HaPpY NeW YeAr - 2011 whoop whoop

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." Benjamin Franklin


I can always count on Benjamin Franklin to provide me with sane and rational quotes with respect to life. What a practical man even if the word man should really read as " person ". The new year rapidly approaches and although I have not made any resolutions and certainly can not remember any from last year, I sit here and think that the past year has been a good one. I have laughed and loved and lived and created. I have immensely enjoyed all my days - even the challenging ones. I remain grateful that I have a life and blessed to be doing what I love and calling it work. 


For the world, I am wishing for peace, medicine for the sick, food for the hungry, care for the neglected, love for all of us. I am wishing that we all treat each other with kindness and respect, keeping our good humor intact. 

For my family and co workers, I want a year of health, prosperity and joy. I can ask for nothing else, but can be grateful for all. Happy New Year!! With love, Lois

A Winter's Day

I am a weenie and will be the first to admit. I had some oral surgery yesterday on my front teeth complete with stitches and I am so sore, miserable and sick from the drugs, stitches and antibiotics; I can barely function. Since I was up at three am - I caught the beginnings of a light dusting of snow. At seven am, a wicked hardest - I - have - ever heard hailstorm hammered us. If a hailstorm can wake a sleeping teenager; you know it is a loud one! Beautiful round bits of hail over the light snow turned us all white outside.

Studio Deck

Little Blue Warehouse

Studio front window 

Sidewalk to studio

More writing, when I am feeling better. Enjoy the waning days of 2010.

Three Forest Trees & the Noise Beneath Them

It is the evening of Christmas day. Late. Nearly midnight. At last  the house is quiet, the TV silenced, Jake long since given up his video games and snuggled into bed. Phil is snoring in the living room recliner. The day was full of love, peace and sunlight. We feasted on belgium waffles from Jake's new waffle maker with which he proudly proclaimed, " my first kitchen tool. " Gifts were opened, we did our yearly search of something is missing, this can't be all, wait there are gifts still hidden in the studio. The sun allowed us a nice walk in warm temperatures and Daisy was our constant companion. The day moved sweetly, slowly and became a beacon of peace, an oasis of family in our busy life. I love days like this one!

Merry Christmas!!

Bundled up for a cold, wet December's Christmas Eve.
( note the studio apron I am wearing )

The solstice moon seen with Christmas lights from the studio.

My favorite of favorite-est Santas!

Jake opening his Christmas Eve package from his sister Paula
& family. 

Phil with my birthday gift book from Paula. 

Wishing all my friends and family who peek in at this blog a very Merry Christmas and a season of love, peace and healthy blessings. I am so grateful to have all of you in my life.

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

Happy Winter Solstice!

The evening feels kind of magical as we wait and hope that the sky will be clear enough to see the lunar eclipse and the solstice. What an event the heavens have forecast for us on this dark winter's eve.

love Affair with Crows

Stanley Rill's work - Port Townsend.  I want!!!

I continue to have a love affair with crows! People ask me why and I have no ready explanation. Is it their wit? Their chatter? The beauty of them in flight? The resourcefulness they possess? I can not say but I never cease to wonder at them in life and remain entranced by them when captured in an artist's work.

Christmas Party

My fancy Sangria drink. It was fabulous!

 All the business owners in the James & Hastings Building last night had a Christmas gathering at the Galetea Tappas Lounge in PT. We were relaxed, chatting, having fun and recounting all our years in business. Michelle, Katya and I have been in a retail business since the 70's in PT! What a wealth of adventures and experiences we have had over the years. As for me, I would love to stay in this business, this spot, this retail world until my ending days. I have so much fun and an outlet for creativity in all forms. Plus, the biggest benefit is that I love being with people!

Phil in mid sentence.

Gina, Victorian Square Cafe and Michelle, PT Kids.

Frank, PT Tees.

And finally this incredible light display on the roof of a 2 story
house! It was awesome against the dark night sky. 

The Tree is Up!

 FinaLLy, I have a good picture of Daisy. The little sprite finally stood still long enough to capture a picture! Even if it is through the sliding glass door! She was hoping for some extra meatloaf or ham or....

This is the tree that Jake helped unload from a truck full of Christmas trees. He was thrilled to get a tree for only $ 5 over cost. When I walked in the door tonight, it was up and he had installed the lights. Using a very clever trick that he thought of; wrapping the inside of the tree with only white lights and adding the brights on the outside. In another day or two we will have added ornaments and I will post another picture. Incidentally, the tree takes up the better part of our dining room. Jake wanted a big tree!

