DUNWOODY ARTS FESTIVAL

I'm taking a break from packing the car and figuring out the aerodynamics of an EZ Up Tent. Love that name.... should be EZ to Curse at Tent.

We will all be setting up in the dark tomorrow morning for the brand new Dunwoody Arts Festival. This show is organized by the same woman who made the Norcross Arts Festival the wonderful event it is today. Check out the info at www.DunwoodyArtFestival.com - the show runs from 10 - 7 on Saturday, May 8th and 12:30 - 6 on Sunday May 9th. A nice way to spend Mother's Day, perhaps?

Come One, Come All

As promised, here is the show schedule for this spring.

I am so excited to show my new work. I love talking to buyers and hearing what they think about the images. The Wesleyan Show is the perfect place for that. Artists get to sit with their work, chat and listen. Not all the private school shows offer that opportunity.

Here we go - websites, dates and everything you need to know. There are some really great artists and craftsmen at each of these shows. It's the fun part for me - checking out other folks' creative work and getting inspired.

WESLEYAN SCHOOL ARTS ALLIANCE presents THE 12TH ANNUAL ARTIST MARKET
APRIL 29,30 & MAY 1ST 2010
WESLEYAN SCHOOL YANCEY GYMNASIUM 5405 SPALDING DR NORCROSS GA 30092
www.wesleyanschool.org - select the Artist Market tab

DUNWOODY ART FESTIVAL 2010 www.dunwoodyartfestival.com
MAY 8 AND 9 2010

THE 2010 CAROLINA FOLK ART FESTIVAL @ THE GREEN AT BIRKDALE VILLAGE
HUNTERSVILLE NC
PRESENTED BY MADDI'S GALLERY www.maddisgallery.com click on Folk Art Festival
MAY 15 & 16 2010

And when these back to back shows are over, I think I'm gonna be ready for a long nap!

Paintbrush on Fire!

One of my goals for 2010 was to add some juried art shows to my schedule. I miss painting for the joy of painting - without worrying if the image will work as a notecard or print and how many pieces of it I can sell.

I have a hard time switching gears as I transition from studio manager/marketing whiz/ packer to plain old Kathleen who loves to paint. In the process there are always some loser paintings/ideas. I'll look at them and say:
"Whew! Ew - what were you thinking?"

I have more ideas than time right now. I'm working in series, which I've never done before. (Except for the Dog Shrines) I love how it's flowing. There's a floral series of fantasy flowers in black and white pottery. I'm just beginning a "Mother" Series - Earth Mother, My Sainted Mother, Stay at Home Mother ... this one could go on forever. And of course my beloved dogs and cats are well represented.

I'll post some of the new images. Would love any feedback. It's always a strange feeling to be surrounded by paintings that no one has seen. I wonder if anyone else will be as excited as I am about them. My favorite painting is always the last one I did. I don't think I have an objective view. That's a good thing - there's enough self flagellation that goes on during the creative process.

Next post will be the show schedule and more new paintings. Off to find the vacuum - another little quirk is that I like to start painting in a clean space. At the end of the day it's a freakin' mess.

Ready for the Sunshine!

Whew! It was quite a busy day at the Cottage. Artists arriving between raindrops and setting up their wares. I love the energy and exchange of ideas/creativity that happens. I would be perfectly content if we all just sat around and examined each other's work and talked about our processes. Geek. Art geek?

To add to the excitement of set-up day, my amazing #2 daughter and the babies showed up to help out. Ella drew pictures to sell and Alice taught herself to climb the stairs. Up and down. According to Ella, Mimi's house is "fantastic".

A special thanks to the talented Bailey Jack, for generously donating her art to a fundraiser for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. #2 daughter is one of her biggest fans. Don't know if that donated painting will make it to the auction...

Can't wait for tomorrow - it promises to be a perfect spring day. Combine the weather and the inspiring art to make for a memorable experience. Please join us!

THE SPRING ART MARKET @ CHICKEN CREEK COTTAGE

Come one Come all!

The Spring Art Market at Chicken Creek Cottage will be open this weekend - Friday and Saturday - April 9th and 10th from 10 - 4.

Our winter market was so much fun that we decided to do it again, only bigger and better. It's going to be a wonderful country outdoor art fair. We have 9 talented artists bringing their work to the cottage. They'll set up their tents on the lawn and we'll have art on the porch, too. We have 2 creative women who are arranging spring flowers in vintage containers and offering homemade goodies.

Come join us for great art, good friends and a beautiful day at the old cottage.

Directions:
exit 11 Windward Pkwy off 400/head west for @ 6 miles/ turn left on Westbrook Rd
after Hopewell Baptist Church. Or Mapquest: 15825 Westbrook Rd Milton GA30004

Needlecraft obsession

Crafty women need to keep their hands busy. When I'm too tired to paint, I sit on the couch and watch my DVRed shows or ancient movies from before I was born. And that's a really long time ago....

This winter I have been obsessed with knitting hats. Plain old cloches/skull caps/watch caps. So many names for the same basic beanie. A few rows of ribbing and the rest is stockinette. I could do it in my sleep. No counting. No pattern stitches. Perfect for keeping my hands busy while my mind takes a little vacation.

I have been a beginner knitter since I was 12. It's fine with me not to know how to make popcorns and cables and fair isle patterns. I would have to concentrate on the work to do that. I like how I knit. My hands keep moving without much attention from me and at the end of an evening I have a new hat for a daughter or grandbaby.

I get my creative impulses satisfied once the hat is finished. I dig thru my collection of antique buttons and jewelry to find the perfect embellishment. Then I add some hand dyed silk ribbon or vintage velvet. It makes each hat unique and has my "signature" on it.

My mother taught me all the needlecraft skills I possess. She could sit in a dark movie theater and knit cabled sweaters. The little yellow sunshine caps in the photo are for all 3 of her great granddaughters. I know she's liking that a lot.

It's snowing in Atlanta tonight. That's a minor miracle and it feels extra cozy inside the cottage. A perfect night to start another beanie.

Post Show Thoughts

The Gift Show has been over for a month and I'm just getting around to posting about the big event. The booth came together in a way that I was proud of. It was great to see old friends - buyers and exhibitors alike.
It's the best part of exhibiting. Those relationships are treasured.
The show was pretty good considering the weather and the continuing hell of an economy. We have some exciting new things in the works that I'll be posting about when and if they come to be.

Good things from the show: Michelle Allen's work continues to amaze me - it has the same energy Michelle does. And I got to purchase some special jewelry from Angie Olami - her inspired work always enchants me, as I sit here looking at my "amore angelico" ring. And now I'm off to sort, organize and stock new inventory so we can start shipping orders. This is the not fun part!