Hi-dee ho!  I have a lot of catching up to do, but not today, sunniest of all sunny days it feels so good just gotta dance and play and ride my bodacious bike!!!  BUT, alert!  Alert!  Just this quick post to let you know that one of my baff's (best arting friends forever) is having a giveaway over on her blog, and TOMORROW is the deadline!  So hurry on over there now!  Click here to go to the Close 2 My Art blog!

Just finished - inspired by Artfest!

Deirdra came over on Saturday and we decided to try out a Michelle Allen dangly doll, with variations.  Neither of us has taken Michelle's class, so we were just winging it, making wire, foil, and tape armatures.  Deirdra used DAS airdry clay as Michelle does.  I used my old favorite Creative Paper Clay. Deirdra has posted her doll in progress here.


I decided to incorporate a lot of Artfest influences in my doll.  She has a wire loop sticking out of her head a la Lana Guerra's Misfit Dolls so that she can dangle from a string or chain.  Her bodice is finger painted also a la Lana.  Her arms and legs were spray painted with chalkboard paint and then colored all stripey as Julie Haymaker Thompson taught us a couple of years ago at Artfest.  She has a hat and skirt made from an upcycled  felted sweater - something I've been dying to try out for a long time.  Her cute outfit, I must confess, was inspired by my friend Christine Benjamin, and her curly auburn hair is reminiscent of my roommate this year, Jo of ShopJoMama.  (I always wanted hair like that!)


So. without further ado, here she is!

She's just a little thing I can wear around my neck.  She makes me laugh. :D  Must make MORE!

Artfest Beach Walk pics!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sheri!!!  Hey, look, Everybody!  Sheri just posted and gave me permission to repost these photos of our beachin' good time at Artfest, Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA.!

Christine Benjamin, moi, Sheri DeBow

These boots were made for walkin'!

Under the magical moon.  See the Artfest bonfire in the distance?

Sheri, Christine, Lulu, Dani, Satira

Journaling in the beach hut with Christine.

Once again the evidence shows, Artfest, and the people who go to Artfest, are simply the best!

Easter with Gingersnap

I hope you had a wonderful Easter.  Here in Portland it was a gorgeous sunny day!  I was perusing Artfest blog posts and Facebook when I came across an fb post by Angela Rae Barribeau.  Her pictures included a lot of Portland and VOODOO DOUGHNUTS, which I must give her credit for because it totally inspired me to round up Robbie and my sweet new baby Kittycat Gingersnap I bought from Junker Jane at Artfest's vendor night.  


"WE MUST GO ON AN EASTER EXPEDITION!" I cried.
"Where to?" my sweetie queried.
"VOODOO DOUGHNUTS!  We live in Portland and we have never been to Voodoo doughnuts!  We MUST go!" 
"I'm ready!" cheered Gingersnap!"

 

 Whoa!  How did she get in the car so fast?!


During my churchy childhood I learned that Easter is the holeyest day of the year, so it seemed only fitting that we go to a doughnut shop.  Voodoo Doughnuts is apparently the most conscientiously holey.  They even advertise it on their signage.

 

Many other visitors to Portland lined up to partake of the most holey of holeys.  The line snaked up and back down the block.  Rob wondered if it was worth the wait.  I assured him that the sheer number of pilgrims was indication that it would be worth it.

While we waited there were many wonderful things to gaze at, like the glittery walls of Voodoo doughnuts...

and the people sitting in the lovely sunshine eating their doughnuts.  The pews looked so festive with the dangling lights above and Saturday Market tents and flags swaying in the breezy background.

Miss Gingersnap was so excited she could hardly wait!  She begged me to take this photo of her with the famous landmark Voodoo sign.

And then she insisted I also get a shot of her with this Portland landmark - a parking lot across the street from Voodoo Doughnuts.

Finally we were getting close.  Ooohhh!  Looky through the window at the Easter egg colored walls, and the display case of doughnuts.............

Like any great destination Voodoo sells bumper stickers to remind you of your meaningful experience.  (Click to enlarge and then you will not need a telescope to read them!)

Rob and I ordered our holey doughnuts: the Dirt doughnut, the vanilla pentagram, the Mango Lemon, something orange and crunchy looking (Rob's), and a voodoo doll doughnut.  Gingersnap hopped up onto the pink doughnut boxes for another photo op.

Silly cat.  I told her to get down, but she just laughed!

When I told her we were heading outside with our doughnuts she came running.  She wasn't about to let us eat HER doughnut!

Rob and I enjoyed our doughnuts, too.  Even the red goo that oozed out of the voodoo doll!

Golly, so much sugar!  Rob wanted some real food so we headed on over to Saturday Market.  We enjoyed listening to this busker band, The Dusty Honey Juggers.

And watching this marionette artist:

Although we saw many wonderful wares at the market, all Gingersnap REALLY cared about was what would make her look good.  She fell in love with this Coco Chanel inspired beach hat.  Doesn't it go swimmingly with her stripes?

