studio has been quite a mixed use area for finish work, labeling, pricing, packing and shipping. The best part of the Spenard Market is it’s location -literally just up the

street from our house! We’ll still need to truck the metal art up to the Chilkoot Charlie’s parking lot “under the Windmill” -a famous landmark in Spenard, but still very convenient. The infamous “Windmill” used to be in the parking lot of the Kut-Rate Kid Liquor Store when I was growing up –most people think Chilkoot Charlie’s was responsible for the cool landmark, but the owner of Koot’s just saved it from becoming scrap when the Kut-Rate Kid went out of business. Thanks ‘Koots –we love the Windmill and it’s now part of a VERY HIP logo for the Market. Along with my metal garden sculptures I’ll be selling Wilkins Artisan Honey AND my friends Michael & Dulce’s Kahiltna Birchworks Birch Syrup and Berry Products!! Kristen flew back to UAF on Saturday but not before helping do a little “market research” at the Anchorage

Downtown Market with Gus and I. Of course we needed to EAT lunch and then work out the details with Michael at their Alaska Wild Harvest booth. Mmmmmm business never tasted so good. Gus is pictured with Kristen and I wearing our NEW pashmina scarves we bought at the market and eating deserts of corn fritters, a cream puff and some of Gus’ mini-donuts.

Friday night Daddy-O treated us to Bear Tooth Theater Pub for dinner and to see “The Secret of Kells.” OMG, I couldn’t wait to get out my art supplies and paint, I WAS SO INSPIRED. This is a must-see movie for everyone, especially artists –the illustrations were awe-inspiring. Derek thought it was one of the best movies he’s seen and it wasn’t even first tap night at BT!

Special THANKS to Dan Finnegan for my Mug! Dan picked my name in his most recent contest and it arrived safe & sound and was promptly put to work. No, Dan didn’t make this one –he was trying to send it as far away from Fredericksbourg, VA as he possibly could! I like the jug face but Tauzer did growl at the face on the mug after I pulled it out of the box…xo

Getting the Sheep & Ravens Ready For Market

The Half Moon Creek soft opening is behind us, graduation was attended, parental units were delivered safely to the airport Tuesday morning and the art making pushes on! I LOVE having all my kids and family in one place –what a treat it’s been. Of course, a little too much food and drink for 5 days running but so many laughs and hugs it was hard to see my folks leave. William had to work over the weekend but the whole family delivered his favorite Kaladi Americano with Heaven in the lumber yard drive-thru –how’s that for family love?!

Before Kristen returns to UAF for more scientific endeavors she is getting her creative fix with Katie Sevigny’s life drawing sessions and helping me on a few projects. While she is here for a few more days I put her sewing skills to work! I’ve been collaborating on a few fabric projects with my friend Jana, who owns Cabin Fever and the Quilted Raven. We are working on Raven Garden Flags that will be kits for her quilt customers and finished flags for my customers at the upcoming Spenard Farmers Market.

Kristen helped me sew up a few samples on my vintage Singer Athena 2000 sewing machine (I got it off Cr@igs list for FREE a few years ago!) –she didn’t complain once though she did offer to run to the store to buy me a new machine… All that sea water sample taking has given her tremendous patience! While the offspring was busy sewing in what was looking like an Alaskan sweatshop, I kicked the production level back into high gear for plasma cutting and welding. A bunch of new Halibut and Dragonfly ornaments are waiting to be tagged and shipped. Both Katie Sevigny Gallery and http://www.fireweedgallery.com/ in Homer were in need of new pieces, PLUS I’m gearing up with some new Garden Art for the new Spenard Farmers Market that opens May 22. Along with the Raven Garden Flags, I’m excited to make some more "Steel Wool" sheep and take them to market!

New Inspirations

First, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all my mommy friends, and especially to MY Mom! I’m lucky because I get to share Mother’s Day with my Mom today as the folks arrived in Anchorage Thursday night for my nephew’s graduation on Monday. The mama llama's are celebrating with the whole family by going to the opening of the Saturday Market and eat funnel cake and Gyro's! The card I found for my Mom

shows a cover photo of a crowded beach scene with hundreds of sunbathers and says “Can you spot the Mom in the photo?” After my Dad, Gus and Derek looked at the photo for a few minutes and took their guesses the inside of the card

reads “She’s the one still back at the car unloading the coolers, beach blankets, beach chairs and toys!”

With all the art delivered up to Half Moon Creek on Thursday, I was able to fully enjoy

Gus’ 6^th grade, all day field trip to Seward on Friday. Daddy-O and I were lucky to be included as chaperones to the Alaska SeaLife Center and then on a Grey Whale watch cruise with the class. We learned all about

cephalopods with hands on science at the Center and took water samples aboard the cruise. The Alaska SeaLife Center has always inspired me and Friday was no exception! I took a lot of digital pictures and will start sorting and printing new images that will hopefully soon become the impetus for new artmaking!

The Show yesterday at Half Moon Creek Gallery was wonderful under clear-blue, sunny skies.

We decided it would best be described as a “soft opening” as the girls still have so much work to do to get the Gallery as they really want it to be. The new Bullseye Glass Center was a hit even as crates of new inventory were being unloaded. With only a fraction of works from other artists on display, we had a huge supportive crowd that was happily hauling my metal work out the door to new homes! Thank you to everyone who made the Show a success. I’ve been so inspired the last few weeks and being able to visit with all the GREAT customers truly re-energized me to make even more art for the upcoming Spenard Farmers Market on May 22. Mark your calendars -there's more art and fun ahead!

