Hard to believe there aren’t any sparks in my shop with 4th of July here! I actually unplugged this week –well if you don’t count the electric griddle and Encaustic pan that Katie had set up for us to do some art making! Wow, what fun mixing it up a bit this week with creating. I’ve needed to get re-inspired to work on a couple of new sculptures and had to take a breather from my heavy production 
schedule. I felt the burn-out flame wisps nipping at my butt… not good. So, when I went over to Katie’s for a little chick visit she was heavily into an Encaustic series for a Show she has opening tonight at her Studio for First Friday. I’d never done Encaustic’s before and after a quick primer I dove right in and made a couple of pieces. It’s much harder than it looks but I’ve always loved and admired the medium. For my birthday last year, Daddy-O bought me a large, Sheary Clough Suiter Encaustic work that the whole family loves. After painting with encaustics at Katie’s, I do look at Sheary’s work with additional appreciation now! Here is a link where Sheary gives a good demonstration of the medium and process.
OK, the BIG NEWS is on Wednesday I got to fly down to Portlan
d (and back that night) to pick up the newest member of our family! Meet “Nimbus” the 6 year old, male, Giant Schnauzer. For the last year or so we had been waiting on the placement list with Valley of the Sun Giant Schnauzer Rescue looking for another Giant -and a couple of weeks ago I got the call! “Nimbus” comes to us from a very loving couple in Oregon who faced with a serious illness, had to make the most difficult decision to re-home him. We are grateful to all of the loving and dedicated volunteers who make rescue, placement and adoption possible! “Nimbus” is adjusting better than we could have hoped for and seems to enjoy the “wilds” of Anchorage so far. At just over 100 pounds he makes our “Tauzer” seem even more petite but they are bonding and she has no problem showing him the great outdoors of Alaska. While the dogs and I continue to adjust, our Holiday plans include being at our booth at the Spenard Farmers Market tomorrow from 10-3, then Daddy-O and Gus are going to get some fishing in at a friends lodge. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
