Welcome to Autumn 09!

We're happy to report a busy and successful summer. So much so that Windwalker and I are both scrambling to make new art and fill gaping holes. Yes indeed! Art has flown out of here and gone all over the world. The latest two originals are headed for Israel and Portugal. With sunshine pouring through the windows in the mornings, I've succumbed to the urge to pull out the yarns and am making caps and berets and scarves. Too fun!

Newest MJ miniatures!

After a fabulous three days on Tahoma (Mt Rainier) with son, Jason, camping, hiking, taking photos, I came home rejuvenated and inspired. Here are some of the results (so far!) from that energy. Enjoy!

Selling Art ... and saying good bye...

I had the experience this weekend of being at the Gallery and directly selling a number of my pieces. My favorite pieces. I found myself in tears on opening night when a couple who are stalwart supporters of our Gallery said they wanted to buy my Old Growth Island painting. I love it! And they'll be coming by to pick it up. Tough letting it go, but of course its a thrill to sell a big piece of art. Earlier that day two smaller originals went out the door. I miss those, too! And today one of my favorite Scrumbles (Sizzle) left with a new friend. Yikes!

But don't worry! My mind is full of new Scrumble ideas, new paintings, a new series and so much more. The challenge is balancing the day to day busy-work of running our enterprise with the down and messy work of making art. And all that within the framework of a distractable mind! But its a challenge I'm used to and one I know how to weave around. Let's see what we cook up this week!

Summer at the Gallery

The incredible weather we've had here in the Northwest this spring and early summer is inspiring all kinds of new art! Windwalker rearranged the Gallery and we're talking of bringing in new local artists, one at a time. Keeping our art fresh and lively is our first priority.

Visitors to the Gallery have been many. (YES!) Greenbank Farm is a gorgeous place to stop and eat and soak in art and nature.

Almost There!

Tomorrow its The Big Move! Everything in the house (except the precious little things I'll hand carry - like this computer!) is packed and ready for the U-Haul and friends' vehicles. The exception is the Studio. Yikes! I'm not sure there's an end to it, but its mostly there. Windwalker and I will wrestle the last awkward sized things (mat boards, frames, tables, etc) upstairs to be ready for tomorrow. All is well!

Moving Home

We're moving our home. Which means we're moving our Studio. Yikes! Can you imagine the chaos? Everything else is straightforward. We have little furniture as we've been renting a mostly furnished home and are moving into a mostly furnished home (oh, yes! we're very good at manifesting what we need.) However, the many wild and crazy parts of our Studio must somehow be organized and packed. My part is the worst, admittedly. But I also need to keep doing art during this time so our Gallery has no holes. Let's just say it will be a relief when its over (mid-April) and we begin to settle into our new location in Freeland on Whidbey Island. (NOT leaving the Island!!) The new house is lovely, with much sun and sweet views, much closer to the Gallery. What new art will come out of our time there? Stay tuned!

Etsy

We've fallen in love with Etsy.com - the on-line artist/craftsperson's store. What gorgeous merchandize! Lovely format, easy purchase - I'm addicted to browsing the Shops. Check it out! http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5807323

Spring!

What a wonderful winter since our opening at Greenbank Farm! Despite storms and rumors of an economy in chaos, we've had a steady flow of the most wonderful people through our doors. Many folks have followed us over the years and express much delight in our re-opening in a new location. Others stop off the highway to explore and are pulled in by the color and variety of our space.

Our Art Walk & Wine Tasting nights (First Fridays, 4:30pm to 8:30pm) have been a huge success - for all of the Galleries here at Greenbank, as well as the Wine Shop and Cafe. We're the happenin' place, it would seem.

Amongst all this art activity, we found out in December that we needed to find a new home. Our great landlady (and friend, I hope!) is returning to her home. We'd already been discussing a need for change, so this was our cue. We created a "Manifesting List" for what we wanted, put a free "wanted" ad in the local paper, and by the end of January the perfect house (and owners!) came our way. Wanting a spring move with plenty of time to pack worked perfectly for all of us. We get the keys mid-April and make the leap. The new home will lend itself beautifully to art, with new configurations of how we create our art spaces. Its sunny and much closer to the Gallery. Check back to see how the move might begin affecting our inspirations!

A Happy & Glorious Spring to All!