Loyal Half Moon Creek Gallery customers, Lloyd and Joanne with Joanne's Mother's Day gift from Lloyd!

Happy Mother's Day Joanne!

Load 'Em Up, We're Heading To Palmer

It’s (almost) show time at the new Half Moon Creek Gallery in Palmer! Willie and I loaded an entire U-Haul of my art this morning and I delivered all the pieces to the Gallery!! I couldn't believe we filled it up -both of our trucks wouldn't hold all the pieces but the 14' rental worked fine, full but fine. What fun it was putting the HAUL in U-Haul -ha! Or as Daddy-O says "drive it like you stole it!" My favorite part of a Show is the “day of” because the schedule leading up to a Show is a killer. It’s not only all the work of making things (the fun part) but it’s the business end of being an artist that I dislike dedicating time to –pricing

(absolutely my least favorite part), inventorying, tagging, delivery and set up. For large Show’s like the Half Moon Show and Bad Girls of the North, over the years I’ve kept track of the number of items I’ve made, their price points and what things sold best. Each year I like to have new ideas and completely new designs for returning customers but there are certainly customer favorites. The one year I didn’t make any Garden Ravens customers screamed! I thought maybe customers were getting burned out

on seeing my “Ravens on a stick!” Gladly, no they weren’t and my Garden Ravens have been a production staple for 8 years running. Other customer favorites are the large Garden Chimes –I may change up the design but customers year after year love the wind chimes that can also hold a outdoor hanging basket. Another favorite I had almost forgot about until I was reviewing last year's list are Dragonflies. The ones in the photo are for hanging on the wall. After seeing these finished I forgot how much I liked them -I think I’m going to make some giant ones that are mounted to a base and “float” above the garden for the upcoming Alaska Botanical Garden Fair…hmmm.

I stress most about whether or not I have made enough pieces for my annual Garden Show at Half Moon Creek. Sadly, as a one woman operation, I physically can never make enough stuff to sell and it causes me

anxiety when I know there is a tremendous selling opportunity and not an endless supply of art! It’s tough trying to balance making money and not burning out –or worse making crap art just to fill out inventory. What has been helpful for me in Show planning is referring to last year’s inventory list and planning months ahead for a REALISTIC production schedule. I need to remember I’m only one person who can only make so many pieces in a given amount of time. Sometimes, I’m a time idealist or get sidetracked by inspiration and deviate from my best laid production plans(!) - though usually that’s when some of my best work happens –think of the Sheep... I also

stress about cash flow. Like it or not it takes money to crank up the production machine –there is metal and clay to buy, hardware and fittings, welding wire, gas for my tanks, consumables for the plasma cutter, paints and glazes, grinder and sanding pads, chop saw blades, drill bits and the occasional daily special at Taco King! Hopefully, I’ve planned and priced well –I mostly hope I’ve CREATED well… we’ll soon see, the customer has the final say. If you’re in Palmer, Alaska this Saturday stop by Half Moon Creek Gallery because one thing is for sure –the place will look GREAT and those girls know how to throw a party!

At the intersection in Palmer...

Never All Work And No Play Here

My sister and I at the Salvation Army's "Transformed Treasures" fundraiser that would provide critical support to their life-changing programs here in Anchorage.

Yes, I was supposed to stick to my production schedule this weekend, but didn’t. I didn’t work at all -except for inputting the last of the first quarter’s accounting junk. All work and no play just isn’t how we roll anymore, I get too fussy. Saturday my sister and I attended the sold out Transformed Treasures luncheon at the Sheraton Hotel Ballroom while Daddy-O and Gus completed ALL of the yard work honey-do’s (xoxo). In March, I finished up my two donation pieces for the Salvation Army’s 3^rd annual fundraiser and thankfully

on Saturday both sold for over their value! The Birdhouse Topiary went in the Live Auction and sold for $550 and the St.

Francis Garden Sculpture sold for $160 in the Silent Auction. My friend Deanna Teders, the volunteer organizer of the event said the Salvation Army had over 50 new Transformed Treasures for this year’s event bringing the total number of items “transformed” by creative people topping 150! The event is so inspiring, you could hear bidders wandering the tables, scribbling their bids and saying “I’m going to make something next year!” Favorite items included, a stained glass window “transformed” from hurricane glass lamps, ties flatten and sewn into place mats and wool sweaters became very cool pillows with sheep on them. Many pieces of furniture were given new life with a little paint

and artful details added.

The best part of Saturday was that our oldest offspring, Kristen was able to stop in for dinner! She and a group of her UAF cohorts, School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences (SFOS) scientists were on their way down to Seward from Fairbanks to board a research vessel. They were able to take a pit stop at our house. We happily had a couple of roasted chickens that we turned into a chicken taco feast! Knowing we always have hot showers, a spare room and PLENTY of food the group affectionately calls us their "Anchorage Shore Support!"

Sunday was also supposed to be a welding day but I chose to hang out with the Family. We first rode our bikes to City Market to grab a newspaper and hot cocoas. Daddy-O’s bike needs new tires so he rode the Long Board –which I was supposed to ride but

only made it as far as the driveway before I realized that I’d probably become an episode on Jack-Azz. Gus and I went to Bear Tooth Theatre Pub in the afternoon and caught the movie “Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.” He’d read the books and wanted to see the movie. Daddy-O took the opportunity to jet down to Girdwood to make a few runs while the snow is still good. He even had the BBQ going with deep-fried Halibut by the time Gus and I got home. Now that’s the way to spend a weekend!