THE OPENING HIGHLIGHT

SHANE MILLER .... LINDA JARVIS .... RON HO at opening of LOST AND FOUND.
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It's been just over a week since the opening of the LOST AND FOUND show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts. It was a wonderful opening with lots of people attending .... lots of attention ....lots of generous words .... AND I sold my large piece .... IF FOUND RETURN TO ICARUS and a favorite of mine.... BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER. I could not be more pleased. Even with the attention and the sales, the highlight of the evening, for me, was getting to hang out a bit with Ron Ho. Ron is an amazing jeweler .... you can tell by the piece he is wearing. He told Linda and I that he has never owned a piece of his own jewelry because everything always sold. Recently he had an opportunity to buy back the piece he was wearing at the opening and so he did. I think it looks spectacular on him. The neckpiece he made for the show was just as amazing .... meticulously crafted with found objects from around the world including Tibetan keys and an ancient looking ear plug (maybe from Africa) and lots of other goodies. He has such a signature style that you can easily recognize a Ron Ho piece from 20 paces. I own his book .... DIM SUM AT THE ON-ON TEA ROOM and study it often .... beautiful photography and incredibly inspiring.

Ron Ho is a protege of Ramona Solberg. The only reason I am making jewelry at all is because I saw some images of Ramona's work and loved it. Before that introduction to her work I thought all jewelry was stones and diamonds and glittering stuff. Honestly, that type of jewelry has no appeal for me. Romona's jewelry is full of dominos .... found bits .... not shiny things .... the lost .... the found .... the discarded. She put found object jewelry on the map. I'm sorry I never had an opportunity to meet her but from everything I've heard she was well loved, as is Ron Ho.

IF FOUND...RETURN TO ICARUS

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One of the pieces I wanted to make for the LOST AND FOUND show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts was a mixed media wing .... actually a wing that Daedalus might have made for Icarus. The Daedalus/Icarus myth has always been my favorite of all myths. I get it that while most people think of it as a cautionary tale about listening to your parents, I believe that Icarus couldn't help himself .... a glorious day .... a chance to show his dad that he was strong and capable .... a breeze ruffling his curly hair .... the lightness of his body .... the freedom of gravity. I think I would have done the same thing .... gotten lost in the wonderment of it all. And my heart has always ached for Daedalus. He made the wing for his son with great care and attention to detail and a tremendous amount of love. His hope and dream was that he and Icarus would escape from exile. On that day they must have both been filled with such hope and were surely quivering with excitement.

Well .... the story of my wing is about the test flight taken a few days before the fateful flight. Here is a newspaper lost and found ad that I included with my Icarus wing at the opening of the LOST AND FOUND show: (click on this image to see a larger more readable version)

My Icarus wing, instead of being made of bird feathers and beeswax, is made from various mixed metals .... leather .... mica .... wood .... a couple of etched plates .... and even some feathers cut from both sides of my sanding belts. I found a beautiful piece of thin gauge copper tucked back in a corner of my studio that had an unusual red patina on it. It added a nice warmth to my wing.

The etched poppies on brass represent remembrance. After all this time this myth is still very much alive. The early flying machine is a nod to Daedalus who was such a visionary besides being an artist .... architect .... and inventor.

This is a detail shot of some of the feathers .... I especially love the poignant feather that reads, 'ICARUS... REMEMBER WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT ...DAD'. It seems like the heart of the whole myth can be found within these few words.

Early on I decided to document the progress of making this wing. I had 1/2" baltic birch plywood left over from another project. I cut out two general wing shapes .... clamped them together .... and beveled the edges.

I cut a void in the back panel to help lessen the weight and as a way to attach a hanger.

I glued both panels together and then painted the whole wing black.

I cut individual feathers out of poster board to use as a pattern and to help me get the size and spacing right. This took a lot of trial and error to get the look I was after.

It takes a lot of space to make a wing, I've decided. Lucky for me I had recently built a 9.5' x 30" rustic wooden table in my studio barn to be used when I host large potlucks. This table was incredibly useful for wing building and having room to spread out. The wing, itself, is 44" x 9.25" x 1.5". I made it to fit me.

