Friday Desk Photo- Rest & Rejuvenate

This Friday was a day to rest, rejuvenate, gather ideas and visit...

My daughter who got married last June and moved to Alabama gave her father and I a surprise visit home, first time in almost a year. She didn't want to tell me because she new I was just returning from the art retreat in Virginia and would freak and clean for days getting ready for her. Yes she is a nice kid!

So we are off to her older sister and brothers mountain cabin for the weekend.

Have a great Memorial Day and think sunshine!
P.S.

For you who like to look at birds this is a list of what I saw in the garden today, Grosbeak,Goldfinch,Cedar Waxwing, Robin, Song Sparrow,White crowned Sparrow, Nuthatch, Junco, Towhee, House Finch, Chickadee and a Steller's Jay. I sit in my studio in front of a large picture window and about 20' away is a bird feeder, lucky me, I love spring.

Great Classes

First and foremost I would like to thank my students. I had the most pleasurable and rewarding time with everyone. I fell in love with the state of Virginia, but I think mostly because of the people of the east coast. I look forward to visiting again and spending more time, seeing many of you next year.

Remember to click on any picture to enlarge it.
Upon arrival to Virginia, I was overtaken by the beauty of the landscape. The trees, birds, and water are wonderful. But what I soon learned was that Virginia is a Garden State.

After unpacking and preparing for classes I was able to sneak away for some sightseeing. My 1st stop was Ft. Monroe. This active military installation was famed during the Civil War as the "Freedom Fort" by blacks escaping from slavery. General Benjamin Butler refusing to return runaway slaves, kept them as "Contrabands" of war, assuring their freedom. Confederate President Jefferson Davis' prison cell is located in the museum. Fort Monroe was built between 1819 and 1834.

The 570 acre site includes the largest stone fort ever built by the United States. It consists of seven fronts and covers approximately 63 acres of ground and is surrounded by a water filled moat.

Felting was the 1st class. Intimate group of ladies laughing and creating. What a wonderful day.

We created a bag, soap, flowers, and felted decorative balls.

Some of the class with their unique artwork.

Too be continued..... More classes...and Williamsburg.

Flying today

I'm off to Virginia today and so looking forward to seeing a new site, teaching some classes and visiting with friends, I will be back on line Tuesday with stories and photos, see you then.

Giveaway and trip to the coast

Everyone loves free art so The Portland Art Collective started a monthly giveaway, all you need to do is make a comment on the giveaway post and your name will go into a hat at the end of the month a drawing will take place, you may be notified that you are the winner . This month the piece was donated by Paula McNamee, it is a beautiful crochet beaded necklace. Please go to the Portland Art Collective blog and read all about it. On the right side bar there are directions on how to make a comment if this will be your first time, good luck.

My weekend at the coast was to celebrate my husband’s 60th birthday and was all put on by his children. The entire weekend was dedicated to gathering seafood one of my husband’s favorite things, a deep sea fishing trip for halibut, crabbing in his boat and clamming at low tide. I didn’t find time to do any photography but snapped some of the seafood.

His grandchildren helped make the weekend a party.

Some fish for the freezer.

Oregon dungeness a beautiful orange color and so very good to eat.

These are purple varnish clams, I don't eat them but love the color I wish I could do some art with the shells.

Happy Birthday Honey!

Friday Desk Photo- Wire Sculpture

Since I started with the Fri desk photos I see how I really work in about a 6"x 6" square of tools and supplies. I think I will make it a goal to increase my real estate to 12"x 12".
This sculpture is going with me to Hampton, Va. as a class example, I just finished it this morning but now think the head looks to big and a bit like a bird, not my goal. The good thing is I can take it off and make a new one. I am pleased with the posture and general attitude of the figure.

I ripped up old linen for the inside of the body in person it looks light and airy. I'm off to the coast this afternoon and looking forward to doing some photography.
Have a great weekend everyone.

Sunshine Today

It doesn't get much better than this! 75 degrees in Portland an out door lunch with friends and a walk around looking for goodies to make art with.... you can't beat it!

After the Portland Art Collective meeting today Dayna, Steph and I went looking for treasures, I having enough treasures in my very small house decided I would collect them with my camera and I was not disappointed.

Can't pass up our image in the window.

Gnarly and so beautiful...

part of a mermaid ?...

a shadow with the wall and bike color ...

I like the curve...

the texture...

great paint job...

rust and shadows... fun day.

Friday Desk Photo- Clay & Assemblage Men

Today I'm working on some soldering for Art & Soul Hampton, only 12 days away, I'm so excited for the classes I know we will have great time. Click here to see some sculptures we will be making in the class.
Some tips from the desk,tip 1) the scroungy red mats are photo mat boards and are the very best thing I have found to work on for soldering, I have been using these same ones for two years with no risk of burning my desk top, tip 2) baby wipes are handy to clean your hands after touching the flux, it burns me, tip 3) spend the money on a heavy soldering iron stand, I bought this one at a garage sale for 50 cents, tip 4) the little desk vise has been my third hand and has saved me from some frustration and many burns, I also use alligator clips to hold things.

What a week for my computer first it got a virus and the day after it came home from the repair shop the back light on the screen went out and would cost nearly $300 to fix. I bought a cheep monitor for $80 and am back in business.

This last week I was really enjoying making these three gents. As you can see each one has his own personality, name and story.

I just love their knobby knees, this one looks as if he his about to hike up a mountain in the Alps.

" I was only that far from it!"

"Being prepared doesn't always help I'm sure I feel a little ill".

The pill box hat.

Have a great weekend it is suppose to be warm and dry here in the great northwest, yahoo!