Some Evenings

The newly redesigned window in the shop.

 Now that I work a bit more in the shop ( a bit? Ha! ) I see things that I can change
or redesign. My mind is always onto a project. This window used to hold the gems that needed
to be kept under lock and key, on suction cups. I have displayed that way for years but it truly
and desperately needed a change.

So Phil and I came up with an idea of wood slats to hang the stones from. He did the exacting things like measuring and cutting and I painted them a soft, pale yellow and painted either gold stars or spirals on them.

I think it gives a fresh, new look to my window.

My sweet friend Regina stopped on her way home
from work on the Kitsap Peninsula to get
these candy canes for Santa's sister's visit on
Saturday!

Right up until the football games started at 1:00, I had Jake all to myself. We went to a local craft show where I was able to persuade him to have a picture taken with Santa. He towered over the jolly old elf and then we did some shopping for Phil. After that we had lunch together at the Spruce Goose Cafe and really had a chance to talk. He is my sweet boy, the last of my children still at home. I need to savor every moment and of course, I am beyond thrilled that he will still spend a little time with me.

A nice dinner at home on this warm, wet evening rounded out the day. Peace.

Holidays

This is the time of the year when I am running around like a mad, mad woman! I have no end to wonderful ideas and I think how lovely it would be to bake and snuggle into the house and make Christmas happen but and it is a big but; I just do not have enough hours in the day!

I love so much about this season. Lights, trees, music, food but in the end being a retailer - I wish I could celebrate it two weeks later! Now, that would drive my family crazy!

I love reading Dickens at Christmas and this Christmas tree makes me think it is right out of A Christmas Carol. I never tire of reading that story and making the moral of it my own.

I would like the weather to be a bit colder, no snow mind you, but colder temperatures make me feel all Christams -y and reminds me of the sometimes snowy holidays of my hometown. How do you find Christmas?

Could NOT Resist!

Support Your Local Badass Fatass

From the Fat Acceptance Blog - this is me - a local Badass Creative Fatass and proud of it, blessed to be it! 

Gallery

THE gallery in Port Townsend is WYNWOODS GALLERY. That is me and is a great place to hang - my paintings - and a place I like to hang around. We are blessed to be 18 years old and this holiday season I am working like a mad woman to have more of my silver work ready for the gallery and Tucson. New pieces are back from casting, new paintings and drawings done and all round it feels good to be on Water Street in Port Townsend in MY OWN SPACE. No more co -ops for awhile. What brings all of this on? A new five year lease on my gallery and shop spaces in the historic James & Hastings Building in Port Townsend! I am deliriously happy to be doing what I love with the work I love with the friends, customers and family that have been my encouragement all these years!

Here we go with five brand new years at Wynwoods Gallery! Thank you, Lord!

John Lennon - Imagine Lyrics

This IS GOOD!

Friends in PT

Lunch with my friend from Facebook, Elaine.

We had a wonderful lunch of coconut fried rice with prawns which prompted Elaine
to look up a recipe on the internet and send it to me which means that
shortly down the road a bit in my very orange kitchen; I am going
to make the recipe myself!

I am trying to stay in the season this holiday, keeping it simple and
enjoying friends and family. Sounds marvelous but very hard to put into
action!

Finishing up knitting projects and drawings to send off to friends
and family. Working on a new series of crow drawings
and with a handy new watercolor set, I am sketching the wonderful
tropical landscape that exists in my head.

Rain is pelting the house right now and although the temps are kind of balmy for this
area. I am freezing! Rain makes me want to snuggle down into my bedcovers and read.
So off to my grand mountaineering books with me for the rest of the evening! 

Busy Weekend

The Port Townsend Chorus' performance of Handel's Messiah.

The reflection in the drums was so pretty and just fascinated me.
I was only sitting three rows from them.

This was a weekend that not only greeted the area with sunny, dry and sort of warm weather but one that had plenty of activities to keep me moving the entire time!

I worked all weekend and gave all my energy to my customers so much so that when I did get home after work; I pretty much crashed and burned. Off to early bedtimes for me!

