Des Moines

I had a really nice weekend at my show in Des Moines.I saw many customers that I met in the booth last year and lots of new faces. There will be lots of flowers and birdhouses in the gardens of Iowa this spring. Thank you to everyone who stopped in to buy or say hi! On a personal note, I drove down a day early to avoid a snow storm and was able visit the Sticks gallery in West Des Moines. The company, based in the city, makes a line of delightful, whimsical wood stuff. Absolutely all made in Iowa. One word: awesome! Actually, two words: awesome and inspirational! Check it out if you're able.

Thank you, Madison! We had a really nice show at the Garden Expo. I'm looking forward to our second time in Des Moines, Iowa in a couple of weeks. 'Til then I'm busy makin' and packin'!

Madison

Finishing up packing my trailer this morning and then I'll drive to Madison and start setting up my booth for the Garden Expo. I'm excited! I've got new stuff to show to my great customers there, and look forward to seeing the show myself! I'm donating a beautiful "condo" birdhouse for the raffle there, so get to the show and buy a ticket or two....there's lots of fantastic stuff to win!

The shop's filling with things that will be taken to the upcoming Garden Expo in Madison and to our wholesale customers with shops around the country. Think bright, citrus-y colors, polka dots, masses of flowers and happy thoughts.

Tom's framed my latest screen painting. I rather like it! I think I'm at the point where prints are in order, though I'll need to figure out the process...I'll keep you posted.

All You Need is Love

LOVE banner done on salvaged ceiling tin. Tis the season.

Blue Skies

Outside there's a blizzard, but in the shop it's warm, colorful and happy! Here's a pic of an engraved sign that I just finished prototyping...did the art last year but ran out of time to finish my work before the show season kicked in. Everyone loves a sun!

It's time to get serious about Spring, even though we're barely into January. I'm taking advantage of a couple days of unusually warm weather for Wisconsin in winter. It was almost 50 degrees today! Warm enough to open the doors, don my mask and leather apron and play on my plasma torch. Here's a pic of some new hearts for Valentine's Day and beyond. I got the opportunity today to trace and cut a nice batch of banners.

Angels

I've finished a couple of angels for our show in De Pere this weekend. Vintage everything; barn wood, ceiling tin, copper grounding wire, corrugated roofing steel. I really do try to re-use and recycle as much as is feasible, partly because it's good for the environment, partly because I adore old stuff. More angels to come, and if I'm lucky there'll be one left over for me to hang at home.

I'll have a couple of these mirrors with me in De Pere this Saturday. They're a little smaller than most of my mirrors, measuring about 18" square. Of course the price will be a little lower than that of the more elaborate pieces, and they're still adorable.

One-of-a-Kind

I love making special, one-of-a-kind items. There is, of course, a limit to what Tom and I can accomplish in a year, but I'm going to make an effort to make and bring a good supply of these things to our last 3 shows of the year. We're enthused about these events! They're in our "back yard", so to speak; De Pere, Wisconsin, Marquette in the UP of Michigan, and Baraboo, Wisconsin. They're smaller events than we usually do, but smaller is better sometimes better! I'll continue to post items as they're finished. Hope this gets my peeps charged up!

In a complete departure from my usual posts, I really must share this photograph of a fabulous barn in Belgium. It embodies so much of what I love; history, patina, design, color and pattern. I wish...

Crescent Moon

I finished painting and glittering some moons to take to my holiday shows. Worked on some glittery stakes, too (stars, reindeer, snowflakes, mittens, the words "Joy" and "Brrr"). I'll post pics later!

Just three holiday events left for the season for us, but they will all be special. It will be our first time in De Pere, Wisconsin at the Redbird Holiday Craft Faire, our first time in Marquette, Michigan for their Christmas Craft Show, and our second showing at The Very Merry Holiday Fair in wonderful Baraboo, Wisconsin. I will be building special holiday pieces and one-of-a-kind items for each of these shows, and will post pictures as I finish things. Watch for a new batch of mirrors...Tom just made me a batch of beautiful frames from some salvaged beadboard that are going to turn out fabulous when they are done! This is a photo from last year's show in Baraboo. It's a high quality, intimate affair! I'll be posting more about the show and Baraboo later.

My Favorite Show of the Year

I love Colorado. Everything about it; the landscape, the climate, the weather, the history. This makes my week in Colorado Springs for the show at Rock Ledge Ranch a delight for me. I only wish that it was not such a long drive, but there are always adventures and challenges and artist friends that I don't see very often and lots and lots of customers that have been coming to my booth for years and years. I feel the love there. Thank you to all my wonderful customers. I can't wait to see you again.

Barnwood Mirrors

I've finished a handful of mirrors for the fall shows, and a lucky few people will be able to take one home. I think they turned out great! I worked with a variety of frames, both painted and greyed barnwood. I'm so looking forward to seeing Heart to Heart's dedicated collectors in the next few weeks.

Autumn

It's right around the corner! Halloween and the harvest season are fast approaching. This season is so much fun to design for: bats, spiders, cats, jack-o-lanterns and funky purples, orange, lime green and black are in order. Boo!

Some things I saw this summer

My summer schedule affords me the opportunity to see some beautiful scenery and a little time to relax and enjoy it between shows. The Lake Michigan shore in Michigan, the Black Hills in South Dakota and the Northwoods in Ely, Minnesota each hold their charms, and the first Saturday in August I am lucky to be able to do a show that lets us stay at our cabin in Northeast Wisconsin, truly my favorite spot in the world. Thank you to everyone who came out to see us this summer. We love each show and so look forward to seeing you (and your lovely scenery)each summer. Fall is right around the corner and there is a great deal of activity in the shop. Thinking purple, green, orange, yellow....bats, cats, pumpkins and crows. Lots of ideas swirling!

South Dakota

I'm two time zones west of Michigan already, and getting ready to set up our sweet little show in Spearfish, South Dakota. The whole state is green and lush from the heavy rains this year, so different from most years when it is a spare and parched landscape. There are still many acres of burned forest visible from I-90 near Rapid City from the fires that raged just a few years ago. I do love my week here, with the intense sun and low mountains covered in dark pines (that's why they call them the Black Hills). City Park in Spearfish is a great place for a show, with it's icy stream running thru and the kids on inner tubes chilling in the hot weather. I'm looking forward to the weekend!