How is it...

.... that I have not written here in so long? I can blame it on many things: I am busy, the days are short and the evenings shorter, I work more in the shop now but really, the older I get, the more time just flies by. It must happen to all of us. I hear customers and friends alike repeat the same thing over and over to each other. I want to lasso the days and keep them here. I want them to slow down so that I can embrace the goodness and renewal that comes with each sunrise. I am hungering for connection with my days and in that connection I want to, no, need to find time to be creative. 

Creativity is something that I can not turn on with a light switch. It happens when it happens, a frenzy of work and color and jewels and silver. It sneaks up on me in the ways I arrange a display case. It pops up its little fireworks show of " making things " in the early morning or late evening or after a multi hour bout of watching TV. You see, I am never just watching TV. In my mind, the wheels are spinning and I am using my mental hands to craft or paint incredible things that may or may not come to fruition in no time.

This one piece, now in its second incarnation as britanium or pewter, is the result of one afternoon of free time when absolutely nothing had to be created. The image could have been in my head from days ago when something I saw sparked a memory of the texture that would later appear on this piece. It is a journey in the studio, in the shop, from thought processes and memories in the head to creation by the hands. A blessing to be able to make something with one's hands and heart and soul.

This Weekend

This weekend, I made some decisions. Every year fall seems to fly by in a flurry of activity after I had promised myself, all through the summer that I would linger in the season. I would spend time admiring the trees changing color, I would stroll on drizzly afternoons through the neighborhood, I would pick the apples from my over loaded tree and I would rest from the wickedly busy days of summer. And every year October would slide into November and then quickly become December and I would have missed the very season that I love best! Not this time, baby. This year, I decided to forgo my annual shop birthday sales and give myself more studio time and more time to just be in the store without a thousand page to do list. This fall I am slowing and enjoying my days. I am walking in the mornings, taking time for lunch everyday, stopping and photographing the bursting fireworks that trees become as the color changes in their leaves. Nuh uh, I am NOT going to allow this fall to get away any faster than need be. No way! I am going to enjoy every single            

breathable, do-able minute. So with all this in mind, and since the television is broken and I think I will leave it that way; I am going to just be this fall. I will just be fine. Look in on me and I will be in the shop or studio or kitchen or classroom making things. Look at me walking the neighbor hood, giving each moment the time it deserves! The time I deserve.

This morning was beautiful! Our walk took us by plants that were in their beginning stages of turning color for fall. Roses were a papery watercolor version of their summer selves. Crows searched the soccer field in a grid of crime scene investigation and I was on hand to see it all. I feel energized in the fall, full of creative energy and bountiful hopes for the coming months of serious studio work. Now, I am finishing the last of my dreaded office work before heading into the shop to begin a day of socializing; speaking with customers and fellow merchants, gabbing with friends, primping the classroom slash work room for tomorrow night's gallery walk; just the usual bustle of daily happenings in the world of Lois. Have a great day, my friends!

Today, a hot & blustery first day of fall............................

Days are flying by just like the seagull feathers that float down from the roof tops all over the downtown streets and into the building lobbies.  I sleep at night, rise in the morning, head to work and in a moment as quick as the intake of a breath, the day is gone. I am loving spending more time in my shop. Talking with customers, fussing with displays, creating new arrangements of treasured beads and bringing to life the fantasies I had of owning a shop from the time I was a little girl playing store in my parent's garage.

I have made so many new charms and religious pieces of late. With the mailman bringing a whole package of my new castings today; I am tempted to burn the midnight oil and make things.  I will get pictures up soon. Right now I am planning on Sunday being a studio day so perhaps I will begin the challenge of photographing  silver charms along with making new jewelry from the freshest charm designs. Hot from the casting process!

Today, I helped a friend set up a blog and in the process I totally challenged this old brain of mine. Too bad brain exercise does not wear off calories. In any event, here is a picture of her upcoming book. I can hardly wait to read it and I feel lucky to have such a well traveled, smart and talented friend!

Fifteen Years

Please mom, it's early, stop taking pictures!

Fifteen years ago today my youngest son ( of two ) arrived. It was a long day of labor and barfing and being overwhelmed by all the attention from the doctor ( who I adored ), nurses and a few friends. Phil never once left my side and my friend Yvonne, I think the whole thing scared the bejesus out of her, ran errands for Phil to get him food and O'Douls. I never had a moment to be alone with my husband, a moment to think, catch my breath, take in all that was happening. I did have the good hospital room though, everyone told me so. It has a view clear to downtown, over soft still brown hills and grass all the way to the marina and the waters beyond. Jacob came into the world amongst comments from my attendees of how long his fingers were in mid afternoon, on a Saturday. Didn't he know that I am in retail and ALWAYS work Saturdays? He changed my life, Phil's life, the lives of all of us and for me, he made everything just that much more sweeter. Now, let's see if I survive the teenage years! Love to my Jake, the rake.

Gallery Walk

This past Saturday found me doing the local monthly Gallery Walk in Port Townsend. It has been a long time since I was actually part of the " circuit " but just like riding a bicycle, the walk came right back to me. Katya came over and we chatted between viewers and by the end of the night Frank, Marlene and I were rolling in the aisles with laughter talking about age, senior housing and the obstacles of being older. I think it is the first time I laughed so long and hard that tears rolled down my cheeks and I felt like I had had a spa vacation! I would do Gallery walk every month just to have that kind of interaction and those deep, hearty laughs.
Here are a few of my paintings that have been undercover for some time in my work space above the shop. Uncovering them and placing them around the room was like having a party with old, dear friends. I wanted to run around the room and hug all the paintings! Until October - see you then in the walk!

Chairs as easels.

Foxgloves - a flower.

An over shot of part of my work room above the shops.

This Weekend

This weekend, the very first of September, marks my return to the gallery walk circuit here in Port Townsend. It has been several years since I have officially shown my paintings and fiber work. Not since we closed Franklin House Gallery, have I regularly shown new work. My paintings, the most recent ones, will be on display in my classroom space upstairs from the bead shop. This little room is also my workroom -slash - sewing room where I create my felt banners and woolen paintings. This week it is all cleaned up but I expect that in future gallery walks, you will see my mess and the works in progress. I am a little trepidatious about this as I have no idea whether people will find me, or respond to my work which lays bare my soul, or as in the most recent past, even remember that I am a painter. Take a breath, dear self, get a grip and display your work. All along I have made new paintings and drawings but not having a gallery, they have not been displayed or framed. I have been away so long from the scene! I have to make " art speak ". I need to look arty. I need to open my head and heart to studio visitors! Oh, scary, scary!