Ready to Roll...

Cards, matted, framed pieces safely packed up...

Lots of bubble wrap!!

Edited, printed, glued, pressed, signed, dated, labeled, stuffed, matted, framed, cleaned, hundreds of times over...crossed all my 't's' and dotted all my 'i's'...now, I just have to iron the display tablecloth.

Ladies Night @ Phelan Gardens

On Austin Bluffs

Friday, November 22, 4-8PM

( MEN are welcome too!!!)

Editing and Printing and Pasting and Pressing...Oh My!!!

Prepping for a 'show' (Phelan Gardens, Friday, Nov. 22nd, from 4-8PM) is like a small assembly line...anyone who participates in the handmade community and does craft shows will tell you exactly that. I have everything plotted out in my head. I have bought frames, and pre-cut mattes, I have edited and printed almost 200 pics, 4x6 and 5x7's. I have glued and pressed 88 cards, to add to, and fill in my inventory. Today I will finish the gluing and pressing part of the program (about 50 more cards), and move on to signing, dating, labeling and stuffing. After that, matting and framing, which is actually easier than making the cards!! There are still some 'stragglers', if you will, the second, third and fourth round of decisions. I am so pleased with how the pics have come out! I have some new pieces, mixed in w/ the stand-by's, however, I have new edits on some of the 'older' pics and they are popping, they are enhanced, they have a brighter look. It  has been so good to see everything w/ a fresh eye, a Colorado eye. I am even more pleased to be back @ the drawing board! So, here's to good weather on the night of the 22nd, and a successful 'first' show in Colorado!!!

The Violin Shop

I saw this violin shop at the indoor farmers market last year and I knew I had to take some photos. My initial thought was that if I got the right shot, it would make a fabulous card, framed or matted 5x7. Dennis McCarten not only makes violins, but repairs them as well. They hang beautifully, different woods and grains, different sizes, each one with it's own unique story.

Dennis McCarten has been making and repairing instruments for nearly 2 decades. This was a natural evolution from his lifelong love of wood and wood working and his immersion in Irish tradition music. His shop can be found in The Artists Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.

Aspray Boathouse Holiday Sale

The weather was perfect for December 11th. Sunny, 45 degrees. The Aspray Boathouse was a very busy place in the 1700's; now a refurbished and most lovely waterfront venue. The vendors were all ready to roll by 10:30AM. The shoppers were non-stop for a good part of the day as the Aspray show was planned in conjunction with a historic walk around Pawtuxet Village (founded in 1638 by Roger Williams). Some people left and came back with more cash in tow. I had my best day of sales to date...and for me, the thrill was that I was just selling the photos. Over 50 different cards, framed 4x6's, framed 5x7's. All the gluing, pressing, signing, dating, labeling, stuffing, matting and gluing some more, and framing (whew) paid off!! We were even treated to a live operatic performance at 5PM. I hope you can get a feel of the warmth of the venue, along with some of the gifted vendors from the photos!!

A hearty thank you to all who came out!!

New England Charming...

Yesterday was the last of the Holiday Shows for me this year. Pawtuxet Village is one of the oldest villages in the United States. Sitting on the Stillhouse Cove is the Aspray Boathouse. Once used as a common area for small boats coming and going in the Cove, it is now a great hall for events or gatherings, with a fabulous deck which is well used during the warm months. I showed just the photographs yesterday, framed 5x7's, single 5x7's and the rest of the almost 300 cards that I made, many of which you have seen on this blog. The show was great, a true community spirit, lots of excellent feedback for all my work, and a profitable day to top it all off. It's not too late to purchase some cards, framed 5x7's ($25, $8 for shipping in the U.S.), or 5x7's ready for framing. Everything is signed and dated. Check out my Etsy shop. A portion of all sales is donated to JDRF.