I often use a found object or two in my art but until this LOST AND FOUND show I had never used found objects as the primary medium. I have to say I discovered a lot of freedom in making the pieces for this show. Photo etching in metal, which has been my focus for the last several years, is not very conducive to spontaneity. The metals are expensive and I hate to make a mistake. For the most part everything is pretty well planned out before I ever touch a piece of metal. I can see in the future that a blending of found objects with the etched metals might be my path for a while. Stay tuned.....and remember to spread your wings .... and if you just can't help yourself, I don't think that flying towards the sun would be a bad way to go.

BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER

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Tomorrow evening I will be at the opening of a new show at BAINBRIDGE ARTS AND CRAFTS on Bainbridge Island called LOST AND FOUND: ASSEMBLAGE. I am one of ten artists participating in this exhibit. The artists include: LINDA COSTELLO, BIL FLEMING, CHRIS GIFFIN, NANCY HEWETT, RON HO, LINDA JARVIS, MICHOLE MADDEN, MARK OSBORN, DEBORAH PEEK and me....SHANE MILLER. KAREN HACKENBERG is being featured in the larger gallery. Her paintings are of discarded mass produced items that are found littering the edges, cracks and seams of our natural world. Many items were found along the edge of beaches here in the Pacific Northwest. Both of these shows will be on exhibit from November 2- Dec.3. The reception is Friday, November 2, 6-8pm.

The image above...BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER... is one of 3 pieces I will have in the show. I really enjoyed making this sculpture and was a little sad to deliver it to the gallery knowing that I might never see it again. The body of the boat .... THE WINDCHASER...is an old weaving shuttle. The wood is very worn....a little primitive....and has a great patina. The ballast passengers are stones I picked up on Rialto Beach out on the coast. One of the stones wears a jaunty expression due, in part, to the red waxed linen string attire. The sail is gampi paper printed with one of my photographs of clouds. I remember the day I took the photo....there must have been a strong wind up at cloud level because bits of the clouds were being pulled off and stretched in wisps like cotton candy. Two rear wheels and one tiny front wheel carry the load. This is a simple piece that has a sort of innocence. BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER measures 14" long x 9.5" tall x 2.75" wide.

I am so looking forward to the opening tomorrow night. I am always happy when my friend and fellow artist, Linda Jarvis and I share a show. It means we can ride to Bainbridge Island together from Port Townsend and catch up on our lives and on the return trip we get to share notes about the opening....it's always fun. Also, my friend, Chris Giffin, from OR is one of the participating artists. I've been told she is supposed to be at the opening and it will be good to see her. I used to do a large circuit of outdoor shows and saw Chris on a regular basis but since I quit doing outdoor shows I only see Chris every blue moon or so. I am also looking forward to seeing Ron Ho. He is quite a well known jeweler here in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. He was a student of Ramona Solberg and it is easy to see her influence in his work even though his style is his own. Yesterday when Linda and I delivered our work we got to see a sneak peek at Ron's mixed media found object neckpiece. It is so beautiful and so lovingly crafted. I am honored to be in a show with Ron Ho.

DETAIL OF BALLAST FOR THE WINDCHASER

Linda Jarvis and I just got invited to participate in a show at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts next June. The title of that show is SETTING SAIL....ARTISTS AT SEA. I do love having these carrots dangled out in front of me....they keep me moving forward as good dangled carrots should. So stay tuned for more boats and sailing ships.

PESTO FROM A CIVIC POINT OF VIEW

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When I started this blog several years ago I decided that it would be about art .... particularly my art. I wasn't very interested in sharing what I had for breakfast or which movie I saw last weekend. This post is slightly borderline to me but in making the above label I think it definitely falls under art.

So here's the story (it seems like there is always a story). This past summer, as an experiment, I grew basil in my 1986 Honda Civic Hatchback.... some sweet person gave me this car for $1. Actually it was longer than just the summer because I harvested the last of it today on October 22. As you probably know basil likes heat and sun and sometimes living in the Pacific NW we are a little shy of one or the other of those two ingredients. I decided to use my car as a greenhouse.

I planted two basil plants each in a large pot and put the pot in a large deep saucer to catch any runoff water. I monitored the temperature in the car and would raise or lower the windows as needed. In the evening I rolled the windows up and by the next morning when the sun came up my basil plants were already in a heated space when the outdoor plants were just beginning to warm up. By doing this I think my plants generally got 2 to 3 more hours of warmth a day than if my plants had been in a raised bed in the garden. On really hot days I would occasionally have to open the hatchback to keep the basils from wilting. When I did that I had to pay attention because of the many deer that live in Port Townsend .... they would love snacking on the tender leaves.