Robbie bought himself a topper.  Not so weird, you say?  Did you notice he is sporting a PURPLE derby?

Kittycat Gingersnap and I say ciao for now, kiddies!

Hippy Hoppy Happy Easter!

Artfest trois

Other Artfestivalians have been posting their photos on facebook and in their blogs.  Each one I visit brings a flood of happiness over me: the memories of all the magical moments - not just my own, but seeing the magic as it touched others, too.


This was the year I felt the magic most deeply, and now I know where it comes from - it comes from sharing the passion for creativity.  I was fortunate to spend oodles of time after hours in the upstairs commons room of Dorm 225.  This is where people gathered to continue what they had learned and to share and sit side by side, drawing in each others' journals, laughing, admiring, encouraging.  I was so happy to hang out with my friends Michelle and Janne, and to get to know many of their friends, like Elizabeth, Tyler, Tammy, Shelly, Kate, Regina... and the list goes on!


I got to meet Sunny Carvalho, and I tell you - I have become a big fan, and not just because of her art.  Her energy and warmth speak to what a wonderful human being she is.  Plus, we both have awesome sweater coats (and Sunny made hers herself!).

 

The creative force is powerful.  When I saw Junker Jane classmate Tina sewing with friends upstairs, I couldn't tear myself away from the room - I wanted to work, too!

Annie Hooten and Tina Lynch making Junker Jane journal bags.

  

Let's walk around the room and see who else is here...

Elizabeth drawing in my little journal from Janne.

Elizabeth and Janne consulting.

Tyler Larsen, Shelly Massey, Michelle Allen, Janne Robberstad

Michelle and Randi Lynch

Tammy displaying her wip from Lynne Perella's class - gorgeous!

Me and Tammy Magee

Tammy, Ludgera, and Kate Daniel

The wonderfully creative Lynch family: Jennifer, Randi, and Tina

Jennifer's super adorable Junker Jane style monsters

Soul sisters Angi Sullins and Miss Mindy

Madeline and the cool wig she made in Lana Guerra's class

Sheri, Michelle, and Janne

Madeline and me (photo by Sunny Carvalho)

Kate took this group shot via remote control.  This is our scared look.

Happy times. I'll name as many as I can... Back row: Shannon, Nicci, Annie, Jennifer (can't see you but I know you're there!)Tina.  Middle row: Michelle, Sheri, moi, Tyler, Angela Rae, Tristan, Allie, Jane, Randi.  Front row: Katy, Regina, Sunny, Janne, Tammy, Kate. Photo by Kate Daniel.

 So many wonderful people you meet in class, as well.  This is Irene.  We met in LK Ludwig's class and had a great conversation.  It's so great to feel so connected, however briefly.

During Show and Tell I saw this amazing piece that Irene did in her class with Lynne Perella.  All the pieces from this class were beautiful, but what made Irene's extra special was that she began not with a magazine photo or a photocopy of some masterpiece, but with a photo of her grandfather.  Her project was all about family, and now she has created this family heirloom for future generations to cherish.  I find the colors and patterns absolutely stunning.

Artwork by Irene Rafael

In LK's class I also got to know Debbie Simpson from Vancouver BC.  I don't have a photo of her - yet - but I did get a photo of the piece she did in LK's class.  What I love about it is having watched her go through the process.  She just drew away, not feeling it was very good, but kept going and going.  In everyone else's eyes it started out beautiful, but Debbie must have known there could be something more, something deeper.  Her final touches included a light application of Neo Color crayons, which brought out the texture of the clear gesso, and made the flower sparkle.  Click on the photo to enlarge it and look at that leaf in the upper right.  Exquisite!

Artwork by Debbie Simpson

I'll post this photo from the Cactus Gallery opening night of Dollmakers II to represent my Artfest time with new friends Christine Benjamin, Sheri DeBow,  Keely Benkey and (not pictured) her sister Kimberly, plus - also not pictured - Dani and Satira.  

Christine, Sheri, Keely

Sadly, I did not have my camera with me the night of the beach walk and bonfire.  Sheri took lots of photos that I hope to see one day, showing what a fun time she, Christine, Dani, Satira and I had looking for beach glass and shells in the dark on Thursday night.  It was surprisingly not freezing on the beach!  It was so fun getting to know these wild childs/superstar artists better, and I am so grateful they included me on the beach walk.  After the walk we hung out at the bonfire forever, making s'mores and talking shop and just becoming better acquainted.  At the end of the evening we moseyed on in to the beach hut for some journaling, and laughing it up with Keely and Kimberly.  We stayed until closing and I ended up tip-toeing into my dorm after everyone else was long asleep.


A big thank you to everyone I was fortunate to cross paths with - my roommates Jo, Marianne, Adrienne... Janet Wilson and her mom who let me eat with them in the dining room many times, my dear friend Marilyn - oh no!  If I try to name everyone I know I will forget someone super important!  Please know that I am happy to have met all of you!

A week has gone by and I am still feeling the Artfest afterglow.  My life has been deeply enriched.  May this feeling last long and may my gratitude grow.