The gift for Day Six had me so curious from the beginning. I couldn't wait to see what was hidden in the paper, the dangling black Raven's feather was tempting me to open the gift.
What a wonderful surprise! Mija must have spent days on these gifties. They are little pouches to be worn around the neck. Needle felted and beaded, even the string was needle felted. Mija just happens to have a new blog too, so be sure to stop by and tell her how amazing these black Ravens are.
A couple of things have side tracked me over the last few days but I want to get back to sharing my wonderful Edgar Allen Poe gift exchange gifties with you.
Day Five brought a little box from Kelly Snelling.
Day four brings a little fabric bag from Terrie Lightfoot. The fabric bag is just fantastic, love the feel of the fabric and the colors. I am guessing that Terrie created this fabric herself.
Inside the beautiful bag I find this little tiny shrine necklace made with the same images as those on the fabric bag and the tag! So creative and clever.
And there is Edgar on the back of the shrine.
I immediately put the necklace on with the one from day 1. They go great together, don't you think?
Day two of the Poe gift exchange brings a flat package wrapped in black tissue paper and an image of an old cemetery from Linda Duffy.
A wonderfully created wall hanging collage with carefully selected images and text.
Thanks Linda, I will hang it on my art room wall and be reminded of this wonderfully exchange everytime I glance at it.
I finally have a chance to sit down and blog about the amazing project that has been going on with the Altered Guild. Thirteen of us are exchanging little gifts based on the stories and poetry of Edgar Allen Poe.
Each day as I open a little gift I am truly in awe of the talent of these artists. I am never disappointed in an exchange in the Altered Guild and am always excited to sign up for the next project. I've been photographing them all and now have a little time to share each in a post for you.
The first gift came in a decorated star box from Tami Roth. I love the colors and texture Tami used on the box and the detail of the text, ribbon and tag she included.
Then inside the box, my oh my! A wonderful soldered glass pendant featuring The Raven and Edgar himself, hanging from a ball link chain. Tami I love this gift and will wear it lots.
The fall season has arrived and brought with it some of the most amazing colors I can remember seeing. Is it possible that this is the most beautiful fall ever? Or is just that as I get older I appreciate it more? This morning’s sky was an amazing combination of orange and pink. As I drove into it on my way to work, I could see Mt. Hood in the distance, an amazing silhouette against the fiery sky. I felt lucky to have that time to enjoy nature in what is normally a hectic day.
We have been having alternating days of windy, rainy, blustery weather (blustery is my favorite this time of year), with golden leaves swirling all around and clear, cold, sunny days when the orange and red leaves are almost glowing.
I’ve been working, as usual. In these times when it seems many are not working or losing their jobs, I am so swamped at work and we have actually just hired another credentialer (making it 4 total now). This only means that I will be even busier as I take my turn with the training and orientation. Unfortunately, we didn’t choose the person that was hired. After being involved in the entire interview process, providing our feedback and input we were told that when it all came down to it and all the information was in that this other person was the best. Ha! So not true. In her first 3 days of work, it is obvious she misrepresented her experience. This will be an interesting outcome I’m sure. I'm holding back on saying "I told you so" too early.
Our downtown area is in for some exciting changes soon. Some revitalization and new things happening. I have actually jumped into a couple of projects with both feet. Like I wasn’t busy enough already . . . . But, I do enjoy working within our community and helping with what I can.
I’ve joined the First Tuesday Art Walk committee. Our Art Walk has never really taken off. It started about 3 years ago and moved along and grew to the point where it needed an actual committee. The committee members were business owners and helped the event along until their businesses started to suffer in the economy. Two of the businesses shut their doors and the third business owner has several health issues so she wasn’t able to do much. The walk was then picked up by a couple of others who have really been struggling. Getting the artists and musicians and printing up a few flyers has really maxed them out. No one has been marketing, fundraising, or connecting with new businesses or new artists. This has really caused the whole event to just about die. So, here I come. All fresh with some new ideas and energy. Tomorrow I’ll be traveling to McMinnville to visit their Art Walk and see how they have made themselves successful and get some advice and input. This is going to be a bit of long road to get the event back to where it should be, both quality and promotional –wise. For any of my local readers, we need volunteers for all kinds of things. If you have some time email me and I’ll match you up with something fun and rewarding.
The other project that I have jumped into is maintaining the business association’s website. They used to have a paid staff person for that but couldn’t afford to keep her. Someone volunteered but then had a baby, closed her business and sort of disappeared. So, that left it basically abandoned. Well, I’ve been working on it, have it partially done, having a little technical difficulty, and need to have some uninterrupted time to focus. Hopefully tonight or this weekend.
So needless to say, there hasn’t been much art making going on. I always have good intentions but by the time I get home in the evening I’m just too exhausted to do much of anything but maybe a little knitting in front of the TV until it is time to go to bed. It is my never ending story it seems. Ah, some day - some day my time will be mine.