Here are some advantages to having a car greenhouse.
1) My car smelled delicious everyday.
2) There was no dust .... bugs of any kind .... or bird poop on any of my basil .... I didn't even have to rinse it.
3) Me and my basil got a lot of attention where ever we went.
4) The leaves and stems stayed very tender. I don't know if this was because the plants didn't have to fight the elements outside like the wind or if it was because I harvested the basil many times over the summer. I have loads of pesto in my freezer.

The label came about as a result of wanting to gift my oncologist with some of my pesto. She had been quite intrigued with the idea of growing basil in a car. I like the result of the label .... and so do both of my sisters .... they want a poster!

I'll try this again next year. It sort of makes me want a mini van .... just think of what I could grow then.

ARTIST'S COMMUNITY GATHERS AT GREYBIRD BARN

OK....this is my last post about the barn sale for this year but I just wanted to share the wonderful article that was published in our local newspaper...THE LEADER. A big thanks once again to Jenny Westdal for writing this.

BEFORE CATCH AND RELEASE by Shane Miller
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Artists' community gathers at GreyBird Barn
Six artists featured at annual studio sale

By Jenny Westdal Contributor

Under a canopy of Douglas firs, artists, their families and friends are transforming the GreyBird Barn, draping lights and banners in preparation for this weekend’s fourth annual studio sale. Hay bales out front offer cozy seats for reminiscing over mugs of hot cider, pumpkin bars and cookies.

Homeowner Shane Miller’s 1952 Farmall Cub tractor and 1952 Dodge pickup truck rest in the yard, ready to be explored by the children.

All of the participants agree that “fun” is the event’s main focus, as well as emitting some positive “energy.”

“It feels like a party with lots of friends stopping by,” said featured artist Diane Gale. “People hang out, like at a big family gathering.”

Taking place on Oct. 13-14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the GreyBird Barn, 11 Carroll Ave., in Glen Cove Industrial Park, the studio sale is sure to celebrate the changing of the season, the artists themselves and the community in which they thrive, said Miller.

The idea for a collaborative studio sale originated with Miller and Linda Jarvis, a friend and fellow artist, four years ago. After the first event drew more than 300 visitors, the pair deemed the event a success and vowed to turn it into a yearly affair.

On Saturday, the familiar faces of Gale, Jarvis and Miller are going to be joined by those of newcomers Diana Cronin, a potter; Lynn Anju, a metalworker; and mixed-media artist Donna Snow.

Scaling down

First to greet visitors arriving at GreyBird is a life-size,steel garden sculpture featuring a bear, a woman and a man dancing together. An alligator holding the mailbox comes next. These creations are examples of Miller’s early works. More recently, she has scaled down and is focusing on making smaller, more delicate and detailed pieces.

Combining her skill for etching on metal (an electrolytic process that uses a car-battery charger and a saltwater bath) with her attraction to vintage photographs, Miller creates jewelry and narrative boxes embellished with images that evoke memories and reference myths, she said.

Depth, shadow

Jarvis’ mixed-media paintings, assemblages and sculptures generally include elements of nature and exquisitely rendered wildlife. Her work has been displayed at venues throughout Port Townsend for many years. She said she’ll often cut out different figures and raise them in the frame, sometimes extending the shape of the animal beyond the borders, to create shadows and add depth to her work.

“I like to tell a story with a touch of humor, but also convey my reverence for animals,” Jarvis said.

Kiln community

Gale, a potter, utilizes wood-fire and gas kilns, introducing soda ash or salt during the firing to create a unique glaze and enhance the surface of her creations.

“A wood-fire kiln is unique for a couple of reasons. First of all, it requires people to watch the coal bed and load wood into the kiln 24 hours a day until the firing is complete,” Gale said. “Secondly, the ash from the wood is the glaze. Those green drips on the pots you see are the pine ash that got so heavy, it actually turned to glass.”

A firing may take anywhere from two to nine days, so the process creates a community, she said. “Who’s bringing dinner can become very important.”

Five pots a day

Whereas Gale’s pottery is primal and substantial, forged of mud and fire, potter Diana Cronin’s work is light and brightly colored. Her pieces are porcelain covered with simple patterns in vivid colors.

Originally drawn to photography and printmaking, Cronin found that her artistic propensity changed after three events occurred simultaneously: finding a 1970s ranch house in need of improvements, discovering a book on handmade ceramic tiles and reading an ad for a small kiln in the newspaper.

