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.