......the joy of it all

Ready for company

The Artists...Ellen, Valerie & Kathleen

......browsers & buyers For the most part we were too busy to take many pictures.
People came steadily from 10am - 6pm on Saturday...
with a bit of a slower start on Sunday... .they came in twos and in 20's.....
nice people.
Many left with art, many came to talk about what we do and why we do it.
We had people sign up for workshops,
. We had a couple come with a video camera....
they were hoping to make it to see all 80 something artist and film a little of each talking about their art,
a photographer from an area newspaper came and took loads of pictures...

we talked and talked and laughed....

...we laughed a lot!

Kathleen and I having a 'dueling blogger' moment...

...Maria, a dear friend and mentor

My studio was graced with goddesses

....bettina and kimee reading tarot cards and being silly

.
...we had a lot of friends come by....

....Ellen with one of her fabulous ceramic pieces...
She brought it Sunday morning. As soon as I saw this wonderful face I felt a strong connection to her. I didn't do anything about it...
at about 3pm a couple fell in love with Ellen's magical pieces and they were buying... when the woman picked this one up my heart actually skipped a beat...
I was so grateful she put it back down, I thought I might have to fight her for it..... ......it is so full of Ellen's uniquely wonderful creative energy..
She will hang in my studio of course..
it's where I spend much of my time and looking at her is inspiring...

trails 09 is past....
so many days to get ready and over so quickly.
I want to thank those of you who came by to see us and our offerings...
you're what makes the weekend memorable for us.

......one more day and I'll be ready

I do enjoy being part of Sierra Art Trails, but it's a lot of getting ready....

....but I'm almost there.......
the mess is less

This is another of the 'celebrate' figure...

I hope to get a better photo of Lakshmi above,
I really love her....of course I love them all...
although she is a Hindu goddess I made little prayer flags for her each with it's own mantra...
.one for abundance, one for peace, and bliss, bliss, bliss.....
She is wearing an om mani padme pendant, the symbol for compassion....and she is dressed in katas, scarves that indicate good intentions.

Must go fall in to bed now....
tomorrow will be another very busy day....

....almost ready

One of a series I'm calling, 'celebrate!"......
she's ready for company!

The Art Bomb Explosion.....I had to stop and clean up......I could no longer find space to work...isn't it awful? Geez!

The Empress waits...

A little Christmas Spirit!

......no denying her spirit

Valerie Runningwolf will also be sharing a space with me during Sierra Art Trails....
I remember the first time I saw her work, I loved it....
the second time I begged her to jury into Timberline Gallery.....so I could see her wonderful, heartfelt work on a regular basis....
but also because I wanted her for a friend.

She brings to mind ancient times.....there is wisdom in her work......
she explores both spirit and material.

.....our Diva of Words and Color

My friend, and mixed medium artist artist Kathleen Mattox, will be showing with me at my studio for Sierra Art Trails, our area open studio event this weekend...I'm not ready.......she says, 'come see some new work, older work and one of a kind pieces plus Show Day Specials'.....I can't wait...I'll have those things too.

I've loved her work since first look..
She is the Queen of Color and Words.....

Her work is joyful....like she is....

If you can, come see us.

........artists reception and butterflys

Me and Peace Seeds at Sierra Art Trails artist reception....

For the life of me I can not remember what it was we were laughing at....

Art receptions are always kind of outer body for me....
I get nervous, butterflies in my tummy....
It's all very high school....
the, 'do I belong' thing.....
and then of course it's the do they like my Spirit Figures? Parties and group things tend to leave me feeling a bit off center.... most of my life I've felt like I'm the odd one and everyone else fits in.... gatherings always bring up old feelings.... but I am coming to realize that almost everyone feels the same way... they don't necessarily know any more about fitting in than I do...
I think this may be especially true of artists... we prefer to speak through our art.

All that said...the reception was a lot of fun...
good food, good music, good people and great art!
The show runs through next Sunday, art trails weekend. It's an opportunity for people to see one representative piece from each of the 90 or so artist participating in trails....Visiting the gallery is a good way to map out the artist
studios they would most enjoy visiting.

I'm hoping to see some of you at mine.
Ellen Carnese
Kathleen Mattox
and
Valerie Runningwolf
will be showing with me.

.......fabulous fairies, fabulous friends

Ellen Carnese, fabulous artist and creator of these delightfully whimsical works, will be showing at my home studio during Sierra Art Trails open studio tour.
I'm so happy to have her here for the weekend event.
I've loved her ceramic pieces since the moment I laid eyes on them.
They make me smile and think of fairies with attitude working magic in the glen.
I like Ellen a lot too.
She is a beautiful, full of life woman...
She makes me smile.
She lives in Coarsegold and is a member of Timberline Gallery in Oakhurst, CA.

I'm in the final days of preparation....It's crazy all the things I still need to do....mail post cards, make signs, clean my studio & ready it for guests, a bit of gardening (I have no green thumb but I can grow Cosmos),
art, I have to create more Spirit Figures,
plan refreshments, etc.

Although my muse has returned she seems to be sleeping until 3 or 4 in the afternoon before she graces me with her presence.
And for one reason or another my family seems to be in need of me more than usual.

Thank Goddess for friends....I need to get 3 figures to Arts Visalia
(about a 3 hours round trip),
between now and the 28th.
Bless my friend Kathleen for agreeing to do it for me...
I just have to pack them for a short trip and a much kinder one then they would have going ups.....
The say to pack things as though they will be dropped from a 3 story building and then stomped on by elephants....that's harsh and definely causes me to say a few prayers when ever I send a figure off with them.
The reception for Arts Visalia is is on Oct. 9th, 6 ~ 8 pm.
Trails is October 3 &4...10am ~ 6pm.

....Tarts for the Arts and other fun stuff

Peace Seeds

Here is the 'official' invitation to the opening preview for the kick-off of Sierra Art Trails...I really hope to see you there.
Timberline Gallery will be open too...
we are receiving the, "Keeper of the Flame Award".
The Eva Scow Trio really puts out some good sounds.
And of course there will be 'Tarts for the Arts'.

Stellar Gallery Hosts the Sierra Art Trails Preview Exhibit
Come meet the artists and view their work at a gala opening reception!

The Sierra Art Trails Preview Exhibit
at Stellar Gallery in Oakhurst, CA
is now open to the public.
The exhibit runs for one month prior to the Sierra Art Trails
The opening reception will be held this Saturday
September 12, from 4 to 9 p.m.
Stellar Gallery is located at “Gallery Row,” 40982 Highway 41, Oakhurst, CA.
"Tarts for the Arts" Sierra Art Trails annual fundraiser will take place during the Preview Reception. There will be a silent auction and art raffle and live music by the Eva Scow Trio.
Admission if free!

Sierra Art Trails Open Studio Tour -
October 3 and 4, 2009
Catalogs will be available at the preview exhibit.