Cronin bought the kiln, but quickly realized that she knew nothing about its operation, so she started taking classes at the Bainbridge Arts and Crafts Gallery and kept an eye out for workshops.

“The way you learn to make pots is by doing it, so I made five a day,” she said.

A full-time potter for more than 14 years now, Cronin owns and operates Egg and I Pottery in Chimacum. And, yes, she did remodel her bathroom with beautiful, handmade tiles.

Medieval inspiration

Lynn Anju worked as a ceramic artist for 12 years until a fascination with surface design led her to become a graphic artist. This path prompted her to learn metal etching as it combines both surface design and texturing.

Anju has been working in this medium for 10 years now, making jewelry, switch plates, lampshades and clocks – all of which feature etched metal. Her inspirations come from the natural world, medieval European tapestries and armor.

FISH BLIMPS (detail) a mixed media collage by Donna Snow

Asian aesthetics

Friends of Miller and Jarvis for many years, Donna Snow and her husband are frequent visitors to the GreyBird Barn and regularly attend the annual sale – a social gathering that both greatly enjoy. So, when Snow discovered that there was room for one more artist this year, she happily joined in.

An artist her entire life, Snow has been working solely on collage and mixed-media pieces for the last 10 years. She said that she is drawn to Asian aesthetic themes, which are expressed in her collages.

Her piece titled “Lute Boy” depicts a kimono-clad youth playing a lute surrounded by large flowers. The colors are bright but soft, similar to drawing styles found in Japanese block prints.

At the studio sale, she’ll be offering small cards and prints, miniature collages and some larger pieces.

Turn at the alligator

To find GreyBird Barn, drive south on Highway 20 out of Port Townsend, past Jacob Miller Road, turn left on Frederick Street, turn left on Otto Street and keep an eye out for Miller’s sculptures. Admission is free.

For more information about the sale or participating artists, call 379-5421 or visit Miller’s blog at
uncommonwork.blogspot.com.

Jenny Westdal has been a resident of Port Townsend since 1982. She enjoys cruising around in her vintage MG TD, snooping out art news.

AFTER THE SALE 2012

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Well we lived through it .... our 4th annual studio sale at GreyBird Barn....and all agree that it was a grand success. Having the sale in October instead of in June is something I'm sure we will try again. There was some magic in the air .... the crisp fall mornings .... the apples on my trees .... the beginnings of color in the landscape .... just a general vibe of well being as we celebrated the shift of light that we call fall.

An event like this doesn't happen without a lot of pairs of hands and a bunch of willing hearts. I have many people to thanks for their tireless energy and willingness to help. My friend, Carrie, is not only the principal of our local high school but is our cookie and pumpkin bar maker. This is her 4th year to bake for us and I know it was a challenge this time with her busy schedule. We so appreciate her for her talents in the kitchen and also for just being who she is. Her partner, Ari, has also been an integral part of our barn sale for all 4 years. She takes care of traffic and the parking of cars in my yard. It can't be the most fun job but she does get to boss people around .... a small perk. Wendy is the sister of Linda Jarvis .... one of our participating artists. She, too, has helped us for 4 years and travels down from Pender Island off the coast of British Columbia to do so. I'm not sure how we would manage without her energy which is usually spent refilling the apple cider pot and cookie trays .... running any errands .... and being the trouble shooter for any and everything that needs attention. Rick is the husband of Lynn Anju .... another participating artist .... and this year not only made two dump runs for me as I cleaned out the barn but he also was the responsible party who put out and picked up our numerous sandwich boards from along the highway and streets. Rick, also, along with Bob Snow .... husband of Donna Snow, another participating artist, helped us do some much needed yard work on the Sunday before the sale ... much raking .... snipping .... trimming .... and wood stacking was accomplished. A huge shout out thanks goes to Jennifer Westdal who is responsible for the wonderful article about GreyBird Barn and it's artists that was published in the Port Townsend Leader, our local newspaper. Megan Claflin, the arts editor for the Port Townsend Leader, gets a round of applause for making Jennifer's article possible. So three cheers for everyone listed above and a huge THANK YOU for supporting us. And a big THANK YOU for all that came to see and purchase our art.... old friends .... new friends .... we are so glad you came.

Here are a few random photos from the week end. Some are mine .... some were taken by Linda Jarvis .... and some by Diana Cronin.

