Our Summer in the City

While most of the country has been ensconced in a heat wave, the Pacific Northwest has been under a cool spell; apparently our corner of the map is where spring likes to summer. I’m not complaining, mind you, as Groom and I have spent day after day down in the dungeon, I mean basement studio making jewelry.

With the festival in Park City, Utah just around the corner of next week, we’ve had to remain focused on our work and been happy the weather has not lured us astray. 

Wednesday, however, produced the kind of evening that is so beautiful it hurts a little. A friend came over for dinner and then we all walked downtown to participate in our community’s “Summer in the City” program. You know, concerts, outdoor movies, dodge ball and the like on the Ken Kesey Plaza.

This week’s activity was an art marathon. Fully clothed models posed while a bunch of us sketched with live jazz in the background. The poses were held for one, five or ten impossible minutes. Don’t know how they held their positions, but it was certainly fun for us.

All ages participated as well as all skill levels. It was a relaxed, charming event and we’d love to do it again.

Crow Girl

Today was Gem Faire Day. While hunting for treasures a woman told me I looked like a "crow girl." Since I don't know what that is, I'm hoping it's a stylish cousin to the magpie, one who is attracted to rusty things.

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Let There Be Light

After two days spent discussing what we should do (go to Portland to hunt for treasure? - among other ideas), preparing (ice for refrigerator, thermos full of hot water for coffee and tea, laundry done, batteries charged and etc.), the electricity went out at precisely 9:34am this morning. The men working outside our window apparently didn't want to electrocute themselves while making some neighborhood improvements. Here's Groom working by camp light. And within one hour everything was back on. Ha ha. All that fussing for nuthin'.

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Electric Avenue

When we returned home from a walk this afternoon after snapping a photo of this Magnolia grandiflora in our neighborhood, we discovered a notice left on our doorstep by our local water and electric company informing that due to some "improvements" our electricity will be temporarily shut off on Thursday. What? No lights to work by, no computer, or jewelry tools usable in the basement studio. No cooking, hot water, or refrigerator usage. This is a precious work day needed after a successful Salem Art Festival so we can prepare for Park City. Ai carumba, we have no choice but to figure it out.

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Cats and Dogs

Sprinkles make it sound like cupcake toppings. It is not sprinkling, it is downright pouring rain in Salem for the Arts Festival.

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Thinking Outside The Booth

What's more American than baseball, apple pie, and stir fry noodles? An art fair, of course. We're coming to you live from the Salem Art Fair and Festival, where the sky is blue (at least for now), the people are fun and the music good.

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I Heart Rust

We stopped at a metal boneyard on our way to Salem before setting up the booth. It's amazing how beautiful rusty parts can be when struck with scrap fever. Tetanus shot with a coffee chaser anyone?

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Our Busman's Holiday

I think I’ve mentioned before how tuning in to the all-work channel can make a person dull, so Groom and I took last Friday off to go to the Oregon Country Fair.

The number one question we’re asked: do we sell our jewelry there? The answer is no way, Jose! Not because it isn’t a great venue, it is after all, one of Oregon’s premiere events, the numero uno anticipated event of the year.

We don’t even apply, never have done because if we got in, then we’d have to work! The OCF is so fun, it would be torture to sit in our booth all day long while the crowds, dressed in their costumes, frippery, finery and plumage passed us by.

Nope! It’s the rare time Groom and I get to unshackle ourselves from the responsibility of minding the store and wander aimlessly throughout the dusty paths covering 80+ wooded acres, eating and visiting our way through the event.

And while we had a great time, the clock has struck midnight and this Cinderella couple finds themselves back in the studio, working overtime to prepare for the delightful Salem Arts Fair and Festival coming up this weekend.

Ma Ma Ma My Corona

The heat is on, in terms of summer temps and queries from people wondering why there haven’t been any blog updates lately. Imagine me exhaling a puff of air here, my bangs (if I had them) lifting off my forehead, whilst I sigh. Anybody got some extra time for sale? 

Well, what have we been doing? Gotta think. We participated in the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts during the last weekend of June and experienced a stunning solar corona, halo, or whatever the perfect ring around the sun is called. The show was brilliant and we’re happy to have done it.

 Our 4th of July was spent in the studio making jewelry for the upcoming Salem Arts Fair and Festival and we forgot it was a holiday until the rocket’s red glare and loud explodey noises reminded us at twilight’s first gleaming.