New Work!

Sacred Heart and reverse side, Madonna & Christ child. 

Our Lady of the Highway and Saint Christopher.
This is perfect to hang around your rear view mirror for a safe journey. 

A close up of Saint Christopher showing lots of detail !

These are a few pieces recently cast in Britanium for the upcoming Bead & Button show. I have so many new things cast in new metals for that show! Whooooeeee!

Sunday, Sunday - Taking Part in Nature

We spent Easter Sunday taking a few hours off to do something outdoors. Rain had headed into Port Townsend but up here in Brinnon, the sky was sunny and spring scents definitely filled the air with promises of more sunny days to come. These are falls that are hidden in behind the water service on the outskirts of Brinnon. They were enormous due to all the rain from this winter and the air was filled with water droplets. Gorgeous. exciting. Wild.

Then there is the moss to talk about! I could not stop feeling it with first my hands, then my face. Thick

and luxurious, you could imagine napping in it as a warm breeze wafts over you in an early summer afternoon.
 

Happy Almost Easter!

Here it is almost Easter and it is my favorite almost holiday in the year. When I was growing up, Easter was a bigger holiday than Christmas or Thanksgiving. The whole family gathered at my grandparents for the beginning of spring dinners featuring potato salad, deviled eggs, sweet gherkin pickles and ham. The kids ate in the Sunday school rooms of my grandfather's house and the adults ate in the huge kitchen/ dining room. There was no dishwasher so everyone had a hand in cleaning up. We were all dressed up in brand new Easter clothes and shoes. Mom took us to the hairdressers usually the Saturday before the big day and we had stylish new 'dos. The morning began with a basket of candy from the bunny and then off to church. We all went except my dad who usually did some " guy " thing and then joined us at mid afternoon Easter lunch at grandmom and grandpop's. Those were enchanting afternoons. I loved all my cousins, the flowering plant we received in Sunday school, the special lunch that marked that beginning of summer eating and the time spent with the grown ups. There was a piano in every room and we spent hours running around playing on them and pretending we were musicians. The older cousins wanted nothing to do with us - the dreaded younger cousins. The weather was usually good so after lunch we ran outside to play with admonishments of staying clean. It was hard to play in my new shiny mary janes! Times were innocent for me and I miss them. I hope, as a parent, I gave good memories to my own boys. I know I kept some of my family's traditions. Easter lily on the table, potato salad and deviled eggs, a basket of candy. All this marks the beginning of spring and today as I left for work, I felt like spring! The weather even co operated! Happy Easter! Happy Spring! Happy life! 

Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money. Cree proverb



So this is Earth Day 2011. I remember my first Earth Day in the 1970's when I was in Unami Junior High in Pennsylvania. I still have my original Earth day button given to us at the afternoon assembly in the auditorium. I remember being sad then when I thought of the pollution and destruction we had heaped upon our lovely mother earth. Would things change as I grew up? Would there even be a place for me in the world that was not polluted and ruined? I think I was in 7th grade and even now, all these years later, when things have been cleaned up some with a long way to go, I wonder if the same questions remain to be answered? 


What will the future hold for our children, your grandchildren, the earth itself? God bless and keep us from destroying our home, our mother. 

Around a Sunny Town

Point Hudson Marina

I thought that for an entry today on my blog, while carrots and onions are steaming for dinner, I would add pictures I took around Port Townsend on this sunny day. We, who live in this beautiful place grow accustomed to seeing the scenery everyday and almost become immune to it. I never get tired of looking and seeing all that makes this place so special. A discovery has been made by me too, although I love the gray and rain ( and my, we have had a LOT this winter ) a sunny day infuses me with energy and creativity! I never thought that I needed sun, some sun at least before!

Cormorants drying their wings on a WWII sub " catcher ".

Restored dock at Point Hudson.

Tsunami warning system. If this baby sounds, run like hell!

Dock and beach at the new Maritime Center in downtown.

Bluffs at Fort Worden State Park.

Wind swept trees right by the beach. They take the brunt of our wind storms.

Rhododendrons or rhodies, our state flower.

This color on this Rhody is yelling " spring! "

These were ducks we found in a parking space early in the morning in a spot of sun. If it had been warmer, I might have joined them.

Is this what they mean when they say " your ducks are all in a row? "

I have removed the Feedit gadget from my blog. I had been thinking about doing that for awhile and now that it is done, I am glad to see it go. I am grateful and delighted that anyone reads my blog. You can read it anonymously or sign up as a follower. Anything is fine with me. I just like knowing that words I am writing, the life I am living and the things I am creating are reaching someone. With gratitude and blessings always, Lois

A storm is raging outside tonight and the winds are gale force as we wait for the drenching rains that are forecast. The lights kept blinking in the studio and since it can be very dark out there if the power goes out, I came inside. Inside where Phil and Jake for the umpteenth time are watching the same movie. I like this movie too, Big Trouble, but after the 83rd time, the humor is old. I know it by heart and just can't laugh at it anymore!

The studio work table tonight.

 I did get home from work early this afternoon and after a veg break, watching TV and having lunch, I was able to get some much needed jewelry made for the shop. These pieces are all for the spring display window that will be in the front of the building.

Multi dangle earrings out of glass and antiqued brass.

With a little bit of luck, I may even be able to work in the studio tomorrow and create some resin souvenir for visitors to take home from Port Townsend. I have had that idea for quite some time in my head. Time to put resin to mould and get the job done!

Earring closeup.

Any moment I expect to be in the dark here so I had better end this posting. Have a great day tomorrow. 

Have You Ever Wondered...

...why crows gather together? Maybe they are like people seeking friendships among themselves. Maybe it is to end up like the fellow in the bottom of this image, all tucked in close to the ground, feet up with everyone looking at him.

Tonight finds me in a strange mood as I wait for the owners of Jessie and Daisy to come home. I think I will be up late tonight or rather this morning, waiting for them to head home to bed. When their
" parents " are gone, they are here. I call them my Monday through Friday dogs. I wonder what they must think of having two families love them so much. They will never lack for companionship, love, food or doggie kisses.

I need to end this missive and get ready for dreamland myself. Tomorrow sends me into the shop to play amongst the ArtFest attendees. Creativity is in the air!

A Quick, Super Quick Check in!

Wall flowers all wild and gorgeous blooming in the sun yesterday on the bluff  into downtown.

I want to fly like an eagle.

Art Fest friends in town for dinner and the great art event!

My Michael in his kindergarten picture. He turns 29 today and I am blessed because he is my son!
My lovely, lovely son!