Lynn Anju is probably explaining her etching process.

That's me talking to a customer.

Diana Cronin's BEAN STALKS AND MAGIC BEANS lined the path to the barn.

A throng of onlookers checking out the work of Donna Snow.

Linda Jarvis doing a happy dance!!

Diane Gale showing us how big her dinner plate is going to be that night....it was so busy at times that we all forgot to eat lunch!

Me, Shane Miller, having a serious art discussion with an old friend.

4TH ANNUAL STUDIO SALE...SAVE THE DATE

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It's just around the corner....the 4th ANNUAL STUDIO SALE at GREYBIRD BARN. The last 3 years this studio sale has happened near the summer solstice but this year we decided to shake things up and celebrate fall. For me that includes the changing colors .... crisp air .... the apples ripening on the trees .... unique and wonderful art .... and the camaraderie of fellow artists.

The artists this year include: Diane Gale, Linda Jarvis, Diana Cronin, Lynn Anju, Donna Snow and myself, Shane Miller.

So mark your calendars and come see us at GreyBird Barn. Whether you plan your trip or just happen to see our signage on the highway, stop by for a delicious pumpkin bar (made by our dear friend, Carrie,) .... a cup of hot cider .... and some art that will knock your socks off. SEE YOU SOON!!!

MICHAEL'S JOURNEY

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Recently my dear friend, Kerry, journeyed from her home in Australia to Port Townsend, WA to visit friends and old haunts. She brought with her an envelope of precious photos that her friend, Michael, sent along with the hope of having one of my skimmer boats made. I've never met Michael but after sorting through the images....scanning....resizing...printing....glueing....I feel as though I now know at least part of his story. We all have a story, unique to us....the checker at the grocery store....the woman who walks her dog everyday at 3pm....the man in the red shirt in the sailboat on the bay. Making this boat was a reminder to me to consider the people around me....the ones I don't know....the ones who I only glance in their direction....and to remember that they, too, have a story....and it is as valid and worthy as my own.

The frame of this skimmer is hammered copper.... I used waxed linen thread to connect the ribs. Using archival inks I printed the photos on gampi paper (a very thin but strong Japanese paper). The paper is glued to the boat frame using an acid free book binders glue. This skimmer measures (with the stand) approximately 9.5" x 4.5" x 2.5". The stand is cherry with copper uprights.

A big thanks to Kerry for hand carrying the boat on the airplane back to Australia and to Michael for the opportunity of making his skimmer.

Here is a portion of a note I included with the boat.
I call this style boat a skimmer. It reminds me of a curled leaf on a pond riding light and high on the water....just skimming the surface. To me a “boat” is a metaphor for our life’s journey...swift water...placid water...a few white caps...the occasional tsunami...we are carried along. I’ve titled this skimmer “Michael’s Journey”. I’m hoping the rest of your journey will be amazing and filled with wonder and that your boat will ride high and dry.

UNCOMMONWORK...ETSY SHOP IS OPEN

My ETSY shop UNCOMMONWORK is now open for business. I'll be adding a few items a week... so check back often to see what is new. Eventually I will have all my jewelry, some skimmer boats, a few narrative boxes, and some new digital prints available for sale on my site. Since I don't sell my work via this blog and not everyone can get to the galleries that represent me, this is a great opportunity to see what is available for purchase. If you google ETSY instead of using my shop link you can locate me by typing in uncommonwork (all one word) or by my name, Shane Miller. Once you are on my site be sure to check out my shop policies...profile....about page....and of course, my art. The galleries that represent my art have been very good to me and loyal... and continue to be so. My prices on ETSY are the same prices I charge at a gallery. It only seems fair.

Back in 2009 I briefly had an ETSY shop but I didn't really commit myself to it and eventually let all the listings lapse. So....I'm ready to give it another try....with some commitment this time. What is ETSY?....you might ask. Etsy is a social commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies. It's known as the Worlds's handmade marketplace. It's huge....there is no telling how many people buy and sell on ETSY...but it is well organized and inexpensive to list an item. In this economy more and more artists are turning to market places like ETSY to introduce their work to a world wide audience. Almost anything you can think of is available on ETSY....and like any site of this type, the range in quality and price is wide...but once you are within the site it is easy to search for items of interest by category or price. Besides handmade items, various art supplies can also be found. There is also a vintage category....one of my favorite places to visit. I can type in 'vintage industrial' and dream and drool over the approximate 27,000 items. This is not an auction....if you want it...buy it.