I am super excited that it is finally time to open the 13 Days of Poe gifts from the gift exchange that I am participating in.
Actually, today is day 3 but I haven’t had a chance to even open gift #1. I did bring gifts 1-3 with me today and I plan to take some photos in the daylight and open them so I can get caught up. Watch for posts starting hopefully tomorrow or maybe Sunday.
This weekend is Art and Soul here in Portland. Although I'm not taking any classes I always love going to the vendor faire and meeting up with other artists.
Tonight I'm going to a jewelry trunk show hosted by the very talented polymer clay jewelry artist from L.A., Laurel Steven. Go, take a look at her work.
Her blog: http://laurelsteven.blogspot.com/
Her Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/laureleee/
Go ahead now, I'll wait.
(I borrowed this pic from her flickr page - hope she doesn't mind)
Isn't her work beautiful? I can't wait to see it in person tonight.
Saturday is my usual working at the store. I'm still sorting through vintage Barbie and trying to get things together for the doll show next weekend.
Saturday evening is a dinner meet up with some of the members of the Charmsters group that is in town for Art & Soul, then the vendor faire. Not much money to spend but I still like to look!
Sunday we are selling at an antique event in Polk County at the fairgrounds. So not sure when we are loading the truck for that, hmmm . . . .
I don't think I'm going to have many spare moments to eat or sleep this weekend. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.
Wow, where did the last three weeks go? They have just zoomed by me. Summer is over but wow, the last few days of it sure were nice. I guess I was just enjoying it all. The trees are just starting to change colors but soon they will be just like this.
Today is the first day that it has been cool enough to wear boots. I just realized this morning that I've been on a boot buying binge over this past summer. Mostly vintage. I'm not sure why but I just can't stop myself.
We had an uplanned trip to Washington a couple of weeks ago. Doug's great aunt passed away at 98. It is impossible to describe what an amazing women she was. I knew her and her sister (Doug's grandmother) and feel so very lucky to have had the chance to know them, laugh with them and learn from them. They also had two other sisters who passed before I came into the family. I feel a little cheated by that, I wish I had the chance to know them as well. I was able to look through some of her old scrapbooks and photo albums, I love looking at old photos. I don't even need to know who the people are but it is nice if I do. The death of someone close has an odd way of making me re-evaluate things, look at things differently. I feel like I need to step back and examine my life. Am I giving what I can? So many things I want to accomplish, so many projects I want to try. Will I ever have the time to do them all? Should I force myself to choose a few and put more energy into those?
I've been immersed in work and knitting lately too. I'm trying to get ready for a doll show that is coming up in the next couple of weeks. Making my way through the boxes of old Barbies, Midges and Kens. Trying to match up the vintage Barbie clothing - that is quite a task. Who knew there were so many little pieces to those outfits? Well, I guess I never realized that when I used to play with them but now, trying ot match up this skirt with that top and find the hat and gloves. Whew! That could be a full time job itself. So, I'm doing the best I can and trying to get together enough to fill a couple of tables at the doll show. I always worry that I won't have enough and then I get there and have so many boxes I can't unpack them all.
We've joinged a bowling league - big fun. It is very relaxing and a nice way to spend some time together and not have to think about anything other than how many pins we've knocked down or who's turn it is to bowl next or do I have time to get another drink before it's my turn to bowl?
I'm working on another pair of hand knit socks, just finished a little sweater that will be a gift as soon as I sew on some buttons and block it. Went to the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival last Saturday. It was packed. It amazes both mom & I how these fiber festivals have grown over the last few years. Used to be hardly anyone went now it is so crowded you can barely move around to see everything. I want to spin more, I want to make my way through the piles of fiber that are waiting.
I have bought a couple of new sock books and look forward to starting some new projects.
Fall always seems to do that to me. I just want to start every knitting project I see that I like. I could probably easily have 8 or 10 projects in the works right now but I am trying to have a little self control. I only have 4!
I'm still working on the Sketchbook Project a little at a time. A week ago I met up with the Creative Inspirations group and we worked with paper clay. I sculpted a couple of things and they are now dry, waiting for me to sand and paint them . . . . .
I also have a nuno felting project that I've gathered supplies for and they are waiting for me to have a little time to work on those.
I've joined up with a few others to work on some fundraising for a local art gallery. I hope to learn a few things from some of the other more experienced fundraisers. I really enjoy being able to plan some events and help out our local non-profits.
Another idea that I have involves a vintage fashion show, I'm really excited about this possibility. There will be more to come as things progress and I can share.
So as you can see, things have been really busy. After October (and the three antique events that are happening during this month) I do hope that things will start to slow down just a bit. I always say that but they never really do. I do feel an odd calmness about it all though. I don't know where that is coming from - maybe as I get older I realize there isn't anything to panic about and things will happen as they should? I don't know I can only explain it as an odd calmness.
