Born To Be In The Wild

Kenai River, Alaska

In 2009 I thought for sure we were going to have the big “Princesses and Banditos Part Deux” blowout birthday party like we had for my 40th. I even blogged about it in "Born to Be Wild."  As it turned out I just wasn’t up for the cleanup, set up or post throw up hang-over. I chose to spend my big FIVE-OH day with my family on the river FISHING! That's not to say I didn't celebrate and my sweet Daddy-O didn't keep my little red drink cup filled! It was the perfect way to spend the Labor Day birthday weekend –including waking up to fresh, French Press Kaladi Brothers Coffee and a Fire Island Bakery birthday cake that my sweetie surprised me with on the dock for breakfast –all while my line was in the water!! What a good way to roll into 50. 

 My fishing boys. Thanks for a GREAT birthday, family! 

xox

Olive Dog wasn't too happy to have to be tethered to the cleaning table... whenever we had a fish on or there was a SPLASHING COMMOTION she wanted to DIVE into the river and bring the fish out herself!

HOW ABOUT SOME ART MAKING TIME!

 For my latest Art Cloth pieces I’ve been experimenting with using different art papers and various types of glues, transfers and fiber paints. Each of these pieces of cloth are 14” x 14”.  The fabric is 100% cotton batiks from The Quilted Raven and The Quilt Tree. The higher the quality of fabric the better results I have. These fabrics are beautiful to work with.

 For this blue fabric piece I hand tore the white art paper and painted Mod Podge on top of the paper directly to the fabric and let it air dry. I'll sew it into a mini-art quilt wall piece.

 This piece has several layers of art papers. The first layer of the woven art paper I actually used a zig zag stitch and stitched it to the fabric. The birds are artist transfer paper and then hand colored with acrylic fabric paints and colored pencils.

Sparks Among Friends

What a better way to plug in the plasma cutter and welder again than doing so among friends. Last winter a friend of ours wanted to buy her three sisters unique Christmas gifts and something that they could all do together.  She asked if I’d be willing to host a metal arts day where everyone could experience some plasma cutting, welding while creating pieces in the metal arts. SURE, I said! THEN we MOVED and my whole workshop and studio was packed up. Everyone gracefully waited while Daddy-O got me up and running so we could have our “Flame Chick” weekend! What fun. I asked each person to think of a design they'd like to make and bring a drawing or an idea on an 11x17 piece of paper. I also emailed several different ideas so we’d hit the ground running. After an overview of all the tools and some hands on practice each person was thrilled to MAKE and TAKE home at least two sculptures each! They were quick studies and what fun it was to still fit in my Carhartt’s and weld again! 

Wasn’t I just complaining about not going fishing? Look what the boy bought –A BOAT!

 And guess what the family went and did? GO FISHING, of course! Catching was a bit slow but the fishing was a hoot. The boy did a great job of learning to drive the boat while learning to read the river with Daddy-O’s help.  We’ll head out again when the next run of Silver Salmon are running and hopefully I’ll show some catching pictures!

Even Olive Dog sported her PFD. She loved the river and the boat, but she loved the raw salmon and bait that she got into even more... We DIDN'T LOVE what came out of her for the week -and had to take a trip to the VET for a Rx to clear up her "little bowel problem from her sushi overload." Gross.

Finally More Catching Than Fishing

While the Bad Girls of the North are selling my metal work up at the State Fair (thank you GIRLS!), we decided to have a little summer R and R on the Kenai River -or what's left of our summer! Gus and I went down to my Uncle's fishing lodge and celebrated my Uncle's birthday as they prepare to button up the cabins for the winter. The Silver's were a bit elusive but we all limited out on Rainbow's and Dolly Varden. I've been fishing most of my life but have only managed to ever catch one King Salmon years ago with my Dad on the same river. Yesterday on the Kenai I caught two!! Of course they've spawned and are out of season

and had to be released, but even my aunt caught one! Three monster Kings in one day -crazy! It was a thrilling trip and to fight two, 50 pound-plus fish on trout gear felt GREAT! Gus has retained his title of "Rainbow Warrior" as he bested us all with his fishing skills -that kid has concentrated patience. Our boat was hooking up with every drift and I admit the best part was having those King's on the line as we drifted by the GUIDE BOATS loaded with paying customers!! Yeah, I was so excited I was showing off a bit -hope that doesn't hurt my fish karma, but I felt I was DUE!

Last Drift of the day is always hard -good bye sweet summer!