At the last moment today, I had to work the shop for a bit and teach a group of 7th grade girls. It has been ages since I spent time with girls; just listening to them talk. Hearing what is important to them: mascara, weight, what books and TV shows they can watch, what music isn't censored for them, how much money they had to spend on themselves and holiday gifts. It was a class for me in just listening.

I had a ticket to go see The Messiah performed by the Port Townsend Community Chorus and since I had never seen it performed live; off I went at 2:00. I met a friend there and we enjoyed it although I think maybe I dozed off in the first part... zzzzzz.... Still it was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon during the holiday season. I am promising myself to do more things like that and get outside myself and the shop for the holiday.

Now off to lala land for me! Good night!

New Drawing

I still have a couple of sketchbooks on the little table next to my living room chair. I just start drawing while my mind wanders and occasionally checks in on a TV program. I have a passion for natural things, organic elements that I like to incorporate: leaves, flowers, moons, stars, animals and landscapes. I never know what something is going to be until it is done. Like meditating at the end of the day.

This Christmas Time

the shop windows with lights by Jake & Phil

the mantle in the shop with green fir boughs

 Crosses and crucifixes - made from original old pieces in the lobby case

It is a mystery to me that this Christmas holiday season, I feel like decorating both the shop and home. The previous two holidays were sad for me. In 2008, my mom passed away just before Christmas and the deep ache from missing her made it almost impossible to believe in the magic I always thought Christmas had. The second year, 2009, just reminded me that I continued to miss her and the holiday made me feel lonely and sorrowful deep inside. Phil and Jacob carried me along on these last two holidays, sweeping me up in getting the Christmas tree, decorating, wrapping gifts; even the pleasure of working in my shop, helping customers prepare their holiday gifts left me wanting and despairing. So perhaps this year is my time to begin to again enjoy the holiday. I am still feeling hollow inside where the pain of missing my mom lives but I want the bright times that come with the holiday. I want to feel the joy of a holiday with family, friends and customers again. As we string strand after strand of lights in the shop and at home, I am wishing for that spirit in me.

I Couldn't Say it Better

In Between

A chorus of cool cast concrete crows.

In between a wonderful meal and a lazy afternoon of watching old movies; I dashed back
and forth to the studio to paint the latest bunch of concrete crows.
They will be the inkiest of blacks and finished off with a glossy
varnish. They can be indoors or outdoors and I find them very talented at being bookends
on my cases in the den. I cover the bases with a wool felt that stops their little
concrete feet and bottoms from scratching the furniture.
Very easy painting yet meditative and relaxing at the same time. It's as if it clears my head
to draw and paint new pictures. Like a sorbet in a delicious dinner clears the palette between courses.
See - food remains on my mind this Thanksgiving evening! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Strutting His Stuff

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I am feeling most blessed with the love of my family
and friends and the joy that comes from making my living at
something I love to do. If I could have just one wish, I would want for the world
the peace, love, faith and hope that I have in my heart right now. May your day be filled
with light, warmth and love. 

Home Before the Snow Flew!

The first snowfall Sunday morning in Bellevue.

Lisa of ZizzyZaZa Beads and Jake laughing it up at the show.

Beads, wonderful beads, can't get enough of those wonderful beads!

Snow just beginning to pile up. Dog prints on the porch, of course!

A dog that is soaked from playing fiercely in the snow. 

We beat the snowstorm home by about 10 hours and this morning it is a winter wonderland outside. Everything is blanketed at this moment with about five inches of snow. Beauty in the treachery that is snow. Phil is stuck out on the highway about 4 miles from here. I told him to sit tight and hopefully, traffic will move, a plow will come, a sand truck will leave its load and he will arrive home safely. The storm came fast, furious, leaving us unprepared in its wake.
The one enjoying this weather the most is Daisy. It is her first snow and she has played and jumped and tunneled and rolled and finally slept, all in the snow. I have just coaxed her inside with a chew bone. She is in love with snow and through her eyes, I love it even more. Even more still, when Phil is able to get home!

Whirlwind Time and a Birthday

This is my birthday dinner, my special request for SOS or dry beef gravy.

