I have worked exceptionally hard this summer. Long days in the shop and when not there; working in the studio creating much of the inventory that I sell in the shop. I have enjoyed nearly every moment of this time. I love talking to people, greeting customers, displaying merchandise and creating an atmosphere that I would want to invite people into all day. Today, finally, almost a whole day off! I stayed out of the shop until after closing and then went to work making new displays with some of the most exciting beads and jewelry of the season! Wait, I am not writing here to talk of shop work! I am writing to be able to post the pictures I took today of our drive around Sequim. What a gorgeous day to be out and about. Heavy fog this morning giving way to wonderfully clear, warm afternoon skies. Here then are some pictures of my brief, ever so brief holiday!

A large weird flower growing in the lavender plant.

Sequim Bay.

The remains of an old dock.

The dock had lots of bird visitors.

Looking down the road from the Old Three Crabs restaurant.

Do you see the large Heron on the log in this wetlands shot?

Estuary.

A tributary feeding into the estuary.

A driftwood still life.

I am embarrassed to say that I have not changed my display windows since mid summer. I liked the things on display in there. The beach glass, rocks, shells, and wooden boats were all so summer in Port Townsend. Each week I would think, I should change that window but then I would look at it, all the work involved and cleaning and say, " well, the beach scene is right for this time of year " or
" all the jewelry is perfectly colored for summer " but at long last - it had to be changed. Little wooden boats were prominently featured in the window and since the wooden boat festival was this past weekend... well, you get my drift. Things had to go. Beach season had to go. The tiny adirondack chairs with their lazily draped, sun hatted wooden men, had to go. Now we are in a transitional window shoulder season kind of display. It is not summer and not yet fall. I present to you -"  the mid September - summer is pretty much gone and I am not ready to display fallen leaves " display windows.

This past Saturday night was gallery walk at my new exhibition space, The 940 Gallery. I have a partner in the gallery, Dale Klein who is a photographer. He does both old school black and white pictures which he tints and digital photography. His work is humorous, well composed and sensitively tinted. I especially like his Guadalupe shrine photographs. He was also interviewed for KPTZ, our local radio station for a segment on local photographers they are doing on air.

This gallery walk opening was the first time I had all three of my felt collages on display. I also featured  some of my paintings on canvas paper that are matted in a soft yellow so that the gallery had an air of summer in it.

Marlene and her husband, Larry brought Dale and me each a rose .

Some of Dale's work. 

Two of my pieces.

Some Flower, a favorite of mine.

This piece received lots of comments from visitors.

A grouping of both of our works.

Dale during his interview.

One of Dale's cards and a funny, favorite picture of his I adore.

This month's walk was so well attended! We are a little bit hidden in town, a tucked away atelier and gallery but hopefully, more and more people will find us. I have new pieces I hope to get framed for next month and a feature of this new work is the moon.

A beautiful full blue moon hangs in the sky this late evening and I can not keep myself in the house for want of going outdoors and dancing in its' light. I think this moon has had a lot of pull and influence on many of us this month. On this night the glow seems special, almost surreal and I am being magnetically, magically pulled towards it.

We have finished the driest August ever here in Port Townsend, no rain this entire month. I am missing it, wanting it, needing it. Everything feels dry and tight, brittle, brown. When the rain returns, just like this blue moon, I will be dancing in  it.

MY current sock knitting project.

My front porch frog has returned!

Daisy.

Old ancient Jesse girl.

Now that the temperatures are not ( hopefully ) reaching the too hot 80's or higher, a burst of energy has come upon me and I had a fabulously busy studio day yesterday. It was an unexpected day at home and I was so glad Phil worked for me. Lita drove all the way over from Ellensburg for a quick visit and I felt an explosion of energy. It was like I radiated creativity from all my pores! I even took some time to paint on a canvas I began much earlier this year. Hurrah! I am more me.

So as this last holiday weekend of the summer begins, I long for fall and all the flavor it brings to life. See you around the studio and shops in the next few days!

Pictures Around Here

A neighborhood tree covered in moss that is just waiting for the rains to begin.

My sweet tall son and Lisa. 

My beautiful hydrangea, it bloomed!

It really bloomed!

Milagro says if I could get out of my recreation area, I would climb that tree!

I had such a fun day in the shop on this fine, wonderful, much cooler Saturday. So many customers stopped by to show me things they have made, that I was in a state of perpetual excitement today. The more I see someone's finished work, the more I want to make things. I consider all my customers friends and I am the richest woman ever, surrounded by people I really love and enjoy. Here are just a few of the wonderful people stopping by today:

Beautiful Joan and the scarf she knitted with Diva Yarn.

A fun hat Joan made. She is so imaginative!

KC and her embellished jacket made with a fabric, crochet and maybe a bead or two.

Maia, I could not forget Maia! One of our loveliest customers!