gray girl art

It's a new year

I am busily creating for the BIG Seattle show next month,
the Flower and Garden show.
Held in February, 5 days, incredibly long hours (9am-8pm),
and so very beautiful.

I have not had access to the family camera,
and I do have fun new chalkboards to share.
So I'll post those before I leave for the show.

The end of the season at the Portland Saturday Market
was a little slow, but well worthwhile.
And now that the Market is closed for Jan/Feb,
it's been so nice to stay home on the weekends!

xo
with gratitude,
Tonya

I'll be at two art+craft shows this weekend.

Llewellyn Elementary in the Sellwood/West Moreland neighborhood Friday and Saturday:
6301 SE 14th, Portland, OR
Friday November 4th 2:30pm-6pm
Saturday November 5th 10am-4pm

Abernathy Elementary in the Ladd's Addition neighborhood, Sunday:
2421 SE Orange, Portland,OR
Sunday November 6th 11am-4pm

Both are free, and chock full of good arty goodness! Stop on by!

The fabulous art of doing trades

I am working on a custom coat rack for an artist, birds on a wire with the words:Put a coat on it
A tongue in cheek reference to the show, Portlandia, and their turn of phrase:Put a bird on it. It seems every other crafter in Portland enjoys putting birds
on their handmade goodies, and the show was poking fun at that.

We are in the transition stage at the Market where tourists are waning, summer is closed, and fall is crisp. Visitors are fewer and shopping for the holy days are not quite here.

It was good to have a day at home with the family. Apple-pear crisp and a nice long walk. Volunteering at the middle school for a fundraiser, and playing with friends.

with gratitude,
Tonya

Market Day

I'll be at the Portland Saturday Market this coming Saturday.
I've got custom orders being picked up and high hopes for a clear and busy day.

Sunday I'll be volunteering at the 5K Fundraiser for our kiddos middle school, so I won't be at the Market then.

I have new ideas to play with and some art + craft shows to consider for the future.
Good stuff!

with gratitude,
Tonya

Here's where it's at

Ah, yes, the busy season is upon us crafter artisans.
Mid-October plans for November shows and wholesale deliveries.
And then December shows and more wholesale deliveries.

The OHSU Farmers Market was beautiful and well worthwhile. Hurrah!
This past Saturday at the Portland Saturday Market was way awesome,
tons of visitors and shoppers, many in town for the Portland Marathon the next day.

Right now I am preparing for a wholesale show this weekend, so I won't be at The Market.
I haven't done a wholesale show in a few years.
They can be very taxing on time and energy, and I haven't been up for the task.
But I am now.

I have a few news goodies to share.
I hope to reconnect with previous accounts,
pick up some new exciting stores, and have many engaging interactions.

I'll be back at Portland Saturday Market on Oct. 22nd.

See you then!
with gratitude,
Tonya

See you Saturday (but not on this Sunday), at Portland Saturday Market!

If only I had the picture now...

Now that I have successfully developed the birds on a wire ceramic spoon rest,
I've created a rustic salt bowl to go them.
If I can find the camera, I'll post an image tomorrow.

Salt bowls, de sel (salt in French), are for cooking or for the table.
Shallow little pots for holding spices for flavoring your food.

Or maybe it will hold your rings while you do the dishes, or house a tea light on the kitchen table for a little ambience.

I'm also at the Harvest Festival at OHSU tomorrow. The big teaching hospital has a weekly farmers market of local food. Isn't that awesome?
I think it'll be a blast.

with gratitude,
Tonya

Goofy

If this picture is sideways, that just adds to the mystery of the moment!

I set up on Saturday, working my way around the booth on autopilot, like we all do.
Half my booth neighbors decided to come and make fun of me and my upside down banner. Oops.
I fixed it soon enough. I'd like to have folks drawn into the booth by the vibrant colors and innovative art works, not by my morning mixup.

The weekend was a bit slow, but a lot of homes will be sporting whimsical ceramic spoon rests! Yippee!

with gratitude,
Tonya

Inspired by the Truth

Relentlessly focus on the one or two vocational desires that turn you on so much that envisioning doing JUST those things seems so fantastical that it borders on erotic pleasure

Ahem.

I love the woman who writes this blog. She has a powerful voice and encourages fierce living with a loving heart. My kinda gal.

The above suggestion just happens to be what I read today while taking a break from the studio, thinking to myself, when am I going to start those new paintings? When am I going to carve out time to experiment and explore? When am I going to risk my fragile heart and try my hand at the newest creation?

Hmmm. Seems to be right. about. now.

xo
with gratitude,
Tonya