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!

Sailing to Michigan

I'll be taking my truck and trailer onto the USS Badger tomorrow and sailing for Ludington, Michigan. It's a great way to relax (it's a 4 hour crossing) and to avoid the drive through Chicago.

I've got a trailer full of stuff for my shoppers in Ludington this Saturday and Sunday at their Art Show, and for the following weekend in Plymouth. I've been doing Art in the Park in Plymouth for nearly 20 years. Wow! Anyhow, here's a pic of some of the stuff I'll be loading tomorrow morning. Bright, polka dots, whimsy, happiness. I'm so looking forward to my stay in Michigan!

Been awhile since I've posted...we've had a busy Spring and are feverishly preparing for our summer art shows. I'm so looking forward to it! I love my summer shows and especially the opportunity in July to spend a little time at the beach in Ludington, Michigan, head West to Spearfish, South Dakota (beautiful) and then to the far North to Ely, Minnesota. Love the camping with the sound of loons to lull me to sleep. We have plenty of new stuff to keep our repeat customers entertained, so come on out and say hi!

Good news for our friends in Iowa! We will be at the Beaux Arts Festival in downtown Davenport on Mother's Day weekend (May 7-8). It's a great opportunity to take Mom to a fun little art show. We'll be on the East end of the show on 2nd St. Lots of colorful stuff in our booth just in time to brighten up the outdoors now that the grass is getting green and the frost is out of the ground.

We've had a great time at our Spring shows so far. We had beautiful weather in Florida and Alabama and met so many wonderful people in our booth. We hope we can repeat that trip as it felt as much like vacation as work. The wisteria and dogwood were blooming, and for a northerner having left home in a blizzard it was a little bit of heaven. Just enough to tide a person over until our fragrant lilacs start to bloom. Nothing can beat that! Last weekend our dedicated fans in Minnesota came out in droves for the Spring Festival in Shakopee; I've never seen a line like the one before the show opened on Friday morning! We've got a couple of weekends off to catch up for our May shows, and to design a couple of new things....Au revoir

There are absolutely no signs of Spring here other than a longer day and a few brave birds that are venturing north. There are huge piles of snow everywhere and temperatures in the 20's during the day. I am having to content myself with building and painting flowers and other things for the warm season to come. I'm a bit obsessed with painting on salvaged window screens lately. Here's my latest. Flowers. Flowers. Flowers.

Garden Expo

The Garden Expo in Madison was a great success this year. We went from sub-zero weather on Thursday morning (-12 F) to 40 and sun by Sunday afternoon. Spring Fever! Big, big crowds and happy people. Lots of my dedicated customers came and found something new to take home. I love seeing them all. I found homes for both of my paintings; hard to part with but they both left with people who fell in love. This is a photo of the first of the two which will be hanging in a porch. I think that's a perfect spot!

I tried my hand at painting last week. It's something I've thought about for a long time but never had the time or nerve to tackle. I had a couple vintage window screens taking up space in my shop and they looked like a good place to start. Here's my second attempt...I'll be taking it to the Garden Expo in Madison this weekend. I'm rather proud of it.

We've been busy this winter making new stuff for our collectors and faithful customers. I'm excited for the show season coming up! New birdhouses, flowers, signs & steel cutouts. Cats, dogs, polka dots and some very special one-of-a-kind BIG things...it has been so much fun in the shop. Blizzards rage outside but inside it is bright colors, flowers and whimsy. We're headed to the Garden Expo at the Alliant Center in Madison, Wisconsin next week and are looking forward to seeing some of our favorite customers there as well as stocking up on seeds and other gardening goodies for ourselves.

A Very Merry Christmas

A Very Merry Christmas to you all! We are in a winter wonderland in Wisconsin...huge snow piles and crispy weather. This is a shot from my last boutique show of the year in Baraboo. Thanks to the hardy souls who braved the weather and came to enjoy the wonderful selection of artists and the free chocolate and champagne! Mmmmm.

We've survived our blizzard. No better time than now to dream about July and my summer shows. Here's a couple of photos of my booth in Spearfish, South Dakota in July 2010: beautiful hot weather and a lovely setting near an icy stream that is perfect for tubing or wading if it gets too hot.

We had such a great time at the Very Merry Holiday Fair in Baraboo. Despite the threat of poor weather there were great customers, some new and some familiar faces. Thanks to all who supported this wonderful event. It was my first time in Baraboo (!) and I loved it! It is a thriving artist community and a beautiful part of the state. This was my last show for the year and we will now busy ourselves with preparing for 2011...most importantly designing wonderful new things! I have more ideas that we can possibly tackle!

Leaves are raked, patio furniture put away, fleece and wool garments are waiting on the sidelines. No snow yet, but we know in Wisconsin that we are lucky to have made it to November without having seen any. The smart ones in the North take up a hobby in the winter. Skiing, snowmobiling, skating, dogsledding, ice fishing. They can actually make a person anxious for cold weather!

Some new Halloween pieces

Well, it's been a long time between posts, but the summer show season is almost over! Here are a few photos of my booth in Spearfish, South Dakota. The show is in a beautiful little park with a cold, clear stream running behind my booth. Beautiful!

Pagoda Bird House

Our new little hanging birdhouse.