My birthday cake with double frosting made by Phil


The last few days have been a whirlwind of activity with the shop's annual sale, a visiting dog, report cards
and my birthday! The rains have arrived with a vengeance with snow forecast for perhaps Monday.
I love winter but I am especially glad to be in my warm studio looking out at the weather. I laugh and tell customer's
that this is perfect beading weather and to get their project " on ".
The person not doing projects is me. I am planning for this weekend's show and the upcoming festivities for
Christmas.
I aso was able to mail off the little angels that I promised to Facebook friends. I actually cleared my office
of all the things I had promised to mail. Feels very god to have that all done.
Now, I am finding that I am sleepy earlier in the evening so I have been curling up in bed with the Goddess
of drowsiness and reading until she gently closes my eyes. Sleep is such a pleasant
experience. Good night.

Some Days

 An exceptional crow visitor.

Some days are just about perfect and this one was no exception. I had a wonderful day in my shop on our first day of the annual sale. I greeted many customers that I have not seen in awhile and the warmth and happiness extended from those customers warmed me to the souls of my feet. I also had lunch with a friend to celebrate her birthday and two other friends dropped by to say hello. When a day is fun and people are receptive to what you are doing; who could ask for more? I felt loved, appreciated, happy and with gratitude I look forward to more days just like this one!

A Cold Evening

The day was beautiful. Sunny, clear, warmish for November and full of possibilities. Did I accomplish much? Maybe. It all depends on what you think accomplished means.

I made  jewelry, strung beads, priced some copper findings for the shop, prepared six charms for casting, painted a new shop display, did three loads of laundry, picked up one old subaru from the repair shop, shopped for dinner, made dinner, cleaned up from dinner, worked on line ( still working ) and will most likely finish the day out by drawing in the living room while watching Law & Order: Los Angeles, using the new magnifier attached to my ott lamp by my living room chair. Sigh, my eyes can not decide if they need it or not. Where ever would I be without my trusty ott lamps? Accept no imitations, they are the best by the way!

Made from odds and ends of brass chain.

A painting I hung in the shop. I love little houses!

All the while working in the studio today, I longed for a little cabin in the woods. A place to create in silence and solitude, a place free of distractions, a place to work through the stuff rattling around in my head from the awful, betraying nasty hurt of a former good friend, to the ache of missing my mother, to the why of my ways. I could explore medium and technique, metals and paints, resins and enamels. Two months would help. Hell, two days would even be good!

This is enough meandering thought in this blog tonight. I am anxious to get to the colored pencils calling to me. Good night and may you sleep with creative thoughts in your head all night long!

Agate!

Here is Kathy's hand so you can get an idea of size.

I have been a fierce agate hunter since first learning of these magic rocks when I spent my first August here. They are a form of moonstone and difficult to find on the beach; their rarity makes them that much more desirable. Michael used to say that the sun dropped them on the beach and I like to think of them as golden sundrops. Usually they are not much larger than a fifty cent piece or half a sandwich pickle. So, imagine my surprise and Kathy's too, when a customer came in with an agate the size of a sandwich! Everyone in the shop stopped and looked! We were just stunned, recovered quickly and began telling agate stories! Man, I wish I had found this very rare, extraordinary agate. My jars of the sweet, glowing stones would have loved this kind of company!

Favorites

One of the best things about fall? The colors of the leaves on all the leaf bedecked trees. I love how the colors shift and move in the light of day and what was just hours ago a green has now made the leap into golds or reds or oranges. Magnificent! I wait all year for the music the changing of the colors sings to me. Here is a recent favorite.

The weekend is just 25 minutes away and I am ready for a busy Saturday with gallery walk at hand and in two months I will be up and running in a newly created gallery space - knock wood! Happy weekending!

Yesterday While Hiding Out from Election Results

We went to Bremerton and visited with Beth who owns a bead store on Callow Avenue. I love Callow Avenue! It has an ancient porn shop, Elmo's which is everything you think an old porn store should look like, pawn shops, bakeries, offices, health food stores and way back when, was the red light district in Bremerton. I can imagine that area in WWII when the area was thick with sailors waiting for orders, training for the war. When I lived there in 1982 for a brief time, long enough to have Michael at the Naval Hospital, that old downtown area still was rich with massage parlors, bars, adult movie theaters, all mixed in with regular businesses. I know I am unusual but I liked that area then and I like it more now especially since Beth's shop is there. 

This is Pixie ( because her ears make her look like a pixie ) who is Beth's shop dog. What a sweetie.

I met Scarlet at the new consignment shop next door. Also a talkative sweetie. Beautiful bird, too.

Scarlet & I have a moment. She likes to groom long hair.

This is Beth with the basket of beads I purchased!