While my head my be filled with new ideas and my body reenergized from our mini-vacation I can’t even begin to work in my studio unless it’s organized and picked up. I left with a flurry of multiple projects mid stream. Before I allowed myself to sit at the new sewing machine I was forced to do some housekeeping which resulted in one huge garbage bag being filled for recycle, another for the trash and yet another for the thrift store. Whew. I don’t know about you but I can’t even begin to work unless all of my grinch-chores (as Daddy-O and I affectionately call them –regardless of who is performing them) are done. This can be problematic especially since I work “at home” –and when are the housekeeping duties EVER completely done?! After spending some time in the studio a good
thing happened, I fell back in love with my workspace. It was fun to think about why I surround myself with the things that I’ve collected or posted on the multiple bulletin boards and have things arranged the way I do. We’ve worked hard to create a space for creating and feel fortunate that I have the space that I do –the whole lower level of our house. I was appreciating the custom work tables Daddy-O built for me –the perfect height for tall body and long arms. Being away also meant I was out of shape. I’d forgotten the quick tutorial on my new sewing machine. It took me a few hours to get reacquainted and in the groove. I was able to finally finish the sample for my latest pattern “Husky Howl” that I should have had completed this Spring…oh well. I’m treating myself to one more day in the studio working on another fun fiber project before getting back out to the garage/shop area and plugging in the welder. Even though my last Market day was this last Saturday, I have a list of pieces that need to be done for Katie’s Gallery and they have been oh-so-patient. The best part is Daddy-O and Gus even made a trip to the metal recycle yard for me and even my steel pile is now organized!
Before my little break to Sequim, WA to visit my parents and to attend the Lavender Festival, I think my head was feeling like Kristen’s shrunken Styrofoam tests! Usually she and the crew would bring a decorated beautician Styrofoam head for the test but Kristen forgot hers at home this time. She was able to use a couple of cups and a Styrofoam block and e-mailed us these pictures and wrote; “today we did a cast to ~2000 m in the Beaufort Sea, and got to "shrink" styrofoam cups. Here's the pix of my two items- a styrofoam cup and a square styro test tube rack.” She is on the USCGC Healy with the NASA ICESCAPE 2011.
With my brain back to near normal size, I came back and have been ready to work. The welder gets plugged back in today and my new sewing machine will have to wait a few more days until I get some pieces welded up for Saturday's Spenard Farmer's Market. My latest pattern “Husky & Friends” is ready for distribution and I already have orders to fill. I followed up on inquiries, answered requests, filled orders, sent out a few e-mail cold calls for my patterns and was pleasantly surprised at the positive responses. Amazing what happens when you make the time to take care of business! I’m actually a bit embarrassed that I let a few administrative sales things slip this summer. What inspired me to jump back on that business pony was visiting several Quilt Shops in WA and talking with reps at the Sequim Quilt Show. After seeing what’s out 
there and the wonderful selection of fabrics and patterns I felt I had something to offer them and my confidence was up a bit more. For my needle felting this winter, I also purchased a huge bag of wool in a variety of colors form Olga’s Yurt of Fiber. Island Quilter from Vashon, WA had the most amazing selection of vibrant cotton fabrics. The polka dot fat quarters were irresistible and even the packaging was cool. So, just like the Styrofoam, I stuffed it all in our carry-on luggage for the trip home to my studio!
Gus and I are in Sequim, (rhymes with swim) WA on the Olympic Peninsula. My parents retired to Sequim from Alaska a few years ago seeking weather that was a bit more hospitable to year round golf and doesn’t require the ownership of a snowblower. Lucky for us wecan now visit not only family but a vibrant and inspiring arts community. This weekend is the annual Sequim Lavender Farm Faire and Tour and the annual Sequim Studio Tour. At least 30,000 people are expected to visit Sequim this weekend to attend this legacy rich area and
tour some of the worlds’ most beautiful Lavender farms. In addition to all of the COLOR, the arts and craft fairs, demonstrations, farm tours, culinary programs, music and other city-wide events, the Sequim Artists are opening up their studios all weekend.
Another artful treat is that my Dad and Mom both have their art on display this month! Mom’s work is included in a group show “A Tribute To Blooms” at the Sequim Museum and Arts Center and one of her ceramic sunflower vases had the magic red dot on it! Dad is the featured artist at the Blue Whole Gallery, 129 Washington Street in downtown Sequim. His assemblage work is in the front
window area for all the Lavender Festival visitors to see (and buy!). While gallery hopping yesterday I liked the work of Karin Anderson. Her work is illustrative and happy and I purchased some of her Giclee art cards. I’m filling my little black Moleskine book with ideas and inspirations –all of this color has my head exploding with ideas! I’m filling my memory card with digital images of color and textures too. OK, more later, we’re off to the rolling acres of all things PURPLE! Thank you to Daddy-O and Willie who are covering form me and are on doggie and Market duty this week.
xOx
The guys went fishing and I have a couple of days to myself. With absolutely promising NOT to fire the welder up or do any accounting, paperwork, house keeping or fill customer orders, I took the day OFF. I’ve been in need of some down time not involving art making (I know, how could I even say such a thing!). After a breakfast of FRESH Tamales (my favorite), the first thing I did do was go to REI and treat myself to a new pair of TEVA sandals and a new purse for Gus and my upcoming trip to the Sequim, WA Lavender
Festival this week. Then, I got my hair trimmed, treated myself to new magazines at Barnes & Noble, rented a chick-flick and bought root bear float ingredients. I also went thrift store shopping and found a TREASURE that made me think of Keren, who I can’t wait to show it to!
Sometimes inspiration sneaks up on me. Keren Lowell’s Mobile Mending booth at the Spenard Farmer’s Market is one of the coolest ideas I’ve seen. From the beginning, her vendor application stood out to our vendor committee. “I would set up a mobile clothing repair booth with a treadle sewing machine, and mend any kind of
cloth, upholstery, accessories, shoes, sports equipment.” I appreciate her resourcefulness and her unique approach of how to market her talents, creating a customer base of what would have been traditionally untapped business. I must have had Keren on my mind today at the thrift store when I found this gem. It’s a Domestic Rotary Electric Sewing Machine that works beautifully! Even the light bulb still works! What sold me were all of the accessories that came with it, including the ORIGINAL Instruction manual AND the ORIGINAL GUARANTEE! The eerie thing is, when I looked at the date of purchase on the original customer’s certificate… it was 63 years ago within two days! The date of purchase was 7-9-48 in Wyoming! How cool is that?!
favorite "artist self help” books like “Creative Time and Space,” “Creative Awakenings” and “Kaleidoscope –ideas and projects to spark your creativity.” Mainly, I like these books for the pictures and reading about other artists and their processes. These books tend to get me out of my “creating safely” zone. I’m feeling the need to be dangerous with my art making –doesn’t that sound fun? Not sure how I will get there though. I did unpack my new sewing machine and finally got the new bobbins wound and the machine threaded. That would go under the category of being productive NOT being dangerous. The piece I decided to give my new Janome a test drive on was unfortunately a very SAFE piece –I had a much more dangerous fiber art piece in my mind but was surprised how average the sunflower mini-quilt came out. On the upside, my stitches are soooo much easier to make and I didn’t need to adjust the tension
We went to the downtown Anchorage 4th of July parade this weekend. Normally, we are at the Girdwood Forest Fair but with the Farmer’s Market on Saturday we decided to stay off of the highway and hang out in town. What a treat both the weather and parade were! We are lucky to be able to walk downtown from our house and Daddy-O even packed snacks, 4th of July flags and our camp chairs in his new Technica ski backpack!