So check out my shop....bookmark it....tell your friends....visit often....I don't think you will be disappointed.

ALL THAT REMAINS

Just recently I learned a new jewelry technique called FOLD FORMING. This method of working with metal was invented by Charles Lewton-Brain in the late 1980's and is recognized the world over as the only new original innovation in metal working in a millennia. By using fingers...hammers...mallets...anvil...vice and /or rolling mill one can achieve wonderful organic shapes from a single piece of metal with no soldering. Usually when working with metal one insists their will upon it making the metal 'behave' to achieve an expected result. In form folding the beauty comes from allowing the metal to follow natural laws without exerting a will over it. I think that is the reason that the end result looks so organic.

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I call this neckpiece ALL THAT REMAINS. It so reminds me of a sea creature who has left it's exoskeleton behind or of a spent seed pod....not unlike a milkweed pod. The truth is, as a jeweler/metal worker, I hardly ever wear any of my own jewelry... except for the occasional gallery opening. Since making this piece I find that I wear it most all of the time and constantly get comments about it. ALL THAT REMAINS is made of 26 gauge sterling silver and though it looks delicate, it is quite tough.

This small sterling silver boat, which I call WHAT THE TIDE BROUGHT IN, is less than 3" long and is made using the same technique and the same size and gauge metal. If I had continued to hammer and thin the bottom edge, the bow and stern ends would have continued to curl towards each other making another piece more like the ALL THAT REMAINS neckpiece.

I look forward to exploring the new territory that fold forming provides me....stay tuned...I think I see a rolling mill in my future.

PICNIC

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For the month of July Bainbridge Arts and Crafts in Bainbridge Is, WA is curating a group show with the theme of PICNIC. I am one of 16 artists participating in this show. The PICNIC exhibit will be on display from July 6 thru July 30. It's the perfect theme for July as people head for the beach or the mountains or their own back yards with blankets....sun screen...and an eclectic picnic.

When I was asked to be a part of the PICNIC show I was excited about the theme and several possible images immediately jumped into my mind....but the more I thought about it, I realized that I did not want to use imagery that was trite or expected....and so the quest for how to express myself in this show began.

For the last several months I've been thinking about how to use vintage images in my work that are not etched on metal. Not every vintage photo translates into an etching....and sometimes I want there to be just a bit of color.....or maybe a tint of sepia to help convey the antiquated nature of the image. So this wall piece titled DELIVERY SERVICE was my first attempt at trying a new look....well, new to me. This box is 12" x 12" x 1.5" with a cherry support, photo collage and a photo etched copper frame with canada geese flying the perimeter.

I was walking several months ago and found a pair of sunglasses on the side of the road. I thought this seemed fitting considering all the sunglasses I have lost over the years. When I put these sunglasses on they fit like a glove and had wonderful polarized lenses. They have become my magic glasses. Now I've had polarized lenses before but nothing like these. Clouds especially look just amazing through these sunglasses and ever since my lucky find, I have been mesmerized by the clouds....I just can't stop looking at them and capturing them on film....well, I mean with my digital camera. So it's one of my cloud images featured in DELIVERY SERVICE...the perfect backdrop for a cloud tethered zeppelin....a V of canada geese....a delivery man in his personal flying machine....and a picnic basket.
I am a huge fan of zeppelins....I really can't explain it....I just love their shape and their float-iness. It's amazing to me that up until now I had never used one in my artwork. I think that will change.

What ever you are doing plan a PICNIC in the near future. Take along a kite and a good book....eat some cherry tomatoes and good cheese...laugh....tell stories....and don't forget to put on your magic sunglasses and look at the clouds.

RUNNING BEHIND

I seem to be running behind when it comes to posting on my blog....sorry about that. My show at THE GALLERY AT DUNGENESS DESIGN has come and gone. Many thanks to Karla Forsbeck for the opportunity to show my work in her beautiful space and to a new audience in Sequim.

Here is a mixture of some images from the opening....some taken by my friend, Gregg Graff of Natura Designs, and some taken by me. Remember to click on any image to see a larger version.

A few boxes and some jewelry...

a couple of boats...

...and a fibula.

A big THANKS to my peeps who journeyed from Port Townsend to support me in this venture!! Also, a thanks to Shirl and Jan who drove up from Portland to surprise me at the gallery.